Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
XM Group, founded in 2009, and HFM, established in 2010, are two notable online brokers that are not publicly traded or affiliated with any bank, focusing instead on offering specialized trading services. When it comes to regulatory standing, XM Group is recognized for holding four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a strong compliance record. HFM, on the other hand, possesses two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, indicating a solid regulatory framework but slightly less in Tier-1 presence compared to XM Group.
In terms of trustworthiness, ForexBrokers.com assigns XM Group a Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted category. HFM earns a Trust Score of 86 out of 99, which categorizes it as trusted. These scores suggest that XM Group may provide a higher level of confidence for clients seeking a secure trading environment, whereas HFM also maintains a strong but slightly lower trust rating.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees at XM Group vs HFM: both brokers land at 4 out of 5 stars for pricing. Based on available disclosures, HFM edges XM Group in the rankings, with HFM placed #32 out of 63 and XM Group at #34 out of 63 in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. That said, each broker’s published spread data has gaps that make true average costs hard to pin down.
XM Group: Standard account spreads are expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account—making it difficult to estimate typical all-in costs. Rating: 4/5 stars; Commissions and Fees ranking: #34 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com).
HFM: Overall trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The company lists a typical 1.2-pip spread for standard accounts, but no date range is provided, so the real average may be higher. The Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but this figure is also not an average. Rating: 4/5 stars; Commissions and Fees ranking: #32 of 63 (ForexBrokers.com).
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments, XM Group lists 1,394 tradeable symbols versus HFM’s 500. That said, HFM offers more currency choice with 102 forex pairs compared to XM Group’s 55. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto purchases).
For exchange-traded securities, XM Group stands out by allowing clients to buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while HFM does not offer real share dealing. Overall, XM Group earns 4.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #25 out of 63 brokers, while HFM earns 4 stars and ranks #37. Choose XM Group if you want broader multi-asset access and the ability to buy actual stocks; pick HFM if a larger selection of forex pairs is your priority.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
XM Group and HFM both cover the essentials: free demo (paper) accounts, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The key difference is platform lineup: XM Group sticks to third-party platforms and does not offer a proprietary platform, while HFM includes its own in-house platform alongside MetaTrader.
Both brokers earn 4 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, yet XM Group ranks #33 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM at #43. The exact counts for built-in indicators and watchlist columns aren’t specified. If you want an extra in-house platform to try, HFM fits; if you prefer a MetaTrader-focused setup with a slightly higher category ranking, XM Group may appeal. Either way, you can explore the experience risk-free with a demo account.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and HFM both deliver well-rounded mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts for forex and stocks, offers 30 technical studies, and lets you draw trendlines on charts—convenient for tracking markets and doing quick analysis on the go.
The key differences come down to workflow. XM Group syncs watchlists between mobile and your online account, while HFM does not. HFM, however, auto-saves chart drawings; XM Group does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps, but XM Group ranks higher overall (31 out of 63 brokers) than HFM (40 out of 63). Choose XM Group if synced watchlists are essential; pick HFM if keeping your chart markups saved between sessions matters more.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing XM Group and HFM for their market research services, both brokers deliver daily market commentary and provide forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, keeping traders well-informed. However, XM Group offers an edge with its tools from Trading Central, making it a good choice for traders who value technical analysis. On the other hand, HFM distinguishes itself by offering resources from Autochartist, which can be appealing for traders looking for specific technical or fundamental analysis tools. Both brokers present sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars, aiding traders in making more informed decisions.
In terms of overall research quality and recognition, XM Group holds a higher research rating of 5 stars compared to HFM's 4 stars. This rating reflects XM Group's superior capacity to deliver insightful and diverse market research options. Furthermore, XM Group ranks higher in the research category as per ForexBrokers.com, coming in at 8th out of 63 brokers, while HFM stands at 20th. This comparison underscores XM Group's stronger foothold in providing comprehensive research tools and insights, positioning it as a more prominent choice for traders who prioritize research capabilities.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XM Group and HFM both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker also hosts client webinars at least once a month. For newcomers, both offer 10+ beginner videos that cover fundamentals like platform setup, order types, risk management, and basic analysis. As your skills grow, you’ll find 10+ advanced videos from both brokers to help you move beyond the basics.
Where they differ is depth and recognition. XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds 4 stars and ranks #37. If you want the most comprehensive learning path, XM Group has the edge. If your priority is regular webinars and a clear set of beginner videos, HFM still checks the key boxes.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than HFM. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #30.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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XM Group and HFM are online brokers that do not allow clients to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
XM Group vs HFM: for deposits and withdrawals, neither broker supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | XM Group | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | HFM | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | XM Group | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
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