Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
OANDA and HFM are well-known online brokers with different trust profiles. According to ForexBrokers.com, a Trust Score of 90–99 is highly trusted and 80–89 is trusted. OANDA earns a 92 (highly trusted) and was founded in 1996, while HFM scores 85 (trusted) and was founded in 2010.
In terms of regulation, OANDA holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 0 Tier-2 licenses, whereas HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. Neither OANDA nor HFM is publicly traded or operates as a bank, which is useful context when comparing their oversight and risk profiles.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
OANDA and HFM both earn 4 stars for commissions and fees, but neither one is a top low-cost choice. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees ranking, HFM places slightly higher at #30 out of 36 brokers, while OANDA ranks #32. In simple terms, HFM is a bit cheaper overall, but the gap is small.
OANDA’s trading costs are generally on the high side, especially on its standard pricing, where spreads can be wider than the best-priced brokers. For example, OANDA’s average non-core EUR/USD spread was 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its core pricing can lower spreads, but it adds a commission of $5 per $100,000 traded per side, and it requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. OANDA’s main strength is not low fees, but its flexible trade sizing, transparent spread reporting, and automated order execution.
HFM’s pricing is also a little above average, though its Zero account can bring the effective cost down to about 0.7 pips after commission. Its standard account is said to have a typical spread of 1.2 pips, though no fixed date range is provided for that figure. Overall, OANDA may appeal to traders who want small trade sizes and clear pricing details, while HFM is slightly better for traders focused on lower commissions and fees.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.68 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.69 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing OANDA and HFM for range of investments, OANDA gives traders more to choose from overall. OANDA offers 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while HFM lists 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer copy trading. Based on this wider product list, OANDA is the stronger option for traders who want more market access in one account.
OANDA also stands out for offering exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while HFM does not offer these cash shares. In addition, OANDA lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency CFDs, while HFM offers only crypto CFDs. These differences help explain why OANDA is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #20 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
OANDA and HFM both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers also let users trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to act quickly while watching price moves. For everyday traders, this means each broker covers the main platform needs across desktop, browser, and mobile-style flexibility.
When it comes to overall trading tools, OANDA and HFM are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. However, OANDA holds a better ForexBrokers.com ranking in this category, placing #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM ranks #36. That gap suggests OANDA has a slight edge in this area, even though both brokers offer a very similar lineup of platform features.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing OANDA and HFM for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. However, neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, so changes made in one place do not carry over to the other. For everyday use, this means both apps cover the basics well, but neither stands out in watchlist syncing.
OANDA has the edge in mobile charting and overall app quality. Its mobile app includes 30 technical studies, compared with just 5 for HFM, which gives OANDA traders more tools for chart analysis on the go. That stronger app experience is reflected in ratings and rankings too: OANDA is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #35. For mobile traders who want more charting features and a higher-rated app, OANDA is the better choice.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
OANDA and HFM both give traders a solid set of market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Autochartist-based analysis, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar with global events. Neither broker offers Trading Central tools or TipRanks research, but HFM does add Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, which OANDA does not.
When it comes to research quality, OANDA comes out ahead with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds a 4-star rating and places #18. In short, both brokers cover the basics well, but OANDA has the edge overall for market research, while HFM offers a slightly different mix of tools for traders who want extra idea generation.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn forex or CFD trading, both OANDA and HFM offer a wide range of helpful educational content. Each broker provides at least 10 forex- or CFD-focused learning materials, monthly client webinars, and plenty of beginner and advanced videos. That means new traders can find basic lessons to get started, while more experienced users can also keep learning through higher-level content.
Still, OANDA stands out more in this area. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #18 out of 36 brokers for education, while HFM holds a 4-star rating and ranks #31. In simple terms, both brokers give beginners access to useful learning tools, but OANDA appears to offer a stronger overall education experience.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 OANDA is better than HFM. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #14, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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HFM
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| Trust Score | 92 | 85 |
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Online broker OANDA supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading crypto CFDs, whereas HFM offers cryptocurrency exposure only via CFDs.
Comparing OANDA vs HFM for deposit and withdrawal methods: OANDA offers ACH/SEPA and PayPal (not available at HFM), both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | OANDA | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.68 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.69 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | OANDA | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
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