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 | 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.
Comparing Tickmill vs HFM for range of investments: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading. Tickmill lists more total tradeable symbols (637 vs 500), which can appeal if you want a wider menu across asset classes. HFM, however, offers more forex pairs (102 vs 63), making it stronger for currency-focused traders. Neither broker provides direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded shares (non-CFDs).
Crypto access is similar: you can trade cryptocurrency derivatives at both Tickmill and HFM, but neither lets you buy actual coins. In our ratings, HFM scores 4 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 37th out of 63 brokers, while Tickmill earns 3.5 stars and ranks 43rd. Choose HFM if depth in forex pairs matters most; pick Tickmill if you prefer a larger overall count of instruments. Both are solid picks for CFD traders who want copy trading without direct share dealing or real crypto.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 637 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 63 | 102 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 vs HFM: both brokers offer free demo accounts for paper trading and support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop platform or in your browser with either broker, and both let you place orders directly from charts. Copy trading is available at both. One notable difference is that HFM provides a proprietary, in-house platform, while Tickmill focuses on third-party platforms like MetaTrader.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers 4 out of 5 stars. In this category, Tickmill is ranked #30 out of 63 brokers, while HFM is ranked #43 out of 63. Choose Tickmill if you want a MetaTrader-centered setup, or consider HFM if you want MetaTrader plus access to a broker-built platform.
| Feature |
Tickmill
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / 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.
Comparing Tickmill vs HFM for mobile trading apps: both offer iPhone and Android apps with forex and stock price alerts, real-time watchlists, and 30 technical studies for charting. Each app lets you draw trendlines, and your drawings auto-save. A key limitation for both is that watchlist symbols do not sync with the web platform, so changes on mobile won’t carry over to your online account.
Both the Tickmill mobile app and the HFM mobile app earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In the ForexBrokers.com category rankings, Tickmill places #30 out of 63 brokers, while HFM comes in at #40. If you want solid chart tools, alerts, and trading on the go for iOS or Android, either app will work, with Tickmill holding a slight edge in overall ranking.
| 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 |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Tickmill and HFM both cater well to beginners who want forex and CFD education. Each broker hosts ongoing client webinars at least once a month and offers plenty of video lessons, including 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos to help you progress from basics to more complex strategies. Both earn a 4-star Education rating, but Tickmill ranks higher with ForexBrokers.com (#15 of 63) than HFM (#37 of 63), which may matter if you prefer a broker recognized for stronger education overall.
Some details are not specified in the data provided: it’s unclear whether either broker keeps a searchable archive of past webinars or offers an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. It’s also not clearly stated whether they meet the broader “10+ educational pieces” threshold across formats beyond the confirmed video libraries. If monthly webinars and beginner-friendly videos are your priority, both fit well; if you need archived webinars or a glossary, check each broker’s site before choosing.
| 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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Both Tickmill and HFM do not provide the option to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 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 | |
| Social Trading / 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 | 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 | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Tickmill | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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