How rankings work
Every ranking prints its inclusion rule, its primary metric and its data date. These are the terms those pages use.
What a ranking is
A ranking is a filter, a sort and the metric printed beside each broker, so the order can be checked against the number. A ranking is published only when its inclusion rule and minimum data coverage are met. Nothing is inferred or invented to fill a table: a value that is not available is shown as not available where the template permits it, and otherwise the row or the page is omitted.
Sponsored positions
A sponsored broker appears in a dedicated slot above or between organic results. It carries no organic rank number, and payment alone cannot alter any measured metric, editorial score or regulator status. When no eligible sponsor exists for the reader's country the slot collapses.
Compatible data
Data that shares the required definition, unit, instrument, account basis and reporting period.
Coverage
The proportion or count of eligible records represented in the published result.
Normalisation
Conversion into a common unit using the method stated for that ranking.
Outlier treatment
Clearly invalid, duplicate or extreme records are excluded only under the published quality rules.
Corrections
Material corrections update the affected result and its last-updated date.
Missing broker
A broker may be absent because it does not meet the eligibility, country, verification or data-coverage requirements.
Rank movement
Movement compares the broker's organic position with the immediately preceding equivalent period. Movement is shown once a previous period exists.
Tie rule
Apply the category's stated secondary factor, then the latest verified dataset timestamp; if still equal, display a shared rank.
Editorial independence
Editorial scores follow the review process and remain separate from user ratings, sponsorship and measured activity values.
Reporting a problem
If a figure on a ranking looks wrong, use the ranking data issue form and name the ranking, the broker, the data point and your source. We review the report against the ranking methodology and available evidence.