HFM is an online forex and CFD broker that has been serving traders since 2010. It offers a broad range of CFD instruments, the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and HFM platforms, and several account types for different trading styles.
HFM operates through several regulated entities, and like most brokers, it does not accept clients from every country. This article explains where HFM is available through its regulated entities, lists the countries HFM says it does not accept clients from, and covers alternatives worth comparing.
The quickest way to check eligibility is to start HFM's registration and see whether your country of residence appears in the dropdown.
Trading forex and CFDs involves a high risk of losing money and may not be suitable for all investors, so trade responsibly.
Where HFM Is Available: Supported Regions and Entities
HFM is the brand name of HF Markets Group, which operates through several regulated entities. The entity you register with depends on where you live, and it decides which accounts, leverage and protections apply to you. HFM assigns the entity during registration.
| Entity | Regulator | Licence | Who It Serves |
|---|---|---|---|
| HF Markets (Seychelles) Ltd | 
| SD015 | International clients outside HFM's restricted jurisdictions |
| HF Markets Ltd | 
| C110008214 | International clients outside HFM's restricted jurisdictions |
| HF Markets SA (PTY) Ltd | 
| FSP 46632 | Clients in South Africa |
| HFM Investments Ltd | 
| 155 | Clients in Kenya |
| HF Markets (DIFC) Ltd | 
| F004885 | Clients within the Dubai International Financial Centre |
| HF Markets (Europe) Ltd | 
| 183/12 | No longer onboards new retail clients from the EEA |
| HF Markets (UK) Ltd | 
| FRN 801701 | UK clients, not covered by this page |
HF Markets (Europe) Ltd no longer onboards new retail clients from the European Economic Area. HF Markets (UK) Ltd serves UK clients under FCA rules, and the accounts, spreads and conditions described on this page do not apply to them. This page is aimed at traders outside the UK and the EEA.
Being able to register through one of these entities does not mean HFM is licensed by your local regulator. Local rules on trading with brokers regulated elsewhere differ, so check them before opening an account.
HFM Banned and Restricted Countries
According to HFM, it does not offer services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Canada, Sudan, Syria, Iran and North Korea, among others. HFM also no longer onboards new retail clients from the European Economic Area.
HFM can change this list at any time due to new regulation, sanctions or internal policy.
| Important to Note HFM's list of restricted jurisdictions is not exhaustive, so a country missing from it does not confirm that HFM accepts clients from there. The most reliable check is to go to HFM's website, click "Register" and see whether your country appears in the "Country of Residence" dropdown. Always register with your real country of residence. Using a VPN or giving a false address breaks HFM's terms and can lead to your account being closed or your withdrawals being delayed. |
What HFM Offers
HFM offers more than 500 instruments, with CFDs on forex, metals, energies, indices, stocks, bonds, commodities, cryptocurrencies and ETFs. Traders can use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or the HFM Platform.
On major forex pairs, the Premium and Cent accounts feature spreads from 1.4 pips. Traders seeking tighter spreads can choose the Pro account, with spreads from 0.6 pips, or the Pro Plus account, from 0.2 pips. All four account types charge no commission on forex trading.
For raw pricing, the Zero Spread account offers spreads from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs, with a commission of $3 per lot per side on forex and $5 per lot per side on gold. It suits high volume traders who prefer minimal spreads. Account availability depends on the HFM entity you register with.
Trading forex and CFDs involves a high risk of losing money and may not be suitable for all investors, so trade responsibly.
Alternatives to HFM
If you want to compare HFM with other brokers, these three offer similar markets and account structures. Their availability and conditions also depend on the entity you register with, so check eligibility on each broker's website.
Pepperstone
Pepperstone is one of HFM's main competitors and gives traders access to more than 1,350 CFDs across forex, indices, sector indices, equities, commodities, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The broker supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, TradingView and Pepperstone’s own platform.
Traders can choose between two main account types. The Standard account offers spreads from 1.0 pips on major forex pairs with no commission. The Razor account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs, with a commission that depends on the platform used.
On the Razor account, the commission is $3.50 per side per lot on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView and the Pepperstone Trading Platform, and $3.00 per side per lot on cTrader.
Pepperstone holds licences from several financial authorities, including the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, CySEC in Cyprus, BaFin in Germany and the CMA in Kenya, among others.
74.1% of retail CFD accounts lose money
XM
XM is a globally recognised broker offering more than 1,400 instruments, including CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Traders can use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or XM’s own WebTrader platform.
XM offers two main account types: Standard and Ultra Low. The Standard account features spreads from 1.6 pips on major forex pairs, while the Ultra Low account offers spreads from 0.8 pips on major forex pairs. Neither account charges a commission.
XM holds licences from authorities including the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Belize and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa. The broker also provides educational resources, hosts trading webinars and offers a choice of account base currencies.
75.12% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Tickmill
Tickmill is a global forex and CFD broker regulated by the FCA, CySEC, the DFSA and the FSCA, among others.
Tickmill offers CFDs on forex, stock indices, precious metals, bonds, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Traders can use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView and Tickmill’s own Tickmill Trader platform.
The Classic account features spreads from 1.6 pips on major forex pairs with no commission. Tickmill also offers two raw spread accounts with spreads from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs. The Raw account charges $3 per side per lot, while the Tickmill Trader Raw account charges $3.50 per side per lot.
72-73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Final Verdict
HFM operates through several regulated entities, including the FSA in Seychelles, the FSC in Mauritius, the FSCA in South Africa, the CMA in Kenya and the DFSA in Dubai. It does not accept clients from a number of jurisdictions, such as the USA and Canada, and it no longer onboards new retail clients from the EEA.
The registration dropdown on HFM's website is the most reliable way to check eligibility. If you want to compare HFM with other brokers, Pepperstone, XM and Tickmill offer similar markets and account types.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to HFM, it does not offer services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Canada, Sudan, Syria, Iran and North Korea, among others. HFM also no longer onboards new retail clients from the European Economic Area.
No. HF Markets (Europe) Ltd, HFM's CySEC regulated entity, no longer onboards new retail clients from the European Economic Area.
Go to HFM's website, click Register and check whether your country appears in the Country of Residence dropdown. HFM's list of restricted jurisdictions is not exhaustive, so this is the most reliable check.
It depends on where you live. HFM assigns the entity during registration, and it decides which accounts, leverage and protections apply to you.
No. You must register with your real country of residence. Using a VPN or a false address breaks HFM's terms and can lead to your account being closed or your withdrawals being delayed.
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