Two regulated brokers square off on price, regulation breadth, and platform depth. The outcome hinges on platform choice, leverage, and account options.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose EightCap if you want MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView on a single account. The Razor raw-spread pricing at $7 per lot is a key feature for cost-conscious traders.
Choose if…
Choose HFM if you want MT4/MT5 and copy trading via HFcopy. It also offers high leverage up to 2000:1 on offshore entities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView all available on one account
Capitalise.ai code-free automation included at no extra cost
ASIC (391441) and FCA (921296) dual regulation
Razor account: raw EUR/USD from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
No minimum deposit on Standard account
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | EightCap | 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 | 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: EightCap rates 4.3/5 and HFM rates 4.1/5. EightCap 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 EightCap 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 EightCap requires at least $100. This makes HFM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both EightCap 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.
EightCap 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 EightCap's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
EightCap supports TradingView, cTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while HFM supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Both provide MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. EightCap has exclusive access to TradingView and cTrader.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
HFM wins for safety & regulation due to FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and DFSA oversight.
HFM wins for active traders thanks to 1000 instruments and high leverage up to 2000:1.
EightCap wins for platform choice with MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView on one account.
HFM wins for beginners with zero minimum deposit and HFcopy copy trading.
HFM wins for instrument variety with 1000 tradable instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 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 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Australia | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | 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 | $10/month (after 12 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC SCB | DFSA CySEC FSCA FCA |
|---|
| Platforms | TradingView cTrader MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
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
$100 minimum on Razor ECN account
Shorter public track record than IC Markets or Pepperstone
Research and educational content thinner than larger peers
Not available to US residents
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
EightCap edges HFM on overall score, aided by a higher editorial score and a broader four-platform offering.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
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