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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 #3 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 2008
Plus500 is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and other markets on a proprietary web and mobile platform. It provides built-in charting, order types, and risk…
Read the Plus500 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. Plus500 (Israel, founded 2008) holds 11 regulatory licences (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA…), 6 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 227 countries; HFM is available in 1 countries where Plus500 is not, and Plus500 in 4 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 | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | Not verified | 10 / 10 |
| Trust rank | #29 | #3 |
| Founded | 2010 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Israel |
| Regulators | CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA | ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFA |
| Broker type | Market Maker, STP | Market Maker |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5 | Proprietary |
| Instruments | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Metals | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals |
| Countries accepted | 228 countries | 231 countries |
| Fee level | Low | Low |
| Trading types | CFD Trading, Spot Trading | CFD Trading, Spot Trading |
| Best-for use cases | Copy Trading, Retail Trading | Professional 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 (227): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island and 187 more.
Only HFM (1): Belgium.
Only Plus500 (4): Canada, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United States of America.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
Plus500 holds more regulatory licences: HFM (CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA) versus Plus500 (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFA). Tier-1 licences: HFM 1, Plus500 6.
HFM offers MT4, MT5; Plus500 offers Proprietary.
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Plus500 is the older of the two, founded in 2008; HFM was founded in 2010.
They overlap in 227 countries. HFM is additionally available in 1 countries (Belgium) and Plus500 in 4 countries (Canada, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates, United States of America).
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.