Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com 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.
When comparing the online brokers Markets.com and HFM, one key aspect to consider is their regulatory standing and trust scores. Markets.com, established in 1999, holds three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. It has a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted category. Conversely, HFM, which entered the scene in 2010, possesses two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses with a Trust Score of 86, categorizing it as trusted.
Neither Markets.com nor HFM is publicly traded or operates as a bank. The regulatory credentials suggest that both offer a secure platform, but Markets.com edges out with a higher Trust Score, indicating a stronger confidence level from experts. However, both brokers are well-regarded, making them viable options for traders seeking regulated online brokerage services.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Markets.com and HFM, Markets.com presents a straightforward, though somewhat limited, view due to the unavailability of average spread data. Rated at 3.5 out of 5 stars for its commission and fee structure, Markets.com holds the 50th rank out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that while it does attract attention, it may not always offer the most competitive pricing models in the market.
On the other hand, HFM provides a more detailed overview of its trading costs, albeit with an admission that these are slightly above the industry average. Typically, in their standard trading accounts, traders see a spread of 1.2 pips, though this figure is not time-stamped, potentially hiding variations. For traders using the Zero account, the effective spread can drop to 0.7 pips after commission, yet again this does not represent an official average. HFM's commission and fee structure earns a 4-star rating and ranks 31st out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, indicating a generally favorable reputation.
Ultimately, while both brokers offer unique pricing structures, HFM appears to be slightly more attractive in terms of commissions and fees. Its higher star rating and ranking suggest it might provide better overall value for traders concerned with cost efficiency. Markets.com, despite being reliable, could benefit from greater transparency and competitiveness to enhance its market position.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to online broker options, Markets.com and HFM both offer forex trading with CFDs and spot contracts. Markets.com provides an impressive 2179 tradeable symbols, including 57 forex pairs. In contrast, HFM offers 500 tradeable symbols but stands out with 102 forex pairs. Neither platform supports trading in actual exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, meaning you can't directly buy stocks like Apple or Vodafone through either. However, both Markets.com and HFM allow for copy trading and trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Markets.com nor HFM supports purchasing actual cryptocurrencies. Despite this, both platforms receive a solid 4-star rating for their range of investments. When looking at rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com places higher at #29, whereas HFM trails slightly at #36. This difference might reflect Markets.com's larger number of total tradeable symbols, giving it an edge for investors seeking diversity in their trading portfolios.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 102 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
Markets.com and HFM both provide comprehensive trading platforms and tools for online trading, making them competitive choices for traders. Each broker offers simulated trading with a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice and develop strategies without financial risk. Both markets have developed their own proprietary platforms and support popular choices like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which can be accessed through Windows-based desktop downloads as well as web browsers. Additionally, they provide copy trading features, enhancing the versatility and accessibility for traders at all levels of expertise.
While both Markets.com and HFM offer strong resources, there are some differences in their features. HFM stands out by offering 30 drawing tools for charting and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, compared to Markets.com's 4 drawing tools and lack of direct chart trading capability. Additionally, HFM allows slightly more customization for watch lists with 7 columns compared to Markets.com's 6. Both brokers are rated 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools, but Markets.com is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, placing 27th out of 63 brokers, while HFM ranks 42nd. Overall, traders choosing between these two brokers will find that both offer a solid array of trading platforms and tools, each with specific strengths to consider based on individual needs.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Markets.com and HFM both provide mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making it easy for traders to engage with the markets on the go. Both apps also include features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. While Markets.com and HFM offer the capability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, only Markets.com allows for seamless watchlist symbol syncing with the online account. This advantage ensures that any changes made to watchlists are reflected across both platforms. Additionally, HFM stands out with its offering of 30 technical studies for charting, whereas Markets.com lacks default technical studies in its Markets app.
For those who consider flexibility in analyzing data crucial, HFM offers multiple time frames on charts, such as daily, weekly, and intraday views, a feature that is absent in the Markets.com app. Furthermore, HFM's charts support auto-saving of drawings, offering a more user-friendly experience for technical analysts. Despite these differences, both apps have earned a 4-star rating for their mobile trading experience. However, when ranked among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com placed slightly higher at #33, compared to HFM's position at #39. These subtleties could make the difference depending on personal trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Markets.com and HFM both deliver daily market commentary, keeping users informed with regular insights into financial markets. They each provide top-tier forex news from esteemed sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to timely and reliable information. Both brokers support sentiment-based trading tools, which show the balance of long and short positions across various instruments, helping traders gauge market sentiment effectively. An economic calendar is also present on both platforms, highlighting important global news events that could impact trading decisions.
While both Markets.com and HFM excel in these aspects, they diverge in terms of technical analysis tools. HFM has a discernible advantage by offering tools from Autochartist, aiding traders in their technical analysis endeavors. Conversely, neither broker provides access to Trading Central tools. When it comes to research tools from TipRanks and Acuity Trading, neither Markets.com nor HFM offers these services. In terms of rankings, Markets.com claims a slightly higher position, rated 17th by ForexBrokers.com, compared to HFM’s 20th rank, reflecting their similar offerings in the market research category, both earning a commendable four out of five stars.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Markets.com and HFM in terms of educational resources for beginners, both brokers offer some key advantages. Markets.com provides online educational client webinars at least once a month and offers over ten beginner and advanced educational videos tailored for traders at different levels. However, it falls short in providing a variety of foundational Forex or CFDs educational content, as well as lacking an investor dictionary that could be highly beneficial for new traders to understand financial terminology.
HFM not only hosts monthly webinars, similar to Markets.com, but also boasts a larger selection of educational materials focused on Forex or CFDs with a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars. This archive is advantageous for those who may want to revisit certain topics at their own pace. Additionally, HFM offers a comprehensive investor dictionary that covers over 50 investing terms, aiding beginners in grasping complex concepts. While both brokers receive a four-star rating for education, HFM provides a slightly more rounded educational offering, despite being ranked just below Markets.com by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Markets.com is better than HFM. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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Both Markets.com and HFM do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Markets.com and HFM, both platforms do not support ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for depositing or withdrawing fund accounts, however, they both offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for transactions.
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 | Markets.com | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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