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Our Methodology

89 Brokers Tested. $47,000 Real Capital. Zero Affiliate Bias.

1. Core Principles of Independent Testing

Our methodology is built on three pillars to ensure unbiased, actionable results:

  1. Real-Money Execution: All performance data comes from live trading accounts. Demo or backtest results are explicitly ignored.
  2. Full Transparency: We clearly state the testing period, starting capital, broker, and any known red flags.
  3. Zero Conflict of Interest: Our ratings are never influenced by affiliate commissions. We expose scams regardless of potential revenue.

2. Broker Testing Protocol (89 Brokers)

Each broker undergoes a rigorous, multi-month evaluation process:

2.1 Trust and Regulation (25% Weight)

  • License Verification: We check the official registers of FCA, ASIC, CySEC, NFA, etc., to confirm the license is ACTIVE (not suspended or revoked).
  • Tier Assessment: We score brokers based on Tier-1 (highest safety), Tier-2, and Tier-3 (offshore/minimal protection) jurisdictions.
  • Fund Integrity: Verification of segregated client funds and compensation scheme coverage (e.g., FSCS/ICF).

2.2 Trading Costs and Execution (45% Weight)

  • Spreads & Commissions: We record live spreads on EUR/USD, indices, and Gold during peak (London/NY) and off-peak hours.
  • True Cost Calculation: Comparing the total cost (`Spread + Commission`) to expose "Zero Commission" models with hidden markup.
  • Execution Speed & Slippage: Measuring median fill time, requotes, and slippage using institutional metrics (~100 trades per test).
  • Withdrawal Integrity (15%): Timely processing and absence of hidden fees or withdrawal resistance.

2.3 Usability and Support (30% Weight)

  • Platform Suite: Evaluation of MT4, MT5, cTrader, and proprietary platforms.
  • Customer Support: Testing response time, technical knowledge, and professionalism (24/7 or 24/5 access).
  • Non-Trading Fees: Checking for inactivity fees, deposit/withdrawal fees, and hidden conversion costs.

3. Expert Advisor (EA) Testing Protocol

We run top EAs on a dedicated Virtual Private Server (VPS) for a minimum of 12-18 months.

3.1 Scoring Criteria (Live Forward Test)

  • Return (30%): Total compounded percentage gain.
  • Max Drawdown (25%): The most critical risk metric.
  • Consistency (20%): Percentage of profitable months and smoothness of the equity curve.
  • Strategy Integrity: EAs using Martingale or Grid techniques are immediately flagged as high-risk/scam.

4. Final Trust Score (1.0 to 10.0)

Our final Trust Score synthesizes all weighted criteria to provide an objective assessment:

  • 9.0 - 10.0 (Excellent): Highly recommended. Tier-1 regulation, lowest cost, fast execution.
  • 8.0 - 8.9 (Very Good): Solid choice. Minor drawbacks in cost or platform.
  • 7.0 - 7.9 (Average): Acceptable but high costs or weak regulatory entity.
  • 6.0 - 6.9 (Below Average): Use extreme caution. High cost/risk, limited competitive edge.
  • 5.9 and Below (Scam/Fraud): Avoid immediately. Documented fraud or license revocation.