Capital.com and HFM sit at opposite ends of the forex spectrum. They trade on different platforms, fee structures, and instrument counts, setting up a head-to-head on risk, cost, and usability.
Capital.com outperforms HFM on editorial score (4.3 vs 4.1) across trust, platforms, and regulation coverage.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Capital.com if…
Choose Capital.com if you want a proprietary platform with AI-powered pattern recognition and zero commissions.
Choose HFM if…
Choose HFM if you need MT4/MT5 support and access to copy trading via HFcopy.
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 0.60 pips for Capital.com, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
Very low $20 minimum deposit
AI-powered pattern recognition built into proprietary platform
Zero commission on all trades
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Capital.com | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Capital.com rates 4.3/5 and HFM rates 4.1/5. Capital.com 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 Capital.com's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
HFM has no minimum deposit, while Capital.com requires at least $20. This makes HFM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Capital.com 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.
Capital.com lists maximum leverage of 30:1, 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Capital.com are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while HFM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Capital.com has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. HFM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Capital.com benefits from broader regulator coverage including MAS and CMA.
HFM wins for active traders with high leverage up to 2000:1 and HFcopy.
HFM is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
Capital.com leads platform choice with a proprietary platform and AI features.
HFM is best for beginners with no minimum deposit and MT4/MT5 access.
Capital.com offers the widest instrument range with 6,300 assets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $20 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 30:1▲ higher | 2,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPalApple PayGoogle Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | FCA FSCA DFSA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Proprietary platform only, no MT4 or MT5
Limited product range for advanced traders
No phone support
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
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
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we’ll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker