ThinkMarkets vs HFM 2024

ThinkMarkets is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. ThinkMarkets is authorised by five tier-1 regulators (Highly Trusted), two tier-2 regulators (Average Risk), zero tier-3 regulators (low trust), and two tier-4 regulators (High Risk). ThinkMarkets is authorised by the following tier-1 regulators: Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), Japanese Financial Services Authority (JFSA), Financial Markets Authority (FMA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and regulated in the European Union via the MiFID passporting system.

HotForex is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. HotForex is authorised by two Tier-1 regulators (Highly Trusted), Three tier-2 regulators (Trusted), zero Tier-3 regulators (Average Risk), and one Tier-4 regulator (High Risk). HotForex is authorised by the following Tier-1 regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and regulated in the European Union via the MiFID passporting system.

ThinkMarkets has multiple regulatory license and offers a proprietary trading platform, as well as the entire MetaTrader suite. The broker has made progress in key areas, such as research and education, and the range of markets available, although trails behind the best brokers in these categories.

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.

To open a trading account with ThinkMarkets, you'll need to make an initial minimum deposit of $50.

HFM requires a minimum deposit of $0 before you can open an account and start trading.

It's important to make sure that your forex broker accepts the funding options and deposit methods that work best for you. Both ThinkMarkets and HFM offer Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit), Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw), Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) and Neteller (Deposit/Withdraw). Neither have PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw).

Comparing the trading costs of forex and CFDs is not easy. Not every broker publishes average spread data, and pricing structures vary. Based on our thorough, data-driven testing of each broker's commissions and fees, we found that HFM offers better pricing overall for traders.

Methodology: When testing each broker's commissions, fees, and pricing, we analyze multiple trade scenarios and award points based on the expansiveness (or inexpensiveness) of the broker's spreads. We then run multiple scenarios for different investor types, incorporating any miscellaneous fees, to determine an "all-in" cost per trade. Learn more about how we test.

At ForexBrokers.com, we track over 110 international regulatory agencies and sort them by tiers (Tier-1, Tier-2, Tier-3, Tier-4, and Tier-5) to help you choose well-regulated, highly trusted forex brokers. Learn more about our proprietary Trust Score rating system. Based on our research on the regulatory status of over 60 brokers, we've found that ThinkMarkets holds 5 global Tier-1 licenses, while HFM holds 2. HFM holds 3 global Tier-2 licenses, while ThinkMarkets holds 2.

After evaluating each broker based on their number of held licenses, years in business, and a range of other data-driven variables, we've determined that ThinkMarkets (92) earned a higher Trust Score than HFM (86).

To compare the trading platforms of both ThinkMarkets and HFM, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, ThinkMarkets offers a better experience. With research, HFM offers superior market research. Finally, we found ThinkMarkets to provide better mobile trading apps.

Here’s what trading platforms are available at ThinkMarkets:

• Proprietary Platform - Yes
• Web Platform - Yes
• cTrader - No
• DupliTrade - No
• MT4 - Yes
• MT5 - Yes
• ZuluTrade - No
• TradingView - Yes

Here’s what trading platforms are available at HFM:

• Proprietary Platform - Yes
• Web Platform - Yes
• cTrader - No
• DupliTrade - No
• MT4 - Yes
• MT5 - Yes
• ZuluTrade - No
• TradingView - No

The MetaTrader trading platform suite is wildly popular among forex and CFD traders across the globe. Both ThinkMarkets and HFM offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Forex traders also appreciate the ability to engage in social copy trading. ThinkMarkets and HFM both offer copy trading.

HFM provides traders 102 currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD) compared to ThinkMarkets's 46 available pairs. If you are interested in trading a full range of securities, ThinkMarkets offers traders access to 4000 tradeable symbols, while HFM offers access to 500 tradeable symbols; so ThinkMarkets offers 3500 more tradeable symbols than HFM.

We found in our testing that ThinkMarkets offers a more diverse selection of investment options than HFM, allowing you to trade Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs), U.S. Stocks (CFD), Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD), Cryptocurrency (Derivative), Social Trading / Copy Trading and Spread Betting. Neither have Cryptocurrency (Physical).