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.
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XM Group vs HFM: XM Group (founded 2009) and HFM (founded 2010) are both private brokers and not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds a Trust Score of 93, which falls in the “highly trusted” 90–99 range, while HFM scores 85, in the “trusted” 80–89 range. For context, 70–79 is average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
Regulation is a key difference. XM Group carries 4 Tier-1 licenses (rated highly trusted) and 3 Tier-2 licenses (rated trusted). HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. In simple terms, XM Group has more top-tier regulatory approvals than HFM, which aligns with its higher Trust Score.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
XM Group and HFM both charge trading costs that are a bit higher than what many traders may expect, but HFM comes out slightly ahead on price. XM Group’s standard account spreads are considered expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. XM Group is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #34 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category.
HFM also has costs that sit slightly above the industry average, but its pricing is generally more competitive than XM Group’s. The company says its standard accounts typically show a 1.2 pip spread, though it does not provide a date range, so the true average may be higher. Its Zero account has an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, although this is not an average spread either. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #28 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, both brokers have room to improve on fees, but HFM offers the stronger value overall for cost-conscious traders. XM Group may be less appealing for those focused on low spreads, while HFM provides a somewhat better balance between pricing and account options.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| 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.
XM Group offers a wider range of investments than HFM, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more market access. Both brokers support forex trading, with XM Group providing 55 currency pairs compared with HFM’s 38. XM Group also lists far more tradeable symbols overall, with 1,429 available versus 344 at HFM. In addition, XM Group lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while HFM does not offer these share dealing options.
Both XM Group and HFM support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows customers to buy actual cryptocurrency. Based on range of investments, XM Group is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers, while HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28. For investors who want a broader selection of assets, XM Group has the edge.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 38 |
| 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 give traders a wide range of platform choices, including free demo accounts, desktop downloads for Windows, web-based platforms, copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders. In short, both firms cover the main tools most traders look for when comparing online brokers.
The main difference is that HFM offers its own in-house platform, while XM Group does not. Even so, both brokers earn the same 4-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools. On ForexBrokers.com, XM Group ranks higher in this category at #27 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #33, which may make XM Group the slightly stronger pick for platform and tools overall.
| 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 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and HFM both make trading on the go easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each broker also earns 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both offer a solid basic experience for everyday traders.
XM Group has the edge in a few key areas. Its app syncs watchlists with the online account, which makes it easier to keep track of symbols across devices, while HFM does not offer this feature. XM Group also provides 30 technical studies in its mobile charting tool, compared with just 5 at HFM. On the other hand, HFM can auto-save chart drawings, which XM Group does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile app rankings, XM Group places higher at #26 out of 36 brokers, ahead of HFM at #32.
| 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 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group and HFM both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. Neither broker includes TipRanks research, so in these areas they are closely matched for everyday market updates and trading insight.
The main difference is in the extra research tools they provide. XM Group includes Trading Central, while HFM offers Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. Even with those differences, XM Group holds a higher research score, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #18 ranking. This makes XM Group the stronger choice overall for market research, while HFM still provides a useful mix of third-party analysis tools.
| 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 | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XM Group and HFM both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find lessons on core trading topics, while more experienced users can also access content that goes beyond the basics. In simple terms, both brokers make education easy to find and useful for getting started.
That said, XM Group comes out ahead overall. It has a 5-star Education rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds a 4-star rating and ranks #29. For beginners who want a broker with stronger learning support and a wider overall education offering, XM Group is the better pick.
| 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 #16, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
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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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 |
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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 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| 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 | 3 | 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 (FSA 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 | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 38 | |
| 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 | 2 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| 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 | 38 | |
| 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 | 5 | |
| 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 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
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