HFM vs CMC Markets : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

HFM

CMC Markets

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Market maker broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2010

1989

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

2500000 clients

265k+

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FSC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, ISA, FSCA, MAS, CMA, FMA

FCA, ASIC, CIRO, MAS, FMA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best Global Affliiate Programs 2024, Best Trading Accounts Global, Best Stock Broker 2023, Best Trading Platform Broker

Best Mobile Trading Platform, No.1 Most Currency Pairs, Best for CFDs -2024, No.1 Web Platform, Best Forex Broker, Best In-House Analysts 2023

Security Measures

Civil Liability insurance program with a limit of €5,000,000

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 500 markets including energies

12,000+ tradable instruments including shares, Treasuries

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Futures

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Equities

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

Yes

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

HFM Platform, Web trading, Mobile trading

CMC web platform, iOS and Android app

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Cent, Zero, Pro , Premium, Corporate, Joint account

Spread betting, CFD account , FX active, Corporate account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

1:1000- 1:2000

30:1 to 1:500

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

60/ 200 Standard lots per position depends on account types

No information

Commission (per account type)

Standard - No commission, FX active account- $2.50

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Professional and retail traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Bank Transfers, Wire transfers, Credit/Debit cards,Crypto, e-Wallets

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Withdrawal Methods

Bank Transfers, Wire transfers, Credit/Debit cards,Crypto, e-Wallets

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Other E-Wallets Supported

FasaPay, Neteller

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials

Learn spread betting, Learn to trade CFDs, Learn forex trading, technical indicators, Fundamental analysis, Webinars & events, Platform guides, Trading guides

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Spread: starts from 0.0- 1.2 pips, commissions: $0.03 per 1k lot, Commission for Forex: $0.03 - $3, gold: $7- $14

CFD trading -US shares from $10; FX active - US shares from $10; Typical STP: Spread of 1.2 pips, Typical ECN: Spread of 0.2 pips, Spread- starts from 0.0 to 0.6 pips, Overnight holding costs: 0.0027%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Fixed/Variable

Per Lot Fees

$2.50

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

$5.00 per $100,000 in nominal value

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Crude Oil Brent $0.02 per unit, Apple Inc $0.41 per unit, US 30 $1.50 per unit, GBP/USD $0.00015 per

Maximum Leverage

34:20:00

1:500

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 inactive for 90 days

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

ASX Dynamic Data package $41.25 a month (non-professional investors) $118.80 a month, International Data service fees (US) $11, International Data service fees (NZ) $11, Live Data package Free

Advisory Fees

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

Deposit Fee

Currency Conversion Fee

0.50%

Withdrawal Fee

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Varies by instrument

Depends on the instrument offer

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/5

Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live support: Available 24/5, Email : [email protected], Phone: +44-203 097 85 71

Email: [email protected], Phone: +44 (0)20 7170 8200

Support Languages

27+

12+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

financial hub of Limassol, Cyprus

CMC Markets UK plc, 133 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BX, United Kingdom

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

If minimizing trading costs is your top priority, HFM might be more attractive due to its lower commissions. Meanwhile, CMC Markets justifies its moderate fees with more robust tools and professional-grade features.

The account creation flow at HFM is modern and app-driven, making it seamless for new users. CMC Markets, however, leans toward traditional processes with forms and verifications that take more time.

If you're trading on-the-go, HFM mobile platform is fluid and intuitive. CMC Markets desktop and web apps are more robust, making them suitable for in-depth trading sessions.

HFM is geared toward frequent trading and analytics, while CMC Markets fits those who value simplicity and guided experiences.

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