HF Markets vs XM Comparison: Which Is Better for Traders?
We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.
Who is better - HF Markets or XM?
Our pick: XM
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - XM looks preferable to HF Markets.
XM scored 4.7/5 and ranks 2 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas HF Markets has 4.3/5 and ranks 23.
This is not financial advice. See the full comparison below.
Who is HF Markets suitable for?
HF Markets is suitable for traders of any level looking for a reliable broker with good trading conditions and support for MetaTrader 4 and 5.
Who is XM suitable for?
Broker XM is suitable for both novice traders, thanks to educational materials, and experienced traders who value a variety of instruments.
Comparison Table of HF Markets and XM
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2009 |
| Regulated in Countries | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Seychelles, Cyprus, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Kenya | Belize, Cyprus, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | 1:1000 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | HF Markets Review | XM Review |
HF Markets Review
HF Markets is a reliable and appealing Forex broker, offering a wide selection of trading assets, a variety of account types, and access to the popular trading platforms MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. With its regulation and industry experience, the company has earned a reputation as a dependable partner for traders of varying experience levels.
HF Markets is recommended for those seeking a trustworthy and vetted broker with favorable trading conditions and customer support.
Pros and Cons of HF Markets
Pros
- Regulated by reputable financial authorities.
- Wide selection of trading assets.
- A variety of educational materials and analytical reviews.
Cons
- There is no alternative to MetaTrader.
- High swaps and wide spreads.
HF Markets is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
XM Review
XM broker offers a wide range of services, making it an attractive option for various traders. With over 1500 trading instruments, extensive educational resources, and numerous trading platforms, XM is ideally suited for beginners and experienced traders. Novice traders will particularly appreciate the accessible educational materials and low entry threshold, while professionals will find the competitive spreads and diversity of instruments appealing.
Pros and Cons of XM
Pros
- Wide range of trading assets.
- Extensive educational resources.
- Tight spreads on the Ultra Low account.
- Many analytical materials.
- Commission-free deposits and withdrawals.
Cons
- Inactivity fee.
- Standard account has a higher spread than the market average.
XM is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Reliability
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2009 | 2009 |
| Regulated in Countries | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Seychelles, Cyprus, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Kenya | Belize, Cyprus, Australia, South Africa, United Arab Emirates, Mauritius, Seychelles |
| Regulators |
HF Markets
HF Markets is highly regulated and provides dependable services, safeguarding its clients' interests.
XM
XM is a reliable and well-regulated broker with licenses in key jurisdictions. Segregated accounts, negative balance protection, and a compensation fund make it a safe choice for traders.
Pros
- Licenses from ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, and other regulators
- Segregation of client funds
- Negative balance protection and compensation scheme
Account Opening
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
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HF Markets
The account opening process at HF Markets is simple and quick, with a user-friendly interface and standard verification.
XM
Opening an account with XM is fast and convenient: registration takes only a few minutes, the interface is intuitive, and document requirements are standard.
Pros
- Fast online registration
- Clear and straightforward KYC process
- Ability to open demo and additional accounts
Account Types
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
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| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:2000 | 1:1000 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Demo Account | ||
| Swap-free Account |
HF Markets
The broker offers a range of accounts to satisfy the needs of diverse traders.
Pros
- A wide selection of account types to suit different requirements.
- Specialized accounts, such as Cent and Islamic accounts.
- The opportunity to copy trades from successful traders.
XM
XM broker offers various account types to satisfy the needs of different traders, from beginners to professionals.
Pros
- A wide choice of accounts for different experience levels
- Flexible trading conditions (leverage, deposit)
- Specialized accounts for stock trading
Cons
- No ECN or STP accounts
Commissions
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Spread | from 0 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 1.5 | 1.7 |
| Commission per Lot | $3 |
HF Markets
HF Markets' commissions are above average for the market.
Pros
- No fees for deposits/withdrawals.
Cons
- Spreads are above average
- High swaps for long-term trading.
- Inactivity fee.
XM
XM’s fees can be considered competitive: the Ultra Low account offers reduced spreads, while the absence of deposit and withdrawal fees lowers overall costs. With active trading, the conditions are attractive.
Pros
- Reduced spreads on the Ultra Low account
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Ability to lower costs through rebates
Cons
- Above-average spreads on the Standard account
- Inactivity fee applies
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Account Funding Methods |
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HF Markets
HF Markets provides many deposit and withdrawal methods, making the broker convenient for many traders.
XM
The broker offers convenient deposit and withdrawal methods with zero commission but lacks cryptocurrency support.
Pros
- Zero commission for deposits and withdrawals
- A minimum limit of only 5 dollars
- Quick processing of withdrawal requests
Cons
- No cryptocurrency deposit/withdrawal options
Markets and Products
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 4.5/5 | 5/5 |
| Forex | 53 | 55 |
| Precious Metals | 6 | 3 |
| Energy Carriers | 2 | 3 |
| Soft Commodities | 5 | 8 |
| Indices | 11 | 50 |
| Stocks | 95 | 1307 |
| ETF | 33 | - |
| Bonds | 3 | - |
| Cryptocurrency | 40 | 58 |
HF Markets
HF Markets offers a wide selection of trading assets, though it has a limited choice of stocks.
XM
The broker offers a wide range of markets and products, including over 1500 items.
Pros
- A large selection of currency pairs
- Access to CFDs on various assets
- The ability to trade cryptocurrencies
Trading Platforms
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Trading Platforms |
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HF Markets
HF Markets offers a wide choice of reliable and functional platforms, making it attractive to traders of various levels.
XM
XM offers various versions of MT4 and MT5 platforms, providing flexibility in trading.
Pros
- Availability on various devices (PC, Mac, mobile)
- MultiTerminal for managing multiple accounts
- WebTrader for browser-based trading
Cons
- No alternatives to MetaTrader
Analytics
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
HF Markets
HF Markets offers an impressive set of analytical tools and up-to-date news from experts, facilitating effective trading.
XM
XM’s analytics are well structured and deeply integrated into the platform. Trading Central, market sentiment tools, calendars, and calculators make them useful for both active trading and careful pre-trade analysis.
Pros
- Trading Central integration and XM in-house analysis
- Economic calendar, corporate events, and calculators
- Clear market sentiment tools
Education
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
HF Markets
HF Markets' educational materials are extensive and in-depth, allowing traders of all levels to improve their skills and strategies.
XM
XM's educational materials are extensive and varied, suitable for all experience levels.
Pros
- A wide range of materials: webinars, videos, seminars
- Available in different languages
- Daily online sessions with experts
Customer Support
| Broker | HF Markets | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 5/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
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| Social Media |
Facebook
Twitter
Telegram
Instagram
YouTube
LinkedInHF Markets
HF Markets' customer support is efficient, available through various channels, and responds quickly.
Pros
- Variety of communication channels (email, phone, online chat).
- Quick and professional response.
- Positive user feedback.
Cons
- Absence of instant messaging for quick communication.
- Lack of national phone lines.
- Support is limited to working days (24/5).
XM
XM’s customer support operates reliably 24/7, offering multiple contact channels and multilingual assistance. Most issues are resolved quickly and professionally, which supports the broker’s high service rating.
Pros
- 24/7 support via chat, email, phone, and messengers
- Multilingual assistance
- Strong knowledge of products and procedures
Comparisons of HF Markets and XM with other brokers
Conclusion
XM stands out as the better overall pick, while HF Markets trails on aggregate criteria.
XM scored 4.7/5 and ranks 2 in our rating; HF Markets has 4.3/5 and ranks 23.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: HF Markets or XM?
XM comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.7/5, position 2) versus HF Markets (score 4.3/5, position 23).
Which broker is better for beginners: HF Markets or XM?
XM is often a smoother start thanks to simpler onboarding and stronger baseline metrics. Still, your tools and budget should drive the final choice.
Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — HF Markets or XM?
It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.
What trading platforms are available with HF Markets and XM?
HF Markets: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader. XM: MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, WebTrader. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with HF Markets and XM?
HF Markets: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Bonds, Cryptocurrency. XM: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by HF Markets and XM?
HF Markets: Cent, Premium, Zero, Pro. XM: Standard, Micro, XM Ultra Low, Shares. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by HF Markets and XM?
HF Markets: Skrill, Perfect Money, FasaPay, BitPay, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. XM: Neteller, Skrill, SticPay, Swift, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — HF Markets or XM — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
