Two brokers compete in stock trading, testing regulation, pricing, and global access. HFM blends copy trading with equity CFDs, while XTB emphasizes commission-free stock trading and a capable platform.
XTB is the editorial winner with a higher overall score (4.1 vs 3.8). It also leads in trust/regulation and fees/spreads.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose HFM if…
Choose HFM if you value HFcopy automatic copying of equity strategies within the same account. You also benefit from CySEC/DFSA regulation and a 500+ share CFD range, plus no inactivity fee and multilingual 24/5 support.
Choose XTB if…
Choose XTB if you want commission-free stock trading up to €100,000 monthly turnover. You also get a built-in stock screener and market scanner on xStation 5 plus fractional shares and 24/5 live chat.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
XTB wins for low cost trading due to commission-free stock trading up to €100k monthly turnover.
| Editorial score | 3.8/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | HFM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Pass |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: HFM rates 3.8/5 and XTB rates 4.1/5. XTB 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. Current spread data is not available for XTB. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
HFM requires no minimum deposit required. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for XTB.
Both HFM and XTB 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 20:1, while XTB lists up to 1:5. 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 trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for XTB are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
HFM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while XTB supports xStation 5. HFM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. XTB has exclusive access to xStation 5.
XTB offers commission-free stock trading while HFM does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Both HFM and XTB are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
XTB wins safety & regulation with FCA and FSCS protection for UK clients.
XTB wins for long-term investors by offering fractional shares.
HFM wins for beginners with zero minimum deposit and multilingual support.
XTB wins for global access with more exchanges (16) than HFM.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPay | Bank transferCredit cardSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA DFSA CySEC | FCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | xStation 5 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.8 / 5
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