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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 #4 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 1992
Saxo Bank is a well-regarded forex broker with a proprietary multi-asset trading platform, broad access to currency pairs, advanced charting, and research-driven tools. It emphasizes robust technology, risk management features, and a…
Read the Saxo Bank 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. Saxo Bank (Denmark, founded 1992) holds 6 regulatory licences (ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, MAS…), 5 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary, TradingView and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 41 countries; HFM is available in 187 countries where Saxo Bank is not, and Saxo Bank in 1 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 | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | Not verified | 10 / 10 |
| Trust rank | #29 | #4 |
| Founded | 2010 | 1992 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Denmark |
| Regulators | CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA | ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, MAS, SFC |
| Broker type | Market Maker, STP | DMA, STP |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5 | Proprietary, TradingView |
| Instruments | Commodities, Forex, Indices, Metals | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals |
| Countries accepted | 228 countries | 42 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 (41): Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and 1 more.
Only HFM (187): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil and 162 more.
Only Saxo Bank (1): 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.
Saxo Bank holds more regulatory licences: HFM (CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FSCA) versus Saxo Bank (ASIC, DFSA, FCA, FINMA, MAS, SFC). Tier-1 licences: HFM 1, Saxo Bank 5.
HFM offers MT4, MT5; Saxo Bank offers Proprietary, TradingView.
Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.
Saxo Bank is the older of the two, founded in 1992; HFM was founded in 2010.
They overlap in 41 countries. HFM is additionally available in 187 countries (Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola and 181 more) and Saxo Bank in 1 countries (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.