Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Tickmill 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.
Tickmill and HFM are both reputable online brokerage firms with solid trust ratings. Founded in 2014, Tickmill has built a strong reputation in the trading community. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are among the most trusted regulatory endorsements, and two Tier-2 licenses, signifying a high level of trust. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, Tickmill maintains a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86 out of 99, placing it in the 'trusted' category.
Established in 2010, HFM also garners a Trust Score of 86 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, similar to Tickmill. HFM is not listed on a stock exchange and is not a bank, yet it holds an impressive array of regulatory approvals. It possesses two Tier-1 licenses, indicating high trust, alongside three Tier-2 licenses, reflecting a significant level of regulatory trust. Both brokers offer reliable platforms for online trading, ensuring a secure environment for their clients.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, Tickmill generally comes out cheaper than HFM for many traders. Tickmill earns 5/5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while HFM earns 4/5 stars and ranks #32 out of 63. If you value tight spreads and clear all-in costs, Tickmill’s pricing edge is noticeable, especially on its Raw account.
Tickmill offers two accounts. The Classic account is commission-free but carries higher average spreads (about 1.76 pips as of August 2023). The Raw account charges a $3 per side commission ($6 per standard lot) with a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.11 pips (October 2023). After commission, the all-in cost on EUR/USD works out to about 0.71 pips. With a $100 minimum and low all-in pricing, Tickmill’s Raw account is attractive for active and algorithmic traders.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. Its standard accounts list a typical spread of 1.2 pips (no date provided), and the Zero account advertises an effective 0.7 pips after commission—also not an average. While competitive in places, HFM’s pricing transparency and averages trail Tickmill, which helps explain HFM’s 4/5 star rating and #32 ranking for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 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.
Tickmill and HFM both support forex trading offered as CFDs or spot, but their lineups differ. Tickmill lists 637 tradeable symbols, while HFM has 500. HFM stands out for currency traders with 102 forex pairs versus Tickmill’s 63. Neither broker provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, so you can’t buy actual shares like Apple or Vodafone. Both offer copy trading. For crypto, neither allows buying real coins, but each provides cryptocurrency CFDs.
For Range of Investments, Tickmill is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranks #43 out of 63 brokers, while HFM earns 4/5 stars and ranks #37. Pick Tickmill if you value a larger overall symbol count, or choose HFM if you want more forex pairs. Both are CFD-focused platforms with copy trading and crypto CFD access, but no direct share dealing.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
Tickmill and HFM both cover the essentials for platform access and trading tools. Each broker provides a free demo (paper) account, plus Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Both support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), enable copy trading, and let you place trades directly from charts. The key difference is platform choice: Tickmill does not offer a proprietary platform and centers its experience on MetaTrader, while HFM pairs MT4/MT5 with its own in-house platform for traders who want an alternative interface under the same brand.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the same category rankings, Tickmill places #30 out of 63 brokers, whereas HFM ranks #43 out of 63. If you want a MetaTrader-focused setup, Tickmill may be the simpler pick; if you value having a proprietary option alongside MT4/MT5, HFM could suit you. Either way, you can try features risk-free with a demo account before going live.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 91 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill vs HFM for mobile trading: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts to help you track forex and CFD markets on the go. Charting tools are nearly identical—each app includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and automatically saves your drawings. One notable gap for both is watchlist symbol syncing; changes you make on mobile won’t sync with your web account.
In terms of quality scores, both Tickmill and HFM earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks Tickmill higher at #30 out of 63 brokers, while HFM sits at #40. If you want similar features with a slightly stronger industry ranking, Tickmill has the edge; otherwise, both are solid choices for everyday mobile trading.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
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 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Tickmill and HFM, both brokers present a variety of tools aimed at enhancing the trading experience. Each provides daily market commentary and access to forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed with current market insights. Moreover, both brokers feature sentiment-based trading tools that highlight the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. They also offer economic calendars to track significant global news events, assisting traders in making informed decisions.
While both brokers are highly rated with four stars for their research capabilities, differences arise in the specific tools offered. HFM provides tools from Autochartist, adding depth to its technical and fundamental research arsenal. However, it lacks offerings from Acuity Trading, where Tickmill holds a distinct advantage with tools like Signal Centre. Neither broker offers research from Trading Central or TipRanks. Despite these differences, Tickmill is ranked 21st in research by ForexBrokers.com, just behind HFM at 20th, reflecting their close competitive standing in this category.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Tickmill and HFM give beginners plenty of ways to learn about forex and CFD trading. Each broker hosts at least one educational webinar every month and offers deep video libraries, including 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos that walk through trading basics and more complex strategies. This mix of live sessions and on-demand lessons makes it easy to start from scratch and keep building skills over time.
In terms of quality, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com. However, Tickmill is ranked 15th out of 63 brokers in the Education category, while HFM sits at 37th. That means beginners who want a higher-ranked education hub may lean toward Tickmill, though HFM still provides strong webinar programming and a sizable set of beginner-friendly videos.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
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 Tickmill is better than HFM. Tickmill finished with an overall rank of #22, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
Tickmill is a run-of-the-mill MetaTrader broker that offers a limited selection of tradeable securities. The broker does offer very competitive commission-based pricing for professionals through its VIP and Pro accounts.
| Feature |
Tickmill
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HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 86 |
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Tickmill vs HFM: neither online broker supports purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Between online brokers Tickmill and HFM, both lack ACH/SEPA transfers but allow Skrill and bank wire funding, with Tickmill additionally offering PayPal while HFM does not.
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 | Tickmill | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2014 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.70 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.70 | 0.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $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 | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 91 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Tickmill | 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Tickmill Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Tickmill | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | HFM Review |
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