In this comparison, Admirals and HFM face off on regulation, costs, and platform reach. The tension lies in pricing structures, leverage, and the breadth of tradable instruments.
Admirals edges HFM on the overall editorial score (4.3 vs 4.1). The gap reflects Admirals stronger emphasis on regulation and educational content.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Admirals if…
Choose Admirals if you want a wide account lineup including Zero, Trade, and Invest. You benefit from strong EU and UK regulation and quality educational content.
Choose HFM if…
Choose HFM if you prefer no minimum deposit and high leverage up to 2000:1. You also gain HFcopy copy trading and segregated client funds.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
HFM offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for Admirals, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
Extensive range of accounts including Zero, Trade, and Invest
Strong FCA and CySEC regulation covering EU and UK traders
High-quality educational content including live webinars
Zero account offers spreads from 0.5 pips with $6 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 | Admirals | 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) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | 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: Admirals rates 4.3/5 and HFM rates 4.1/5. Admirals 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.
HFM starts from 0 pips, tighter than Admirals's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
HFM has no minimum deposit, while Admirals requires at least $100. This makes HFM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Admirals 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.
Admirals 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.
Both Admirals and HFM charge the same commission of $6 per lot on applicable accounts.
Admirals supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while HFM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Equally matched.
HFM is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Admirals wins for instrument variety with 8000 instruments.
Admirals wins for broad instrument access and educational resources.
Equally matched.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
|---|
| 1.1 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 2,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 24 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC KNF | FCA FSCA DFSA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
Platform-heavy, MT4 and MT5 only, no proprietary platform
Customer support quality varies by region
Not available to US clients
Inactivity fee applies
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 4.1 / 5
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