Written by ForexBrokers.com
Is HFM better than FlowBank? In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 62 of the best forex brokers, HotForex is considered average-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 85 out of 99. FlowBank is considered average-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 77 out of 99. Learn more about Trust Score.
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❯×| Overall Rating | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Commissions & Fees |
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| Offering of Investments |
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| Platform & Tools |
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| Research |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | FlowBank Review |
| Regulation | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 77 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2020 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Authorised in European Union | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (High Trust) | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASIC Authorised (Australia) | No | No | |
| IIROC Authorised (Canada) | No | No | |
| SFC Authorised (Hong Kong) | No | No | |
| CBI Authorised (Ireland) | No | No | |
| FSA Authorised (Japan) | No | No | |
| MAS Authorised (Singapore) | No | No | |
| FINMA Authorised (Switzerland) | No | Yes | |
| FCA Authorised (U.K.) | Yes | No | |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | No | No | |
| FMA Authorised (New Zealand) | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Average Trust) | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBRC Authorised (China) | No | No | |
| CySEC Authorised (Cyprus) | Yes | No | |
| SEBI Authorised (India) | No | No | |
| ISA Authorised (Israel) | No | No | |
| CBR Authorised (Russia) | No | No | |
| FSCA Authorised (South Africa) | Yes | No | |
| SEC Authorised (Thailand) | No | No | |
| DFSA / Central Bank Authorised (UAE) | Yes | No |
| Tier-3 Licenses (Low Trust) | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCB Authorised (Bahamas) | No | No | |
| IFSC Authorised (Belize) | No | No | |
| CIMA Authorised (Cayman Islands) | No | No | |
| BMA Authorised (Bermuda) | No | No | |
| FSC Authorised (British Virgin Islands) | No | No | |
| FSC Authorised (Mauritius) | Yes | No | |
| VFSC Authorised (Vanuatu) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3500 | 408600 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 47 | 51 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 37 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 17 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has Education - Forex or CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | FlowBank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review | FlowBank Review |
| Overall | HFM | FlowBank | |
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| Overall Rating |
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| Commissions & Fees |
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| Offering of Investments |
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| Platform & Tools |
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| Mobile Trading |
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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 77 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | FlowBank Review |
Compare
0 of 5Comparing forex brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual forex broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 62 forex and CFD brokerages to find the best forex broker. Let's compare HFM vs FlowBank.
Comparing the trading costs of forex and CFDs is not easy. Not every broker publishes average spreads data, and pricing structures vary. Based on our thorough annual assessment, HFM offers better pricing overall for traders.
At ForexBrokers.com, we track where each forex and CFD broker is regulated across over 23 international regulator databases. Here's our findings. Both HFM and FlowBank hold 1 global Tier-1 licenses. HFM holds 3 global Tier-2 licenses, while FlowBank holds 0. In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 50 brokers, HFM earned a higher Trust Score than FlowBank.
To compare the trading platforms of both HFM and FlowBank, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, FlowBank offers a better experience. With research, HFM offers superior market research. Finally, we found FlowBank to provide better mobile trading apps.
For forex and CFDs traders, copy trading and MetaTrader are both popular platform options. Both HFM and FlowBank offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4).HFM and FlowBank both offer copy trading.
FlowBank provides traders 51 currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD) compared to HFM's 47 available pairs. Forex pairs aside, FlowBank offers traders access to 408600 CFDs while HFM has 3500 available CFDs, a difference of 405100.
HotForex is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. HotForex is authorised by one tier-1 regulator (high trust), three tier-2 regulators (average trust), and one tier-3 regulator (low trust). HotForex is authorised by the following tier-1 regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
FlowBank operates a regulated Swiss bank, and is authorised by one tier-1 regulator (high trust): the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, and provides a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average, and its HF mobile app does not yet support trading.
As a relative newcomer to the Swiss online brokerage scene, FlowBank already has a lot to offer its customers. FlowBank clients benefit from the advantages that come with holding a Swiss bank account, and its brokerage services provide access to more advertised symbols than any online broker that we’ve reviewed thus far.
Overall winner: HFM
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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