Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs Markets4you, 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.
Founded in 2010, online broker HFM operates as a private entity and is not listed on any stock exchange. Though it doesn't function as a bank, HFM boasts a reputable standing in the financial world, holding two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. With a Trust Score of 86 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, HFM falls into the 'trusted' category, making it a reliable choice for investors seeking a secure trading platform.
In contrast, Markets4you was established slightly earlier in 2007, but like HFM, it remains privately held and not bank-affiliated. Lacking any Tier-1 or Tier-2 licenses, Markets4you holds a Trust Score of 61 out of 99. This positions it in the 'high risk' bracket according to ForexBrokers.com, suggesting potential investors proceed with caution when considering this broker for their trading activities.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, HFM and Markets4you display notable differences. HFM offers standard trading accounts with a typical spread of 1.2 pips; however, without a specified date range, this figure might not accurately represent long-term averages. The Zero account at HFM offers an effective spread of 0.7 pips after including commission. This lack of average spread data doesn't help transparency but provides a potential cost framework for traders.
On the other hand, Markets4you does not provide average spread data, making it difficult to gauge exact trading costs. This lack of transparency could be a barrier for traders seeking clarity on their expected expenses.
Considering ratings and rankings, HFM wins out with a 4-star rating and a #31 rank out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Markets4you holds a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks at #53. These rankings suggest that HFM offers a more favorable cost structure in the long run.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 the range of investments available at online brokers HFM and Markets4you, there are notable differences to consider. HFM stands out with an impressive offering of 500 tradeable symbols and 102 forex pairs, while Markets4you provides access to 150 tradeable symbols and 43 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, but not actual cryptocurrencies. Neither broker provides the opportunity to buy or sell exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges. Additionally, both brokers offer copy trading for those interested in mirroring the trades of more experienced investors.
In terms of investor ratings, HFM receives a higher score with 4 out of 5 stars in the Range of Investments category, while Markets4you garners 3.5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks HFM at #36 out of 62 brokers in this category, while Markets4you is positioned at #58. This comparative analysis highlights that HFM offers a broader array of investment options compared to Markets4you, potentially making it a more attractive choice for those seeking a varied trading experience.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 43 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of HFM and Markets4you, both brokers offer a comprehensive suite of features tailored to the needs of modern traders. Both HFM and Markets4you provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading strategies in a risk-free environment. Each broker offers a proprietary trading platform in addition to popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both have desktop and web-based platforms to ensure accessibility from different devices. Additionally, traders using either broker can take advantage of copy trading to mimic the strategies of more experienced traders. However, both do not support DupliTrade and ZuluTrade.
In terms of technical analysis features, HFM stands out with 30 drawing tools compared to Markets4you's 15, although neither broker specifies the number of technical indicators available. Both platforms enable direct trading from stock charts, enhancing the user experience. For watch lists, both HFM and Markets4you provide the same number of columns for in-depth tracking. While each broker is rated 4 stars for their platforms and tools, HFM ranks higher at #42 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets4you's #52. Despite these differences, both brokers offer reliable trading environments for investors.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 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 Markets4you offer powerful iPhone and Android apps, enabling traders to manage their investments on the go. Whether it's keeping up with stock and forex price alerts, or drawing trendlines directly on charts, both apps provide essential features for modern trading. Both HFM and Markets4you include an array of 30 technical studies in their charting tools and support multiple time frames, ensuring that users have access to comprehensive analysis options right at their fingertips. Notably, both apps allow users to create personalized watchlists with real-time quotes, although syncing these watchlists between the app and online account isn't available with either platform.
Despite similar offerings, HFM edges slightly ahead in rankings, rated at number 39 by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Markets4you, which sits at number 50. Both apps earn a solid four-star rating for their mobile trading capabilities, reflecting their competent features and user satisfaction. Additionally, both brands enhance user experience by allowing charts to auto-save any drawings, facilitating streamlined trading sessions. Whether you choose HFM or Markets4you, you can expect well-rounded mobile trading apps that cater to most traders' needs.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing HFM to Markets4you in terms of market research offerings, both platforms provide daily market commentary and offer forex news from renowned sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders are up-to-date with essential market movements. Both brokers also integrate tools from Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, enhancing traders' decision-making capabilities. HFM stands out by offering a sentiment-based trading tool, displaying the ratio of long and short positions across instruments, a feature not available with Markets4you.
In addition, while Markets4you has an advantage with tools from Trading Central, providing in-depth technical analytics, neither platform provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Both HFM and Markets4you offer economic calendars that highlight crucial global news events. In terms of overall research ratings, HFM receives 4 out of 5 stars, ranking 20th out of 62 brokers, while Markets4you receives 3.5 stars and is ranked 47th. This suggests that users seeking comprehensive market research might find HFM to be a more favorable option.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners offered by online brokers HFM and Markets4you, each has its strengths. HFM provides a comprehensive suite for newcomers, including a collection of over ten educational pieces on forex and CFDs and regular online webinars to enhance learning each month. Their searchable archive of past webinars is a valuable tool, and they have an impressive library of more than ten introductory videos tailored specifically for beginners. Furthermore, HFM offers an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, making it easier for new traders to get up to speed on the jargon. With these offerings, HFM has earned a 4-star rating in education from industry reviewers and is ranked #37 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Markets4you also provides a solid foundation with their educational resources, offering more than ten pieces on forex and CFDs, alongside a searchable archive of webinars. However, they fall short by not providing regular monthly webinars and only a limited selection of beginner videos. Advanced learners might also find fewer options available, given their lack of ten advanced level educational videos. Additionally, without an investor dictionary, beginners might encounter more hurdles understanding industry terms. With a 3.5-star rating in education, Markets4you takes the #25 spot among 62 brokers, reflecting their reputable but somewhat limited resources compared to HFM.
| Feature |
HFM
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 Markets4you. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while Markets4you finished with an overall rank of #55.
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
|
Markets4you
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 61 |
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Both HFM and Markets4you provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the capability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Both HFM and Markets4you allow deposits and withdrawals through Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.
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 | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | HFM | Markets4you | |
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| Regulation | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 61 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 43 | |
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | HFM | Markets4you | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | No | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | No | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | No | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | No | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | No | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | No | |
| Review | HFM Review |
| Overall | HFM | Markets4you | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 61 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review |
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