Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB and HFM are well-known online brokers with different profiles. XTB, founded in 2002, is publicly traded and not a bank. HFM, founded in 2010, is not publicly traded and is also not a bank. Both companies operate under multiple regulatory licenses.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB holds 2 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses and earns a 96/99 Trust Score, which falls into the “highly trusted” range (90–99). HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses and scores 85/99, placing it in the “trusted” range (80–89). These ratings help show each broker’s regulatory strength and oversight for prospective clients comparing XTB vs HFM.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB has slightly better pricing than HFM overall, especially for everyday retail traders. XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is limited to certain eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in many places. Based on Q4 2023 data, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip, which is about average in the market. For active traders, XTB’s Lower Spread Group can rebate 5% to 30% of the spread once monthly trading volume hits certain levels, which may help lower costs further. XTB is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
HFM’s pricing is a bit higher than the industry average. Its standard accounts typically show a 1.2 pip spread, though the company does not provide a clear date range for that figure, so actual costs may be less competitive. HFM’s Zero account advertises an effective 0.7 pip spread after commission, but that is not the same as a true average spread. Overall, HFM can work for some traders, but its fee setup is not as strong as XTB’s for most users. HFM is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, XTB is the better pick on commissions and fees for most traders, with lower overall costs, a better rating, and a stronger ranking than HFM. HFM still offers some competitive account options, but XTB’s standard pricing and active trader discounts make it the more cost-friendly choice.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.06 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
XTB offers a much wider range of investments than HFM, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market access. XTB provides 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs. However, XTB goes further by also offering actual, delivered cryptocurrency and access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. HFM does not offer these exchange-traded shares.
HFM does have one area that XTB does not: copy trading. Even so, XTB is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and is ranked #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #29. For investors looking for a broader selection of assets, including stocks, forex pairs, and crypto, XTB has the clear advantage.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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.
XTB and HFM both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from charts. Each broker also offers its own in-house platform, so users can access a custom-built trading experience. However, there are clear differences in platform choice: XTB does not offer a Windows desktop download, while HFM does, which may matter for traders who prefer a software install on their computer.
HFM also has the edge for extra trading tools, since it supports copy trading as well as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not offer those options. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #34 ranking. Overall, XTB looks stronger for platform quality, while HFM offers more platform choices for traders who want MT4, MT5, or copy trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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) | 92 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and HFM both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. That means either broker gives mobile traders the basic tools they need to follow the market and manage trades on the go. Still, XTB has the edge for app quality and ease of use, thanks to a stronger mobile experience overall.
The main difference is in the details. XTB supports watchlist syncing between its mobile app and online account, while HFM does not, making XTB more convenient for traders who want the same watchlists across devices. XTB also offers far more charting tools, with 104 technical studies compared with just 5 at HFM. Reflecting that gap, XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #33.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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.
XTB and HFM both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool for spotting long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. That said, HFM has the edge for market news and outside research sources, since it offers forex news from top-tier providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus tools from Autochartist and Acuity Trading. XTB does not offer those extras, and it also lacks Trading Central research, which HFM also does not provide.
Overall, XTB comes out ahead on research quality, earning 5 stars and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #18 ranking. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but HFM gives traders more third-party research support, while XTB scores higher overall for market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | 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.
When it comes to learning support for beginners, both XTB and HFM give traders a solid set of educational tools. Each broker offers forex or CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, monthly client webinars, and 10 or more beginner videos, plus 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to go deeper. This makes both platforms a good fit for new traders looking for videos, articles, and live learning sessions to help them understand the basics and build confidence.
That said, XTB has the edge overall in education. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. In simple terms, both brokers support beginners well, but XTB offers the stronger learning experience and appears to be the better choice for traders who want more guided education.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than HFM. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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HFM
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 |
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XTB lets traders buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency CFDs, while HFM only offers cryptocurrency CFDs and does not provide direct ownership of crypto assets.
In the XTB vs HFM comparison for deposits and withdrawals: neither broker supports ACH or SEPA; XTB supports PayPal while HFM does not; both support Skrill and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | XTB | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | HFM | |
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| Regulation | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | 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 | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | 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) | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | 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 | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.06 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | 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 | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | 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 | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | XTB | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | HFM Review |
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