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 |
Swissquote and HFM both charge more than the cheapest forex brokers, but they price things differently. Swissquote’s fees can vary by entity, with its U.K. accounts generally offering the lowest trading costs, while its Switzerland and Luxembourg offerings tend to be pricier. For active traders, Swissquote’s commission-based Elite account in the U.K. can be the best value, but many of its account types still come with spreads that are higher than average. Swissquote is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #35 out of 36 brokers.
HFM is a bit simpler on pricing, and its overall trading costs are slightly above the industry average. On standard accounts, HFM says spreads typically start around 1.2 pips, while its Zero account can bring the effective cost down to about 0.7 pips after commission. Even so, these figures are not always average spreads, so actual costs may be higher than they first appear. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #28 out of 36.
In short, HFM has the edge over Swissquote on commissions and fees based on rating and ranking, though neither broker is a low-cost leader. Swissquote may appeal more to traders who want the backing of a Swiss banking group and are willing to pay a premium for it, while HFM offers somewhat better pricing overall for everyday trading.
| 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.
Swissquote offers a wider range of investments than HFM, making it the stronger choice for traders and investors who want more variety. Swissquote provides access to 472 tradable symbols and 80 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but Swissquote also stands out by letting clients buy actual cryptocurrencies and trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges.
HFM offers a more limited selection overall and does not provide direct access to listed shares on U.S. or international exchanges, or to actual cryptocurrencies. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while HFM receives 4 stars and ranks #28. For investors who want broader market access, Swissquote has the clear advantage.
| 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 plenty of ways to get started and stay active. Each broker offers a free demo account, its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, a web-based platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Both also let users trade straight from a chart, which can make it easier to place orders while watching price moves in real time.
Where they differ is in overall ratings and rankings. 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 out of 5 stars and ranked #33. Based on these results, Swissquote has the edge for platform and tools quality, even though both brokers cover the core features most traders look for.
| 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 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex 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 do not carry over automatically. For everyday mobile trading needs, both apps cover the basics well and should feel familiar to most users.
Where Swissquote stands out is in charting and overall app quality. Swissquote offers 30 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with just 5 at HFM, which gives traders more tools for analyzing price moves on the go. That edge is reflected in its higher Mobile Trading Apps rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, versus 4 out of 5 for HFM, as well as its stronger ForexBrokers.com ranking of #12 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM’s #32.
| 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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