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Editorial

Review methodology

What we assess when we review a broker, what evidence we use, and what a review cannot tell you.

Last updated August 2026

What we assess

  • Regulation and client protection — licences held, the register entries that confirm them, segregation of client funds, negative balance protection and any compensation scheme coverage.
  • Costs — spreads, commissions, swap charges, inactivity fees and funding costs, read from the broker's published schedule.
  • Execution and order handling — the execution model, published statistics where available, and the broker's own conflict-of-interest disclosures.
  • Platforms and tools — the platforms offered, order types, charting depth and mobile parity.
  • Markets and account terms — instrument coverage, leverage tiers by jurisdiction, minimum deposits and funding methods.
  • Support and transparency — how reachable support is, and how clearly the broker documents its own terms.

Evidence

We work from documents that can be checked: regulator registers, the broker's legal and fee documentation, and platform materials. Where a figure comes from the broker's own marketing rather than a verifiable source, we say so.

Scoring

Criteria are scored independently and weighted, with regulation and costs carrying the most weight, because they affect every trade and every withdrawal. A serious regulatory concern caps the overall result regardless of how the broker performs elsewhere.

Independence

Brokers cannot pay for a review, influence a score or approve copy before publication. Where a page contains affiliate links, that is disclosed and does not alter the assessment. See the disclosure page.

Updates

Broker terms change frequently. We re-check reviews periodically and after material events, and the modified date on each review shows when it was last confirmed.

Limits

A review is a research summary, not a recommendation, and it cannot account for your circumstances, jurisdiction or tax position. Always verify current terms with the broker and the licensing regulator before opening an account. Read the risk disclaimer.