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, established in 1996, and HFM, which began its operations in 2010, are both online brokers that offer trading services. Neither of them is publicly traded or operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory standing, these brokers display distinct levels of trustworthiness. OANDA holds 7 Tier-1 licenses, the type regarded as highly reliable and has earned a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted.
On the other hand, HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, which are still respectable but fall short of OANDA's credentials. HFM carries a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, placing it in the “trusted” category. While both brokers are considered reliable, OANDA slightly edges out HFM in terms of overall regulatory backing and trust score.
| 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 |
Comparing OANDA vs HFM on commissions and fees: both earn 4 out of 5 stars, yet HFM ranks slightly higher (#32 of 63) than OANDA (#35 of 63) in the Commissions and Fees category at ForexBrokers.com. Each broker’s headline pricing suggests competitive options, but the lack of consistently published, time-stamped averages makes apples-to-apples comparisons tricky.
OANDA’s trading costs skew higher than the cheapest brokers. Its non-core pricing averaged 1.61 pips on EUR/USD in July 2024. The core pricing account lowers the spread but adds a per-side commission of $5 per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round turn per standard lot) and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. In a common scenario, a 0.4-pip core spread plus the commission-equivalent of about 1 pip results in an all-in cost near 1.4 pips—slightly better than the 1.6-pip default example. Perks include micro-position sizing down to 1 unit, active-trader rebates of $5–$17 per million, and subscription reimbursements in select jurisdictions. OANDA publishes trailing spread data for transparency, though it doesn’t provide fixed-period averages.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The company cites a typical 1.2-pip spread on standard accounts, but it does not provide a date range, so the true average may be higher. Its Zero account advertises an effective 0.7-pip spread after commission, yet this figure is not an average either. In short: OANDA’s example all-in core pricing lands around 1.4 pips on EUR/USD (with a deposit requirement), while HFM’s headline Zero number is lower on paper, but both brokers’ published figures should be treated with care due to limited time-frame disclosures.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
OANDA and HFM both support forex trading as CFDs or spot. OANDA lists 4,172 tradeable symbols, far more than HFM’s 500, but HFM offers more currency pairs (102 vs. 69). Both support copy trading. For range of investments, each earns 4 out of 5 stars; in ForexBrokers.com rankings, OANDA places 28th of 63, while HFM ranks 37th.
OANDA also provides share dealing on U.S. and international exchanges—so you can buy actual stocks like Apple or Vodafone—not just CFDs. HFM does not offer real share trading. In crypto, OANDA lets you buy actual coins as well as trade crypto CFDs, while HFM limits crypto to CFDs only. If you want the widest menu of markets plus access to real stocks and delivered crypto, OANDA has the edge; if your focus is a larger list of forex pairs, HFM is stronger.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 102 |
| 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 cover the platform basics most traders look for. Each broker offers a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), include copy trading options, and let you place trades directly from charts—useful for quick entries and exits without switching screens.
For overall platform quality, both OANDA and HFM earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. That said, OANDA ranks higher on ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #15 out of 63 brokers, while HFM is ranked #43. If platform experience and tools are your tie-breaker, OANDA edges ahead based on that ranking; if you simply want the key features like MT4/MT5, copy trading, and a free demo, both brokers deliver.
| 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 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and HFM both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, the ability to draw trendlines, and auto-saving of chart drawings. One notable gap for both is watchlist symbol syncing—changes made on mobile won’t sync with your online account watchlists.
Where they differ is overall app quality and industry standing. OANDA earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds 4 stars and ranks #40. If you want similar chart tools and alerts on either platform, both will do the job; if you prioritize higher-rated mobile performance and polish, OANDA is the stronger pick.
| 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 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In an OANDA vs HFM market research comparison, both brokers deliver strong coverage for everyday traders. Each provides daily market commentary, forex news from leading wires like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Autochartist-powered technical tools, a sentiment indicator showing long/short positioning, and a full economic calendar. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading integrations.
Where they differ is recognition and depth. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while HFM holds 4 stars and ranks #20. If you want top-tier news, sentiment insights, and Autochartist on tap, both fit the bill—yet OANDA takes the lead for overall research quality and standing.
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA and HFM both make it easy for new traders to learn the basics. Each broker offers a full library of forex and CFD education with well over 10 pieces of content, plus monthly live webinars. Beginners get at least 10 videos tailored to starting out, and there are also 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper.
For overall quality, OANDA stands out with a 5-star Education rating and a #19 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want the higher-rated learning experience, OANDA is the safer bet. If you’re simply looking for plenty of lessons and regular webinars to get started, HFM still delivers good value.
| 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 #12, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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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 | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| 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 (SFC 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 SCA 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 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 102 | |
| 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) - Standard account | 1.69 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.7 | |
| 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 | 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 | 15 | |
| 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | OANDA | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
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