How We Evaluate Trading Platforms
Last updated: March 2026
How We Test
We open live accounts, fund them with real capital, and execute trades across multiple asset classes on every platform we review. We measure execution speed, spread accuracy during volatile conditions, slippage frequency, and withdrawal processing times. Regulatory status is verified with relevant financial authorities.
Evaluation Criteria
- Regulation & Safety (30%) — Tier-1 regulatory licenses, fund segregation, negative balance protection, compensation schemes, corporate transparency
- Trading Conditions (25%) — Spreads across major pairs, commission structure, execution speed, slippage, available leverage, overnight fees
- Platform & Tools (20%) — MT4/MT5 availability, proprietary platform quality, charting tools, technical indicators, automated trading support
- Asset Range (15%) — Forex pairs, CFDs, commodities, indices, crypto, stocks — breadth and depth of tradeable instruments
- Education & Support (10%) — Educational resources, market analysis, customer support quality and hours, account manager availability
Editorial Independence
Our reviews are editorially independent. While we may earn affiliate commissions from links on our site, this never influences our ratings or rankings. We clearly disclose all affiliate relationships. Our recommendations are based on testing and analysis, not compensation.
Update Frequency
We re-test and update our reviews quarterly. Market changes, regulatory updates, and platform modifications are reflected within 30 days of occurrence.