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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
Trust rank #29 · Founded 2010
HFM (formerly HotForex) is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad market access through popular platforms, varied account types, and risk management tools. It provides research, education, and multilingual support with…
Read the HFM review
Trust rank #18 · Founded 2008
Markets.com is a well‐regarded forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and multi‐asset CFDs on intuitive web and mobile platforms. It provides built‐in research, education, and risk management tools…
Read the Markets.com reviewHFM (Cyprus, founded 2010) holds 4 regulatory licences (CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA), 1 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5 and sits in our low-fee bracket. Markets.com (Cyprus, founded 2008) holds 5 regulatory licences (ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA), 2 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 173 countries; HFM is available in 55 countries where Markets.com is not, and Markets.com in 2 where HFM is not.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | HFM | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Trust rank | #29 | #18 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Cyprus |
| Regulators | CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA | ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA |
| Broker type | Market Maker, STP | Market Maker |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, Proprietary |
| Instruments | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Metals | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals |
| Countries accepted | 228 countries | 175 countries |
| Fee level | Low | Low |
| Trading types | CFD Trading, Spot Trading | CFD Trading |
| Best-for use cases | Copy Trading, Retail Trading | Retail Trading |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Available at both (173): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Benin, Bermuda, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Côte d'Ivoire and 133 more.
Only HFM (55): American Samoa, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Guam, Haiti, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Libya, Macao, Maldives, Mali, Micronesia and 30 more.
Only Markets.com (2): Türkiye, United Arab Emirates.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
Markets.com holds more regulatory licences: HFM (CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA) versus Markets.com (ASIC, BVI FSC, CySEC, FCA, FSCA). Tier-1 licences: HFM 1, Markets.com 2.
HFM offers MT4, MT5; Markets.com offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary.
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Markets.com is the older of the two, founded in 2008; HFM was founded in 2010.
They overlap in 173 countries. HFM is additionally available in 55 countries (American Samoa, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belgium and 49 more) and Markets.com in 2 countries (Türkiye, United Arab Emirates).
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.