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

Broker Name

HFM

Freetrade

Broker Overview

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

Market maker broker

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2010

2016

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

2500000 clients

1.5 M

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

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

FCA

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 Online trading platform 2024

Security Measures

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

Yes

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

6200+ U.S Treasury Bills, Investment trust

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)

Yes

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

Freetrade web and mobile trading platform

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

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

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

General investment account, Stocks and shares ISA, Personal pension account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

1:1000- 1:2000

100:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

60/ 200 Standard lots per position depends on account types

depends on asset class

Commission (per account type)

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

Beginners to experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

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

Bank transfer, debit card, Apple pay, google pay

Withdrawal Methods

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

Linked bank account

Other E-Wallets Supported

FasaPay, Neteller

Apple pay , google pay

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

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

Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials

Learn (Trading Education), Freetrade Blog (Market Insights), Webinars, Investing Guides, Video Tutorials, Community Forum

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

FX fee of 0.59%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

34:20:00

100:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 inactive for 90 days

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

£10.97

Deposit Fee

£5

Currency Conversion Fee

Exchange rate + 0.99%

Withdrawal Fee

£5

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

Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT Monday to Friday: 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM ET (2:30 PM - 9:00 PM GMT) European Market Hours- Monday to Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM CET (8:00 AM - 4:30 PM GMT)

Customer Support

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

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

Help hub, community forum, E-mail, Social media

Support Languages

27+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

financial hub of Limassol, Cyprus

Level 2, The Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, London, England, E1 6QL

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.

HFM is known for competitive pricing on basic trades, especially for beginners. However, Freetrade fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.

Creating an account with HFM is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while Freetrade requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.

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

For market veterans, HFM brings the tools they need. New investors might find Freetrade more approachable and cost-effective.

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