Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 (founded 2008) and HFM (founded 2010) are online brokers with different regulation and trust profiles. Plus500 is publicly traded, while HFM is not; neither is a bank. ForexBrokers.com gives Plus500 a Trust Score of 99/99 and HFM 85/99; by its scale, 90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, and below 59 = not trusted.
License coverage also differs: Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 4 Tier-2 licenses (trusted), compared with HFM’s 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. Both are regulated and considered trustworthy, but Plus500 carries a higher trust rating and a broader set of top-tier regulators.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Plus500 and HFM both sit a little above the industry average on commissions and fees, but Plus500 comes out ahead overall. Plus500 charges no retail trading discounts, though some Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is on the higher side compared with many competitors. Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #25 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
HFM also has pricing that is slightly above average. Its standard accounts are said to typically offer a 1.2 pip spread, although no specific time period is given, so real-world costs may vary. The Zero account can work out to an effective 0.7 pip spread after commission, but that is not presented as an average. HFM is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #29 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
For traders comparing the two, Plus500 appears to have a small edge in overall value for commissions and fees, especially when looking at the published ranking. HFM may appeal to some active traders through its Zero account, but Plus500’s stronger placement and more transparent example spread make it the slightly better choice in this category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 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.
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When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 offers the wider selection overall. It lists about 5,500 tradable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, while HFM offers 344 tradable symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers buying actual, delivered crypto.
Plus500 also stands out for giving clients access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. HFM does not offer exchange-traded securities on those markets, but it does provide copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #29.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
When comparing Plus500 and HFM for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give beginners a way to practice with free demo accounts and each offers its own in-house platform, plus a web-based trading option that works in a browser. Plus500 stands out for its simple setup and higher score in this category, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools. HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #34 out of 36, so it trails Plus500 on overall platform and tool quality.
HFM, however, offers more choices for active traders. It has a Windows desktop platform, supports copy trading, and includes both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with the ability to trade directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer a desktop download platform, copy trading, MT4, MT5, or chart-based order entry. If you want a more straightforward platform experience, Plus500 may appeal to you, while HFM is the better fit if you want more trading tools and platform options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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) | 115 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each includes price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For traders who want their watchlists to stay in sync across devices, Plus500 has the edge because its mobile watchlists sync with the online account, while HFM does not offer that feature. Plus500 also stands out for charting, with 115 technical studies in its app compared with just 5 on HFM.
There are a few trade-offs to keep in mind. HFM’s app does auto-save chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. Still, Plus500 comes out ahead overall with a 4.5-star mobile app rating and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with HFM’s 4-star rating and #33 ranking. For mobile trading apps, Plus500 appears to offer the more complete experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and HFM both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar to track key global events. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #18, putting Plus500 slightly ahead overall.
The main difference is in the research sources and tools each broker offers. HFM includes forex news from well-known providers such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, Plus500 offers Trading Central tools, which HFM does not. Neither broker offers TipRanks research, so the choice may come down to whether you prefer more news and third-party tools with HFM or Trading Central support with Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | 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.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both Plus500 and HFM give new traders a solid starting point. Each broker offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 pieces of content, regular online client webinars, and a good selection of beginner videos as well as advanced videos for traders who want to build on the basics. This means beginners can find step-by-step material at either broker without needing to look elsewhere right away.
That said, Plus500 comes out slightly ahead on education. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #26 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers support learning well, but Plus500 offers a somewhat stronger educational experience overall for beginners.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than HFM. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Online brokers Plus500 and HFM do not allow purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, Plus500 and HFM both lack ACH/SEPA but support bank wire transfers; Plus500 also offers PayPal and Skrill, while HFM supports Skrill but not PayPal, and 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 | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $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 | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | HFM Review |
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