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 | 1 | 2 |
FP Markets stands out as a top choice for traders seeking competitive rates, particularly in its commission-based ECN account offering. Recognized for its value, FP Markets received the prestigious Best in Class designation for Commissions and Fees in the 2024 Annual Awards. With a 5-star rating, FP Markets ranks 6th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker features competitive spreads on its Raw ECN account, averaging 0.1 pips, which totals 0.8 pips when commission is added. While the Iress ViewPoint account caters to active traders with substantial deposits, it offers Direct Market Access for precise pricing and execution. For those who want a more budget-friendly option, the Iress Investor account provides a streamlined platform with some limitations.
In comparison, HFM has trading costs that are slightly above the industry average. The standard accounts typically offer spreads of 1.2 pips, although the lack of a specified date range creates room for variability. HFM's Zero account is more competitive with an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, though it's important to note this may not reflect the average. HFM boasts a respectable 4-star rating and is ranked 31st among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com.
For traders who prioritize cost efficiency, FP Markets provides a stronger value proposition with its sharp pricing and high ranking, especially if trading through its ECN account. HFM, while commendable, edges slightly higher in costs but remains a solid option with reasonable spreads and a lower overall ranking. Deciding between the two brokers will depend largely on your trading priorities and balance requirements.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FP Markets and HFM both offer forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, ensuring a diverse trading experience for their clients. FP Markets boasts an extensive offering with 10,000 tradeable symbols, including 71 forex pairs, providing traders with a broad array of investment opportunities. In comparison, HFM offers 500 tradeable symbols, but it edges out FP Markets by offering 102 forex pairs, catering to forex enthusiasts seeking variety in their currency trading. While neither broker allows for the purchase of exchange-traded securities from U.S. or international markets, both do support trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, making them viable options for traders interested in digital currency markets.
In addition to their wide arrays of securities, both FP Markets and HFM offer copy trading services, allowing users to replicate the trades of successful investors. However, neither broker provides the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies. When it comes to the range of investments, FP Markets is highly rated with 4.5 stars, compared to HFM’s 4 stars. Reflecting their offerings, FP Markets ranks 18th out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's Range of Investments category, while HFM holds the 36th position. This ranking indicates FP Markets' stronger position in offering a more diversified investment portfolio overall.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 102 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing FP Markets and HFM in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a wide range of features designed to meet the needs of traders at all levels. Both FP Markets and HFM provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their strategies risk-free. They each have proprietary platforms available and support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which are popular choices among forex traders. Additionally, traders can access both Windows-based desktop platforms and web-based trading solutions with these brokers. Copy trading is also available with both FP Markets and HFM, though neither offers integrations with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade platforms.
When it comes to charting tools, FP Markets and HFM provide functional capabilities but differ in the number of drawing tools, with HFM offering a more extensive set of 30 compared to FP Markets' 17. Both brokers allow users to trade directly from stock charts and offer watch lists with seven customizable columns. Rated at 4 stars out of 5 for their trading platforms and tools, FP Markets slightly edges out HFM by ranking #23 compared to #42 on ForexBrokers.com among 63 brokers, suggesting a stronger overall user satisfaction. However, both brokers deliver comprehensive platforms suited for detailed technical analysis and seamless trading experiences.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 17 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing FP Markets and HFM in terms of their mobile trading apps, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility no matter your preferred platform. They each provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. While neither app offers watchlist symbol syncing between their mobile app and online account, they do both enable users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. FP Markets relies on the default MetaTrader for its technical studies, while HFM distinguishes itself with 30 built-in technical studies, adding more depth for technical analysis enthusiasts.
Despite both mobile apps earning a commendable four-star rating, FP Markets stands out slightly by placing #18 in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to HFM's rank at #39. Both apps excel in auto-saving chart drawings, ensuring your work is preserved across sessions. Whether you value higher technical study options or a more favorable industry ranking, choosing between FP Markets and HFM depends on which features best align with your trading strategy.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FP Markets and HFM both provide daily market commentary, making them accessible to traders looking for regular updates. They cater to forex traders by offering news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring users receive reliable information for their trading decisions. Both brokers also include tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, enhancing their research offerings. However, FP Markets has a slight edge by incorporating analysis tools from Trading Central, which is absent in HFM’s offerings. Both platforms feature sentiment-based trading tools that show the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, further adding value to their research tools.
When it comes to additional resources, neither FP Markets nor HFM provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. They both feature an economic calendar to keep traders informed about upcoming global economic news. As evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, FP Markets achieves a research rating of 4 stars, ranking it at 25th place out of 63 brokers, while HFM shares the same star rating but ranks slightly higher at 20th position. This nuanced difference highlights a competitive edge for HFM in terms of its research offerings, though both brokers provide substantial resources for traders.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FP Markets and HFM both excel in offering comprehensive educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. They provide a wealth of over 10 educational materials that include articles, videos, and archived webinars on these trading topics. For those interested in interactive learning, both platforms conduct online educational webinars at least once a month, which are also available in a searchable archive for future reference. Beginner traders will find plenty of content to learn from, with each broker offering at least 10 videos tailored specifically to novices in the trading world. Advanced traders aren't left out either, as both FP Markets and HFM offer in-depth video content for experienced individuals looking to refine their skills.
Both brokers also offer an investor dictionary comprising over 50 essential trading terms, a helpful tool for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of industry jargon. When it comes to educational resources, FP Markets edges out slightly with a higher ranking on ForexBrokers.com, taking the 23rd spot compared to HFM's 37th position among 63 brokers. However, the educational offerings from both brokers are well-rated, each earning an impressive four out of five stars. Whether you prioritize the quantity of resources or their educational ranking, both FP Markets and HFM present solid options for beginner traders eager to start their trading journey.
| Feature |
FP Markets
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 #30.
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
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 89 | 86 |
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Neither FP Markets nor HFM provides the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both brokers offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
FP Markets and HFM both provide Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options for account deposits and withdrawals, but only FP Markets supports PayPal, while neither offer ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | 1 | 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10000 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 AUD | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | 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 | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 17 | 30 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | MetaTrader (Default) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FP Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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