A head-to-head comparison of BlackBull Markets and HFM across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
New Zealand-regulated ECN broker with all three major platforms, no minimum deposit on standard accounts, and good Asia-Pacific coverage.
BlackBull Markets and HFM are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0 pips.
HFM has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
BlackBull Markets offers more exclusive platform options: cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5 and the same minimum deposit requirement, making them equally suited for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2014 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Auckland, New Zealand | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 500:1 | 2000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FMA FSC | FCA FSCA CySEC DFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader TradingView DXtrade | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit BlackBull Markets | Visit HFM |
Pros
Supports all three major platforms: MT4, MT5, and cTrader
Regulated under FSC - well-established for offshore clients
No minimum deposit on standard account
Good for Asia-Pacific timezone traders
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
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
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
ECN commission of $6/lot round-turn is above some peers
Customer support timezone is NZ-centric
Brand recognition outside APAC is limited
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | BlackBull Markets | 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 |
BlackBull Markets and HFM share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Both BlackBull Markets and HFM offer spreads starting from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Consider commissions and account types when evaluating total trading costs.
Neither BlackBull Markets nor HFM requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both BlackBull Markets and HFM hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
BlackBull Markets offers maximum leverage of 500:1, while HFM offers up to 2000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Both BlackBull Markets and HFM charge the same commission of $6 per lot on applicable accounts.
BlackBull Markets supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade and HFM offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; BlackBull Markets exclusively offers cTrader, TradingView, DXtrade.
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Score 4.1 / 5
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