Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
EC Markets vs Hfm Partners
Where EC Markets and Hfm Partners differ
| Compare |  EC Markets |  Hfm Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10Lower | $5,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, MetalsCovers more | Forex, Metals, CFDs |
| Regulators | SIPC | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPCCovers more |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App | MetaTrader 5, HFM WebTrader, HFM Platform |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- EC Markets scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Hfm Partners offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Hfm Partners is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at EC Markets: $10 vs $5,000.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers Stocks, ETFs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only EC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, EC Markets App.
- Platforms: only Hfm Partners offers HFM WebTrader, HFM Platform.
- Features: only Hfm Partners offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
EC Markets
EC Markets suits active traders who want retail leverage of 1:1000 across forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto in one account. The US entity behind the brand, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, sits under SIPC up to USD 500,000, so the safety side is easier to check than with an offshore-only broker.
Hfm Partners
Hfm Partners suits traders who can fund a larger starting balance, because its minimum deposit of $5,000 sits well above the entry amounts most brokers ask for here. CySEC and SIPC regulation adds cover, while email only support and a focused market list make it a less obvious choice for smaller accounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | EC Markets | Hfm Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0HigherThe $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. | 8.1 |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | EC Markets | Hfm Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Metals | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | EC Markets | Hfm Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 58 of 147 | 76 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 56 of 145 | 74 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 47 of 122 | 64 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | EC Markets | Hfm Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more |
| Legal entity | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Support channels | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | EC Markets | Hfm Partners | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10below the median | $5,000highest quarter | $25 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
EC Markets
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so you are not locked into a single asset class.
- You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App, with the mobile app listed under mobile app.
Cons
- Retail leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses, and on the site's forex list 72.13% of retail accounts lose money.
- The $10 entry point sits above CFI's $0 and Vantage's $5, so the cheapest way in is elsewhere.
Hfm Partners
Pros
- Regulated in Europe and the US under Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC.
- Mobile app and demo account both appear in mobile app and demo account.
- Platform choice spans MetaTrader 5, HFM WebTrader and HFM Platform.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $5,000 puts it out of reach for small balances.
- Support runs on email only.
- Markets cover forex, metals and cfds only.
Who each suits
EC Markets
Who it suits
- Active traders who want 1:1000 retail leverage on forex and CFDs
- US-based investors who want protection stated at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Newcomers who can start at $10 and learn on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if you want to open an account with no minimum at $0
- Vantage, if the entry deposit matters more than the market list, since it starts at $5
- eToro, if you trade futures, which its market list stocks, etfs and forex covers
Hfm Partners
Who it suits
- Traders who can fund $5,000 and put regulation ahead of a low entry amount.
- Focused forex, metals and CFDs traders who want to practise on a demo account.
- EU traders covered by investor protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting small: CFI asks a minimum deposit of $0.
- Traders wanting a wider market list, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Low balance traders who prefer a smaller entry: Vantage asks $5.
Questions about each
EC Markets
What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?+
The minimum deposit is $10 to fund an account. That sits above the €4.64 site median, so it is a low entry point rather than the lowest one available. Anyone starting small should confirm which account the deposit applies to before adding funds.
Is money held at EC Markets protected?+
Protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000, under the SIPC scheme named in the brand's licences. That figure is the scheme's stated ceiling rather than a promise of returns, and the scheme's own terms set the conditions, so read them before depositing.
Hfm Partners
What is the minimum deposit at Hfm Partners?+
The stated minimum deposit is $5,000. CFI starts at $0 and Vantage at $5, so Hfm Partners sits at the heavy end of the range compared here. Anyone starting with a smaller balance would be better served by one of those.
Who regulates Hfm Partners?+
Regulation runs through Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC. The Cyprus licence reads 183/12 and the US membership SIPC member 71021. These are separate registrations in separate countries, so the entity your account sits under decides who supervises it.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- EC Markets vs Exness
- EC Markets vs Swissquote
- EC Markets vs VT Markets
- EC Markets vs Vantage Markets
- EC Markets vs Lightspeed Financial
- EC Markets vs Trade Nation
- EC Markets vs FXCM
- EC Markets vs Saxo
- EC Markets vs LMAX Exchange
- EC Markets vs IG
- EC Markets vs Stash
- EC Markets vs CFI
- EC Markets vs ActivTrades
- EC Markets vs XTB
- Hfm Partners vs NAGA
- Hfm Partners vs Mintos
- EC Markets vs Bitpanda
- EC Markets vs Kraken
- Hfm Partners vs EBC Financial Group
- EC Markets vs Traders Place
- EC Markets vs BlackBull Markets