Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FP Markets vs HFM, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing FP Markets and HFM, both online brokers are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks. Founded in 2005, FP Markets holds a Trust Score rating of 89 as per ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the 'trusted' category. In terms of regulatory backing, FP Markets boasts two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating a solid foundation of trust and reliability in the financial market. Meanwhile, HFM, established in 2010, possesses a slightly lower Trust Score of 86, which still falls within the 'trusted' range. HFM is backed by three Tier-2 licenses, complementing its two Tier-1 licenses, demonstrating a respectable level of trust from global financial authorities.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
FP Markets stands out for low trading costs on MetaTrader and cTrader, especially with its commission-based Raw ECN account. As of October 2023, Raw spreads averaged 0.1 pips (about 0.8 pips all-in after commission), and forex commission is a flat $6 per round-turn standard lot on cTrader. The Standard account is pricier, with EUR/USD averaging 1.1 pips. FP Markets also earned Best in Class for Commissions and Fees in 2024. For share CFDs in Australia, its Iress suite offers DMA pricing with full depth of book; ViewPoint accounts carry monthly platform/data fees unless you qualify for Premier or generate at least AUD 150 in monthly commissions. The lower-cost Iress Investor waives monthly fees but lacks streaming data and advanced charting.
HFM’s pricing is slightly above the industry average. The broker states a typical 1.2-pip spread on its standard accounts (no date range provided), and its Zero account quotes an effective 0.7 pips after commission, though this is not an average. Based on these stated figures, active forex traders may find FP Markets’ Raw ECN structure cheaper on a like-for-like commission model, while casual traders should compare each broker’s standard spread approach for their preferred pairs.
Ratings and rankings for commissions and fees: FP Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 63.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing FP Markets vs HFM for range of investments: both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot contracts and both support copy trading. FP Markets stands out for overall variety with about 10,000 tradeable symbols, while HFM lists around 500. If your focus is forex, however, HFM offers more currency pairs (102 vs 71 at FP Markets). Neither broker provides direct share dealing on U.S. or international exchanges, and while you can trade cryptocurrency as CFDs at both, neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For range of investments, FP Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 16th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM scores 4 stars and ranks 28th. In short, choose FP Markets for breadth across many markets, and consider HFM if you want a larger lineup of forex pairs.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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). | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FP Markets and HFM both check the key boxes for platform coverage and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, and the full MetaTrader suite (MT4 and MT5). You can trade from charts, use a web-based platform, and download a Windows desktop platform with either broker. Copy trading is also available on both, making it easy to mirror strategies from other traders.
In independent testing, both earned 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. FP Markets ranks higher at #22 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while HFM sits at #33. If ranking matters to you, FP Markets has the edge; otherwise, both deliver a similar mix of features. Note: the number of built-in chart indicators and watch list fields wasn’t specified for either broker.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FP Markets and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts for forex and stocks. One downside is that neither app syncs watchlists with your online account, so changes you make on mobile won’t automatically appear on web or desktop.
For charting, FP Markets uses MetaTrader’s default indicator library, while HFM offers 30 technical studies. Both apps let you draw trendlines and automatically save your drawings. According to ForexBrokers.com, each earns 4 out of 5 stars, with FP Markets ranked #20 out of 63 brokers and HFM at #32. If you prefer a MetaTrader-focused setup and a higher category rank, FP Markets has a slight edge; if you want an app with a clearly stated indicator count, HFM is a strong pick.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FP Markets and HFM both deliver well-rounded market research for everyday traders. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources (think Bloomberg/Reuters-level), and an economic calendar for tracking key events. You’ll also find Autochartist for pattern recognition and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading/Signal Centre in their lineup.
The key difference is Trading Central: FP Markets provides it, while HFM does not. Both are rated 4 stars for research by ForexBrokers.com, with HFM ranked #18 out of 63 brokers and FP Markets at #22. If you want Trading Central insights alongside the basics, FP Markets has the edge. If you don’t need it, both platforms offer strong day-to-day research and tools for staying on top of the market.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FP Markets vs HFM for beginner education: both brokers make it easy to get started with forex and CFD learning. Each offers a library of at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, along with ongoing client webinars (at least one per month). New traders will also find 10+ beginner videos at both brokers, helping you learn fundamentals through short, clear lessons.
As you progress, both FP Markets and HFM provide 10+ advanced videos. Each broker holds a 4 out of 5 Education rating from ForexBrokers.com, though FP Markets ranks higher in the Education category (#22 of 63) compared with HFM (#29 of 63). If education is your top priority, FP Markets gets a slight edge, while HFM remains a solid choice for beginners.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FP Markets is better than HFM. FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
FP Markets shines as a low-cost broker for trading forex and CFDs – as long as you use the MetaTrader platform. The Iress platform suite offers well over 9,000 tradeable symbols, but it’s mostly a share trading platform – and is generally a much pricier option.
| Feature |
FP Markets
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 89 | 86 |
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FP Markets vs HFM: Neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, FP Markets and HFM both support bank wire transfers and Skrill and do not offer ACH or SEPA, but only FP Markets supports PayPal while HFM does not.
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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FP Markets | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FP Markets | HFM | |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 89 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2005 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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). | 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 | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FP Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | FP Markets | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | HFM Review |
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