HFM vs Skilling Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of HFM and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
No minimum deposit required, high leverage on offshore entity, and copy trading via HFcopy - with FCA, CySEC, and FSCA regulation.
VS
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Our Verdict
Too close to call
HFM and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.1/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
HFM offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Skilling offers more exclusive platform options: cTrader, Skilling Trader, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.1/5, but HFM requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $100 for Skilling), making it more accessible for new traders.
HFM vs Skilling: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2010 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 2000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC DFSA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit HFM | Visit Skilling |
HFM vs Skilling Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
Pros
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
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
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer 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
Cons
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
HFM vs Skilling: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
HFM
criteria win
1
Skilling
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | HFM | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
HFM vs Skilling: Frequently Asked Questions
HFM and Skilling share the same editorial score of 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
HFM offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
HFM has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes HFM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both HFM and Skilling 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: HFM has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
HFM offers maximum leverage of 2000:1, while Skilling offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
HFM charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
HFM supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; both support MetaTrader 4; HFM exclusively offers MetaTrader 5; Skilling exclusively offers cTrader, Skilling Trader.
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Score 4.1 / 5
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