| Feature | Exness | HF Markets (HotForex) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Regulation | CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), FSC (BVI) | CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles), DFSA (Dubai), CMA (Kenya) |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Exness Web Terminal | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), HF App, HFcopy |
| Account Types | Standard, Pro, Raw Spread, Zero, Standard Cent | Micro, Premium, Zero Spread, Auto, PAMM, HFCopy |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 for Standard account | $5 for Micro account |
| Leverage | Up to 1:2000 (regulated regions have different leverage limits) | Up to 1:1000 (leverage varies by region and account type) |
| Spreads | Tight spreads starting from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread and Zero accounts, spreads vary based on account type and market conditions | Tight spreads from 0.1 pips on Zero Spread account, spreads vary by account type |
| Commissions | No commission on Standard accounts, commissions on Raw Spread (starting at $3.5 per lot per side) and Zero accounts | Commissions on Zero Spread account (starting from $3 per lot per side), other accounts have no commissions |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Indices, Stocks | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Indices, Bonds, Shares, Commodities |
| Trading Fees | Low to medium, varies by account type and spreads | Low to medium, spreads and commissions depend on account type |
| Deposit Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin, Tether | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin, Tether | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin |
| Withdrawal Fees | None on most payment methods, some methods may incur minor fees | Free for most methods, minor fees for some methods |
| Execution Type | Market Execution | Market Execution |
| Copy Trading | Yes, available via Exness Social Trading | Yes, available through HFcopy |
| Education Resources | Webinars, Articles, Trading Basics, Analysis Tools, Market News | Webinars, Articles, Trading Courses, Market News, Analysis Tools |
| Research Tools | Economic Calendar, Market Analysis, Trading Calculators, Technical Indicators | Economic Calendar, Market Analysis, Trading Calculators, Chart Analysis Tools |
| Customer Support | 24/7 customer support via live chat, email, phone | 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, phone |
| Mobile Trading | Available through MT4, MT5, Exness Trader app | Available through MT4, MT5, HF app |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited demo accounts available | Yes, unlimited demo accounts available |
| Islamic Account | Yes, swap-free Islamic accounts available | Yes, swap-free Islamic accounts available |
| Promotions/Bonuses | No deposit bonuses or promotional offers | Occasionally offers bonuses, promotions vary by region |
| Account Verification Time | Quick and fully online, typically within 24 hours | Generally takes 1-2 days, depending on document verification |
| Security of Funds | Segregated client funds, regulated by top-tier authorities, negative balance protection | Segregated client funds, regulated by multiple authorities, negative balance protection |
| Advanced Trading Features | VPS service, algorithmic trading compatibility, advanced charting tools | VPS service, algorithmic trading compatibility, advanced charting tools |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Negative Balance Protection | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Negative Balance Protection |
| Accepted Countries | Available globally, restrictions in some countries like the USA, Canada, and a few others | Available globally, restrictions in some countries including the USA and Canada |
| Overall Reputation | Known for competitive pricing, reliable services, good support, and stability | Well-regarded for trading variety, research tools, and user-friendly experience |
| Account Currency Options | Wide range including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, BTC, and other cryptocurrencies | Limited to major currencies such as USD, EUR, GBP, ZAR |
| Fractional Pip Pricing | Yes, Exness offers fractional pip pricing to improve price accuracy | Yes, also supports fractional pip pricing |
| Order Types | Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Orders, Trailing Stops, Pending Orders | Market Orders, Limit Orders, Stop Orders, Trailing Stops, Pending Orders |
| Order Execution Speed | Extremely fast with an average execution speed of 0.01 seconds | Generally fast execution, aiming for under 0.1 seconds |
| Minimum Lot Size | 0.01 lots on most accounts | 0.01 lots across all accounts |
| Social Media Presence | Active on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn | Active on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn |
| Spread Betting | Not available | Not available |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes, scalping is allowed | Yes, scalping is allowed |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes, hedging is permitted | Yes, hedging is permitted |
| News Trading Allowed | Yes, Exness allows news trading | Yes, HotForex allows news trading |
| Automated Trading | Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) for MT4 and MT5, API trading available | Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) for MT4 and MT5, no API trading |
| Swap-Free for Muslim Clients | Yes, Islamic account option available, swap-free options vary by account type | Yes, Islamic account option available, swap-free options available |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes, negative balance protection provided | Yes, negative balance protection provided |
| Partnership Programs | Offers affiliate programs with commission, also has an Introducing Broker (IB) program | Offers affiliate and IB programs, with variable commission structures |
| Website Languages | Supports over 20 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Russian, and more | Supports around 15 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, and French |
| User Interface Customization | Allows some customization in trading platform interfaces | Limited customization options in trading platforms |
| Analytics and Reports | Detailed analytics with trade history, reports on Exness Web Terminal | Reports available through the client portal and MT4/MT5 |
| Account Funding Time | Instantly with most payment methods, bank transfers may take up to a few business days | Instantly with most payment methods, bank transfers may take 1-3 business days |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Instant on e-wallets and cryptos, 1-5 days for bank transfers | Same-day processing for e-wallets, 1-5 days for bank transfers |
| Multi-Account Management (MAM) | Offers Multi-Account Management (MAM) solutions for professional account managers | Offers PAMM (Percent Allocation Management Module) accounts for account managers |
| Advanced Order Protection | Supports one-click trading, margin stop-outs, stop loss, take profit | One-click trading, margin stop-outs, stop loss, take profit |
| Charting Features | High-level charting on MT4, MT5, Exness Web Terminal, includes technical indicators, oscillators, drawing tools | Advanced charting with MT4, MT5, and HF app, includes indicators, oscillators, and drawing tools |
| API Trading | API available for institutional clients or advanced traders | No direct API trading option |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Available with BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, BCH, and other major cryptos | Available with BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, BCH, DOGE |
| Account Verification Process | Straightforward online verification, typically within 24 hours | Verification may take longer, depending on regional requirements |
| Transaction Transparency | Transparent fees on each transaction, all costs clearly visible before order placement | Transparent fee structure with visible spreads, commission details available pre-trade |
| Customer Service Languages | Multi-language support in over 20 languages | Multi-language support in around 15 languages |
| Trader Protection Tools | Price alerts, automatic balance reset, real-time notifications | Price alerts, automated balance monitoring |
| Yearly Inactivity Fee | No inactivity fee charged | Inactivity fee of $5 per month after six months of inactivity |
| Reputation and Awards | Holds multiple awards for reliability and trading conditions | Received several awards for customer support, trading innovation, and overall performance |
| Account Security | Two-factor authentication (2FA) available, encrypted data protection, secure server connections | Two-factor authentication (2FA) available, SSL encryption, secure server connections |
| Segregation of Funds | Client funds are held in segregated accounts, protected under regulatory guidelines | Client funds are held in segregated accounts, with strict regulatory requirements |
| VIP Programs | No formal VIP program, but offers Pro and Zero accounts with premium trading conditions | Offers a VIP program with additional benefits such as personal account managers, priority support |
| Market Depth (DOM) | Market Depth feature available on the Exness Web Terminal and MT5 | Limited market depth feature, available only on certain account types and on MT5 |
| Micro-Lot Trading | Yes, available on most account types including Standard | Yes, available on all accounts |
| Algo-Trading Support | Full support for Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5, ideal for automated and algo trading strategies | Supports Expert Advisors (EAs) for MT4/MT5, also suitable for automated trading |
| Dealing Desk | No dealing desk (NDD) model on Raw Spread and Zero accounts | NDD and STP (Straight Through Processing) execution on select accounts |
| Price Improvement/Slippage Control | Controls for positive/negative slippage on volatile market moves | Moderate slippage control, price improvements available on some account types |
| Multi-Language Website Versions | Supports over 20 languages on the Exness website, adaptable for international clients | Available in around 15 languages, adapted to cater to different regions and clients |
| Currency Conversion Fees | No currency conversion fees for most funding methods | Potential currency conversion fees, depending on the chosen method |
| Professional Indemnity Insurance | Coverage varies by regulatory region, providing additional protection for clients under some jurisdictions | Professional indemnity insurance under FCA and CySEC regulations |
| News Feed Integration | Integrated market news feed in the trading terminal | News feed available through the platform and client portal |
| Charting Timeframes | Over 20 timeframes on MT5, standard options on MT4 | Wide range of timeframes on MT4 and MT5 |
| Crypto as Base Currency | Allows trading accounts in cryptocurrency base currencies like BTC, USDT | Limited to fiat currencies as base currency |
| User Interface Languages | MT4, MT5, and Web Terminal available in multiple languages | MT4, MT5, and HF app available in multiple languages |
| Order Durations | Good Till Canceled (GTC), Good Till Date (GTD), Good for the Day (GFD) | Good Till Canceled (GTC), Good for the Day (GFD) |
| Overnight Fees (Swap Rates) | Competitive swap rates, swap-free options for Islamic accounts | Competitive swap rates, swap-free for Islamic accounts |
| MetaTrader Plugins/Extensions | Various MT4/MT5 plugins including economic calendar, news feed, indicator extensions | Limited plugins, primarily standard MT4/MT5 tools |
| Order Execution Policies | Focuses on fast execution speed, low latency, strict adherence to market orders | Prioritizes best possible execution, focus on minimizing latency |
| Funding and Withdrawal Times | Instant for e-wallets and crypto, 1-5 days for bank transfers | Quick processing for e-wallets, typically within the same day, 1-3 days for bank transfers |
| Corporate Accounts | Yes, available for institutional and corporate clients | Yes, available for corporate clients |
| Data Analysis Tools | Built-in analysis tools including moving averages, trend lines, pivot points | Basic data analysis tools, with additional plugins on MT5 |
| Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Limits | Precise limits available, allows partial and full stop-loss/take-profit placements | Flexible take-profit and stop-loss, allows partial and full order close-out |
| Market Sentiment Indicators | Limited market sentiment tools, available only through MT5 | Basic market sentiment indicators through MT5 and HF App |
| Mobile Charting Capabilities | Fully functional charting tools on mobile for MT4 and MT5 | Mobile charting available on MT4, MT5, and HF app with indicators |
| Client Education Levels | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, with resources on risk management, strategies, and trading psychology | Beginner to Advanced, focusing on market analysis, trading strategies, and platform tutorials |
| Rebate Programs | Offers rebate programs for select accounts | Offers rebates under certain promotional structures |
| Drawdown Control | Tools to manage and limit drawdown, automatic margin calls to protect against excessive losses | Margin calls and stop-outs based on account margin thresholds |
| Multi-Device Compatibility | Accessible via desktop, web, and mobile versions for both MT4/MT5 and Exness Web Terminal | Compatible across desktop, web, and mobile via MT4/MT5 and HF App |
| Affiliate and Partner Programs | Comprehensive affiliate program with commission structures, also has dedicated account manager support | Varied affiliate and IB programs, structured with high potential commission |
| Event-Based Trading Alerts | Available on MT4/MT5, email and SMS alerts | Available through MT4/MT5 and HF App |
| Special Promotions | Occasional competitions for traders, but fewer promotions compared to other brokers | More frequent promotions, including deposit bonuses (region-specific), trading contests |
| Position-Based Margin Requirements | Margin adjustments based on position size and leverage | Variable margin requirements depending on account leverage |
| Trade Insurance | No explicit trade insurance, but offers negative balance protection | No direct trade insurance, offers negative balance protection |
Exness and HF Markets offer competitive trading conditions with unique features, including advanced platform options, varied account types, and extensive educational resources. This comparison highlights their strengths in execution speed, fees, and account flexibility to guide your choice.