Home / Brokers / HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex)
69
Grade C

HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex) Review (2026)

MT5✓ MSP-readyHFM App

HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex) scores 69/100 in our review (grade C, fair), a Larnaca, Cyprus-based broker regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa). It offers MetaTrader 5, so you can run Market Structure Pro on it.

MSP Score /100:85+ Excellent70 to 84 Very good55 to 69 Fair<55 Caution
Regulation
18/25
Costs
13/20
Platform
15/20
Execution
9/15
Instruments
8/10
Support
6/10

Run Market Structure Pro on HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex)

One clear TRADE / TRANSITION / NO-TRADE verdict on any MT5 chart. Free 7-day trial, no card.

Start free trial Visit HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex) ↗

HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex) at a glance

HeadquartersLarnaca, Cyprus
Founded2010
RegulationCySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), DFSA (Dubai), CMA (Kenya)
PlatformsMT4, MT5, HFM App
MetaTrader 5Yes, MSP works here
Own platformHFM App
Account typesCent, Zero, Pro, Premium, HFcopy
Min deposit$0
Typical EURUSD spread0.1 pips
Typical Gold spreadn/a
CommissionZero account ~$6/lot round turn ($3/side); Cent/Pro/Premium commission-free
ExecutionNo dealing desk
Funding methodsCard, Bank transfer, Skrill, Neteller, Crypto
Demo accountYes
Support24/5

Pros & cons

✓ Pros

  • Multi-regulated with genuine Tier-1 licences (FCA UK, CySEC EU) for eligible clients
  • Both MT4 and MT5, plus a well-rated mobile app with integrated copy trading (HFcopy)
  • Very low barrier to entry - $0 minimum on most accounts; Cent account for micro-lot trading
  • Extra protection: segregated funds, negative balance protection and Lloyd's of London civil-liability insurance
  • Strong affiliate/IB program and multilingual 24/5 support

✗ Cons

  • Most retail clients (outside EU/UK) trade under the offshore Seychelles FSA entity, with weaker protections
  • Advertised 1,200+ instruments exceeds independently tested availability; range varies by entity
  • No full proprietary desktop platform - reliant on MetaTrader; standard-account spreads are middling
  • Crypto CFDs and some products restricted in certain regions (e.g. no crypto for UK retail)
  • Terms restrict some strategies (scalping/arbitrage/AI-assisted) on certain accounts

Full review

HFM, formerly HotForex, is an online forex and CFD broker founded in 2010 and operationally based in Larnaca, Cyprus. It runs a multi-entity global structure, each subsidiary licensed in a different jurisdiction: HF Markets (Europe) Ltd under CySEC (183/12), HF Markets (UK) Ltd under the FCA (801701), HF Markets SA (Pty) Ltd under the FSCA (46632), HF Markets (DIFC) Ltd under the DFSA, and HF Markets (Seychelles) Ltd under the Seychelles FSA (SD015), plus a CMA Kenya authorisation.

For trading, HFM offers both MT4 and MT5 today, plus a well-regarded HFM mobile app with built-in copy trading (HFcopy). Cent, Zero, Pro and Premium accounts (most with no minimum) make it accessible; costs are competitive but not class-leading - the Zero account provides raw spreads from 0.0 pips plus a per-lot commission, while standard accounts fold ~1.2-1.8 pip spreads into commission-free pricing. It advertises 1,200+ instruments across forex, indices, metals, energies, shares, ETFs and crypto CFDs, though the count available depends on region and entity. The key caveat is regulatory structure: while HFM genuinely holds Tier-1 FCA and CySEC licences, those serve only UK and EEA residents respectively, and most of the world's retail clients onboard under the offshore Seychelles FSA entity, which carries weaker statutory protection - partly offset by segregated funds, negative balance protection and Lloyd's insurance.

Reputation & reviews

A separate reputation score out of 100, based on genuine user reviews across the web and kept independent of the feature score above. Our read: reviews are mixed.

Reputation score
76/100
Verdict
~ Mixed reviews

HFM is the strongest-documented of the offshore group: ForexBrokers.com 4.0/5 with high Trust Score 85/99 (2 Tier-1 incl. FCA), Investing.com 4.6/5. Sitejabber more middling at 3.3/5 across a meaningful 105 reviews, a real, mixed body of feedback, not fabricated praise. Main caveat: most retail clients routed to offshore St. Vincent/FSCA entity, so FCA protection doesn't apply to those accounts.

Read real reviews of HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex)

Sitejabber ↗
3.3/5
105 reviews

Can I use Market Structure Pro with HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex)? Yes. HFM (HF Markets, formerly HotForex) offers MetaTrader 5, and MSP is an MT5 indicator, so it runs on any of their MT5 accounts. See the install guide.

Sources: www.hfm.com · www.forexbrokers.com · fxscouts.com · affiliates.hfm.com. Figures are typical and change, so confirm on the broker's site.

Compare more: browse the full MT5 broker directory or read our best MT5 indicators for 2026 guide.