Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of HFM vs VT Markets, 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 VT Markets, founded in 2016, are two online brokers that share similarities in that they are neither publicly traded nor banks. However, these companies differ in their regulatory standings and perceived trustworthiness. HFM boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 86, placing it within the "trusted" category. This is supported by its two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, and three Tier-2 licenses, which add an additional level of confidence.
In contrast, VT Markets holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 70, suggesting an average risk in terms of trust. It operates with one Tier-1 license that indicates a high level of trust, but only one Tier-2 license. This regulatory framework illustrates the distinctions in perceived reliability, making HFM appear more favorable in terms of oversight and licensing compared to VT Markets.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When it comes to trading costs, HFM and VT Markets present different options that cater to various trader preferences. Trading with HFM incurs slightly above-average fees, with their standard accounts typically offering a spread of 1.2 pips. However, without a specified date range, this figure might not represent the current average. For those opting for HFM's Zero account, the effective spread is 0.7 pips once commission is factored in, although this is not an average either. HFM has earned a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks 31st out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
VT Markets offers more tailored account options, with varying costs for their Raw ECN and Standard STP accounts. The Standard STP account is commission-free but features higher spreads, while the Raw ECN account offers a more industry-standard pricing model. The Raw ECN account features an effective spread of 0.83 pips, based on a 0.23 average spread and a 0.6 commission, according to data from September 2021. Regardless of the account type, VT Markets requires only a $100 minimum deposit. VT Markets receives a 4.5-star rating and is ranked 20th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
In summary, both HFM and VT Markets provide trading solutions that align with different trader needs, balancing cost with service. While HFM might appeal to traders seeking a straightforward approach, VT Markets presents a more nuanced choice with its account variety, possibly giving it an edge in terms of value for money. Both brokers maintain a solid reputation within the industry, though VT Markets slightly edges out HFM in terms of rating and ranking for fees and commissions.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 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 HFM and VT Markets, both brokers offer forex trading as either a CFD or spot contract, providing flexibility for traders in foreign exchange markets. HFM features 500 tradeable symbols, including an expansive selection of 102 forex pairs, giving clients a broad range of currency choices. Conversely, VT Markets offers a wider variety with 1000 tradeable symbols, but fewer forex pairs, totaling 39. While neither broker provides exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges like Apple shares, VT Markets stands out by offering access to international exchanges, enabling investments in companies such as Vodafone.
For those interested in copy trading, both brokers support this functionality, allowing users to follow and mirror the trades of experienced investors. While they both lack the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives for traders looking to explore this dynamic market. In terms of ratings for their range of investments, HFM scores slightly higher at 4 stars compared to VT Markets' 3.5 stars, with ForexBrokers.com ranking them 36th and 39th, respectively, among 62 brokers. This positions HFM as slightly more favorable for those prioritizing investment variety.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| 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 choosing between HFM and VT Markets for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide essential features such as simulated trading through a free virtual demo account, as well as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. While each broker boasts a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based trading interface, only HFM offers a proprietary platform developed in-house. For traders interested in social trading, both brokers support copy trading, but neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade options.
Both HFM and VT Markets provide the ability to trade directly from stock charts and offer 30 drawing tools, enhancing the charting experience. They also allow for watch lists with seven customizable fields. Despite these similarities, HFM slightly edges out VT Markets in industry ranking, securing the 42nd spot compared to VT Markets' 47th out of 62 brokers, although both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. This makes either broker suitable for traders seeking a comprehensive and user-friendly trading experience.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both HFM and VT Markets offer iPhone and Android apps, catering to traders on the go. Users of either platform can set stock or forex price alerts and enjoy a comprehensive suite of 30 technical studies for chart analysis. Additionally, each app provides the capability to draw trendlines and switch between various time frames, enhancing the trading experience. However, a notable difference lies in how chart drawings are handled; HFM's app automatically saves chart drawings, while VT Markets does not.
While both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, they lack the ability to sync these watchlists with their online accounts—a feature some may miss. Despite this, the platforms are well-regarded, each earning a solid 4-star rating for their mobile trading apps. In the industry ranking from ForexBrokers.com, HFM stands at #39 out of 62 brokers, slightly edging out VT Markets, which ranks at #44. Whether prioritizing automatic chart saving or industry ranking, both apps serve as strong contenders for traders seeking powerful mobile trading solutions.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both HFM and VT Markets excel when it comes to providing daily market commentary and offering forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. They each include a sentiment-based trading tool to help traders gauge market sentiment effectively. However, when it comes to technical and fundamental research tools, HFM offers tools from Autochartist, while VT Markets utilizes those from Trading Central. Both platforms ensure traders stay updated with an economic calendar showcasing key global news events. Unfortunately, neither broker includes research offerings from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Assessing their research capabilities, HFM slightly edges out VT Markets with a research rating of 4 stars compared to VT Markets' 3.5 stars. In a ranking of 62 brokers, HFM stands at position 20, signifying a stronger emphasis on research quality, whereas VT Markets sits at rank 36. This indicates that while both brokers provide substantial market research tools and insights, HFM may offer a more comprehensive research experience for traders seeking depth and variety in their analytical resources.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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.
For those new to trading, both HFM and VT Markets provide foundational education aids in the realm of forex and CFDs with more than ten resources such as articles, videos, and past webinars. However, HFM takes a step further by hosting monthly educational webinars, unlike VT Markets, which currently lacks this feature. This gives beginners with HFM a recurring opportunity to engage with live content and have their questions answered in real-time.
Moreover, HFM offers a comprehensive package for those starting out or looking to deepen their knowledge with a resource-rich environment that includes both beginner and advanced video tutorials. They also excel in providing an accessible archive of previously recorded webinars that clients can search through for additional learning. On the other hand, VT Markets has solid educational offerings but does not support advanced topics through videos or archived webinars. Both brokers have an investor dictionary, but HFM edges out in overall rankings with a higher education rating and better placement on ForexBrokers.com's list.
| Feature |
HFM
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 VT Markets. HFM finished with an overall rank of #30, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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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VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 |
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Both HFM and VT Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both brokers provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both HFM and VT Markets provide options for deposits and withdrawals through Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offers ACH, SEPA transfers, nor PayPal.
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 | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | VT Markets Review |
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| Regulation | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2010 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 102 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.2 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.7 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | HFM | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | HFM | VT Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 86 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | HFM Review | VT Markets Review |
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