Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Octa, 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 it comes to choosing an online broker, HFM and Octa present themselves with different trust levels and regulatory standings. HFM, established in 2010, boasts a solid regulatory foundation with two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. This contributes to its trust score of 86 out of 99, making it a trusted option among users. In contrast, Octa, which started in 2011, holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, earning a trust score of 72. While neither HFM nor Octa are publicly traded companies or banks, their regulatory credentials differ significantly, which could be a deciding factor for potential users.
While both brokers aim to provide a reliable trading environment, their trust scores reflect their commitment to upholding regulatory standards. HFM's higher trust score indicates a greater degree of reliability. However, Octa still maintains a decent level of trust, described as average risk, which might appeal to those less concerned with top-tier regulation. As you ponder your choices, consider how each broker’s regulatory framework fits with your personal trading needs.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
HFM and Octa both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Octa edges ahead in our rankings (#30 of 63) while HFM sits at #32 of 63. Both brokers publish indicative spreads without a clear date range, so treat the figures as guides rather than firm averages.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. On its Standard account, the company lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips, though no timeframe is given—which could mean real-world averages may be higher. HFM’s Zero account is more competitive with an effective 0.7 pips after commission, but that figure is also not presented as an average.
Octa has made notable strides on pricing and is now competitive with many low-cost MetaTrader brokers. Spreads vary by the entity you use: the EU entity lists an average 0.5 pips on EUR/USD versus 0.9 pips at its foreign entities, yet no date range is provided. Octa reports no slippage on 97.5% of orders and no overnight carry costs, though some rules can limit high-frequency strategies. Account choices depend on jurisdiction: the EU offers a single MT5 account, while non-EU entities support MT4, MT5, and OctaTrader.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
HFM vs Octa: When it comes to range of investments, HFM lists about 500 tradeable symbols and 102 forex pairs, compared with Octa’s 300 symbols and 35 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs (but not actual coins).
For stocks, neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares directly, but Octa does provide access to some exchange-traded securities on international exchanges, while HFM does not. Reflecting these differences, HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 37th out of 63 brokers, whereas Octa scores 3.5 stars and ranks 53rd. Choose HFM if you want more forex pairs and overall symbols; pick Octa if you need direct access to certain international exchange-listed shares.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 300 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 35 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
HFM and Octa both check the key boxes for modern trading platforms and tools. Each broker provides a free demo account for simulated (paper) trading, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Copy trading is available at both brokers, and traders can place orders directly from charts, making it easier to act on setups without switching screens.
In independent testing, both HFM and Octa earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Looking at category rankings from ForexBrokers.com, Octa places #38 out of 63 brokers, while HFM ranks #43. In short, the two are closely matched on platform coverage and features, with Octa holding a slight edge in the category ranking.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Octa both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, each earning 4 out of 5 stars for usability and features. If rankings matter to you, ForexBrokers.com places Octa slightly ahead at #37 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM comes in at #40.
Feature-wise, the two apps are neck and neck. Both support stock and forex price alerts, offer 30 technical studies for charting, and let you draw trendlines with drawings that auto-save. One notable limitation is the same for both: watchlists created in the mobile app do not sync with your online account, so changes won’t carry over between devices.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both HFM and Octa provide users with valuable daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Traders can utilize tools from Autochartist on both platforms, augmenting their technical and fundamental analysis capabilities. However, neither platform provides research tools from Trading Central or Acuity Trading, nor do they include market research from TipRanks. HFM stands out by offering a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the ratio of long or short positions across various currency pairs, a feature not available on Octa.
In terms of overall research capabilities, both HFM and Octa offer comprehensive economic calendars to keep traders informed of global economic events. In ratings, both platforms are awarded 4 out of 5 stars for research. However, a closer look at rankings by ForexBrokers.com shows HFM positioned at #20, ahead of Octa at #27, among 63 brokers evaluated. These insights can help guide users in selecting a platform that best matches their trading needs and research preferences.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners exploring forex and CFDs, both HFM and Octa deliver plenty of learning options. Each broker runs online educational webinars at least once a month and offers video libraries with at least 10 beginner-focused lessons plus at least 10 advanced videos for experienced traders. Alongside videos and archived webinars, their materials cover key trading basics, platform how‑tos, risk management, and strategy topics to help new traders build confidence.
In independent ratings, both HFM and Octa earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education. HFM holds a slight edge in category ranking (#37 of 63) compared with Octa (#42 of 63). If a marginally higher-ranked education lineup matters to you, HFM gets the nod; if you want a similar mix of videos and monthly webinars, Octa is also a solid pick for starting your learning journey.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Octa
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 HFM is better than Octa. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Octa finished with an overall rank of #47.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
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Octa
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 |
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HFM vs Octa: neither broker supports buying real, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
HFM vs Octa: both online brokers do not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal, but both offer Skrill and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | HFM | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Octa Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Octa | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 300 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 35 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.2 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $25 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Octa | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review | Octa Review |
| Overall | HFM | Octa | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 72 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Octa Review |
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