Written by ForexBrokers.com
Is IC Markets better than HFM? In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 62 of the best forex brokers, IC Markets is considered average-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 86 out of 99. HotForex is considered average-risk, with an overall Trust Score of 85 out of 99. Learn more about Trust Score.
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❯×| Overall Rating | IC Markets | HFM | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Regulation | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Authorised in European Union | No | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (High Trust) | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASIC Authorised (Australia) | Yes | No | |
| IIROC Authorised (Canada) | No | No | |
| SFC Authorised (Hong Kong) | No | No | |
| CBI Authorised (Ireland) | No | No | |
| FSA Authorised (Japan) | No | No | |
| MAS Authorised (Singapore) | No | No | |
| FINMA Authorised (Switzerland) | No | No | |
| FCA Authorised (U.K.) | No | Yes | |
| CFTC Registered (USA) | No | No | |
| FMA Authorised (New Zealand) | No | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Average Trust) | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBRC Authorised (China) | No | No | |
| CySEC Authorised (Cyprus) | Yes | Yes | |
| SEBI Authorised (India) | No | No | |
| ISA Authorised (Israel) | No | No | |
| CBR Authorised (Russia) | No | No | |
| FSCA Authorised (South Africa) | No | Yes | |
| SEC Authorised (Thailand) | No | No | |
| DFSA / Central Bank Authorised (UAE) | No | Yes |
| Tier-3 Licenses (Low Trust) | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCB Authorised (Bahamas) | Yes | No | |
| FSC Authorised (Belize) | No | No | |
| CIMA Authorised (Cayman Islands) | No | No | |
| BMA Authorised (Bermuda) | No | No | |
| FSC Authorised (British Virgin Islands) | No | No | |
| FSC Authorised (Mauritius) | No | Yes | |
| VFSC Authorised (Vanuatu) | No | No |
| Investments | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 3583 | 3500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 47 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFD) | 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 | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.62 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.62 | 0.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | Yes | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No | |
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| Trading Tools | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Forex Calendar | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| Research | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes | |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| Education | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Has Education - Forex or CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | No | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No | |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
| Major Forex Pairs | IC Markets | HFM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IC Markets Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | IC Markets | HFM | |
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| Overall Rating |
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| Commissions & Fees |
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| Offering of Investments |
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| Platform & Tools |
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| Mobile Trading |
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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IC Markets Review | HFM Review |
Compare
0 of 5Comparing forex brokers side by side is no easy task. For our 2023 annual forex broker review, we spent hundreds of hours assessing 62 forex and CFD brokerages to find the best forex broker. Let's compare IC Markets vs HFM.
Comparing the trading costs of forex and CFDs is not easy. Not every broker publishes average spreads data, and pricing structures vary. Based on our thorough annual assessment, IC Markets offers better pricing overall for traders.
At ForexBrokers.com, we track where each forex and CFD broker is regulated across over 23 international regulator databases. Here's our findings. Both IC Markets and HFM hold 1 global Tier-1 licenses. HFM holds 3 global Tier-2 licenses, while IC Markets holds 1. In our analysis of 23 international regulators across 50 brokers, IC Markets earned a higher Trust Score than HFM.
To compare the trading platforms of both IC Markets and HFM, we tested each broker's trading tools, research capabilities, and mobile apps. For trading tools, IC Markets offers a better experience. With research, HFM offers superior market research. Finally, we found IC Markets to provide better mobile trading apps.
For forex and CFDs traders, copy trading and MetaTrader are both popular platform options. Both IC Markets and HFM offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4).IC Markets and HFM both offer copy trading.
IC Markets provides traders 61 currency pairs (e.g., EUR/USD) compared to HFM's 47 available pairs. Forex pairs aside, IC Markets offers traders access to 3583 CFDs while HFM has 3500 available CFDs, a difference of 83.
IC Markets is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. IC Markets is authorised by one tier-1 regulator (high trust), one tier-2 regulator (average trust), and one tier-3 regulator (low trust). IC Markets is authorised by the following tier-1 regulators: Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC).
HotForex is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. HotForex is authorised by one tier-1 regulator (high trust), three tier-2 regulators (average trust), and one tier-3 regulator (low trust). HotForex is authorised by the following tier-1 regulator: Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
IC Markets’ competitive pricing and scalable execution make it an excellent option for algorithmic traders. Though it supports an impressive range of third-party tools and plugins, IC Markets’ research and education offerings are not as impressive as those offered by industry leaders.
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.
Overall winner: IC Markets
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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