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 (founded 2008) and HFM (founded 2010) are online brokers with different regulation and trust profiles. Plus500 is publicly traded, while HFM is not; neither is a bank. ForexBrokers.com gives Plus500 a Trust Score of 99/99 and HFM 85/99; by its scale, 90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, and below 59 = not trusted.
License coverage also differs: Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 4 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), compared with HFM’s 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. Both are regulated and considered trustworthy, but Plus500 carries a higher trust rating and a broader set of top-tier regulators.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 and HFM are both priced a little above the industry average, but Plus500 comes out slightly better overall. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts, though qualified Professional clients may receive cash rebates similar to an active trader program. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the market average. Plus500 earns 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #24 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
HFM also has trading costs that sit slightly above the industry average. The broker says its standard accounts typically show a 1.2-pip spread, but no date range is provided, so the real average could be different. Its Zero account can work out to an effective 0.7-pip spread after commission, though that is not an average spread either. HFM is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #28 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In simple terms, both brokers are fairly competitive but not among the cheapest choices for active traders. Plus500 has the better ranking and a slightly stronger fees profile than HFM, while HFM may appeal to traders who want to compare standard and zero-spread account setups. If keeping trading costs low is your main goal, it is worth comparing each broker’s spreads and account types closely before opening an account.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| 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.
When it comes to the range of investments, Plus500 has the wider selection compared with HFM. Plus500 offers 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, while HFM provides 344 tradeable symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers direct purchase of actual cryptocurrency.
Plus500 also stands out for investors who want access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as U.S.-listed Apple shares or London-listed Vodafone shares. HFM does not offer these exchange-traded securities, but it does include copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Overall, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #28.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 38 |
| 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.
When comparing Plus500 and HFM for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give traders a free demo account and a proprietary platform, plus a web-based platform that works in your browser. Plus500 earns a higher Trading Platforms and Tools rating at 4.5 out of 5 stars, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Plus500 places #14 out of 36 brokers in this category, compared with HFM at #33, which suggests Plus500 has the edge for overall platform and tool experience.
HFM, however, offers more platform choices. It supports a Windows desktop download platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while Plus500 does not offer these options. HFM also lets traders place trades directly from charts, which Plus500 does not. For traders who want a simpler browser-based setup, Plus500 may be enough, but HFM is the better pick if you want more advanced trading software and extra features.
| 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 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing Plus500 and HFM for mobile trading, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus stock or forex price alerts and trendline drawing tools. Plus500 stands out for its much larger charting toolkit, with 115 technical studies in its mobile app compared with just 5 at HFM. It also earns a higher Mobile Trading Apps rating from ForexBrokers.com, at 4.5 stars versus HFM’s 4 stars, and ranks higher overall in the category, coming in at #14 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM at #32.
One key difference is watchlist syncing. Plus500 lets watchlists sync between the mobile app and the online account, so updates carry over either way, while HFM does not offer this feature. HFM does have one advantage: it automatically saves chart drawings in the app, whereas Plus500 does not. Overall, Plus500 appears better suited for traders who want stronger mobile charting and smoother watchlist syncing, while HFM covers the basics well but offers fewer mobile trading features.
| 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 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and HFM both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar to track key global events. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #18, putting Plus500 slightly ahead overall.
The main difference is in the research sources and tools each broker offers. HFM includes forex news from well-known providers such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, Plus500 offers Trading Central tools, which HFM does not. Neither broker offers TipRanks research, so the choice may come down to whether you prefer more news and third-party tools with HFM or Trading Central support with Plus500.
| 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 | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both Plus500 and HFM give new traders a solid starting point. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of content, regular online client webinars, and a good selection of beginner videos as well as advanced videos for traders who want to build on the basics. This means beginners can find step-by-step material at either broker without needing to look elsewhere right away.
That said, Plus500 comes out slightly ahead on education. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers support learning well, but Plus500 offers a somewhat stronger educational experience overall for beginners.
| 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 #27.
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
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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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 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| 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 | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 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) | 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) | 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 38 | |
| 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 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| 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 | 38 | |
| 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 | 5 | |
| 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 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
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