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) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 wider range of investments than HFM, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. XTB lists 10,900 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 offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto coins. XTB also gives clients access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while HFM does not offer these non-CFD shares.
HFM does have one feature XTB does not: copy trading. Still, when it comes to overall range of investments, XTB comes out ahead with a 5-star rating and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked #29. For investors who want a broader mix of markets and assets, XTB offers more options overall.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 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) | 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.
XTB and HFM both give traders a wide mix of platform choices, including a free demo account, their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform you can use in a browser. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart, which makes active trading easier. On Trading Platforms and Tools, XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #9 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #34.
The biggest difference is that HFM adds more platform options for traders who want popular third-party tools, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer those features. For traders who want a simple, modern setup with strong in-house tools, XTB is a solid choice. For those who prefer MetaTrader or want to follow other traders, HFM has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Neither broker supports watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the online account, so watchlist changes do not carry over automatically. For everyday trading on the go, both apps cover the basics well.
Where XTB stands out is charting and overall app quality. Its mobile app includes 39 technical studies, compared with just 5 for HFM, giving traders more tools for analyzing price moves. That stronger feature set helps explain why XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks #33.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 a solid set of market research basics. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar to track upcoming events. In simple terms, both platforms make it easier to stay on top of market moves and plan trades with current information.
The main difference is in the extra research tools. HFM has more third-party support, including Autochartist and Acuity Trading, while XTB does not offer those services. Neither broker includes Trading Central or TipRanks. This wider tool selection helps HFM stand out in some areas, but XTB still comes out ahead overall with a 5-star Research rating and a higher ForexBrokers.com ranking of #9, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #18 rank.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | 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.
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’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
In the XTB vs HFM comparison, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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) | 10900 | 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) | 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 | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 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 | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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) | Yes | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | HFM Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill