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

Broker Name

HFM

Broker Overview

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

Market maker broker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

2010

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

2500000 clients

313,000 customers

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

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

NFA CFTC 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 Multi platform provider - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best Finance App - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best platform for active trader - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

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

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Yes

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

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

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

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

Leveraged Accounts Spread betting account CFD accountNon-Leveraged Account Share dealing account ISA account IG smart portfolio account IG smart ISA portfolio account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$50

Leverage Available

1:1000- 1:2000

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

60/ 200 Standard lots per position depends on account types

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

Starting from 0.1

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

Beginners to experienced traders

Beginners

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

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

Bank transfers Card FPS in Hong Kong dollars Funding on IG mobile app Wise

Withdrawal Methods

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

Card Bank transfer

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

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars

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

US shares 0 to 50 - commission free 50+ trades - $5Other shares Germany - 0.1% UK - 0.1% Ireland - 0.1%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

34:20:00

200:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 inactive for 90 days

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$50

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

Deposit Fee

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

0.5% - CFDs and share dealing accounts 0.7% - international shares

Withdrawal Fee

Wire transfer - $25

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Varies by instrument

Forex Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT (International times may vary)UK shares (LSE): 08.00-16.30 (London time) US shares: 09.30-16.00 (New York time) European shares: vary on relevant exchanges

Customer Support

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

24/5

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 Email: [email protected] 10AM to 7PM whatsapp channel support (Monday to Friday)

Support Languages

27+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

financial hub of Limassol, Cyprus

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

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.

Both HFM and IG offer affordable fee structures, but HFM generally edges out with no inactivity fees and lower commissions on standard trades, whereas IG shines with bundled research and platform access.

Account approval at HFM is usually completed within hours, often with automated ID checks. IG might take longer due to manual reviews, but provides in-depth onboarding support along the way.

The trading interface of HFM is known for its speed and ease-of-use, while IG shines with its customizable layouts and advanced charting capabilities, making it a strong choice for serious analysts.

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

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