Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Axi, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
HFM, established in 2010, and Axi, which started in 2007, are both well-regarded online brokers that aren't publicly traded and don't operate as banks. They each maintain 2 Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust among regulators and clients alike. While both brokers share similarities in their operational structure, their regulatory standings slightly differ.
HFM holds a Trust Score of 86, categorizing it as trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. In addition to its Tier-1 licenses, HFM boosts its credibility with 3 Tier-2 licenses. Axi, meanwhile, earns a Trust Score of 82 and carries 1 Tier-2 license. This comparison shows HFM with a slight edge in regulatory trust measures, offering a broader base of regulatory compliance than Axi.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers HFM and Axi in terms of commissions and fees, potential traders might notice some differences. HFM's trading costs are slightly above the industry average. For standard trading accounts, HFM typically offers spreads starting at 1.2 pips, though it's important to note this figure may not represent an average over time. Their Zero account features an effective spread of 0.7 pips after accounting for commissions, but again, this is not guaranteed to be an average spread. Axi, on the other hand, lacks published average spread data, which may make it more challenging for traders to assess the potential costs involved.
Both brokers receive a 4-star rating out of five for their commissions and fees, indicating a similar level of satisfaction among users. However, when it comes to ranking, HFM edges out Axi, being placed at #31 by ForexBrokers.com, while Axi sits at #44 out of 62 brokers. This difference in rankings suggests that users may find HFM slightly more favorable concerning trading costs and related services.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing HFM with Axi for their available range of investments, both platforms allow forex trading through contracts for difference (CFDs) or spot contracts. HFM stands out with a total of 500 tradeable symbols, including 102 forex pairs, whereas Axi offers 175 tradeable symbols with 65 forex pairs. Neither broker provides the option to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as Apple or Vodafone shares. However, both platforms support copy trading, providing opportunities for users to replicate successful trading strategies.
For those interested in cryptocurrency trading, HFM and Axi both offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of ratings, HFM holds a superior rating of four stars for its range of investments, outranking Axi's 3.5 stars. This difference is further highlighted by their standings on ForexBrokers.com, where HFM is ranked 36th among 62 brokers, while Axi is positioned lower at 55th. These distinctions may guide investors in selecting a platform that best fits their trading needs.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 175 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
HFM and Axi both offer virtual demo accounts, allowing users to simulate trading without financial risk. While HFM provides a proprietary platform developed in-house, Axi does not, relying instead on third-party platforms. Both brokers support trading on Windows-based desktops and web browsers. Additionally, HFM and Axi offer popular platforms like MetaTrader 4, but only HFM includes MetaTrader 5. Both companies also provide copy trading services; however, Axi offers ZuluTrade, which HFM does not.
When it comes to charting tools, HFM seems to edge out Axi, offering 30 drawing tools compared to Axi's 15. Both brokers allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts and provide watch lists with seven columns. In terms of user ratings and rankings, HFM earns a slightly higher rating of 4 stars compared to Axi's 3.5 stars. In a field of 62 brokers, HFM ranks at number 42 for its trading platforms and tools, whereas Axi is positioned at the bottom, ranked 62.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both HFM and Axi offer iPhone and Android apps for mobile trading, making them accessible options for traders on the go. Each app includes essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. They also support multiple time frames and a choice of 30 technical studies, which caters well to technical analysts. However, one key difference is in how these apps handle chart drawings. HFM’s app autosaves any drawings made on stock or forex charts, providing a seamless experience, while Axi’s app does not have this autosave function.
While both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, neither supports syncing watchlists across devices. In terms of rankings, HFM stands out by being ranked 39th out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, with a solid rating of four stars. Axi, on the other hand, is ranked 59th with a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars. These ratings reflect HFM's edge in offering a more enhanced mobile trading experience compared to Axi.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research features between HFM and Axi, HFM takes the lead with its daily market commentary, something Axi does not offer. Both brokers deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring you're always in the loop. They each provide advanced tools for technical and fundamental analysis from Autochartist, and sentiment-based trading tools to give insight into market trends. However, neither broker offers research tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Both HFM and Axi include economic calendars to keep track of global news events, making them reliable for understanding market shifts.
In terms of overall research quality, HFM is rated 4 out of 5 stars, while Axi is rated 3 out of 5 stars. When ranked by ForexBrokers.com, HFM stands at #20 out of 62 brokers, indicating a substantial edge in research capabilities. Axi, on the other hand, is placed at #55, suggesting there is room for improvement in its research offerings. Whether you're a novice or experienced trader, HFM seems to provide a more comprehensive suite of market research tools to enhance your trading experience.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for forex and CFDs, both HFM and Axi provide solid offerings, making them viable options for beginners. HFM stands out with its extensive educational content, offering more than just the basics. It delivers over ten informative pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically focused on forex and CFDs. HFM also hosts regular online educational webinars and maintains a searchable archive, allowing clients to revisit past sessions. While both brokers cater to beginners with educational videos, HFM also provides a suite of advanced videos for more experienced traders. Additionally, both brokers offer an investor dictionary with over 50 investment terms, which serves as a practical tool for those new to trading jargon.
In contrast, Axi does not have a searchable archive of past webinar content and falls short of offering advanced educational videos. However, Axi maintains consistent monthly webinars and foundational content that beginners will find beneficial. Despite these differences, both HFM and Axi receive respectable ratings for their educational services, with HFM slightly ahead with a four-star rating compared to Axi’s three stars. Interestingly, in ForexBrokers.com's education category ranking out of 62 brokers, Axi is positioned at a higher rank of #26 compared to HFM at #37. This could suggest that while HFM offers a wider variety of educational content, Axi's education quality or additional factors might appeal to a different set of user needs.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that HFM is better than Axi. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Axi finished with an overall rank of #49.
Alongside its enhanced MetaTrader offering and quality research, HFM (HF Markets), previously known as HotForex, offers a proprietary copy trading platform, HFcopy, a proprietary HF mobile app, and a decent selection of over 1,000 CFDs and 47 forex pairs. Still, trading costs at HFM are slightly above the industry average.
| Feature |
HFM
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Axi
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 82 |
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Both HFM and Axi do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers HFM and Axi, both lack ACH and SEPA transfer options as well as PayPal for deposit or withdrawal, but offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for managing account funds.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | HFM | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Axi | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 175 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Axi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | Axi | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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