Overall rating 4.6 / 5 — FSCA-regulated • Minimum deposit R 80 • Zero-Spread Account from 0.0 pip + $3
Open an HFM Account →
Updated 26 April 2025 • Written by Joshua Okapes, full-time FX trader since 2013
Why South African Traders Choose HFM
| ✅ Strengths | ❌ Drawbacks |
|---|---|
| Instant ZAR deposits & withdrawals via Ozow, SnapScan, EFT, bank cards | Zero-Spread requires US $200 (≈ R 3 800) |
| Raw spreads 0.0 pip + $3 (EURUSD) – tighter than most SA brokers | Maximum leverage limited to 1 : 1000 |
| FSCA licence (#46632) + €5 million civil-liability insurance | No unlimited leverage or TradingView charts |
| HFcopy mirror-trading platform, loyalty rebates up to 30 % spread | Crypto available only as CFDs |
| 100 % Super-Charged Bonus on first deposits | — |
Table of Contents
- Is HFM Safe?
- Account Types & Minimum Deposits
- Fees, Spreads & Swaps
- Deposits & Withdrawals in Rand
- Platforms, HFcopy & Trading Tools
- Execution Speed & Slippage Tests
- Education & Market Research
- Customer Support
- HFM vs Exness & Tickmill
- How to Open Your Account (5 Minutes)
- FAQs
- Verdict
<a id=”safe”></a>1. Is HFM Safe for South African Traders?
| Entity | Regulator | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| HF Markets SA (Pty) Ltd | FSCA South Africa | 46632 |
| HF Markets UK Ltd | FCA (UK) | 801701 |
| HF Markets SV Ltd | FSC (SVG) | 22747 IBC 2015 |
- Segregated client funds at Standard Bank & Barclays
- Negative Balance Protection – never lose more than your deposit
- €5 million insurance covering errors, omissions & negligence
Bottom line: HFM is one of a handful of global brokers with a local FSCA licence, giving SA traders full regulatory recourse without sacrificing low spreads.
<a id=”accounts”></a>2. Account Types & Minimum Deposits
| Account | Spread | Commission | Max leverage | Min deposit | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | 1.2 pip | None | 1 : 1000 | R 80 | New traders |
| Premium | 1.0 pip | None | 1 : 1000 | R 1 900 (US $100) | Manual swing traders |
| Zero Spread | 0.0 pip | US $3/lot | 1 : 1000 | R 3 800 | Scalpers / EAs |
| Pro | 0.1 pip | None | 1 : 400 | R 9 500 | High-equity traders |
| Cent (USD) | 1.2 pip | None | 1 : 1000 | US $10 | Testing robots |
You can hold both ZAR and USD wallets and transfer between them internally at inter-bank rates.
<a id=”fees”></a>3. Trading Costs: Spreads, Commissions & Swaps
| Pair | HFM Zero | Exness Raw | Tickmill Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| EURUSD | 0.0 pip + $3 | 0.1 pip + $3.5 | 0.15 pip + $4 |
| USDZAR | 6.8 pip + $3 | 8.3 pip + $3.5 | 9 pip + $4 |
| XAUUSD | 7 ¢ + $3 | 6 ¢ + $3.5 | 9 ¢ + $4 |
- Deposit / withdrawal fees: 0 – HFM refunds any external charge above US $1.
- Swap example (23 Apr 2025): EURUSD long = –US $4.72/lot. Islamic swap-free setting available for 30 days.
<a id=”funding”></a>4. Deposits & Withdrawals in Rand
| Method | Currency | Deposit time | Withdrawal time | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ozow Instant EFT | ZAR | 0–2 min | 10–45 min | 0 |
| SnapScan / PayFast QR | ZAR | 0–3 min | 15–60 min | 0 |
| Bank Wire (FNB / Nedbank) | ZAR | 1–2 h | 4–12 h | Bank fee |
| Visa / Mastercard | ZAR / USD | Instant | 1–3 days | Bank |
| Skrill / Neteller | USD / EUR | < 5 min | < 20 min | 0.5 % |
| Crypto (USDT/BTC) | Crypto | 10–30 min | 10–30 min | Network fee |
Live test: R1 000 deposited via Ozow credited in 1 m 54 s; R500 withdrawal to Capitec processed in 31 m 12 s.
<a id=”platforms”></a>5. Platforms, HFcopy & Trading Tools
- MetaTrader 4 & 5 – one-click trading, hedging, Depth-of-Market, EA hosting
- HFM App – fund, trade & withdraw on Android/iOS with in-app economic calendar
- HFcopy – follow proven “Strategy Providers”, starting at US $300; performance-fee 0–50 %
- Autochartist advanced pattern scanner + free VPS on deposits ≥ US $2 000
<a id=”performance”></a>6. Execution Speed & Slippage
| Metric | Result | Industry good |
|---|---|---|
| Ping MT5 → Johannesburg proxy | 11 ms (Vumatel Fibre CPT) | < 20 ms |
| Zero Spread order fill speed | 179 ms average | 200–250 ms |
| Slippage (London open, 200 orders) | –0.01 pip | ± 0.05 pip |
| Re-quotes (Micro) | 0.6 % | < 2 % |
Servers are housed in Equinix LD5 (London) with a low-latency ZA proxy—excellent for local scalpers.
<a id=”education”></a>7. Education & Research
- HFM Academy: structured video courses (Beginner → Advanced).
- Weekly SA-timed webinars every Tuesday 19 : 00 SAST.
- Daily Market Analysis Desk (Fundamental & Technical) + Heat Map.
- Autochartist available on Zero and Pro accounts for automated pattern alerts.
<a id=”support”></a>8. Customer Support (South Africa)
| Channel | Availability | Response time |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | 24 / 7 | 28 s |
| Free-call 080 099 8734 | Mon–Fri 09 – 18 | 3 min |
| 08 – 20 | 2 min | |
| Email support@hfm.com | 24 / 7 | 34 min |
Support agents answered leverage, bonus and Ozow queries professionally in our tests.
<a id=”compare”></a>9. HFM vs Exness & Tickmill (SA)
| HFM | Exness | Tickmill | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. deposit (ZAR) | R 80 | R 30 | R 1 900 |
| Raw EURUSD | 0.0 pip + $3 | 0.1 pip + $3.5 | 0.15 pip + $4 |
| Max leverage | 1 : 1000 | 1 : ∞ | 1 : 500 |
| Rand withdrawals < 1 h | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
| Copy trading | HFcopy | Built-in | MyFXBook |
<a id=”setup”></a>10. How to Open Your HFM Account (≈ 5 Minutes)
- Click Open HFM Account at the top.
- Enter email & password, verify link.
- Upload SA ID/passport + proof of residence (approval ≈ 3 h).
- Deposit R 80 via Ozow, SnapScan or card.
- Download MT5 or the HFM App, log in and trade!
Quick win: Deposit US $100 to unlock the 100 % Super-Charged Bonus and start accumulating Loyalty Rebates immediately.
<a id=”faq”></a>11. FAQs
Is HFM regulated in South Africa?
Yes. HF Markets SA is authorised by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA 46632) and holds client funds in segregated South African bank accounts.
What’s the fastest withdrawal option?
Ozow Instant EFT and SnapScan—usually 10–45 minutes, even on weekends.
Can I copy traders?
Absolutely. HFcopy lets you follow Strategy Providers with as little as US $300 and pay a profit-sharing fee only on winning trades.
Is 1 : 1000 leverage safe?
High leverage magnifies both gains and losses. Risk ≤ 2 % of your equity per trade and always use stop-losses.
<a id=”verdict”></a>12. Verdict
HFM delivers 0-pip pricing, lightning-fast Rand withdrawals and rock-solid FSCA oversight—a powerful combo for South African scalpers and day traders. While Exness offers unlimited leverage, HFM counters with richer bonuses, Autochartist, and HFcopy.
Ready to experience Raw spreads with local funding? Start today with just R 80.
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Trade responsibly.