Two regulation-forward brokers meet in a tight competition. Hantec Markets emphasizes regulation and ECN pricing, while HFM leans on higher leverage options and wider instrument coverage.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Hantec Markets if you value FCA and JFSA dual regulation and a zero-deposit option on the Professional ECN account.
Choose if…
Choose HFM if you want HFcopy copy trading and 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 | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Pros
FCA (502635) and JFSA dual regulation - rare combination at retail level
No minimum deposit on Professional ECN account
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $6 round-turn commission
FSCS protection up to GBP 85,000 for UK clients
Strong Japanese-language service infrastructure for East Asian traders
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Hantec 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) | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Hantec Markets and HFM share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. One concrete differentiator: platform availability and account types differ between them.
Both Hantec Markets and HFM start from 0 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
Neither Hantec Markets nor HFM requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both Hantec Markets 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, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Hantec Markets 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 Hantec Markets and HFM charge the same commission of $6 per lot on applicable accounts.
Hantec Markets supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, while HFM supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. Both provide MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.00 pips.
HFM is best for safety & regulation with FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and DFSA oversight.
Both brokers offer equivalent ECN conditions including raw spread accounts, commissions, and spread levels.
Hantec Markets appeals to beginners with strong Japanese-language support.
HFM provides broader instrument coverage with 1000 instruments.
HFM suits active traders with 1000 instruments and advanced charting.
HFM offers MT4/MT5 with advanced charting tools for better analysis.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $6/lot |
|---|
| 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 2,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | JFSA FCA FSA Seychelles | CySEC FCA FSCA DFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Mobile trading app available
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
Limited brand recognition outside Japan and the UK
No cTrader or TradingView integration
Research and educational content minimal
MT4 and MT5 only - no alternative platforms
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
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
Hantec Markets and HFM are closely matched overall, but HFM offers broader instrument variety with 1000 instruments versus Hantec's 300.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
Score 4.1 / 5
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