ACY Securities and HFM square off in a comparison of regulation, costs, and platform access. The axis of tension centers on investor protection and instrument breadth.
ACY Securities and HFM are closely matched overall; ACY lacks an investor compensation scheme and offers more instruments (2,200) than HFM (1,000).
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ACY Securities if…
Choose ACY Securities if you value 2,200+ instruments and ASIC regulation.
Choose HFM if…
Choose HFM if you want no minimum deposit and access to HFcopy copy trading.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | HFM |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ACY Securities rates 4/5 and HFM rates 4.1/5. HFM has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Both ACY Securities and HFM start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
HFM has no minimum deposit, while ACY Securities requires at least $50. This makes HFM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ACY Securities and HFM hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: HFM has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ACY Securities lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while HFM lists up to 2000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
HFM charges $6 per lot, lower than ACY Securities's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while HFM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. ACY Securities has exclusive access to TradingView.
HFM wins for safety & regulation, with FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and DFSA oversight, plus segregated funds and investor protection.
HFM wins for active traders thanks to leverage up to 2000:1 on offshore entity.
ACY Securities wins for platform choice with TradingView browser integration, MT4 and MT5 support, and robust charting tools.
HFM wins for beginners with no minimum deposit and simple onboarding.
ACY Securities wins for instrument variety, offering 2,200+ instruments including share and ETF CFDs, far more than HFM.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $50 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $6/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.7 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 2,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | FCA FSCA DFSA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
No minimum deposit required to open an account
Copy trading via HFcopy platform
FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation
High leverage up to 2000:1 on offshore entity
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Cons
2000:1 leverage is extremely risky for inexperienced traders
No cTrader support
Zero account commission of $6/lot is above some ECN peers
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
Personalised recommendation
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