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 (founded 2010) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and not banks. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, HFM scores 85 (trusted) and IFC Markets scores 73 (average risk). For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies scores of 90–99 as highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and 59 or below not trusted.
Looking at regulation, HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, while IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. Tier-1 is considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted, giving HFM a wider set of regulatory approvals than IFC Markets.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
HFM and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but HFM comes out a bit ahead in the rankings, placing #29 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #33. At HFM, trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker says its standard accounts typically have a 1.2-pip spread, while the Zero account works out to an effective 0.7 pips after commission, though this is not listed as an average.
IFC Markets is also fairly priced for some traders, but its costs are a little less competitive overall. Its average EUR/USD spread is 1.44, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08. For active traders, the new ECN account can be more appealing, with an effective spread of 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade.
One plus for IFC Markets is that it does not charge inactivity fees, and active traders may qualify for discounts. Still, if you are mainly focused on lower everyday trading costs, HFM has the slight edge in this comparison, especially for its Zero account pricing.
| 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.
When it comes to range of investments, HFM and IFC Markets both give traders access to forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual crypto coins or exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets. HFM offers 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs, while IFC Markets provides a larger selection with 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. That makes IFC Markets the wider pick for traders who want more instruments to choose from, especially in forex.
IFC Markets also stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as shares listed outside the U.S., while HFM does not. Still, HFM is rated slightly higher for range of investments, with 4 out of 5 stars versus 3.5 for IFC Markets, and it ranks #29 out of 36 brokers compared with IFC Markets at #32. In short, IFC Markets offers more variety overall, while HFM edges ahead in third-party ratings.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 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.
HFM and IFC Markets both give traders a wide choice of platforms and tools, making either broker a solid pick for different experience levels. Each one offers a free demo account for practice, along with its own proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers also include copy trading, letting users follow and mirror other traders, and both allow trading directly from a price chart for added convenience.
In terms of overall platform quality, HFM and IFC Markets are each rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Still, IFC Markets is ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com in this category, placing #30 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM at #34. Since both brokers offer similar core trading tools, the better fit may come down to which platform layout and features feel easier to use in day-to-day trading.
| 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) | 38 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and IFC Markets both give traders the basics needed for mobile trading, with iPhone and Android apps available on each platform, plus price alerts for stock and forex markets. Each app also lets users draw trendlines and automatically saves those drawings, which makes it easier to review charts on the go. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so they each offer a solid experience for everyday mobile use.
The main difference is in charting and watchlist sync. IFC Markets supports watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app and online account stay linked, while HFM does not. IFC Markets also offers more chart studies in its mobile app, with 30 technical studies compared with HFM’s 5. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps ranking, HFM places #33 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #35, making HFM slightly higher overall despite IFC Markets having stronger sync and charting 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 | 5 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM offers a wider range of market research tools than IFC Markets, which can make it more useful for traders who want extra support when analyzing the markets. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows whether traders are mostly buying or selling, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. HFM also includes forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus research tools from Autochartist and Acuity Trading. IFC Markets does not offer those extra news or research tools, and it also does not include Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
In third-party ratings, HFM comes out ahead in the research category with 4 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #18 out of 36 brokers. IFC Markets is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 out of 36. While both brokers cover the basics well, HFM gives traders more research features overall.
| 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 | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn forex or CFDs, HFM and IFC Markets both provide a useful starting point, but HFM has the edge in overall education support. HFM offers forex and CFDs learning materials, monthly online educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos, which makes it a better fit for traders who want regular guidance and room to grow. It is also rated 4 out of 5 for Education and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category.
IFC Markets also offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so it does give new traders access to video-based learning. However, it does not appear to offer monthly educational webinars, and its education score is lower at 3.5 out of 5, with a ranking of #25 out of 36. In short, IFC Markets may still suit beginners who prefer videos, but HFM provides a broader mix of learning tools and more frequent live educational support.
| 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 #34.
HFM (HF Markets) is a global broker best known for its MetaTrader offering, solid research tools, and proprietary copy trading platform, alongside a broad selection of forex pairs and CFDs.
| Feature |
HFM
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IFC Markets
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| Trust Score | 85 | 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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 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) | 38 | 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 | 5 | 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 | 85 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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