CMC Markets vs HFM (HF Markets)
A side-by-side comparison built from each broker's own published record — licenses checked against official registers, terms quoted from their own pages, with the source linked on every claim.
| Regulation | FCA · FCA · ASIC · ASIC · BaFin · MAS | FCA · CySEC · FSCA · FSA · CMA |
| License no. | FCA CMC Markets UK plc — Register No. 173730 FCA CMC Markets Investments Limited — Register No. 948126 ASIC CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd — ABN 11 100 058 213, AFSL No. 238054 ASIC CMC Markets Stockbroking Limited — ABN 69 081 002 851, AFSL No. 246381 (stockbroking) BaFin CMC Markets Germany GmbH — Registernummer 154814 MAS CMC Markets Singapore — licence number not printed on cited page | FCA 801701 (HF Markets (UK) Ltd) CySEC 183/12 (HF Markets (Europe) Ltd, HE 277582) FSCA 46632 (HF Markets SA (PTY) Ltd) FSA SD015 (HF Markets (Seychelles) Ltd) CMA 155 (HFM Investments Ltd) |
| Founded | 1989 | 2010 |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread from | 0.5 pips (standard CFD/spread betting account); from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with FX Active account + 0.0025% commission per transaction — https://www.cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/forex | 0.0 pips (Zero account, "From 0 on Forex"; Pro from 0.6, InfinityX from 0.3, Cent/Premium from 1.4 — hfm.com/int/en/trading-accounts) |
| Leverage | FCA (UK): Published as margin rates rather than a ratio: from 3.34% forex, 5% indices and commodities, 20% shares and ETFs | Offshore — no financial regulator named: InfinityX unlimited; Cent, Zero, Pro and Premium 1:2000 (subject to adjustment per the terms) |
| Gulf Payments | ||
| Platforms | Next Generation (CMC proprietary web platform), Mobile trading app, MetaTrader 4 (MT4, incl. WebTrader) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, HFM Platform (browser, TradingView charts), HFM WebTrader, HFM App (mobile) |
| Broker-published claim | Withdrawals to a registered bank account requested before the cut-off time (4pm UK; 11am outside the UK) are processed the same day. Card withdrawals: some card issuers within an hour, others up to five working days. Standard bank withdrawals: UK domestic one to two working days; international three to five working days (subject to UK banking hours). No charges for card or standard bank transfer withdrawals. [Source] | Withdrawals are processed 24/7. "Withdrawals submitted before 10:00am server time are processed on the same business day between 7:00am and 5:00pm server time. Withdrawals submitted after 10:00am server time, will be processed on the following business day between 7:00am and 5:00pm server time." [Source] |
| Withdrawal methods | Debit/credit card, Bank transfer | bank wire transfer, credit/debit card, Skrill, Neteller, Fasapay, crypto |
| Crypto deposits/withdrawals | No | No |
| Islamic Accounts | No | Yes |
| Measured by us | Testing in progress | Testing in progress |
| Accepts clients from | Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates | Kenya |
| Open account | Open account |
We do not name a winner here. The two records sit side by side because the right answer depends on where you live, what you trade, and which entity would onboard you — all of which the table shows.
By Country
- CMC Markets Yes / HFM (HF Markets) No: Australia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Germany, Italy, United Arab Emirates
- HFM (HF Markets) Yes / CMC Markets No: Kenya
Is CMC Markets or HFM (HF Markets) better?
Neither is better in the abstract. Compare the rows that apply to you: whether each broker accepts clients from your country, which entity and regulator you would be onboarded under, the minimum deposit, and how withdrawals work on the rail you would actually use.
Which is safer, CMC Markets or HFM (HF Markets)?
Safety follows the entity that holds your money, not the brand. Both records list every regulator and license number each broker publishes — check which entity serves your country, then verify that license on the regulator's own register.