Every platform we cover is assessed against the same six criteria. We score each on a 1–5 scale, then combine them into a single overall rating. This keeps reviews comparable across platforms and prevents any single feature from skewing the verdict.
Our rating criteria
- Regulation & licensing (25%). Is the platform registered or regulated anywhere, and can that be verified? Unregulated claims are treated as a serious risk.
- Security (20%). Encryption, custody, two-factor authentication, and history of breaches or scams.
- Fees & costs (15%). Deposit minimums, trading fees, spreads, withdrawal costs, and any hidden charges.
- Ease of use (15%). Onboarding, interface clarity, and the quality of the demo account where one exists.
- Markets & features (15%). Supported assets, automation quality, and any genuinely useful tooling.
- Customer support (10%). Availability, responsiveness, and whether users can actually reach a human.
How we test
Where possible, we open a demo account and walk through the same steps a real user would: registration, verification, funding, and a practice trade. We also cross-check the platform’s public claims against its own terms, regulator registers, and user reports. Anything we cannot verify is stated as unverified rather than treated as fact.
What our ratings mean
- 4.5–5.0: Strong overall; transparent and worth considering.
- 3.5–4.4: Has real strengths and notable trade-offs.
- Below 3.5: Significant concerns; approach with caution.
Keeping reviews current
Platforms change fees, ownership, and regulation frequently. We re-check reviews on an ongoing basis and update them when facts change. Each review shows its last-updated date so you can judge how recent the information is.