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HFM vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

HFM
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 85
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 344
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

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 logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2010 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5

Fees

HFM and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but HFM is ranked a bit higher by ForexBrokers.com at #28 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at #32. In simple terms, that means both brokers are around the middle of the pack, though HFM has a slight edge in this category.

At HFM, trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker says its standard account typically has spreads around 1.2 pips, though no date range is given, so the real average could be higher. HFM’s Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, which can be more appealing for some traders, but this figure is also not presented as an average.

IFC Markets is a little less competitive on standard pricing, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips versus an industry average of 1.08. Still, active traders may find better value with its ECN account, which offers an effective spread of 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of the trade. IFC Markets also stands out for having no inactivity fee and offering active trader discounts, which can help lower overall costs.

Feature HFM logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.8 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.1 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing HFM and IFC Markets for range of investments, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs and support copy trading, plus cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, and neither offers exchange-traded U.S. shares as direct investments. HFM lists 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers a wider selection with 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs.

IFC Markets has the edge for overall variety because it also provides exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, something HFM does not offer. That broader lineup helps explain why IFC Markets has a solid choice of markets, even though HFM scores slightly higher in this category overall, with 4 stars versus 3.5 stars for IFC Markets. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for range of investments, HFM places 28th out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 31st.

Feature HFM logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 344 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 38 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

HFM and IFC Markets both give traders a wide range of platform choices, making either one a practical option for beginners and more active users. Each broker offers a free demo account for simulated trading, plus its own proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also support copy trading and let users place trades directly from a chart, which can make it easier to react quickly when markets move.

When it comes to trading platforms and tools, the two brokers are closely matched overall. Both HFM and IFC Markets are rated 4 out of 5 stars in this category, but IFC Markets holds the higher ForexBrokers.com ranking at #29 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #33. Since the provided data does not include exact counts for technical indicators or watch list fields, those features cannot be compared directly here.

Feature HFM logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 38 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

HFM and IFC Markets both make mobile trading easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts for stocks and forex. Each app also lets users draw trendlines and automatically saves those drawings, which is helpful for tracking chart ideas on the go. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so each offers a solid experience overall.

The main difference is in chart tools and watchlist syncing. IFC Markets lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and the online account, while HFM does not. IFC Markets also offers more technical studies for mobile charting, with 30 compared with HFM’s 5. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, HFM ranks #32 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks #34 out of 36.

Feature HFM logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 5 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When it comes to market research, HFM has the edge over IFC Markets. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. However, HFM goes further by offering forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus research tools from Autochartist and Acuity Trading. IFC Markets does not include those extra news and third-party research features.

This difference shows up in third-party ratings too. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #18 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. For traders who want a wider mix of market news and analysis tools, HFM offers the stronger research package.

Feature HFM logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

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 logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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.

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 logoHFM
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 85 73
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with HFM or IFC Markets?

HFM and IFC Markets do not support purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both brokers enable trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.

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Overall Rating HFM IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 85 73
Winner check_circle
Review HFM Review
Broker Screenshots HFM IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
HFM MT5 web platform. HFM webinars schedule. HFM educational video example YouTube.
Regulation HFM IFC Markets
Trust Score info 85 73
Year Founded info 2010 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) HFM IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) HFM IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info Yes
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments HFM IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 344 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 38 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info No Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 info 1.8 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.1 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding HFM IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms HFM IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools HFM IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 38 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading HFM IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 5 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research HFM IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education HFM IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs HFM IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review HFM Review
Overall HFM IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 85 73
Winner check_circle
Review HFM Review
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