HFM Review: HF Markets Featured Broker

HFM Broker Review and Analysis

Who is HFM?

HFM (HF Markets) is a multi-award-winning forex and CFD broker founded in 2010. Until 2022 it was known as HotForex; the brand changed, but the company, licences and client accounts stayed the same. HFM serves both retail traders and institutional clients and is part of the HF Markets Group, which runs separate regulated companies in the UK, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and offshore jurisdictions.

The broker is known for three things: a $0 minimum deposit on most accounts, a full MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 line-up, and a copy trading service built into its own mobile app. It also runs regular deposit bonuses and trading contests for clients of its international entities.

HFM Regulation and Safety

Regulation is the first thing to check with any broker. HFM holds licences from both top-tier and offshore regulators. The company you sign up with depends on where you live, and that decides your leverage, your bonus eligibility and your investor protection.

All client money is held in segregated accounts, separate from company funds, and retail clients get negative balance protection. Clients of the UK entity are covered by the FSCS and those of the Cyprus entity by the Investor Compensation Fund, within their limits.

Tip: Before you deposit, check the name of the company in your account agreement. Bonuses and 1:1000+ leverage are only available through the offshore entities, which give less protection than the FCA or CySEC.

HFM Account Types

HFM keeps its account line-up simple. All live accounts give access to MT4, MT5 and the HFM App, and all have a 0.01 lot minimum trade size and a swap-free (Islamic) option.

Which HFM account should you choose?

• New to trading? Start on a demo, then move to a Cent or Premium account with a small deposit.
• Scalper or EA user? The Zero account has the tightest raw spreads; add the commission to compare the real cost.
• Trading larger volume without commission? The Pro account gives tighter spreads than Premium for a $100 deposit.

Spreads, Commissions and Fees

On the Premium account, the cost of a trade is built into the spread. On the Zero account, spreads can drop to 0.0 pips on EUR/USD, but you pay a commission of roughly $6–$10 per round-turn lot, depending on the instrument. Swap (overnight) fees apply unless you use a swap-free account.

• Deposit fees: HFM does not charge for most deposit methods.
• Withdrawal fees: most methods are free from HFM's side; banks and crypto networks may charge their own fees.
• Inactivity fee: charged on dormant accounts after a long period without trading — check the current amount in the client area.

HFM Trading Platforms

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

MT4 is still the most widely used forex platform. With HFM you can run it on Windows, Mac, the web, Android and iOS, use Expert Advisors (EAs) and custom indicators, and trade with one-click execution.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5)

MT5 adds more timeframes, more order types, an economic calendar and access to more stock CFDs than MT4. It is the better choice if you want to trade shares and indices as well as forex.

HFM App and copy trading

The HFM App lets you open an account, deposit, trade and manage positions from one place. It also contains HFM Copy Trading: you can follow strategy providers using filters such as drawdown, risk score and performance fee, or become a strategy provider yourself. Money managers can also use HFM's PAMM and MAM solutions.

Markets You Can Trade at HFM

HFM offers CFDs across the main asset classes. The exact list depends on the platform and entity:

• Forex: 50+ major, minor and exotic currency pairs
• Metals: gold, silver and other precious metals
• Energies and commodities: crude oil, natural gas and soft commodities
• Indices: major global stock indices
• Stocks and ETFs: CFDs on large US and European companies
• Crypto and bonds: crypto CFDs (not for UK retail clients) and government bond CFDs

HFM Bonus and Promotions

HFM is one of the few large regulated brokers that still runs forex deposit bonuses, available only to clients of its international entities. Promotions that HFM has offered include:

• 100% Supercharged Bonus – a credit equal to your deposit, added for extra margin.
• 30% Rescue Bonus – a bonus designed to support your margin during drawdowns.
• 100% Instant Rebate Credit Bonus – credit that converts into cash rebates as you trade.

Each bonus has its own rules: required trading volume, which accounts qualify and when the credit is removed. Bonus credit itself is usually not withdrawable. Offers change often, so check the live terms on HFM's website or our forex deposit bonus page before you deposit.

HFM Deposit and Withdrawal

HFM supports bank wire, Visa and Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, FasaPay, cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, USDT) and many local payment methods, including options in Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Nigeria.

*After HFM approves the request, which normally takes up to one business day. Withdrawals usually return to the same method you used to deposit.

HFM Customer Support

HFM support is available 24 hours a day, 5 days a week through live chat, phone and email, in more than 25 languages. The client area also contains a help centre, trading guides, webinars and daily market analysis, which is useful for beginners.

HFM Pros and Cons

ForexGoal score breakdown

How to Open an HFM Account

1. Register – click Visit Broker, enter your name, email and country, and create a password.
2. Verify your identity – upload a passport or national ID and a recent utility bill or bank statement.
3. Choose an account – Premium, Zero, Cent or Pro, on MT4 or MT5, and select your leverage.
4. Fund your account – pick a local method, e-wallet, card or crypto. Opt in to a bonus here if you want one.
5. Start trading – log in to MT4, MT5 or the HFM App. Start small and always use a stop-loss.