Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 and HFM cater to traders seeking regulated online brokerage services, yet they differ significantly in their trust score and regulatory credentials. Founded in 2008, Plus500 stands as a highly trusted choice with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It is also publicly traded, enhancing its transparency. Plus500 supports its credibility with six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. Conversely, HFM, founded in 2010, holds a Trust Score of 86, positioning it in the trusted category. Despite this, HFM is not publicly traded but does hold two Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses.
Neither Plus500 nor HFM operates as a bank, which makes understanding their regulatory standings crucial for potential clients. Plus500's extensive licensing and public trading status may appeal to those prioritizing higher trust levels and transparency. HFM, with fewer Tier-1 licenses and no stock exchange presence, might still attract users looking for a trusted platform, albeit with less regulatory reassurance than Plus500. As such, traders should consider these factors when choosing between the two brokerages for their investment needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both Plus500 and HFM tend to sit slightly above the industry average. Plus500 doesn’t offer retail discounts, but Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates that work like an active trader program; still, its pricing trails top brokers for high-volume traders. Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers.
On spreads, Plus500 reported an average EUR/USD spread of 1.5 pips in April 2024. HFM lists a typical 1.2-pip spread on its Standard account, but it does not provide a date range, so the real average may be higher. HFM’s Zero account can bring the effective spread to about 0.7 pips after commission, though this figure is not an average. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers.
Bottom line: Plus500 publishes a dated average spread, which helps with clear expectations, but it’s still pricier than top low-cost options for active traders. HFM’s headline figures can look sharper—especially on the Zero account—but the lack of time-stamped averages makes it harder to gauge typical costs. If you qualify as a Professional client, Plus500’s cash rebates may help; otherwise, compare your expected trading volume and account type at HFM to see which setup fits your budget.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 and HFM both support forex trading and offer cryptocurrency only via CFDs (not actual coins). Plus500 provides a much broader catalog with about 5,500 tradeable symbols, compared with HFM’s roughly 500. In currency pairs, though, HFM lists 102 versus Plus500’s 65. Plus500 also enables trading exchange-traded stocks (not CFDs) on both U.S. and international exchanges, while HFM does not offer real share dealing.
HFM includes copy trading; Plus500 does not. For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 4.5/5 (ranked 22 of 63) and HFM 4/5 (ranked 37 of 63). In short, choose HFM if you want more forex pairs or copy trading, and choose Plus500 if you want a wider overall selection plus access to exchange-traded stocks, with crypto available as CFDs at both.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and HFM both make it easy to practice with a free demo account and each offers a proprietary, web-based trading platform. Key differences show up in features and access: HFM provides a Windows desktop platform, supports trading directly from charts, and offers copy trading—features not available at Plus500.
If you want third‑party platforms, HFM supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Plus500 does not. For overall platform and tools quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 at 4.5 stars (ranked #14 of 63) and HFM at 4 stars (ranked #43 of 63). In short, HFM suits traders who need desktop, MetaTrader, or copy trading, while Plus500 appeals to those who prefer a streamlined web platform and built-in demo access.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on stock and forex charts. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM earned 4 stars and ranked #40. If app quality and recognition matter to you, Plus500 comes out ahead in this category.
For features, Plus500 shines with 115 technical studies in its mobile charting and watchlist syncing across devices and web, making it easy to keep your symbols aligned everywhere. HFM offers 30 technical studies and does not sync watchlists, but it does auto-save chart drawings (Plus500 does not). Choose Plus500 if you want deeper chart tools and synced watchlists; pick HFM if you value drawings that save automatically and prefer a simpler toolkit.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Plus500 and HFM shine in their offering of daily market commentary, making them valuable resources for traders seeking regular updates. While both platforms furnish traders with sentiment-based tools and comprehensive economic calendars, the divergence in their services becomes apparent in other aspects. Plus500 provides exclusive access to Trading Central’s technical analytics, aiding those traders interested in in-depth analysis, whereas HFM excels by sourcing forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature Plus500 lacks.
Moreover, HFM provides the added advantage of utilizing Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental research, a resource that Plus500 does not offer. While neither broker provides market research from TipRanks or resources from Acuity Trading, they both hold an equal research rating of 4 stars. In terms of ranking, Plus500 narrowly edges out HFM, securing the 19th position over HFM's 20th in the Research category, out of a field of 63 brokers as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Plus500 vs HFM for beginner education: both brokers provide dedicated forex and CFD learning with at least 10 educational pieces, including videos and monthly client webinars. Each offers a beginner video library with 10+ lessons that explain core topics like how forex and CFDs work, order types, risk basics, and platform know‑how—helpful if you’re just getting started.
Both also include 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a 4.0/5 education rating and ranks 31st out of 63 brokers, while HFM is rated 4/5 and ranks 37th. The scores are close, but Plus500 edges ahead in the rankings; if you want similar beginner and advanced coverage with monthly webinars, either broker can work well.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than HFM. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 |
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Online brokers Plus500 and HFM do not allow purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, Plus500 and HFM both lack ACH/SEPA but support bank wire transfers; Plus500 also offers PayPal and Skrill, while HFM supports Skrill but not PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
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