Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Global Prime vs HYCM
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Global Prime |  HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, MetalsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPC | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 deposit fees | $0 card deposits |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | MT4, MT5, HYCM Trader |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1% | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Global Prime scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Global Prime offers Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only HYCM offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Global Prime is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Global Prime: $0 vs $20.
- Markets: only Global Prime offers Metals.
- Platforms: only Global Prime offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only HYCM offers MT4, MT5, HYCM Trader.
- Features: only Global Prime offers Demo account.
- Features: only HYCM offers Mobile app.
Our verdict on each
Global Prime
Global Prime is a low-cost broker for traders who already work in a standard terminal and want shares, forex and CFDs in one place. A minimum deposit of $0 and a listed EUR/USD spread of 0.1% keep the running costs down, though leverage of 1:1000 is not for beginners.
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 | Global Prime | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 9.1Cost side is simple: a commission-free model and card deposits at $0 card deposits. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.6 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Global Prime | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 3337 | Not confirmed |
| Vanuatu | Not confirmed |
What we checked
Global Prime
- globalprime.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
HYCM
- hycm.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Global Prime | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 55 of 471 | 162 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 23 of 147 | 70 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 21 of 145 | 68 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 18 of 122 | 59 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Global Prime | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Crypto | Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Legal entity | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC | HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited |
| Headquarters | Australia | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Global Prime | HYCM | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $20below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Global Prime
Pros
- Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC), so the money sits in a regulated structure.
- One account covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and metals (stocks, etfs and forex) on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5).
- A demo account is offered, so you can test the terminals before funding, and pricing comes in commission free and low fees variants.
Cons
- Account types run to joint and corporate only, with no ISA, SIPP or IRA listed, so tax wrappers sit elsewhere.
- Leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses as much as gains, so oversized positions hurt quickly.
- SIPC cover attaches to TD PRIME SERVICES LLC, the US entity, while the brand sits in Australia, so the entity on your account matters.
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
Global Prime
Who it suits
- Traders who already work in MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and want one account for shares, forex, CFDs and crypto.
- Anyone testing a platform first, since a demo account is offered and both joint and corporate accounts sit in the range (joint and corporate).
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for beginners: leverage of 1:1000 turns a wrong position into a fast loss, and the platforms are MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 rather than a simplified app.
- Not for futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, which adds futures that the Global Prime markets list leaves out.
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
Global Prime
What will it cost me to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $0 and the published deposit charge is $0 deposit fees. What you pay afterwards depends on the account model you pick, either commission-free or low-fee (commission free and low fees), and on the spread you trade through, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.1% listed.
How is my money protected?+
Global Prime is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), and it appears on the SIPC membership list. The listed investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. That cover belongs to the US entity, so check the legal entity named on your account before you fund it.
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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