What we check before recommending a broker.
A useful broker review should help you understand who holds your account, what trading costs, what protections apply and where the important limitations are.
Regulation and legal entity
We identify the company behind the broker and check the regulator and licence that apply to that entity. A global brand may operate through different companies, so protection can vary by country.
Client protection
We look for rules on segregated client money, negative-balance protection and compensation schemes, and make clear when those protections apply only to certain clients or jurisdictions.
Trading costs
We compare spreads, commissions, swaps or financing charges, deposit and withdrawal costs and other account fees where current information is available.
Platforms and products
We check the available platforms, instruments, account types, automation support and important trading restrictions.
Sources and freshness
Current broker pages and regulator registers are preferred for factual claims. Review pages show when they were last checked, and sources are listed so readers can verify important details themselves.
Commercial relationships
Affiliate relationships may exist, but they do not determine our conclusions. Regulation, client protection, trading conditions and evidence quality matter more than whether a broker pays a referral fee.