Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Freedom24 vs HYCM
Where Freedom24 and HYCM differ
| Compare |  Freedom24 |  HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €0 | $20 |
| Stock trade fee | €2 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | CySEC | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | EUR 7 per withdrawal | $0 card deposits |
| Platforms | Freedom24 App, Freedom24 Web | MT4, MT5, HYCM Trader |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only Freedom24 offers CySEC.
- Regulators: only HYCM offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Markets: only Freedom24 offers Options, Bonds.
- Markets: only HYCM offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Freedom24 offers Freedom24 App, Freedom24 Web.
- Platforms: only HYCM offers MT4, MT5, HYCM Trader.
- Features: only Freedom24 offers Options.
- Features: only HYCM offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Freedom24
Freedom24 suits European investors who want stocks, ETFs, options and bonds under one CySEC-regulated roof, and who would rather not pay an annual account charge of €0. A euro minimum deposit of €0 keeps entry easy, while per-deal trading costs make it a better fit for occasional buyers than for frequent traders.
HYCM
HYCM suits UK and European retail traders who want forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs and crypto on one account. Commission-free pricing with a stock trade fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $20 keeps charges easy to read, though help runs thinner than at the alternatives.
Score breakdown
| Area | Freedom24 | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherCost is middling: account fee €0 and minimum deposit €0 are nil, but €2 per deal is high against the €0 median. | 9.1Cost side is simple: a commission-free model and card deposits at $0 card deposits. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.0Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | Freedom24 | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Freedom24 | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 161 of 471 | 162 of 471 |
What we checked
Freedom24
- forex.wikibit.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- matchmybroker.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- ucits-etfs.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- beinoption.vercel.app: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
HYCM
- hycm.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Freedom24 | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Mobile app | Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Freedom Finance Europe Ltd | HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Freedom24 | HYCM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.005%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Freedom24
Pros
- Account fee €0 and inactivity fee €0 leave the cost of holding an account at nil.
- A minimum deposit of €0 sits well under the €6.17 median for stock brokers.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and options, so an ETF, a bond and an option sit together.
Cons
- A stock trade fee of €2 ranks 126 of 161 on the site, well behind the field.
- Withdrawals cost EUR 7 per withdrawal each.
- Currency conversion is charged at 0.005% on positions held outside the euro.
HYCM
Pros
- Commission-free dealing with a stock trade fee of $0
- Entry of $20, below the site median of €4.64
- Card deposits at $0 card deposits
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only
- No bonds, funds or futures in the stocks, etfs and forex list
- Entry of $20 sits above the $0 minimum at CFI
Who each suits
Freedom24
Who it suits
- Investors who want stocks, etfs and options in one account with an account fee of €0.
- Savers who prefer a euro starting point of €0 and a firm authorised in Cyprus under 275/15.
- People who trade from a phone as well as a browser, since Freedom24 App and Freedom24 Web lists the Freedom24 App and web platform.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if the cost of each trade decides it, because its stock trade fee is $0.
- Vantage, if you would rather start with a deposit of $5 than fund the account from the first unit.
HYCM
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want forex and CFDs beside shares and crypto in one account
- Beginners who prefer commission-free dealing to a tiered commission schedule
- Anyone who values a low entry point of $20 and a mobile app
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you need futures as well as the stocks, etfs and forex it lists
- CFI, if you would rather start at $0
- Vantage, whose $5 entry sets a different bar
Questions about each
Freedom24
What does a trade cost at Freedom24?+
A stock trade costs €2, with options at $0.65 per contract and currency conversion at 0.005%. That per-deal cost is the number to weigh, since the account fee of €0 adds nothing to it.
Is there an account fee or an inactivity charge?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0. Both rank 1 on the site, so an unused account does not start costing money. That suits investors who top up in small amounts rather than trading often.
HYCM
What does it cost to buy shares with HYCM?+
HYCM trades commission-free, and the stock trade fee on the account types is $0. Deals are not split into tiers, so the headline dealing charge is easy to read. Costs still show up in the spread and in overnight charges if you hold leveraged positions open.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $20, which sits below the site median of €4.64. On entry size HYCM ranks 118 of 213 brands, so the opening balance is modest. Stock dealing itself adds a stock trade fee of $0.
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