Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Comparing online brokers Trading 212 and HFM: Trading 212 was founded in 2004, while HFM started in 2010. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 has a Trust Score of 82 and HFM scores 85; both fall into the “trusted” range of 80–89 (with 90–99 being highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted).
On regulation, Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 0 Tier-2 licenses. HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses (considered trusted). In short, Trading 212 has more top-tier oversight, while HFM pairs solid top-tier coverage with additional mid-tier licenses—useful context when weighing each broker’s regulatory profile.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Trading 212 and HFM are both rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but Trading 212 has a slight edge in the ranking. ForexBrokers.com places Trading 212 at No. 27 out of 36 brokers, while HFM sits just behind at No. 28 out of 36. For traders comparing costs, both brokers land in a similar range, though neither stands out as a top low-cost choice in this category.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading on its CFD account, but traders still pay through the spread, especially on forex trades. The broker now shares average spread data, which helps with pricing transparency, but its April 2025 EUR/USD average spread of 2.7 pips is well above the industry average. That means Trading 212 may cost more than many other CFD and forex brokers once trading costs are factored in.
HFM’s pricing is also slightly above the industry average. Its standard account is said to have a typical spread of 1.2 pips, though the company does not provide a date range for that figure. HFM’s Zero account can work out to an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but that is not an average spread either. In simple terms, both brokers charge through spreads rather than headline commissions, and traders should compare the full trade cost before choosing between them.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers a much wider choice than HFM. Trading 212 gives clients access to 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. However, Trading 212 also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while HFM does not.
Trading 212 also stands out for share investing, since it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. HFM does not offer direct share investing on either market. On the other hand, HFM does offer copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. Overall, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #28.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Trading 212 and HFM both give traders a free demo account and a web-based platform, so each lets you practice and trade right from a browser. Both also allow trading directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier. On ForexBrokers.com, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, showing that each offers a solid experience for everyday traders.
The main difference is that HFM offers more platform choices. It has its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop download, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Trading 212 does not offer these options. In the Trading Platforms and Tools category, Trading 212 is ranked #19 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, ahead of HFM at #33, which may matter to traders who want a simpler browser-based setup versus a broker with more platform variety.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and HFM both make it easy to trade on the go, since each broker offers iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Both mobile apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and automatically save those drawings. On top of that, each app is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading.
Where Trading 212 pulls ahead is in charting and account syncing. Its mobile app includes 104 technical studies and syncs watchlists between the app and the online account, so changes update across devices. HFM’s app offers just 5 technical studies and does not sync watchlists. That gap helps explain why Trading 212 ranks #17 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while HFM ranks #32.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, HFM has a clear edge over Trading 212. Both brokers provide forex news from top sources, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, so traders can keep up with market events and see how other traders are positioned. Trading 212 also offers forex news and these useful tools, but it does not include daily market commentary, while HFM does. HFM also adds Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools, which can help traders spot possible setups and ideas more easily.
Overall, HFM is the stronger choice for market research, with a 4-star Research rating and a #18 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 is still useful, but its 3.5-star rating and #32 ranking suggest a more limited research offering. For traders who want more market insight and extra analysis tools, HFM is the better fit.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | 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 | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, both Trading 212 and HFM offer a solid range of trading education, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced users. Both brokers also provide forex or CFD learning content, with a minimum of 10 educational pieces focused on those topics. Trading 212 gives new traders a helpful start with easy-to-find materials, while HFM adds a bit more variety through live online educational webinars held at least once a month.
When it comes to overall education quality, HFM scores slightly higher with 4 out of 5 stars, compared with Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. That said, Trading 212 ranks higher for education on ForexBrokers.com, placing 20th out of 36 brokers, while HFM is ranked 29th. In simple terms, both brokers can help beginners learn the basics, but HFM stands out for webinars and a slightly higher rating, while Trading 212 holds a stronger position in the category ranking.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than HFM. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
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| Trading Fees |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Research |
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| Mobile Trading |
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Comparing Trading 212 vs HFM: Trading 212 lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, while HFM only offers cryptocurrency trading via CFDs and does not provide access to the underlying coins.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while HFM offers bank wires and Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Trading 212 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | HFM | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | 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) | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | 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 | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | HFM Review |
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