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Head to head

HYCM vs Markets4you

HYCM is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom and DFSA in the United Arab Emirates (DIFC). Markets4you holds only an offshore registration (British Virgin Islands). The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $20 at HYCM and $0 at Markets4you. Both offer negative balance protection and segregated client money.

Facts last checked: HYCM on 20 October 2026, Markets4you on 20 October 2026.

HYCM profileMarkets4you profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
HYCMStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Markets4youOffshore registration onlyRead the profile
Comparing
HYCMUnited Kingdom
Markets4youBritish Virgin Islands

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
2007
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Official websites
  • hycm.com
  • hycm.co.uk
  • markets4you.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited
E-Global Trade & Finance Group, Inc.
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
BVI FSC
British Virgin Islands
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Offshore registration only
Licence number
186171
Check the register
SIBA/L/12/1027
Check the register
Clients this company serves
UK residents
International clients (not residents of the US, Japan, Canada, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Myanmar, Australia or the EEA)
All licences held
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
Yes
Yes
Compensation scheme
FSCS for eligible clients of HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited only
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Yes
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 on major pairs for FCA retail clients; up to 1:500 at the Costa Rica company
Up to 1:4000
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs: 1:30 (FCA); up to 1:500 (Costa Rica)
  • Bitcoin CFDs: 1:5 (Costa Rica company only)
Not yet checked
Margin call level
Not yet checked
100% on Classic accounts; 50% on Cent accounts
Stop-out level
50% (HYCM may start closing positions from 55%)
20% on Classic accounts; 10% on Cent accounts

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • HYCM Trader app
  • Web Trader
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • Markets4you mobile app
Markets
300+ CFDs on forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and cryptocurrencies, plus US stocks
Forex, metals, indices, commodities, shares and cryptocurrency CFDs
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Yes
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
  • Bank wire
  • Visa card
  • Cryptocurrency
  • E-wallets
  • Local payment methods
Withdrawal fee
No HYCM fee; your bank may charge. Profits are withdrawn by wire transfer only
Markets4you says it charges no transfer fee on most methods (marked with an asterisk on its site)
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
Live chat and online help centre
24/7 by live chat, messengers and phone

Our notes

Strengths
  • UK company authorised by the FCA since 2001 and allowed to hold client money
  • Client money kept in segregated accounts, with negative balance protection
  • Low $20 minimum deposit on every account type
  • No minimum deposit on any account, and cent accounts for very small trade sizes
  • Negative balance protection, and client money held separately from company money
  • Copy trading (Share4you) and PAMM accounts on top of MT4 and MT5
Watch out for
  • The international website (hycm.com) signs clients up with HYCM Capital Markets S.R.L., a Costa Rica company with no financial licence
  • Leverage of up to 1:500 at the Costa Rica company, against 1:30 for FCA retail clients
  • The FCA has warned about many clone firms using HYCM's name, including hycmarkets.net and hycmarket.com
  • Spreads are published only as "from" figures, so typical costs are hard to compare
  • Only an offshore licence (BVI FSC); no FCA, ASIC, CySEC or similar licence
  • Says Trade4you International holds Mauritius FSC licence GB21026460; we could not confirm it on the FSC Mauritius register on 2026-10-20, because the register blocked our access
  • Leverage up to 1:4000 and stop-outs at 20% (10% on cent accounts) can wipe out an account fast
  • Spreads are published only as "from" figures

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • HYCM: Contracts for Difference (‘CFDs’) are complex financial products that are traded on margin. Trading CFDs carries a high degree of risk. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent expert advice if necessary and speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Please think carefully whether such trading suits you, taking into consideration all the relevant circumstances as well as your personal resources. We do not recommend clients posting their entire account balance to meet margin requirements. Clients can minimise their level of exposure by requesting a change in leverage limit. For more information please refer to HYCM’s Risk Disclosure.
  • Markets4you: Trading complex financial instruments on the Over-the-Counter (OTC) market carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. There is a possibility of losing all your invested capital. Increasing your leverage magnifies both potential gains and losses. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The Company does not issue advice, recommendations or opinion in relation to acquiring, holding or disposing of OTC derivatives. All services are provided on an execution only basis. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice to ensure that these products fit your investment objectives and financial situation. Only trade with funds you can afford to lose without affecting your standard of living.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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