Trading Academy
Forex Glossary
Trading Guides
BlogHow We Test & Rate Forex Brokers
Every broker review is backed by real-money testing, verified regulation checks, and 680+ data points measured across 6 testing phases.
Why Our Testing Matters
Unlike review sites that rely on broker-provided information, we open real accounts and deposit our own money. We place actual trades, make real withdrawals, and measure live spreads — not the idealized numbers brokers put on their websites.
Our testing process was designed to answer the questions traders actually ask: "Will my money be safe?", "What will I actually pay in fees?", and "Can I withdraw my profits without issues?"
Our Scoring System
Each broker is scored across 5 weighted categories, creating a final rating out of 5.0
Safety & Regulation
Regulatory tier, investor protection, segregated accounts, negative balance protection, and track record.
Key data points:
- Primary regulatory licenses (FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS, BaFin, CFTC)
- Investor compensation schemes coverage
- Segregated client funds verification
- Negative balance protection policy
- +3 more data points
Fees & Costs
Spreads, commissions, overnight fees, deposit/withdrawal costs, inactivity fees, and hidden charges.
Key data points:
- EUR/USD spread (measured live, not advertised)
- Commission per lot on ECN accounts
- Swap/overnight financing rates for major pairs
- Deposit fees by payment method
- +3 more data points
Trading Platform
Platform variety, execution speed, charting tools, mobile experience, and technical indicators.
Key data points:
- Available platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, proprietary)
- Order execution speed (measured in milliseconds)
- Available technical indicators and drawing tools
- Mobile app functionality and usability
- +3 more data points
Account & Features
Account types, minimum deposit, leverage, asset variety, education, and customer support.
Key data points:
- Minimum deposit requirements
- Available account types and differences
- Maximum leverage by jurisdiction
- Number of tradeable instruments
- +3 more data points
Customer Support
Response time, support channels, language availability, and resolution quality.
Key data points:
- Live chat response time (tested)
- Email response time (tested)
- Phone support availability
- Languages supported
- +2 more data points
How We Calculate the Final Score
Each category is scored 1.0–5.0 internally, then multiplied by its weight. Safety & Regulation carries the highest weight (35%) because protecting your money is the most important factor. We cap scores at 4.9/5.0 — no broker is perfect.
Our 6-Phase Testing Process
Each broker review takes 20-30 days to complete across these phases
Account Opening & Verification
1-3 daysWe open a real trading account with our own money. We document the entire registration process, KYC verification time, and any issues encountered.
Platform Testing & Execution
5-7 daysWe trade on all available platforms, measuring execution speed, slippage, and testing over 30 features including charting tools, order types, and mobile apps.
Deposit & Withdrawal Testing
3-5 daysWe test multiple deposit and withdrawal methods, measuring processing times and checking for hidden fees. This is where many brokers fail our testing.
Fee Verification & Spread Measurement
7-14 daysWe measure live spreads across major, minor, and exotic pairs at multiple times of day. We compare advertised spreads against actual spreads our testers experience.
Regulation & Safety Audit
1-2 daysWe independently verify every regulatory claim by cross-referencing license numbers directly on regulator websites. We also check historical enforcement actions.
Customer Support Testing
2-3 daysWe contact support via every available channel with both simple and complex questions, measuring response time and resolution quality.
Our Transparency Commitments
No Pay-for-Placement
Brokers cannot pay to improve their rating or ranking position. Our affiliate partnerships are separate from our editorial process.
Annual Re-Testing
We re-test every broker at least once per year. Ratings are updated when conditions change — spreads increase, regulation status changes, or new features are added.
Independent Team
Our editorial team has no relationship with broker sales teams. Affiliate managers never influence review content or ratings.
Negative Findings Published
If a broker fails our testing — slow withdrawals, hidden fees, poor execution — we publish it. We've downgraded brokers after receiving regulatory warnings.
Corrections Policy
If brokers or users identify errors in our data, we verify and correct within 48 hours. All corrections are noted with changelog dates.
Data-Driven Decisions
Every rating is backed by measurable data. We publish the specific data points that influence each category score, so you can verify our logic.
See Our Testing in Action
Browse our broker reviews to see how this testing process translates into actionable advice.
Testing Process FAQ
Testing Disclosure: Our testing uses standard retail accounts unless otherwise noted. Results may vary by account type, jurisdiction, and market conditions.|Full Methodology | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy