Our methodology
How a broker earns its score.
Seven weighted categories, each scored from 0 to 5. This page shows how the final number is built, and what it can and cannot tell you.
- 1Trust & safety22.3%
- 2Fees & commissions22.3%
- 3Trading platforms & tools16.8%
- 4Deposits & withdrawals14%
- 5Tradable instruments11.2%
- 6Account opening8.9%
- 7Customer support4.5%
Total weight100%
The calculation
Seven parts, one score.
Our broker ratings follow a structured review methodology. We assess each broker using publicly available information, official broker websites, regulator registers, legal documents, account terms, platform information, pricing data, funding conditions and, where relevant, direct contact with customer support.
Each main category is scored on a 0 to 5 scale, and the final rating is a weighted average. Trust, fees, platforms and withdrawals carry more weight because they usually have a greater effect on your experience as a trader.
Final score=the sum ofcategory score×its weight
Worked example
Scores may be rounded for display. A broker’s rating can change when its regulation, pricing, platforms, account conditions, funding methods or other important features change.
Sources and verification
Where the facts come from.
We verify broker information against reliable sources whenever possible. These include:
- 01Official broker websites and account pages
- 02Regulator registers and licence records
- 03Client agreements, terms of business and legal documents
- 04Fee schedules, spread pages and commission tables
- 05Deposit and withdrawal policy pages
- 06Trading platform pages and documentation
- 07Customer support responses, where relevant
- 08Publicly available market and company information
The entity that serves you
When we review regulation, we focus on the legal entity that actually serves the client. If a broker holds a strong licence in one country but onboards international clients through a different offshore entity, the offshore entity is the one that matters for those clients.
Regulatory tiers
Regulation, from sharp to blurred.
Tiers are internal classifications used for comparison. They reflect investor protection, enforcement standards, capital requirements, complaint handling, compensation schemes, transparency and the regulator’s overall reputation.
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Tier-1
Strong regulatory oversight, high transparency, strict compliance standards and stronger investor protection.
Main regulation score5/ 5 -
Tier-2
Recognised regulation with reasonable oversight, but usually less comprehensive protection than Tier-1 jurisdictions.
Main regulation score4/ 5 -
Tier-3
Basic or lighter regulation with more limited investor protection and weaker enforcement standards.
Main regulation score3/ 5 -
Offshore
Licensing in a jurisdiction that may offer limited supervision, limited compensation protection or lighter compliance requirements.
Main regulation score2/ 5 -
Unregulated
No confirmed financial services licence for the broker entity serving the client.
Main regulation score1/ 5
Examples by tier
Who sits where.
These examples are not exhaustive. The final trust score always depends on the specific legal entity that serves the client.
Tier-1 regulators16
- FCA
- Financial Conduct Authority, United Kingdom
- BaFin
- Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, Germany
- CySEC
- Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Cyprus
- ASIC
- Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Australia
- NFA
- National Futures Association, United States
- CFTC
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission, United States
- JFSA
- Japan Financial Services Agency, Japan
- FINMA
- Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority, Switzerland
- CIRO
- Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization, Canada
- MAS
- Monetary Authority of Singapore, Singapore
- SFC
- Securities and Futures Commission, Hong Kong
- SEC
- Securities and Exchange Commission, United States
- FINRA
- Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, United States
- CNMV
- Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores, Spain
- FFAJ
- Financial Futures Association of Japan, Japan
- CBI
- Central Bank of Ireland, Ireland
Tier-2 regulators8
- FSC
- Financial Services Commission, British Virgin Islands
- MFSA
- Malta Financial Services Authority, Malta
- DFSA
- Dubai Financial Services Authority, Dubai
- FSCA
- Financial Sector Conduct Authority, South Africa
- FMA
- Financial Markets Authority, New Zealand
- SCB
- Securities Commission of The Bahamas, Bahamas
- FSC
- Financial Services Commission, Mauritius
- FCMC
- Financial and Capital Market Commission, Latvia
Tier-3 regulators6
- VFSC
- Vanuatu Financial Services Commission, Vanuatu
- FSC
- Financial Services Commission, Belize
- FSC
- Financial Supervisory Commission, Cook Islands
- FSA
- Financial Services Authority, Seychelles
- FSA
- Financial Services Authority, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- IFSA
- International Financial Services Authority, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Trader experience
Different traders, different priorities.
We assess not only a broker’s overall quality, but also how well it may suit different levels of trading experience.
Level 1
Beginner traders
More weight on safety, simplicity, education, ease of use, transparent fees, demo accounts and responsive support.
- Beginner-friendly website and platform
- Low and transparent fees
- Educational resources
- Demo account availability
- Simple, fast account opening
- Copy or social trading, where available
- Easy deposit and withdrawal methods
- Strong customer support
Level 2
Intermediate traders
A balance of cost, platform reliability, research tools, market access, account flexibility and usability.
- Competitive spreads and commissions
- Reliable trading platforms
- A good range of instruments
- Useful research tools
- Multiple account types
- Fast, practical account management
- Good mobile, web and desktop trading
Level 3
Professional and advanced traders
More emphasis on trading conditions, advanced platforms, execution tools, automation, account flexibility and broad market access.
- Advanced trading tools
- Competitive spreads and commissions
- ECN, raw spread or professional accounts
- A wide range of tradable instruments
- API, VPS, Expert Advisor or algorithmic support
- High-quality research and analysis
- A strong regulatory background
Final verdict
What every verdict must say.
The final verdict summarises a broker’s strongest and weakest points based on the full scoring process, and explains who the broker may suit best: beginners, active forex traders, professionals, copy traders or traders looking for low-cost accounts.
It avoids unsupported claims such as “best broker” or “safest broker” unless the methodology, the category scores, the comparison group and the review date clearly support them.
Each final verdict includes
- 1Main strengths
- 2Main weaknesses
- 3Best-suited trader type
- 4Key reasons behind the score
- 5Important limitations or risks
- 6Date of review or latest update
Review updates
Broker conditions change. Regulation, spreads, commissions, payment methods, platforms, account types, promotions and support quality may all be updated after a review is published.
We update reviews regularly where possible, and a score may change when important information changes. Always confirm key details with the broker and, where relevant, the regulator before opening or funding an account.