Scoring methodology
Six measures, each out of a hundred, averaged into one score out of ten.
The six categories
Regulation weighs the tier of each licence the broker holds, whether client money is segregated, whether negative balance protection applies and whether a compensation scheme stands behind the firm. Costs weighs the published spread, the commission that comes with it, overnight financing and the fees that are not trading fees. Platforms weighs what is offered, on which devices, and whether it supports automation and copy trading. Markets weighs the range of instruments. Support weighs hours, channels, languages and how quickly the firm answers. Education weighs what the broker publishes to teach, and whether a demo account is available.
How they combine
The overall score is the average of the six, shown out of ten to one decimal place. A category that has not been assessed is left blank and excluded from the average rather than scored zero, because a broker nobody has assessed on support is not a broker with no support.
What a score is not
It is not a prediction of how your account will go, and it is not a ranking of who pays us. It is a summary of what the record says, and the record is on the profile for anyone to check.