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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, OANDA and HFM are both rated 4 out of 5 stars, but HFM ranks a little higher overall in this category. ForexBrokers.com places OANDA at #31 out of 36 brokers, while HFM sits at #29 out of 36. For most traders, that means both brokers are fair options, but neither is a true low-cost leader.
OANDA’s trading costs are generally on the higher side, especially on its standard pricing, where EUR/USD averaged 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its core pricing can lower spreads, but it adds a commission of $5 per side per $100,000 traded, with a $10,000 minimum deposit. After commissions are included, the total cost is only a little better than the default account. OANDA does stand out for very small trade sizes, plus rebates for active traders in some regions.
HFM’s fees are also slightly above the industry average, with standard account spreads typically around 1.2 pips, though no clear time period is given for that figure. Its Zero account can bring the effective spread down to 0.7 pips after commission, but that is not an average spread. In simple terms, HFM may offer somewhat tighter pricing than OANDA in some cases, while OANDA offers more detail on its pricing and stronger flexibility for smaller trades.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.1 |
| 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.
When it comes to range of investments, OANDA offers more choice than HFM. OANDA provides access to 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while HFM offers 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer copy trading. However, OANDA goes further by giving clients access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, plus the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency as well as crypto CFDs. HFM, by comparison, does not offer exchange-traded securities or direct cryptocurrency ownership, though it does offer crypto CFDs.
These differences are reflected in third-party ratings and rankings. OANDA earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments and is ranked #20 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category. HFM receives 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #29 out of 36. For traders who want a broader mix of markets, especially shares and direct crypto access, OANDA has the wider investment selection.
| 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 wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, a broker-built platform, desktop apps for Windows, web trading, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each also lets users place trades straight from a chart, which can make order entry faster and easier to follow for beginners and active traders alike.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars. Still, OANDA has the edge in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking, coming in at #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is ranked #34. In simple terms, both brokers offer a solid mix of tools, but OANDA is viewed as the stronger choice in this category overall.
| 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.
OANDA and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each app includes price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. 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 traders who want the basics covered on the go, both apps do a solid job.
Where OANDA stands out is in charting and overall app quality. OANDA’s mobile app includes 30 technical studies, compared with just 5 at HFM, giving traders more tools to analyze price moves. That stronger feature set is reflected in its higher ratings as well: OANDA earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM earns 4 stars and ranks #33. If mobile charting matters to you, OANDA has the clear edge.
| 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 the basics of trading, both OANDA and HFM offer a wide range of education. Each broker provides forex and CFD learning material, including at least 10 pieces focused on these markets, plus monthly educational webinars and a solid library of beginner-friendly videos. They also both offer at least 10 advanced videos, so traders who want to keep learning can find content beyond the basics. In practical terms, this means both brokers give new traders plenty of ways to start building knowledge through articles, videos, and live online sessions.
That said, OANDA comes out ahead for education overall. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #18 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #29. For beginners, the difference may come down to how easy it feels to find clear, useful learning material as you progress. Both are strong choices for trader education, but OANDA has the edge if education is a top priority.
| 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 #13, 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) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 92 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | HFM Review |
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