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 vs HFM: Both online brokers have been around for years (Tickmill since 2014, HFM since 2010). Neither is publicly traded or a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, Tickmill and HFM each score 85, which places them in the trusted 80–89 range (below the 90–99 highly trusted tier).
Looking at regulation and licenses, both brokers hold two Tier-1 licenses (rated highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com). Tickmill has two Tier-2 licenses, while HFM has three Tier-2 licenses. That means their top-tier oversight is similar, with HFM carrying one additional mid-tier license—useful context for anyone comparing safety and regulation.
| 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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Tickmill is the lower-cost choice for most traders. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com. Tickmill’s Classic account is commission-free, but its spreads are wider, while the Raw account uses a commission model of $3 per side per standard lot. Even with that commission increase, Tickmill still keeps trading costs competitive thanks to its low spreads, with its Raw account often delivering a lower overall cost than many rivals.
HFM is still reasonably priced, but it is not as cheap as Tickmill overall. It receives 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. HFM’s standard accounts typically show spreads around 1.2 pips, while its Zero account can work out to an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission. That makes HFM a fair option for traders who want simple pricing, but its costs are generally a bit higher than Tickmill’s.
In plain terms, Tickmill is the better pick if low trading costs matter most, especially for active traders. HFM is still a solid broker, but its fees and spreads are usually less competitive than Tickmill’s.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.70 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 range of investments, Tickmill and HFM both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency or exchange-traded shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges. Tickmill stands out for its wider list of tradable markets, with 637 symbols and 62 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs.
Overall, HFM has a slight edge in third-party ratings for investment choice, earning 4 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranking #30 out of 36 brokers, while Tickmill scores 3.5 stars and ranks #32. For traders focused on more instrument options, Tickmill offers the larger selection, but HFM edges ahead in overall category rating.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 62 | 38 |
| 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 give traders a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop software, browser-based trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading. Each broker also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can be helpful for active traders who want a faster way to enter and manage orders. In terms of everyday tools, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, so they are closely matched on features that matter to most traders.
The biggest difference is that HFM also offers its own in-house trading platform, while Tickmill does not. That may appeal to traders who want a broker-built option alongside MetaTrader and web trading. Even so, Tickmill holds the stronger overall ranking in this category, placing #24 out of 36 brokers compared with HFM at #36, which suggests Tickmill has the edge in platform and tools quality despite the close feature set.
| 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) | 97 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Tickmill and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, making basic chart analysis available on the go. That said, Tickmill stands out for watchlist syncing between its mobile app and online account, so changes stay updated across devices. HFM does not offer this feature, but it does include stock or forex price alerts, which Tickmill does not.
When it comes to charting tools, Tickmill has a clear edge with 97 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with just 5 at HFM. HFM does have one useful charting advantage: drawings on charts are saved automatically, while Tickmill does not auto save them. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Tickmill ranks #25 out of 36 brokers, while HFM ranks #35, giving Tickmill the stronger overall showing for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Tickmill and HFM are both solid choices for market research, and each offers daily market commentary plus an economic calendar to help traders track current and upcoming news events. Both brokers also include research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, giving users another way to scan for trading ideas. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, each broker earns 4 out of 5 stars, with Tickmill ranked #19 out of 36 brokers and HFM slightly ahead at #18.
The main difference is in the depth of news and analysis sources. HFM stands out by offering forex news from top-tier providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, along with Autochartist and a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning across markets. Tickmill does not offer those specific extras, but it still provides useful day-to-day research support for traders who want a simpler setup.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Tickmill and HFM both give beginner traders plenty of ways to learn, and each offers forex or CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, monthly online webinars, and 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. In other words, both brokers provide a good range of videos, articles, and live learning sessions for people who are just starting out and for those who want to build on what they already know.
Where Tickmill has the edge is in its overall Education standing. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education, but Tickmill is ranked #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM sits at #31. For beginners looking for a broker with stronger educational support, Tickmill comes out ahead, even though HFM still offers a similar mix of learning content.
| 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 #23, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
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
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 85 |
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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 | 85 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Tickmill | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 85 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 62 | 38 | |
| 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) - Spread-only account | 1.70 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.70 | 1.1 | |
| 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 38 | |
| 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 | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | 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 | 85 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Tickmill Review | HFM Review |
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