Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote and HFM are well-known online brokers with different profiles. Swissquote was founded in 1996, is publicly traded, and operates as a bank. HFM, launched in 2010, is not publicly listed and is not a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale—where 90–99 is highly trusted and 80–89 is trusted—Swissquote scores 99 (highly trusted) while HFM scores 85 (trusted).
In terms of regulation, Swissquote holds 5 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. For traders prioritizing safety and oversight, Swissquote offers a broader Tier-1 footprint and the highest possible Trust Score, while HFM remains a trusted option.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, HFM comes out a bit stronger than Swissquote. HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #29 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees, while Swissquote holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #36 out of 36. In plain terms, that means HFM’s pricing is generally easier on cost-conscious traders, though it is still slightly above the industry average.
Swissquote’s fees are tied closely to which entity you use, with its U.K., Luxembourg, and Swiss offerings all carrying different minimum deposits and pricing. The U.K. accounts tend to be the cheapest, with options like the Elite account charging a $5 round-turn commission plus lower spreads, while the Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD. Luxembourg pricing is similar, and the Swiss accounts are usually more expensive, with spreads starting at 1.7 pips on the Standard account and 1.1 pips on the Prime account. Overall, Swissquote is better suited to traders who value the brand and Swiss banking connection, even if they pay a little more for it.
HFM keeps things simpler. Its standard accounts typically quote spreads around 1.2 pips, and the Zero account can bring the effective spread down to about 0.7 pips after commission. While HFM does not always publish full average-spread details, its pricing is generally more competitive than Swissquote’s and makes it the more affordable choice for many traders.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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, Swissquote offers a wider choice than HFM. Swissquote provides 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, while HFM offers 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, and both also offer copy trading. For investors looking beyond forex, Swissquote stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, which means clients can buy real shares such as Apple and Vodafone rather than only trading CFDs.
Swissquote also gives investors more options in digital assets, since it allows both actual cryptocurrency purchases and cryptocurrency CFDs, while HFM offers only crypto CFDs. Based on this wider product range, Swissquote receives 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #29, making Swissquote the stronger choice for traders who want more markets and more ways to invest.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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.
Swissquote and HFM both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, web-based access, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order placement easier for active traders. In other words, both firms cover the main tools most people look for when comparing online broker platforms.
Where they differ is in overall platform quality and third-party ranking. Swissquote is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #12 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #34. That suggests Swissquote has a slight edge for traders who want a better-rated platform experience, even though HFM still offers many of the same core trading tools.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and HFM both give traders mobile access on iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the online account, so watchlist changes do not carry over automatically. For everyday mobile trading needs, both apps cover the basics well and make it easy to monitor markets on the go.
The main difference is in charting and overall app quality. Swissquote’s mobile app includes 30 technical studies, compared with just 5 at HFM, which gives Swissquote users more tools for chart analysis. That stronger feature set is reflected in ratings and rankings too: Swissquote earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM scores 4 stars and ranks #33. If mobile charting matters most, Swissquote has the edge.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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.
Swissquote and HFM both give traders a strong set of market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar with key global events. Neither broker includes Trading Central or TipRanks, and both are missing some third-party research extras that other platforms may offer. Swissquote, however, stands out with a higher research rating of 4.5 out of 5 and a better ForexBrokers.com ranking at #15 out of 36, compared with HFM’s 4 out of 5 and #18 ranking.
Where HFM has an edge is in a few added research features that Swissquote does not provide, such as a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning across markets and research from Acuity Trading like Signal Centre. For traders who want a broader mix of research signals and sentiment data, HFM may feel more helpful. Still, Swissquote comes out slightly ahead overall for market research thanks to its stronger rating and higher category rank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and HFM both give beginners a wide range of learning tools, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. That means each broker offers plenty of material for traders who are just starting out and for those who want to build on what they already know.
Even so, Swissquote comes out ahead in the overall education comparison. It holds a 4.5-star education rating and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM has a 4-star rating and ranks #29. For beginners looking for a slightly stronger educational offering, Swissquote has the edge, though HFM still provides a solid set of learning resources.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than HFM. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
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HFM
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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In a Swissquote vs HFM comparison for cryptocurrency trading, the online broker Swissquote lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, whereas HFM offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing real delivered crypto.
Compare online brokers Swissquote and HFM: Swissquote supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, while HFM supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal.
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 | Swissquote | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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) | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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 | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Swissquote Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | HFM Review |
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