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 |
Markets.com offers traders a straightforward fee structure with its commissions and fees rated at 3.5 out of five stars. However, details on its average spread data are not readily available. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com ranks 49th out of 62 brokers for its commissions and fees, suggesting there might be more competitive options available in the market.
HFM, on the other hand, presents slightly above-the-industry-average trading costs but manages to secure a higher rating of four stars for its commissions and fees. For standard trading accounts, HFM typically offers spreads of around 1.2 pips, although this isn't an average and can vary. The broker also offers a Zero account with an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, again not based on average values. Ranking 31st out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, HFM appears to provide more favorable cost conditions compared to Markets.com.
In summary, while Markets.com provides a simple fee structure, its lack of spread data and lower ranking may prompt traders to consider alternatives. On the other hand, HFM offers slightly better-rated and clearer cost structures, making it a potentially more appealing choice for those concerned with trading expenses.
| 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 the range of investments, Markets.com and HFM offer a solid selection for online traders. Both brokers provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but they differ in the number of available tradable symbols. Markets.com impressively offers 2,179 symbols, far surpassing HFM’s offering of 500. However, when it comes to forex pairs, HFM takes the lead with 102 pairs available compared to Markets.com’s 57. It's noteworthy that neither broker provides the opportunity to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, limiting client exposure to direct stock trading.
Both Markets.com and HFM enable clients to engage in copy trading, a feature that appeals to those looking to replicate successful traders' strategies. Cryptocurrency enthusiasts may find both brokers lacking in offering the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, providing only derivative options instead. Despite these limitations, both Markets.com and HFM receive a 4-star rating for their range of investments, although Markets.com is ranked slightly higher at 29th place compared to HFM’s 36th position according to ForexBrokers.com. This reflects a subtle edge for Markets.com in the competitive landscape of online brokerage offerings.
| 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.
When comparing Markets.com and HFM in terms of trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer solid options for traders. Each provides a free virtual demo account, allowing users to familiarize themselves with the platforms without financial risk. Both Markets.com and HFM have developed their own proprietary platforms alongside offering well-known platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They also support Windows-based desktop download and web-based (browser) platforms, ensuring accessibility for traders on different devices. Additionally, both brokers provide copy trading but do not offer third-party trading systems like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
Despite their similarities, slight distinctions exist in their offerings. Markets.com provides four drawing tools for charting, while HFM offers thirty, allowing for more detailed technical analysis on the latter. HFM stands out by enabling direct trades from stock charts, a feature not available with Markets.com. In terms of creating watch lists, Markets.com provides fields for six columns, compared to HFM's seven. Both brokers have earned a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, with Markets.com ranked 27th and HFM 42nd by ForexBrokers.com, highlighting their respective strengths and areas for improvement.
| 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.
Both Markets.com and HFM offer dedicated mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring seamless trading experiences across devices. Users will find price alerts for stocks or forex on both platforms. However, Markets.com has the advantage of watchlist symbol syncing, allowing traders to keep their watchlists up-to-date automatically between their mobile app and online account. This feature is not available on HFM. While HFM comes equipped with 30 technical studies for charting, Markets.com relies on the default offerings of MT4. Both apps enable users to draw trendlines on stock or forex charts, but HFM goes a step further by supporting multiple time frames for better chart analysis, unlike Markets.com. HFM also provides the convenience of auto-saving drawings, a feature that Markets.com lacks.
When it comes to creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both Markets.com and HFM meet the mark. Each app garners a respectable four out of five stars rating for overall performance in mobile trading. According to ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 62 brokers, Markets.com is positioned at #33, slightly ahead of HFM which ranks at #39. With these insights, potential users can make informed choices about which mobile trading app aligns best with their 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.
When comparing the market research offerings between Markets.com and HFM, both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each offer sentiment-based trading tools that indicate long or short positions across various instruments, ensuring traders stay informed about market dynamics. Additionally, both platforms feature an economic calendar to keep users updated on key global events. However, neither broker offers research tools from Acuity Trading or market insights from TipRanks, and HFM holds a slight edge with its additional technical analysis tools from Autochartist, a feature not available at Markets.com.
In terms of ratings, both Markets.com and HFM stand equally at 4 stars for research. However, within the Research category ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com edges ahead at #17 while HFM sits at #20 out of 62 brokers. The lack of offerings from Trading Central is evident in both platforms, yet the shared access to high-quality resources and sentiment tools ensures that traders have a solid foundation for making informed decisions.
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, Markets.com provides a solid foundation with its monthly online webinars and a selection of more than ten beginner-focused educational videos. However, it does not offer a comprehensive library of content specifically dedicated to forex or CFDs, nor does it maintain a searchable archive of previous webinars. While the platform features advanced videos for experienced traders, it lacks an investor dictionary for essential investing terms.
On the other hand, HFM stands out by offering extensive educational resources that include more than ten forex or CFD-focused articles and videos, along with a monthly webinar series. Additionally, it provides a searchable archive for past webinars and a glossary containing over 50 investing terms, making it a more complete educational package. Both platforms are highly rated for their educational offerings, earning four stars, yet Markets.com ranks slightly higher than HFM in the education category according to 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 62 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
|
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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