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HFM vs Plus500 : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

HFM

HFM

VS
Plus500

Plus500

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Broker Overview

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

Market maker broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2010

2008

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

2500000 clients

20 Million


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

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

FCA, CYSEC, ASIC, FMA, FSCA, FSP, ISA, FSA, MAS, DFSA, FSA, SCB

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 in Class for Trust Score 2024, GLOBAL TRADING ADVFN International Financial Awards

Security Measures

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

Anti-Money Laundering

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 500 markets including energies

2800+

Currency Pairs

Yes

No

Commodities

Yes

No

Indices

Yes

No

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

No

CFDs

Yes

Yes

ETFs

Yes

No

Stocks

Yes

No

Options

No

Yes

Futures

No

Yes

Bonds

Yes

No

Mutual Funds

No

No

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

Yes

No

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

Yes

No

MT5

Yes

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

Yes

No

Copy Trading

Yes

No

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

HFM Platform, Web trading, Mobile trading

Mobile and web trading platform

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

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

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

Retail Account & Demo Account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$100

Leverage Available

1:1000- 1:2000

1:30

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

60/ 200 Standard lots per position depends on account types

Depends on the asset type

Commission (per account type)

$0

$0

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

Beginners to experienced traders

Experienced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

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

Credit, Debit, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Withdrawal Methods

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

Credit, Debit, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

FasaPay, Neteller

PayPal, Skrill


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Yes

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

Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials

Trading Academy Online Courses, Market News and Analysis, Webinars, Trading Guides and eBooks, Video Tutorials, Trader's Guide Beginner's Guide


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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

Commission-$0

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

NA

NA

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

$0

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

34:20:00

1:30


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$10 inactive for 90 days

$10 per month inactive for three months

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$0

NA

Advisory Fees

NA

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

$0

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

NA

NA

Account Opening Fee

$0

NA

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

NA

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

$0

0.70%

Withdrawal Fee

$0

$0


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

No

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

No

No


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Varies by instrument

Depends on the instrument offer


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Customer Support

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

24/5

24/7

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

Call +65 6320 1111 or +65 6320 1119, Email to Plus500's customer support, Live chat

Support Languages

27+

32+


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

financial hub of Limassol, Cyprus

Menachem Begin 125 Tel Aviv, Israel.

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


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.
While HFM maintains low trading fees with no minimum deposit, Plus500 includes some charges for premium features and certain asset trades, making HFM the better option for budget-focused traders.
Creating an account with HFM is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while Plus500 requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.
HFM integrates well with algorithmic trading tools and third-party plugins. In contrast, Plus500 emphasizes educational content and built-in research features within its platform.
HFM supports complex strategies and asset diversity, while Plus500 offers clarity and low-cost access for short-term holders.