HFM vs ThinkMarkets Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of HFM and ThinkMarkets 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
Score 4.2 / 5
2 bonusesNo minimum deposit on standard account, a highly rated ThinkTrader mobile app, and JFSA regulation for Japanese clients.
Our Verdict
ThinkMarkets winsby 0.1 pts
ThinkMarkets edges ahead with a score of 4.2/5 vs HFM's 4.1/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
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 0.4 pips for ThinkMarkets, 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 active traders
Recommended
HFM has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0 pips, lower commission ($6/lot).
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ThinkMarkets offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ThinkMarkets edges out HFM with a higher editorial score (4.2/5 vs 4.1/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
HFM vs ThinkMarkets: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.2/ 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 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | 0.4 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | $7/lot |
| Max leverage | 2000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC DFSA | FCA FSCA ASIC JFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit HFM | Visit ThinkMarkets |
HFM vs ThinkMarkets 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
No minimum deposit on standard ThinkForex account
ThinkTrader proprietary app is well-reviewed for mobile trading
JFSA regulation for Japanese clients
Strong multi-region regulatory coverage
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
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
ThinkZero account requires $500 minimum deposit
Standard account is spread-only and not competitive for scalpers
Not available to US residents
HFM vs ThinkMarkets: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
HFM
criteria wins
1
ThinkMarkets
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | HFM | ThinkMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
HFM vs ThinkMarkets: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ThinkMarkets ranks higher with a score of 4.2/5 vs 4.1/5 for HFM. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; HFM and ThinkMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
HFM offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to ThinkMarkets's spreads from 0.4 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither HFM nor ThinkMarkets requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both HFM and ThinkMarkets 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.
HFM offers maximum leverage of 2000:1, while ThinkMarkets 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, lower than ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
HFM supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and ThinkMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; ThinkMarkets exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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