Our Methodology — How We Review Brokers

Our Review Philosophy

We believe traders deserve honest, transparent, and actionable broker reviews. Our mission is to cut through marketing hype and provide clear, fact-based comparisons that help you make informed decisions.

Core Principles:

• Independence: We maintain editorial independence and disclose all commercial relationships
• Transparency: We show our work with citations, test data, and clear scoring methodology
• Accuracy: We verify claims, test features, and update reviews regularly
• Accessibility: We write in plain language and explain technical terms

How We Score Brokers

Each broker receives an overall score (1-5 scale) based on six weighted categories:

1. Safety & Regulation (25% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Regulatory licenses from tier-1 authorities (FCA, ASIC, BaFin, SEC)
• Segregation of client funds
• Investor compensation scheme coverage
• Company history and financial stability
• Published audit reports and transparency

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: Multiple tier-1 regulators, publicly traded, full transparency
• 4.0: Tier-1 regulation, segregated funds, compensation scheme
• 3.0: Tier-2 regulation (CySEC, IFSC), basic protections
• 2.0: Light-touch regulation, limited protections
• 1.0: Unregulated or offshore with minimal oversight

2. Costs & Fees (20% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Typical spreads on major forex pairs (EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY)
• Commission structures on stocks, indices, commodities
• Overnight financing rates
• Deposit and withdrawal fees
• Inactivity fees and other charges

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: Tightest spreads in category, no hidden fees, transparent pricing
• 4.0: Competitive spreads, minimal fees, clear fee structure
• 3.0: Average spreads, some fees, adequate transparency
• 2.0: Wide spreads or high fees, unclear pricing
• 1.0: Excessive fees, hidden charges, poor transparency

Testing method: Live account testing with $1,000-$5,000 deposits. We execute standard trades and measure total cost including spread, commission, and slippage.

3. Platform & Tools (20% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Platform stability and uptime
• Charting capabilities (indicators, drawing tools, timeframes)
• Order types and execution speed
• Mobile app functionality
• Research and analysis tools

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: Advanced charting, fast execution, excellent mobile, comprehensive tools
• 4.0: Strong platform, good charts, reliable mobile, useful tools
• 3.0: Functional platform, basic charts, acceptable mobile
• 2.0: Limited features, occasional issues, poor mobile
• 1.0: Unstable, missing essential features, unusable mobile

Testing method: Hands-on testing over 30+ days including order execution, charting, and mobile app evaluation.

4. Markets & Assets (15% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Number and variety of tradable instruments
• Major forex pairs availability
• Stock and ETF selection
• Crypto, commodities, and indices coverage
• Availability in target markets

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: Comprehensive coverage across all major asset classes
• 4.0: Strong coverage with some limitations
• 3.0: Adequate selection for most traders
• 2.0: Limited selection, missing key instruments
• 1.0: Minimal offerings, major gaps

5. Education & Research (10% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Educational content quality and depth
• Webinars, courses, and tutorials
• Market analysis and daily research
• Economic calendar and news feed
• Demo account quality

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: Comprehensive academy, regular webinars, excellent research
• 4.0: Good educational resources, helpful content
• 3.0: Basic tutorials and occasional updates
• 2.0: Minimal educational content
• 1.0: No educational resources

6. Customer Service (10% weight)

What we evaluate:

• Support channels (chat, phone, email)
• Response times and quality
• Multilingual support
• Account manager availability
• Complaint resolution process

Scoring criteria:

• 5.0: 24/5 support, instant chat, multilingual, dedicated managers
• 4.0: Good availability, responsive, helpful
• 3.0: Standard support hours, acceptable response times
• 2.0: Limited availability, slow responses
• 1.0: Poor support, unresponsive

Testing method: We submit real support queries via all available channels and measure response time and quality.

Data Sources

We gather information from multiple independent sources:

Primary sources:

1. Live account testing: We fund real accounts and execute trades
2. Regulatory databases: FCA register, CySEC records, ASIC lookup
3. Broker websites: Official fee schedules, product disclosures
4. Legal documents: Terms & conditions, client agreements, risk warnings

Secondary sources: 5. Industry publications: FX Week, Risk.net, Bloomberg 6. Financial statements: For publicly traded brokers 7. User feedback: Trustpilot, forums (with verification) 8. Third-party data: Myfxbook, ForexPeaceArmy (for context only)

Testing Process

Phase 1: Initial Research (1-2 weeks)

• Verify regulatory licenses
• Analyze fee structure and trading conditions
• Review platform features and tools
• Check user feedback and industry reputation

Phase 2: Account Opening (3-5 days)

• Open live account with minimum deposit
• Test verification process
• Document onboarding experience
• Verify deposit methods and timing

Phase 3: Active Testing (30+ days)

• Execute 20-50 trades across different instruments
• Measure spreads during different market conditions
• Test order types and execution quality
• Evaluate customer support response
• Use mobile app extensively

Phase 4: Withdrawal Test

• Request withdrawal via multiple methods
• Document processing times and fees
• Verify funds received correctly

Phase 5: Analysis & Writing (1 week)

• Compile test data and screenshots
• Calculate weighted scores
• Draft review with citations
• Peer review and fact-check

Review Updates

Update frequency:

• Major updates: Annually or when significant changes occur (new regulation, fee changes, platform updates)
• Minor updates: Quarterly fact-checks of fees and conditions
• Emergency updates: Immediate if regulatory action, security breach, or major service disruption

What triggers an update:

• Regulatory status changes
• Fee structure modifications
• Platform major updates
• Acquisition or ownership changes
• User complaints exceeding threshold

Changelog: Each review includes an updated_at field. Major changes are noted in review text.

Disclosure & Ethics

Commercial Relationships

• We may earn affiliate commissions when you open an account via our links
• Commissions DO NOT influence our scores or editorial content
• All relationships are disclosed on review pages
• We review brokers whether or not they have an affiliate program

Editorial Independence

• Reviews are written by experienced traders and financial writers
• Scoring is based on objective criteria and testing data
• Marketing/sales teams have no influence on editorial decisions
• We decline payment for positive reviews

Conflicts of Interest

• We do not accept payment for better placement or scores
• Staff members disclose any personal accounts with reviewed brokers
• We maintain a clear separation between editorial and commercial teams

Limitations & Disclaimers

What we can't do:

• Test every edge case or account type
• Predict future performance based on past tests
• Provide personalized financial advice
• Monitor real-time changes 24/7

Risk warnings:

• Trading involves risk and you can lose your entire investment
• CFDs, forex, and leveraged products are especially risky
• Past performance does not predict future results
• We are not regulated investment advisors

Geographic limitations:

• Reviews focus on international availability
• Country-specific regulations and offerings may vary
• Always verify your local legal and tax obligations

Our Team

Editorial team:

• Senior analysts: 10+ years trading experience, CFA or equivalent credentials
• Writers: Finance/economics backgrounds, multi-year trading experience
• Fact-checkers: Verify all claims against primary sources

Quality standards:

• All reviews peer-reviewed before publication
• Regular training on regulatory changes and industry trends
• Continuous improvement based on user feedback

Questions About Our Methodology?

We believe in transparency. If you have questions about our review process or want clarification on any aspect of our methodology, please contact us.

Last updated: September 2025