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

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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

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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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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)

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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