Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs IFC Markets, 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.
HFM and IFC Markets are online brokers that offer diverse trading options to individuals and organizations, though they differ in terms of regulatory strength and trust scores. Founded in 2010, HFM boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, placing it in the "trusted" category. HFM holds two Tier-1 licenses considered highly reliable and three Tier-2 licenses. Established in 2006, IFC Markets has a Trust Score of 73, labeling it as an "average risk" broker. IFC Markets does not hold any Tier-1 licenses but has one Tier-2 license, indicating a more moderate regulatory foundation compared to HFM.
Neither HFM nor IFC Markets is publicly traded or operates as a bank. While HFM's licensing and higher trust score may appeal to those prioritizing oversight, IFC Markets could attract traders looking for a slightly older brokerage with its own regulatory advantages. Both brokers offer distinct trading platforms, and their varied regulatory standings might suit different trading approaches and preferences.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
HFM vs IFC Markets on commissions and fees: both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars, but HFM ranks higher at #28 of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #32 of 63. Each can be slightly pricier than the industry average EUR/USD spread of 1.08 pips, though the best deal depends on the account you choose and how actively you trade.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above average overall. Its Standard account lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips (no date range provided, so the true average could differ). The Zero account can be sharper for frequent traders, with an effective spread around 0.7 pips after commission, though this figure isn’t an average either. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: #28/63.
IFC Markets posts an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips, which is higher than the industry average. Costs improve on its ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission per side. IFC Markets also skips inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help lower overall costs for frequent traders. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: #32/63.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM and IFC Markets both support forex trading (available as CFDs or spot, depending on the setup) and offer copy trading. IFC Markets lists about 630 tradeable symbols versus roughly 500 at HFM, but HFM leads in currency choice with 102 forex pairs compared with IFC Markets’ 49. In our Range of Investments ratings, HFM scores 4 stars (ranked 28th out of 63 brokers), while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars (ranked 31st).
Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares outright, though IFC Markets does offer access to some international exchange-traded shares, while HFM does not. Neither broker supports buying actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. Bottom line: pick HFM if you want more forex pairs; choose IFC Markets if you want a slightly larger overall list of symbols and access to select international exchange-traded shares.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Choosing between HFM and IFC Markets for trading platforms and tools comes down to small differences. Both brokers offer a free demo (paper) account, their own proprietary platform, and full support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You’ll find web-based and Windows desktop platforms with each, along with copy trading and the ability to place orders directly from charts. Their platforms include standard charting and watchlist features, though the exact tools can vary by platform.
For Platforms and Tools, both HFM and IFC Markets earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the category ranking of 63 brokers, IFC Markets is placed slightly higher at #29, while HFM is #33. If you value a small edge in third-party rankings, IFC Markets may appeal; otherwise, both deliver comparable platform coverage with MT4/MT5, web and desktop trading, copy trading, and a free demo to practice.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and IFC Markets both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, 30 technical indicators for charting, the ability to draw trendlines, and automatic saving of chart drawings—useful for picking up where you left off on the go.
The key difference is watchlists: IFC Markets syncs watchlists between mobile and the web platform, while HFM does not. Both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, HFM ranks #32 out of 63 brokers, and IFC Markets ranks #34. If synced watchlists matter to you, IFC Markets has the edge; otherwise, both apps offer similar tools and features.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing HFM and IFC Markets for research, both brokers provide daily market commentary, a trader sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions, and an economic calendar. The main differences are news and tools: HFM includes forex news from top-tier wires like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and offers Autochartist for chart patterns and signals, while IFC Markets does not. Neither broker integrates Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks 18th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 30th. Pick HFM if you want built-in premium news and Autochartist; choose IFC Markets if you’re satisfied with daily commentary, sentiment data, and a standard calendar without extra add-ons.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
HFM vs IFC Markets for beginner education: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos plus 10+ advanced lessons, covering topics such as forex and CFDs. The key difference is live training. HFM runs client webinars at least once a month, giving new traders a chance to ask questions and see strategies explained in real time. IFC Markets does not host monthly educational webinars, but it still offers an on-demand video path for self-paced learning.
In terms of quality, HFM’s education is rated 4 out of 5 stars, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, IFC Markets ranks 25th out of 63 brokers and HFM ranks 29th. If you value regular live webinars alongside videos, HFM is the better fit. If you’re comfortable learning mainly through videos and want a provider with a slightly higher category ranking, IFC Markets is a solid alternative.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 HFM is better than IFC Markets. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 |
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HFM and IFC Markets do not support purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both brokers enable trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
HFM vs IFC Markets: both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal, both allow bank wire transfers, only HFM supports Skrill while IFC Markets does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | HFM | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | IFC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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