Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Xtrade, 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.
Founded in 2010, HFM is a well-established online broker that has garnered a Trust Score of 86 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the trusted category. HFM is not publicly traded and is not a bank, ensuring its focus remains solely on brokerage services. The company maintains a strong regulatory standing with two Tier-1 licenses, signifying a high level of trust, alongside three Tier-2 licenses that also convey a trusted status.
On the other hand, Xtrade, established in 2003, has a Trust Score of 74 out of 99, indicating an average risk according to ForexBrokers.com. Similar to HFM, Xtrade is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. In terms of regulatory backing, Xtrade holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, marking it as less fortified in terms of licenses compared to HFM. This regulatory comparison showcases the distinct trust and security profiles these brokers offer.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Comparing HFM vs Xtrade on commissions and fees: HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average. The broker lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips on its Standard account, but it doesn’t provide a date range, so the true average could be higher. Its Zero account advertises an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, yet this figure is also not presented as an average.
Xtrade does not publish average spread data, making its real trading costs harder to evaluate. In contrast, HFM shares more details, though its figures aren’t backed by time-stamped averages. As a result, traders get a clearer—though still imperfect—picture of costs at HFM than at Xtrade.
Ratings and rankings for commissions and fees: HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #32 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade earns 2.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #64 out of 63.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| 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.
HFM vs Xtrade: both brokers support forex trading (as CFDs or spot) and offer hundreds of instruments. HFM lists 500 tradeable symbols and 102 forex pairs, while Xtrade provides 482 symbols and 56 forex pairs. Each broker offers cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Likewise, neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges.
HFM includes copy trading; Xtrade does not. In the Range of Investments category, HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 37th of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 50th, making HFM the stronger choice if you want more forex pairs and access to copy trading.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
HFM and Xtrade both offer free demo accounts and in-house trading platforms, plus web-based trading and the ability to place trades directly from charts. HFM adds a Windows desktop platform along with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and it supports copy trading—advantages Xtrade does not offer. Xtrade counters with more chart drawing tools (100 vs 30) and more watchlist fields (9 vs 7), which can help with organizing markets and technical work. Neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For Trading Platforms & Tools, HFM is rated 4 stars and ranked 43rd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade is rated 3.5 stars and ranked 59th. Choose HFM if you want desktop software, MetaTrader access, and copy trading; pick Xtrade if you prefer browser trading with a larger set of drawing tools and more customizable watchlists.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM vs Xtrade mobile trading apps: Both offer iPhone and Android apps. HFM stands out with price alerts, 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, switch between multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and autosave for chart drawings. You can also build a watchlist with real-time quotes. Xtrade provides the core apps but does not include price alerts, trendlines, multiple time frames, autosave for drawings, or real-time watchlists; the number of technical studies is not available. Neither broker syncs watchlists between mobile and web.
Ratings and rankings: Each app is rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. On ForexBrokers.com, HFM ranks 40th of 63 brokers, while Xtrade ranks 54th. If you rely on on-the-go charting and alerts, HFM’s app is the stronger match. If you just need basic access to your account on iOS or Android, Xtrade can work.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
HFM vs Xtrade for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), and an economic calendar to track global events. The big differences are in tools. HFM includes Autochartist to help spot trading setups and also offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long to short positions across markets. Xtrade does not offer Autochartist or a sentiment tool. Neither broker integrates Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
These gaps show up in the ratings. HFM earns 4 stars for Research and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want more built-in tools to guide your analysis, HFM is the stronger pick. If you mainly want news, commentary, and an economic calendar, Xtrade covers the essentials.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
HFM and Xtrade both offer valuable educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. Both brokers provide a wealth of over ten educational materials like articles, videos, and webinars, focusing on these trading subjects. However, HFM outshines Xtrade in offering monthly online webinars and a searchable archive of past webinars. This feature offers more flexibility for learning at your own pace. Moreover, HFM provides a more extensive collection of beginner-focused videos and advanced trading topics, which can be incredibly beneficial for learners at different skill levels.
When it comes to additional resources, both HFM and Xtrade supply a comprehensive investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, which can be a helpful tool for those new to trading. In terms of user ratings, HFM secures a slightly higher education rating of 4 stars compared to Xtrade’s 3.5 stars. On the ForexBrokers.com ranking for educational resources among 63 brokers, HFM holds the 37th spot, while Xtrade is positioned at 46th. The differences in webinar availability, video content variety, and career path support give HFM a slight edge in nurturing beginner traders.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that HFM is better than Xtrade. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
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Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 |
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Both HFM and Xtrade do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies; however, they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both HFM and Xtrade do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for depositing or withdrawing funds, but they do offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for these transactions.
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 | HFM | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Xtrade Review |
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| Regulation | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| 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 | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | HFM Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | HFM | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Xtrade Review |
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