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 it comes to commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of HFM for most traders. IG is not a budget broker, but its pricing can be very competitive, especially for active traders and those using its Forex Direct DMA account. IG’s typical EUR/USD spread on its Forex Direct offering averaged 0.62 pips, which works out to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. Its CFD pricing was also solid, with average spreads of 0.69 pips during the main trading session in July 2023. IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. Its standard account typically shows spreads around 1.2 pips, though that figure does not come with a clear date range, so the true average could be higher. HFM’s Zero account is cheaper, with an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but this is still not presented as a long-term average. HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #29 out of 36 brokers in the commissions and fees category.
In simple terms, IG offers better value overall, especially for active and high-volume traders who want tighter spreads and more pricing options. HFM may still appeal to some traders, particularly those looking at its Zero account, but IG has the stronger edge on cost and consistency.
| Feature |
IG
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 a stronger choice for traders who want more markets in one place. IG provides access to 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. IG also lets clients trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy shares such as Apple and Vodafone directly. In addition, IG supports both actual cryptocurrency purchases and crypto CFDs, while HFM only offers cryptocurrency CFDs.
HFM does have a few features IG does not, including copy trading, and it also offers forex trading as both CFDs and spot contracts, which IG does as well. Even so, IG clearly stands out for overall market variety, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com category. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29, reflecting its more limited selection.
| 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 strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platforms, web trading, Windows desktop downloads, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both also let you trade directly from a chart, which is helpful if you like to act fast while watching price moves. In terms of charting and watch lists, neither broker’s exact feature counts are listed here, so the clearest comparison comes down to the overall platform experience.
Where the two differ most is copy trading: HFM offers it, while IG does not. That may matter if you want to follow other traders instead of making every decision yourself. Overall, IG gets the edge for trading platforms and tools, with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #34 ranking.
| 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 and HFM for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Where IG pulls ahead is in the details that matter for active traders: its mobile app syncs watchlists with the online account, so changes carry over between devices, while HFM does not offer this feature.
IG also gives mobile users a much wider set of charting tools, with 33 technical studies compared with HFM’s 5. That difference shows up in the ratings too: IG earns 5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. Overall, IG is the stronger choice for mobile trading app quality and convenience.
| 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 monthly online webinars, at least 10 beginner videos, and at least 10 advanced videos for traders who want to go deeper. That means either platform can help someone starting out learn the basics of trading and then build on that knowledge over time.
IG, however, stands out in the overall education category. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and placed #29. In simple terms, both brokers offer useful educational content, but IG is the stronger choice if education is a top priority for beginners.
| 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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| 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) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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