Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM and HFM are well-known online brokers with different profiles. FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while HFM, founded in 2010, is privately held; neither broker is a bank. On ForexBrokers.com’s 99-point Trust Score, FXCM scores 95 (highly trusted) and HFM scores 85 (trusted). For reference, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
In terms of regulation, FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). HFM holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. Bottom line: FXCM has a stronger top-tier regulatory footprint and a higher Trust Score, while HFM remains a trusted, well-regulated option.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
FXCM and HFM both sit a little above the industry average for commissions and fees, but FXCM comes out cheaper overall. FXCM’s standard EUR/USD spread averaged 0.78 pips across its EU, U.K., and Australia entities in May 2024, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions, which can make pricing more attractive for higher-volume traders. FXCM also offers active trader rebates in some regions, which can lower costs further depending on how much you trade. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #17 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
HFM’s pricing is still fair, but it is generally a bit higher than FXCM’s. Its standard account typically shows spreads around 1.2 pips, though this figure is not tied to a specific average period, so real costs could be higher. HFM’s Zero account can bring the effective spread down to about 0.7 pips after commission, but that is also not presented as an average. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #29 out of 36 brokers in the commissions and fees category.
In simple terms, FXCM is the better choice if keeping trading costs down is a top priority, especially for active traders who may qualify for rebates. HFM is still competitive, but its typical pricing is not as low as FXCM’s on the data provided.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
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When comparing FXCM and HFM for range of investments, FXCM has the edge overall. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, support copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs rather than access to actual crypto coins. Neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, so you cannot buy real shares like Apple or Vodafone through either platform.
FXCM also gives traders a wider menu of markets, with 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. That broader selection is reflected in third-party ratings too: FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 for range of investments and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #29 out of 36.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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.
FXCM and HFM both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, a built-in platform, Windows desktop software, web-based trading, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let users place trades directly from charts, which can make fast decisions easier. The main difference is that HFM also supports MetaTrader 5, while FXCM does not, so traders who want MT5 will find that option only with HFM.
When it comes to trading tools, FXCM comes out ahead overall. FXCM is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #4 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #34. That suggests FXCM may offer a better overall platform experience, even though both brokers cover the basics well for everyday trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Where FXCM stands out is in account syncing and charting depth: its mobile watchlists sync with the online account, while HFM does not offer this feature. FXCM also provides 59 technical studies in its mobile charts, compared with just 5 at HFM, giving traders more tools for analysis on the go.
In terms of user ratings and rankings, FXCM also comes out ahead. FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks 16th out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 stars and ranks 33rd. For traders who want a more complete mobile trading experience, FXCM has the edge over HFM.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and HFM both give traders a solid range of market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, sentiment data, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. FXCM stands out for its use of Trading Central and TipRanks, while HFM does not offer those two services.
HFM, on the other hand, includes Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools, which FXCM does not provide. Based on ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns a 4.5-star research rating and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers, while HFM has a 4-star rating and ranks #18, making FXCM the stronger pick overall for market research.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn forex or CFD trading, both FXCM and HFM offer a solid range of educational material. Each broker provides forex and CFD education, along with online client webinars held at least once a month. They also each offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, giving new traders and more experienced learners access to useful market lessons and trading topics. In plain terms, both brokers give beginners plenty of ways to get started and keep learning over time.
That said, FXCM has the edge in overall education quality. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. So while both brokers support beginner education well, FXCM appears to offer a slightly stronger learning experience overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than HFM. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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HFM
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 |
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Online brokers FXCM and HFM do not support buying actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading.
Compared to HFM, which supports Skrill and bank wire deposits/withdrawals but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal (Visa/Mastercard availability not specified), FXCM offers broader funding options including ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, 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 | FXCM | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | 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) | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | 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 | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | 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 | 59 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | FXCM | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | HFM Review |
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