Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs IUX, 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 IUX are online brokers with different backgrounds. HFM was founded in 2010, while IUX began in 2016. Neither company is publicly traded, and neither operates as a bank.
In terms of regulation and trust, HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 3 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), earning a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 85/99, which places it in the trusted range. IUX holds 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license and scores 76/99, which is considered average risk. If regulatory standing and third-party trust are priorities, HFM ranks higher, while IUX has fewer top-tier licenses and a lower score.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, both HFM and IUX offer pricing that can work for different types of traders, but IUX comes out ahead overall. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Its trading costs are slightly above average, with typical spreads on its standard account around 1.2 pips, though no date range is given for that figure. Its Zero account can bring the effective spread down to 0.7 pips after commission, but that is not presented as an average either.
IUX is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers, making it the stronger choice on pricing. Its account lineup gives traders a few different paths: Standard and Standard+ accounts start at a $10 minimum deposit, while the Raw and Pro accounts require $500. The Standard+ account offers bonus promotions but wider spreads, the Standard account has lower spreads without bonuses, the Raw account charges a $6 commission per 100,000 units with low spreads, and the Pro account is spread-only with lower spreads than the Standard options.
For average spreads, IUX lists about 0.7 pips on its Pro account, 0.9 pips on its Standard account, and roughly 0.6 pips on its Raw account once the commission is factored in. In simple terms, HFM is decent but a bit pricier, while IUX offers more flexible pricing and better overall value for traders who want to keep costs down, especially if they choose the right account type.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.8 | 0.86 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | 0.6 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM offers a wider range of investments than IUX, with 344 tradable symbols compared with IUX’s 152. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but HFM lists more forex pairs overall, with 38 versus 34 at IUX. Neither broker lets clients buy actual U.S.-listed shares such as Apple, and neither offers direct ownership of cryptocurrencies; however, both do provide cryptocurrency CFDs.
Where the two differ more clearly is in stock access and copy trading. IUX allows trading of exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, such as Vodafone shares on the London Stock Exchange, while HFM does not. HFM, on the other hand, offers copy trading, which IUX does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com, HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers, while IUX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #37.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 34 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 IUX both give traders a flexible set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, desktop software for Windows, and a web-based platform you can use in a browser. Both also let you trade directly from charts and support MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The main difference is that HFM also offers MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and copy trading, which may appeal to traders who want more platform options or prefer to follow other traders’ strategies.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, HFM has the edge overall. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 out of 36 brokers in this category, while IUX is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #37. For traders comparing HFM vs IUX, HFM stands out for its wider platform selection, especially MT4 and copy trading, while IUX still covers the basics well for traders who mainly want MT5 and a simple choice of desktop, web, and demo trading tools.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and IUX both offer iPhone and Android trading apps, so traders can manage accounts on the go with either broker. HFM has a clear edge for mobile trading alerts, since it offers stock and forex price alerts while IUX does not. HFM also lets users draw trendlines on charts in its app, and both brokers support auto-saving chart drawings. Neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account.
When it comes to chart tools, IUX offers far more technical studies in its mobile app, with 106 compared with HFM’s 5. Even so, HFM is rated higher overall for mobile trading apps, with 4 out of 5 stars versus IUX’s 3.5. On ForexBrokers.com, HFM also ranks better in the Mobile Trading Apps category, placing #34 out of 36 brokers, while IUX ranks #37.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, HFM has the edge over IUX. HFM provides daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, a sentiment-based trading indicator, and research from Acuity Trading. It also includes an economic calendar, giving traders a fuller view of current and upcoming events. IUX, by comparison, offers an economic calendar but does not provide daily commentary, top-tier forex news, Autochartist, sentiment tools, or Acuity Trading research.
This difference shows in their research ratings and rankings as well. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #18 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IUX is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #37. For traders who want more built-in market insight and analysis tools, HFM offers a stronger research package than IUX.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing HFM and IUX for beginner education, HFM comes out ahead overall. HFM offers forex and CFDs learning material, monthly online client webinars, at least 10 beginner videos, and also at least 10 advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. IUX also provides at least 10 beginner videos, which is helpful for new traders, but it does not offer monthly educational webinars and does not have at least 10 advanced videos, so its learning support is more limited for people who want to grow beyond the basics.
That difference is reflected in ratings and rankings too. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #30 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IUX is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranked #37. For beginners looking for more ways to learn through articles, videos, and live webinars, HFM offers a stronger educational experience than IUX.
| Feature |
HFM
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 IUX. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #37.
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 |
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IUX
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| Trust Score | 85 | 76 |
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In the HFM vs IUX comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither online broker lets you buy actual delivered crypto, but both allow you to trade cryptocurrency CFDs.
Online brokers HFM and IUX compared: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits/withdrawals, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | IUX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | IUX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 76 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.8 | 0.86 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.1 | 0.6 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX Review |
| Overall | HFM | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | IUX Review |
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