Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Spreadex, 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.
HFM and Spreadex are established online brokers founded in 2010 and 1999, respectively. Neither is publicly traded or a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, HFM holds a Trust Score of 85 (trusted), while Spreadex scores 70 (average risk) on a 99-point scale where 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, HFM reports 2 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 3 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Spreadex lists 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. Put simply, HFM has a broader mix of top-tier and mid-tier regulatory approvals, whereas Spreadex maintains a smaller set of top-tier oversight.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When comparing commissions and fees, HFM comes in slightly above the industry average overall. Its standard account lists a typical spread of 1.2 pips, while the Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission. However, these figures are not based on an average over a set time period, so actual trading costs may be higher. HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #29 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Spreadex also scores 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but its pricing appears a bit more competitive in recent data. In January 2024, the average spread on EUR/USD was 0.81 pips, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips seen 60% of the time during the month. That places Spreadex at #26 out of 36 brokers in the same category, giving it a slight edge over HFM in the rankings.
For traders focused on low costs, the difference between the two brokers is not huge, but Spreadex has the better ranking and shows tighter recent spreads on EUR/USD. HFM still offers pricing that can be reasonable, especially on its Zero account, though its standard account costs may be a little less favorable.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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When it comes to range of investments, Spreadex offers a much wider selection than HFM. Spreadex lists about 10,000 tradeable symbols and 52 forex pairs, compared with HFM’s 344 symbols and 38 forex pairs. Both brokers let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither provides access to buying real, delivered shares on U.S. or international exchanges, or actual cryptocurrency.
HFM does stand out for copy trading, which Spreadex does not offer. Even so, Spreadex is rated higher overall for range of investments, with 5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #13 out of 36 brokers, while HFM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. For traders who want more market choice, Spreadex has the broader investment lineup, while HFM may appeal to those who value copy trading.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 52 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
HFM and Spreadex both give traders a choice of a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade straight from a chart. Each broker also offers its own in-house platform, so users can choose a built-in experience without relying only on outside software. Both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, which suggests a solid overall offering for most everyday traders.
Where HFM stands out is in platform range and extra features. HFM supports a Windows desktop download platform, copy trading, and both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, giving it more options for traders who want flexibility or prefer popular third-party software. Spreadex does not offer a desktop download platform, copy trading, MT4, or MT5, so it is simpler in comparison. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for this category, HFM places #34 out of 36 brokers, while Spreadex is slightly lower at #35.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 58 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
HFM and Spreadex both give traders the basics needed for mobile trading on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, stock or forex price alerts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each broker also earns a 4-star rating for mobile trading apps, so neither has a major edge in overall app quality. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile apps ranking, HFM sits just ahead of Spreadex at #33 out of 36 brokers, while Spreadex is ranked #34.
There are a few differences worth noting. HFM offers 5 technical studies in its mobile charting tools and can auto-save chart drawings, which may make it more convenient for active traders. Spreadex does not list technical studies for its mobile app and does not auto-save drawings. On the other hand, neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the online account, so watchlist changes do not carry over automatically.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 5 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
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HFM and Spreadex both give traders a solid set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from top names like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, sentiment data that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Neither broker offers Trading Central or TipRanks research.
The main difference is that HFM also includes research from Acuity Trading, while Spreadex does not. Both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for research, but HFM is ranked higher overall by ForexBrokers.com, coming in at #18 out of 36 brokers compared with Spreadex at #28.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn about trading, HFM and Spreadex both provide a solid starting point, but HFM gives new traders more to work with overall. HFM offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, runs online educational client webinars at least once a month, and has 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos. Spreadex also offers at least 10 beginner videos and has education rated 4 out of 5 stars, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars, and it does not appear to match HFM’s range of advanced video content.
In simple terms, both brokers can help beginners get started, but HFM is the better choice if you want more regular teaching content and a wider mix of learning material as your skills grow. That difference is also reflected in ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings, where HFM is placed #29 out of 36 brokers, while Spreadex is ranked #34 out of 36.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Spreadex. HFM finished with an overall rank of #27, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #33.
HFM (HF Markets) is a global broker best known for its MetaTrader offering, solid research tools, and proprietary copy trading platform, alongside a broad selection of forex pairs and CFDs.
| Feature |
HFM
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Spreadex
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 70 |
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In the HFM vs Spreadex comparison, neither online broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading for speculative exposure.
HFM vs Spreadex: neither supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal for deposits/withdrawals, both accept bank wire transfers, HFM additionally supports Skrill while Spreadex does not, and card options via Visa/Mastercard are not specified for either broker.
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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 85 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 344 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 38 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.8 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.1 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 38 | 58 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 5 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | HFM Review | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | HFM | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 85 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | Spreadex Review |
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