HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) Forex Broker Review
FXMARE editorial rating, not user reviews.
Reviewed by the FXMARE Research Desk under our review methodology · licences last verified 2026-06-25
Also known as HotForex, HF Markets
A well-regulated, multi-entity broker (est. 2010) offering competitive raw spreads and wide instrument access via MetaTrader, suited to intermediate traders across multiple regions.
Spreads, minimum deposit and leverage are indicative and vary by account type and jurisdiction — confirm current terms on the broker’s site.
Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FXMARE is not a broker and does not offer these products; figures are indicative of those disclosed by regulated providers. This page is information, not financial advice. See our full risk disclosure.
FXMARE may receive compensation from some brokers listed on this page when you click a tracked link and open an account. Sponsored placements are clearly labelled. Compensation may affect which brokers we feature and where, but it does not affect our independent ratings or rankings, which follow our review methodology, and it never costs you more. See affiliate disclosure and how we make money.
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) Overview
A well-regulated, multi-entity broker (est. 2010) offering competitive raw spreads and wide instrument access via MetaTrader, suited to intermediate traders across multiple regions.
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) is regulated by FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (UAE/DIFC), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya). Independently verifiable licences include CySEC — HF Markets (Europe) Ltd, Licence 183/12; DFSA — HF Markets (DIFC) Ltd, Ref F004885; FCA — HF Markets (UK) Ltd, FRN 801701. It carries strong, well-established regulatory oversight.
EUR/USD spreads start around 0 pips on the raw/ECN account (about 1.4 pips on the standard, commission-free account), with $6 (Zero account: $3 per side) commission. The minimum deposit is $0 (Cent, Premium, Zero accounts); $100 (Pro); $500 (InfinityX offshore) and maximum retail leverage is 1:30 (EU/UK retail, FCA/CySEC); 1:1000 (international/offshore entities). Swap-free (Islamic) trading is offered conditionally — Available on request for Micro, Premium and Zero account types; swap-free status is also extended by default to clients in applicable countries. No extra fee for the Islamic account itself, but standard inactivity fee ($5/month after 6 months of no trading) applies. Specific instruments and position-holding time limits governed by HFM's full swap-free T&Cs..
Platforms include MT4, MT5, WebTrader, HFM Mobile App, Copy Trading platform. HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) provides ~1,000+ CFDs (varies by entity): 53 forex pairs, ~800 stock CFDs, 23 indices, ~50 ETFs, 15 crypto CFDs, metals, energies, bonds across Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds, funded via Credit/Debit Card, Bank Wire Transfer, Cryptocurrency, BitPay, Bitwallet, BXONE.
HFM (formerly HotForex) has built genuine regulatory credibility with FCA, CySEC, DFSA, and FSCA licences across four jurisdictions — meaningful protection for most retail traders. Costs are reasonable: the Zero account's $6 round-turn commission on 0.0-pip raw spreads is in line with mid-tier ECN brokers, while the Premium account's ~1.4-pip EUR/USD spread is slightly above best-in-class. The broker's reliance solely on the MetaTrader ecosystem (no cTrader, no proprietary web platform) and its anti-arbitrage/AI trading clauses are the main practical limitations to be aware of.
Headquarters: Larnaca, Cyprus (group HQ); additional entities in London UK, Dubai UAE, Johannesburg SA, Seychelles · Funding: Credit/Debit Card, Bank Wire Transfer, Cryptocurrency, BitPay, Bitwallet, BXONE
Pros
- Regulated by multiple Tier-1/Tier-2 authorities (FCA, CySEC, DFSA, FSCA) — strong trust for a retail broker
- Very low or zero minimum deposit on main accounts; accessible entry point
- Zero account offers 0.0-pip raw spreads with only $6 round-turn commission — competitive for active traders
- Extensive multi-language support (27 languages) via live chat, phone, email 24/5
- Broad instrument range (~1,000+ CFDs) covering stocks, crypto, indices, commodities alongside forex
Cons
- No cTrader or TradingView; platform suite is entirely MetaTrader-based with no proprietary desktop/web platform
- Business terms restrict scalping with abnormally large lots, arbitrage strategies, and AI-assisted trading
- Card withdrawals can take up to 10 business days — slower than many peers
- MT4 now offshore-entity-only for some regions; EU/UK clients limited to MT5
Ratings Breakdown
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) Fees & Costs
Regulation & Safety
Licence numbers link to each regulator’s public register so you can verify them yourself. Last checked 2026-06-25.
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) is authorised by FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (UAE/DIFC), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya). Brokers regulated in tier-1 jurisdictions are generally required to hold client money separately from company funds and may offer protections such as negative-balance protection or an investor-compensation scheme — the exact safeguards depend on the entity you sign up with. As with all trading, your capital is at risk. Confirm which entity, licence and protections apply to your country on the regulator’s register before funding an account.
Platforms
Available on desktop, web and mobile. Tradable across Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds. Track every position you take with HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) in the FXMARE trading journal.
FXMARE Verdict
HFM (formerly HotForex) has built genuine regulatory credibility with FCA, CySEC, DFSA, and FSCA licences across four jurisdictions — meaningful protection for most retail traders. Costs are reasonable: the Zero account's $6 round-turn commission on 0.0-pip raw spreads is in line with mid-tier ECN brokers, while the Premium account's ~1.4-pip EUR/USD spread is slightly above best-in-class. The broker's reliance solely on the MetaTrader ecosystem (no cTrader, no proprietary web platform) and its anti-arbitrage/AI trading clauses are the main practical limitations to be aware of.
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) — frequently asked questions
Is HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) regulated?
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) states it is authorised by FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (UAE/DIFC), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), CMA (Kenya). We last checked those licence details against the regulators' own public registers on 2026-06-25. Licences are entity-specific: the group company that onboards you depends on your country, so confirm which entity your client agreement names before depositing.
What is the minimum deposit at HFM (HF Markets / HotForex)?
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) lists $0 (Cent, Premium, Zero accounts); $100 (Pro); $500 (InfinityX offshore) min deposit. Minimums vary by account type, funding method and regional entity, so treat this as indicative and confirm the figure on the broker's own site for the account you intend to open.
What spreads does HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) offer on EUR/USD?
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) advertises spreads from 0 pips (raw/ECN), with EUR/USD quoted around 1.4 pips (standard) · 0 pips + commission (raw). Commission: $6 (Zero account: $3 per side). Advertised "from" figures are floors seen in ideal conditions rather than averages — compare total cost per round turn (spread plus commission) at the volume you actually trade.
What is the maximum leverage at HFM (HF Markets / HotForex)?
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) advertises up to 1:30 (EU/UK retail, FCA/CySEC); 1:1000 (international/offshore entities). Leverage caps are set by the regulator of the entity you trade with, so retail clients in the UK, EU and Australia receive materially lower caps than the headline figure. Higher leverage magnifies losses as much as gains.
Does HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) offer swap-free (Islamic) accounts?
Partly. HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) offers swap-free trading with conditions. Available on request for Micro, Premium and Zero account types; swap-free status is also extended by default to clients in applicable countries. No extra fee for the Islamic account itself, but standard inactivity fee ($5/month after 6 months of no trading) applies. Specific instruments and position-holding time limits governed by HFM's full swap-free T&Cs.
Which platforms does HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) support?
HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) supports MT4, MT5, WebTrader, HFM Mobile App, Copy Trading platform. Platform availability can differ by entity and account type — a platform offered in one region is not guaranteed in another, so verify it is available on the specific account you plan to open.
Community Rating
Be the first trader to review HFM (HF Markets / HotForex) and help others choose.
Write a reviewTrader Reviews
No reviews yet — be the first trader to review HFM (HF Markets / HotForex).
Complaints & Resolutions
No complaints filed against HFM (HF Markets / HotForex). If you’ve had an unresolved issue, you can file one above.
FXMARE may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page, including any placement marked Sponsored. This does not affect our independent rating of HFM (HF Markets / HotForex). Trading forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk and most retail accounts lose money. This review is information, not financial advice — verify all terms with the broker directly.