Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs HFM, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Overall
Overall
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XM Group vs HFM: XM Group (founded 2009) and HFM (founded 2010) are both private brokers and not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds a Trust Score of 93, which falls in the “highly trusted” 90–99 range, while HFM scores 85, in the “trusted” 80–89 range. For context, 70–79 is average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 should not be trusted.
Regulation is a key difference. XM Group carries 4 Tier-1 licenses (rated highly trusted) and 3 Tier-2 licenses (rated trusted). HFM holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. In simple terms, XM Group has more top-tier regulatory approvals than HFM, which aligns with its higher Trust Score.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing XM Group vs HFM on commissions and fees, HFM comes out ahead for most traders. XM Group’s standard account spreads are expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. As a result, XM Group earns a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #35 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s review.
HFM’s trading costs are slightly above the industry average, but they are still more competitive than XM Group overall. The company says its standard accounts typically have spreads around 1.2 pips, though no date range is provided, so the true average could be higher. HFM’s Zero account shows an effective spread of 0.7 pips after commission, but that is also not an average. HFM is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, both brokers have room to improve on pricing, but HFM offers a better value profile than XM Group for cost-conscious traders. If lower trading fees are a top priority, HFM is the stronger choice between the two.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.8 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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XM Group offers a wider range of investments than HFM, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more market access. Both brokers support forex trading, including CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. However, XM Group provides 1,429 tradeable symbols compared with HFM’s 344, and it also lists more forex pairs, with 55 versus 38 at HFM.
Another key difference is that XM Group lets clients trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while HFM does not offer these direct stock purchases. Neither broker supports buying actual cryptocurrency. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings, XM Group scores 4.5 out of 5 for range of investments and ranks 19th out of 36 brokers, while HFM scores 4 out of 5 and ranks 29th.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 344 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 38 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
XM Group and HFM both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading. Each broker also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can make fast decision-making easier. In other words, both platforms cover the main needs of newer traders and active traders alike.
The biggest difference is that HFM offers its own in-house trading platform, while XM Group does not. Even so, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. On ForexBrokers.com, XM Group is ranked #28 out of 36 brokers in this category, while HFM is ranked #34 out of 36, giving XM Group a slight edge in overall platform and tools comparison.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 38 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and HFM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and both let users set stock or forex price alerts. Each app also supports drawing trendlines on charts, and both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps. That said, XM Group stands out for charting and account connection tools, offering 30 technical studies in its app compared with HFM’s 5, plus watchlist symbol syncing so changes made in the app and online account stay matched.
HFM does have one useful edge: its mobile app auto-saves chart drawings, while XM Group does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for mobile trading apps, XM Group places higher at #26 out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM at #33. Overall, XM Group appears stronger for active chart users, while HFM offers a simpler app with a helpful auto-save feature.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
HFM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 5 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group and HFM both give traders a strong set of market research tools. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for tracking global events. Neither broker includes TipRanks research, so in these areas they are closely matched for everyday market updates and trading insight.
The main difference is in the extra research tools they provide. XM Group includes Trading Central, while HFM offers Autochartist and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre. Even with those differences, XM Group holds a higher research score, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with HFM’s 4 stars and #18 ranking. This makes XM Group the stronger choice overall for market research, while HFM still provides a useful mix of third-party analysis tools.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XM Group and HFM both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find lessons on core trading topics, while more experienced users can also access content that goes beyond the basics. In simple terms, both brokers make education easy to find and useful for getting started.
That said, XM Group comes out ahead overall. It has a 5-star Education rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while HFM holds a 4-star rating and ranks #29. For beginners who want a broker with stronger learning support and a wider overall education offering, XM Group is the better pick.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than HFM. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16, while HFM finished with an overall rank of #27.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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HFM
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 |
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XM Group and HFM are online brokers that do not allow clients to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
XM Group vs HFM: for deposits and withdrawals, neither broker supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | XM Group | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1429 | 344 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 38 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.8 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 38 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 5 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | XM Group | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | HFM Review |
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