The Backcom VN editorial team
4 min read
In this article6
These two have the lowest minimum deposits among the large brokers — XM from $5, HFM from $0 — so they
tend to be placed side by side when someone is choosing a first broker.
The two profiles
| Criterion | XM | HFM |
|---|---|---|
| Published licences | CySEC · 120/10ASIC · 443670DFSA · F003484FSC · 000261/397 |
FCA · 801701CySEC · 183/12FSCA · 46632 |
| Rebate payment cycle | Daily | Daily |
| Where the rebate goes | My Wallet | The trading account |
| Minimum deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Account types | 4 | 5 |
Rebate by product
| Product | XM Standard |
HFM Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Gold (XAU/USD) | $18.00 | $12.00 |
| EUR/USD | $8.10 | $7.20 |
| GBP/USD | $8.10 | $7.20 |
| USD/JPY | $8.10 | $7.20 |
| AUD/USD | $8.10 | $7.20 |
| USD/CAD | $8.10 | $7.20 |
US dollars per round-turn lot. The line under each broker name is the account type
that pays the most.
XM pays more on every product
The clearest gap is gold: $18.00 against $12.00 per lot. But as with every rebate comparison, look at the
underlying spread: XM Standard from 1.6 pips, HFM Premium from 1.0 pips.
The EUR/USD calculation with assumed real spreads — XM 1.8 pips, HFM 1.3 pips:
- XM Standard: 1.8 × 10 = $18, less $8.10 rebate → $9.90 net
- HFM Premium: 1.3 × 10 = $13, less $7.20 rebate → $5.80 net
The result is the reverse of the rebate table. This is
exactly why “which broker pays the highest rebate” rankings mislead.
How the money reaches you
- HFM — credited straight to the trading account.
- XM — into the My Wallet balance, one transfer step away.
Account types and how much is disclosed
Something worth knowing in advance: HFM has five account types but publishes rebate figures for
only three — Cent, Zero and Premium. Pro and Pro Plus have no published number.
If you intend to use Pro or Pro Plus, ask what the rebate is before opening. A tighter spread with no
rebate can work out more expensive than Premium.
How to choose
- Starting with the smallest possible amount — HFM has three account types with a $0
minimum. - Wanting the rebate kept separate and easy to reconcile — XM’s My Wallet.
- Focused on net cost — measure both brokers’ real spreads in the hours you trade and run
the calculation above. Do not use the
advertised spread.
This article is for information only and is not investment advice. Conditions and fee levels are published by the brokers and can change at any time — check with the broker you actually use. Leveraged forex and CFD trading carries a high level of risk and can cost you your entire deposit.
The Backcom VN editorial team
The Backcom VN editorial team tracks forex trading costs: the fee schedules, rebate levels and licences of eight brokers, together with the market figures that feed into the cost of each trade. Every number we publish carries a public source and the date it was accessed, so you can check it yourself.
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