B

afx group

7.9/10

HYCM

8/10
10/10WinnerRegulation9/10
1/10FeesWinner4/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
6/10Education & ResearchWinner10/10
10/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.

Overview

afx group was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Geneva, while HYCM was established in 1977 and is based in UK. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. afx group serves 14,000,000+ clients worldwide; HYCM has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at afx group and $100 at HYCM.

HYCM wins this category
Featureafx groupHYCM
Min. Deposit$250$100
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F220Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), FCA reference number 186171, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CySEC license number 259/14, Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA), CIMA reference number 1442313, Dubai financial services authority (DFSA), DFSA license number 000048
Founded20131977
CountryGenevaUK
Clients14,000,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between afx group and HYCM, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. HYCM has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at afx group). HYCM charges withdrawal fees while afx group does not, giving afx group an edge for frequent withdrawers. HYCM applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; afx group does not. Overall, HYCM scores higher on fees in our assessment.

HYCM wins this category
Featureafx groupHYCM
Min. Deposit$250$100
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesNoYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

afx group offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while HYCM supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. HYCM supports social and copy trading features, which afx group does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
Featureafx groupHYCM
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how afx group and HYCM compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. HYCM scores higher overall in education and research.

HYCM wins this category
Featureafx groupHYCM
Forex EducationNoYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistNoYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. afx group accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while HYCM supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
Featureafx groupHYCM
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both afx group and HYCM offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. afx group supports 8 languages and HYCM supports 5, giving afx group broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
Featureafx groupHYCM
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, Chinese, Chinese (Traditional), Arabic, and Russian