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.
Comparing online brokers FP Markets and HFM: FP Markets launched in 2005, while HFM began in 2010. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. On regulation, both hold two Tier‑1 licenses (viewed as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com). For Tier‑2 licenses (considered trusted), FP Markets holds one, while HFM holds three.
Trust Score: FP Markets scores 90/99 with ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted range (90–99). HFM scores 85/99, which sits in the trusted range (80–89). For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies 70–79 as average risk, 60–69 as high risk, and below 59 as not trusted.
| 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 comes out ahead of HFM on commissions and fees, especially for traders who want lower trading costs. FP Markets earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers for this category. Its Raw ECN account is the most affordable option, with very tight spreads and a low commission structure, while its Standard account is more expensive because of wider spreads. FP Markets also offers competitive pricing on cTrader, and its Iress platform lineup can suit active traders, though some account types come with higher minimum deposits and extra platform or data costs.
HFM is still a solid choice, but its pricing is a bit higher overall. It scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. HFM says its standard accounts typically have spreads around 1.2 pips, while its Zero account can work out to about 0.7 pips after commission. Even so, these costs are not as competitive as FP Markets, making HFM less appealing for traders who focus on keeping fees as low as possible.
In simple terms, FP Markets is the better pick for lower-cost trading, while HFM sits closer to the industry average. If keeping commissions and spreads down is a priority, FP Markets has the edge.
| 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.
FP Markets and HFM both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets you buy real, delivered crypto or exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, so if you want direct share ownership, neither platform offers that. Both are geared more toward trading through CFDs than toward long-term investing in actual stocks or coins.
Where FP Markets stands out is choice. It offers about 10,000 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. That wider menu helps FP Markets earn a 4.5-star rating for range of investments and a #17 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #28. In simple terms, FP Markets gives you a much larger selection to trade than HFM.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 38 |
| 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 give traders a wide choice of platform options, making them well suited to beginners and more experienced users alike. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, its own in-house platform, desktop software for Windows, a web-based platform, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also allow trading directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while reviewing market moves.
When it comes to charting and watch list details, the available data does not list a specific number of technical indicators or watch list columns for either broker. Based on ForexBrokers.com, FP Markets and HFM each earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, but FP Markets ranks higher overall in this category at #22 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #33. That gives FP Markets a slight edge for platform and tool quality, even though both brokers cover the same main trading features.
| 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 | 38 |
| 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, so traders can access their accounts on either major device. Each app also supports stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings, which makes it easier to follow markets and keep track of analysis on the go. Neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, so watchlists do not automatically update across devices.
When it comes to charting, HFM includes 5 technical studies in its mobile app, while FP Markets uses the default MetaTrader chart tools. Both brokers receive a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, but FP Markets ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s mobile category at #20 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #32. For traders who care most about app ranking and overall mobile experience, FP Markets has the edge, while HFM still delivers the core mobile features most traders need.
| 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) | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FP Markets and HFM both offer a strong set of market research tools for traders who want help tracking price moves and news. Each broker provides daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, sentiment tools, Autochartist, and an economic calendar covering upcoming global events. Neither broker includes TipRanks research, so in this area they are evenly matched for most everyday research needs.
The main differences are in the extra tools each platform offers. FP Markets includes Trading Central, which HFM does not, while HFM offers Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which FP Markets does not. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research, though HFM places slightly higher in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, coming in at #18 out of 36 brokers versus FP Markets at #22.
| 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 | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FP Markets and HFM both give beginners a solid starting point, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly client webinars, and a wide set of beginner and advanced video lessons. That means new traders can find basic market explanations as well as more experienced topics at either broker, making both platforms useful for learning at different stages. Each broker also earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education, so they are closely matched in overall quality.
Where FP Markets has the edge is in its Education ranking with ForexBrokers.com, where it places #22 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #29. In simple terms, both brokers provide a similar range of learning tools, but FP Markets scores a little better overall for education. For beginners looking for a broker with plenty of videos, webinars, and forex or CFD learning content, FP Markets and HFM are both good options, with FP Markets slightly ahead.
| 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 10,000 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 | 90 | 85 |
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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 | 90 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FP Markets | HFM | |
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| Regulation | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 85 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 38 | |
| 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 | 38 | |
| 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) | 5 | |
| 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 | 90 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FP Markets Review | HFM Review |
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