HQ Broker Alternative: Why Traders Switch to LHFX

HQ Broker is a Marshall Islands registered broker with no government regulator. LHFX is licensed by FSC Mauritius and FSCA South Africa.

LHFX charges $3 per side per lot, accepts a $10 minimum deposit, offers up to 1:500 leverage, and typically pays out crypto withdrawals in under 20 minutes.

Quick Comparison

LHFX vs HQ Broker at a glance.

LHFX vs HQ Broker: commission, minimum deposit, spreads, leverage, platforms, instruments, execution, regulation, withdrawal speed and swap-free accounts
FeatureLHFXHQ Broker
Commission per lot$3 per side, $6 round turnNot publicly disclosed
Minimum deposit$10$250 (Starter account)
Typical EURUSD spreadFrom 0.0 pips raw plus $3 commissionNot publicly disclosed, described as mid spreads
Maximum retail leverage1:5001:400
PlatformsMetaTrader 5 only (direct MetaQuotes licensee)MetaTrader 4 only (desktop, web, mobile)
Forex pairs and total instruments41 forex pairs, 144 total instruments50+ forex pairs, 500+ stock CFDs plus indices, metals, energies, softs, bonds
Execution modelSTP/ECNSTP/ECN (claimed)
RegulationFSC Mauritius (GB23202204) and FSCA South Africa (FSP 52816)Not regulated by any government agency
Crypto deposits and withdrawalsBTC, ETH, USDT and others, auto-payouts typically under 20 minutesBTC, ETH, BCH, LTC accepted
Islamic accountsYes, swap-free with holding fee after grace periodNot publicly disclosed

Where LHFX Wins

The areas where LHFX offers a clear advantage over HQ Broker.

01

Published $3 per side

LHFX publishes a flat $3 per side per lot commission. HQ Broker does not openly disclose its commission structure.

02

$10 minimum deposit

LHFX opens accounts from $10. HQ Broker requires $250 even on the Starter tier.

03

MetaTrader 5 with direct MetaQuotes licence

LHFX runs MT5 only as a direct MetaQuotes licensee. HQ Broker is still on MetaTrader 4.

04

Auto-payouts typically under 20 minutes

LHFX typically auto-processes crypto withdrawals in under 20 minutes. HQ Broker accepts crypto but does not publish a comparable speed.

05

Dual-licensed and Islamic accounts

LHFX holds FSC Mauritius and FSCA South Africa licences and offers swap-free accounts. HQ Broker is unregulated and does not openly publish a swap-free option.

Where HQ Broker Wins

HQ Broker has genuine strengths. Here is where they come out ahead.

Bigger stock CFD catalogue

HQ Broker lists 500+ stock CFDs versus a smaller equity selection inside the LHFX 144 instrument list.

More forex pairs

HQ Broker lists 50+ currency pairs against LHFX's 41 pairs for traders chasing additional crosses.

Multiple crypto coins accepted

HQ Broker explicitly accepts BTC, ETH, BCH, and LTC. LHFX covers similar coins via USDT and majors.

MetaTrader 4 available

Traders running legacy MT4 EAs can continue at HQ Broker. LHFX is MT5 only.

Who Should Choose LHFX

  • Choose LHFX if regulator oversight matters to you (FSC Mauritius plus FSCA South Africa vs none).
  • Choose LHFX if you want to start with $10 instead of $250.
  • Choose LHFX if you want a published $3 per side commission.
  • Choose LHFX if you want crypto withdrawals to auto-process, typically in under 20 minutes.
  • Choose LHFX if you want MetaTrader 5 as a direct MetaQuotes licensee.
Open an LHFX Account

Who Should Stick with HQ Broker

  • Choose HQ Broker if you specifically need MetaTrader 4 for legacy EAs.
  • Choose HQ Broker if you need a deep stock CFD catalogue (500+).
  • Choose HQ Broker if you actively prefer a non-regulated offshore broker.
  • Choose HQ Broker if you trade 50+ forex pairs and need that breadth.
  • Choose HQ Broker if a Hong Kong support office matters to your workflow.

Making the Switch

Moving from HQ Broker to LHFX takes minutes, not days.

1

Open an LHFX Account

$10 minimum deposit. Registration takes about 2 minutes.

2

Verify Your Identity

Upload a government-issued ID. Most verifications complete within a few hours.

3

Fund and Start Trading

Deposit via crypto or card and place your first trade on MT5 or LHFX Trade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is LHFX cheaper than HQ Broker?

LHFX charges $3 per side with raw spreads from 0.0 pips. HQ Broker does not openly publish its commission or typical spreads. With a $10 minimum vs $250, LHFX has a meaningfully lower barrier to entry too.

Can I switch from HQ Broker to LHFX?

Yes. LHFX is MetaTrader 5 only, so MT4 strategies need to be ported to MT5. The minimum is $10 and deposits can be made in BTC, ETH, USDT, or by card.

Which has faster withdrawals, LHFX or HQ Broker?

LHFX typically auto-processes crypto withdrawals in under 20 minutes. HQ Broker accepts BTC, ETH, BCH, and LTC but does not publish a comparable auto-payout speed.

Does HQ Broker offer MT5?

No. HQ Broker runs MetaTrader 4 only. LHFX runs MetaTrader 5 only as a direct MetaQuotes licensee.

Which is more regulated, LHFX or HQ Broker?

LHFX holds FSC Mauritius (Longhorn Ltd, lic GB23202204) and FSCA South Africa (LHFX SA Pty Ltd, FSP 52816). HQ Broker is registered in the Marshall Islands and is not regulated by any government agency.

Ready to Try LHFX?

Open an LHFX MT5 account from $10, trade at $3 per side, and get crypto withdrawals typically processed in under 20 minutes.