Both brokers compete on regulation, costs, and platform choices, yet they pull in different directions on asset breadth and proprietary tools.
HFM and ThinkMarkets are closely matched; the clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with ThinkMarkets offering 4000 assets to HFM's 1000.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose HFM if…
Choose HFM if you want MT4/MT5 access and leverage up to 2000:1.
Choose ThinkMarkets if…
Choose ThinkMarkets if you prefer ThinkTrader and a wider instrument universe.
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 0.40 pips for ThinkMarkets, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.1/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.1 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| 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 |
The scores are close: HFM rates 4.1/5 and ThinkMarkets rates 4.2/5. ThinkMarkets 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 ThinkMarkets's 0.4 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most 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. 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.
HFM lists maximum leverage of 2000:1, while ThinkMarkets lists up to 500:1. 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 ThinkMarkets's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
HFM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while ThinkMarkets supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. ThinkMarkets has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile and TradingView.
ThinkMarkets gains safety with broader regulator coverage including ASIC and JFSA.
ThinkMarkets wins for active traders due to 4000 instruments and ThinkTrader.
HFM is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($6/lot), tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
ThinkMarkets wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5, ThinkTrader, and TradingView.
HFM wins for beginners with HFcopy copy trading and no minimum deposit.
ThinkMarkets wins with 4000 instruments versus HFM's 1000.
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▼ lower | 0.4 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $6/lot▼ lower | $7/lot |
|---|
| 0.6 pips▼ lower | 1.1 pips |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA DFSA CySEC | FCA ASIC FSCA JFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
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