Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
IG vs HFM: IG, founded in 1974, is publicly traded and is a bank, while HFM, founded in 2010, is privately held and not a bank. This means IG is listed on a stock exchange, whereas HFM is not.
Regulation and trust differ, too. IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), earning a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99/99, which falls in the highly trusted 90–99 range. HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses and has a Trust Score of 85/99, which sits in the trusted 80–89 range. For context, ForexBrokers.com labels 70–79 as average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of HFM for most traders. IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees, while HFM earns 4 stars and ranks #30 out of 36. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account, where costs can be lower for higher-volume clients. Its average EUR/USD spread on Forex Direct was 0.62 pips in July 2023, which translated to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission.
IG also provides solid CFD pricing, with average spreads of 0.69 pips during the main trading session in July 2023, which was a bit better than the industry average. For very active traders, IG’s rebate program can reduce costs further, with discounts of up to 20% for high monthly trading volume. That said, spreads can widen during quieter market hours, so the lowest costs are not always available all day.
HFM’s pricing is decent but less competitive overall. Its standard account typically shows spreads around 1.2 pips, while the Zero account has an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission. Even so, HFM’s costs are described as slightly above average, and the lack of clear average-spread data makes it harder to compare. In simple terms, IG offers better value and more transparent pricing options for traders focused on commissions and fees.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG offers a much wider range of investments than HFM, making it the stronger choice for traders and investors who want more market access. IG provides 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while HFM offers 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but IG also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency and trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. HFM does not offer exchange-traded securities or spot crypto purchases.
For additional features, HFM does offer copy trading, which IG does not. Even so, IG leads clearly on range of investments, earning 5 out of 5 stars for this category and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30, reflecting a narrower product lineup overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
IG and HFM both give traders a wide choice of platforms and tools, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, desktop downloads for Windows, web-based trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users trade directly from charts, which can be helpful for placing trades quickly while reviewing price movements. In this area, the two brokers are closely matched on the main platform features most traders look for.
The biggest difference is copy trading: HFM offers it, while IG does not. IG also has the edge in overall platform quality, with a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #36 ranking. For traders who want the strongest overall platform experience, IG stands out, while HFM may appeal more to those specifically looking for copy trading.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing IG vs. HFM for mobile trading apps, both brokers cover the basics well. Each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts for stocks or forex, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving for chart drawings. That means traders can stay on top of the market and keep their chart work saved across sessions on both platforms.
Where IG stands out is in the details. Its mobile app supports watchlist syncing with the online account, while HFM does not, so changes made on IG carry over more smoothly between devices. IG also offers 33 technical studies in its app compared with just 5 for HFM, and it earns a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating versus HFM’s 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for this category, IG places #1 out of 36 brokers, while HFM ranks #35, making IG the stronger choice for mobile charting and everyday app use.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both IG and HFM give traders a solid set of tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, sentiment data, Acuity Trading features, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Both also let traders gauge market mood by showing the balance of long and short positions across instruments.
That said, IG has the edge overall. It adds TipRanks research, which HFM does not offer, and it earns a higher Research rating from ForexBrokers.com, with 5 out of 5 stars versus HFM’s 4 out of 5. IG is also ranked #2 out of 36 brokers for Research, while HFM sits at #18, making IG the stronger choice for traders who want more market insight.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both IG and HFM give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus online client webinars held at least once a month. They also both provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so traders can find content whether they are just starting out or looking to build on what they already know.
That said, IG comes out ahead for education overall. IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #31. For beginners comparing the two, IG appears to offer a stronger learning experience, even though HFM still covers the key educational basics well.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than HFM. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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In the IG vs HFM comparison for cryptocurrency trading, IG lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while HFM does not support buying real crypto but does offer crypto CFDs.
IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (but not Skrill), while HFM supports Skrill and bank wire transfers (but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal).
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 | IG | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | HFM | |
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| Regulation | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | IG | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | HFM Review |
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