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 |
When it comes to comparing the commissions and fees of XM Group and HFM, both brokers offer distinct setups that cater to different trading needs while maintaining a consistent rating. XM Group provides a standard account with relatively high spreads, and unfortunately, it does not publish average spreads for its XM Zero account, making it challenging to determine the true cost beyond initial indicators. This lack of clarity places XM Group at a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 33rd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, HFM's trading costs slightly exceed the industry average, with its standard account typically offering spreads of 1.2 pips. However, the absence of a specified date range means there could be variance in these figures. Its Zero account offers an effective spread of 0.7 pips after accounting for commissions, yet this rate is also not an average, potentially affecting cost transparency. Nonetheless, HFM shares a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 31st out of 63 brokers.
Both XM Group and HFM maintain a comparable star rating and rankings in the mid-range for commissions and fees, making them competitive choices for traders weighing their cost structures. While XM Group offers broader account options, HFM provides slightly more structured information about its trading spreads, despite neither delivering on consistent average spread figures.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments between XM Group and HFM, both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs, with XM Group providing access to an impressive 1394 tradeable symbols, compared to HFM's 500. While HFM extends a wider selection of 102 forex pairs, XM Group's roster includes 55 pairs. A significant differentiator is XM Group's offering of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to invest in major stocks like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, HFM does not offer exchange-traded securities, limiting its clients to CFDs.
Both XM Group and HFM provide copy trading and the ability to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives. Neither broker allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of ratings, XM Group scores 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking #24 out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, while HFM receives a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and ranks #36. Clearly, those prioritizing a wide range of investment options, including access to global stock exchanges, might favor XM Group, whereas HFM could appeal to those focusing more on forex trading variety.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 102 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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.
XM Group and HFM both offer versatile trading platforms designed for various trader needs, with each providing a demo account to help users familiarize themselves with the trading environment. While XM Group relies on industry-standard platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, HFM stands out by developing its own proprietary platform, providing potentially unique features tailored to its user base. Both brokers cater to traders preferring a Windows desktop platform, while also offering web-based platforms for ease of access from any device with internet capabilities. The integration of copy trading in both brokers' offerings allows users to learn from successful traders seamlessly.
When it comes to charting tools, HFM offers a richer set of features with 30 drawing tools compared to XM Group's 15, though both providers deliver the ability to trade directly from stock charts and offer seven columns in their watchlists. Both brokers also support MetaTrader 4 and 5, ensuring a comprehensive suite of tools for technical analysis and automated trading. Despite these differences in tools, both XM Group and HFM score equally with a respectable four-star rating for their trading platforms. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks XM Group higher at #31 compared to HFM's #42, indicating slight differences in user satisfaction or platform features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary 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 |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps offered by XM Group and HFM, both brokers provide a wide array of features to cater to traders. Available on iPhone and Android, both apps allow users to efficiently manage their portfolios on the go. XM Group and HFM both offer vital functionalities like price alerts, the ability to draw trend lines, and view multiple time frames on charts. Each app comes equipped with 30 technical studies, providing tools essential for sound decision-making in the fast-paced world of trading.
One key differentiator is the ability to sync watchlists across platforms. XM Group's app offers this handy feature, ensuring seamless transitions between mobile and desktop trading. Meanwhile, HFM does not support this synchronization, which may be a drawback for some users. On the flip side, HFM's app automatically saves chart drawings, a convenience not provided by XM Group. Both brokers allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, but XM Group stands out in the rankings, holding the 29th position out of 63 brokers compared to HFM’s 39th, even though both apps earn a solid four-star rating.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners between XM Group and HFM, both brokers demonstrate a commitment to providing essential learning tools for new traders in the forex and CFDs arena. They each offer a collection of over 10 educational materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. Furthermore, both platforms are committed to engaging their clients by offering at least one online educational webinar every month. Whether you're looking to review past sessions, XM Group and HFM both offer searchable archives of their recorded webinars, enhancing the ability for beginners to learn at their own pace. Additionally, each broker provides more than 10 beginner-focused educational videos, ensuring comprehensive coverage of essential trading concepts.
However, a distinguishing feature is the availability of an investor dictionary from HFM, with definitions of over 50 investing terms, a resource not offered by XM Group. Despite this difference, XM Group shines with a 5-star education rating and ranks 7th among 63 brokers, whereas HFM holds a 4-star rating and ranks 37th in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests that XM Group may offer a slightly more enriching educational experience, making it a potentially stronger choice for those prioritizing high-quality educational support as they start their trading journey.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | 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
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 86 |
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Both XM Group and HFM allow users to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, although neither broker provides the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both XM Group and HFM do not offer ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits or withdrawals, but they do provide options for Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 |
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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/Central Bank 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary 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 | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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