EC Markets vs HFM: licences compared

Side-by-side view of each broker's licences, regulator tiers and key facts. Remember that protection depends on which entity holds your account.

AttributeEC MarketsHFM
Licence Score69Strong70Strong
Strongest licence 1 Tier 1 1 Tier 1
Licences on record47
1 FCA United Kingdom LicensedLicensed
1 ASIC Australia Licensed—
2 CySEC Cyprus —Licensed · Licence 183/12
2 FSCA South Africa LicensedLicensed · FSP 46632
2 DFSA United Arab Emirates —Licensed
2 FMA (NZ) New Zealand Licensed—
3 FSC (MU) Mauritius —Licensed
3 CMA (Kenya) Kenya —Licensed
4 FSA (Seychelles) Seychelles —Licensed
Founded20112010
HeadquartersUnited KingdomCyprus
TypeForex & CFD brokerForex & CFD broker
Publicly listedNoNo
PlatformsMT4, MT5MT4, MT5, Proprietary
Minimum deposit—No minimum
VisitVisit siteVisit site

Frequently asked questions

Is EC Markets or HFM better regulated?

HFM has the higher Licence Score (70 vs 69), based on the number and tier of licences, operating history and public listing.

Which regulators license both EC Markets and HFM?

Both are matched to licences from FCA and FSCA.

Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Consider whether you understand how they work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Read more.