Transparency & Independence
Every broker review on Tredu is the result of independent research, hands-on testing, and structured evaluation across nine categories. Our ratings are never influenced by advertising, affiliate fees, or commercial relationships with brokers.
Tredu may earn referral commissions when users open accounts through our links. This is how we fund our independent research. However, our commercial relationships never influence our scores, rankings, or editorial conclusions. Brokers cannot pay to improve their rating, and we do not accept payment for positive coverage. If we find serious problems with a broker, we say so — regardless of our relationship with them.
Each broker receives a score from 1.0 to 5.0 in each of the nine categories below. The overall rating is a weighted average across all categories, reflecting the relative importance of each factor to the typical retail trader. Scores are reviewed and updated when brokers make material changes to their offerings, regulatory status, or terms.
Regulatory status is the foundation of any broker rating. We verify each broker's licenses with tier-1 regulators (ASIC, FCA, CySEC, DFSA) and tier-2 regulators (FSC, FSA). We check client fund segregation policies, negative balance protection, and whether the broker has faced regulatory sanctions. Brokers with multiple tier-1 licenses score highest in this category.
What we evaluate
We evaluate the breadth and depth of each broker's instrument offering. A strong score requires coverage across multiple asset classes — forex pairs, indices, commodities, equities, and crypto — not just volume in one category. We also assess whether offerings differ by entity/region and flag any limitations.
What we evaluate
We test or thoroughly research each broker's funding process — speed, supported methods, fees, and regional availability. We pay particular attention to withdrawal policies, as these are where many brokers fall short. Hidden fees, slow processing, or restrictive conditions significantly reduce a broker's score here.
What we evaluate
Trading costs directly affect profitability. We compare spreads on benchmark instruments (EUR/USD, Gold, US500) across account types, and calculate the true all-in cost including commissions. We also evaluate swap rates, inactivity fees, and any non-trading charges. Lower fees earn higher scores, with transparency weighted equally to cost.
What we evaluate
We evaluate support quality across channels — live chat, email, and phone — testing response times, accuracy of answers, and language availability. Support that is available 24/5 or 24/7 scores better. We also assess whether support is genuinely helpful or purely scripted, and whether brokers provide dedicated account managers.
What we evaluate
We examine the range of account types and whether they genuinely serve different trader profiles. A strong offering includes accounts for beginners (low minimums, no commission), active traders (raw spreads, fast execution), and professionals (MAM/PAMM, FIX API). We also evaluate swap-free account availability and demo account quality.
What we evaluate
We assess the trading platforms offered — primarily MetaTrader 4/5, cTrader, and proprietary platforms — evaluating execution quality, charting capabilities, mobile experience, and support for automated trading. Brokers that support Expert Advisors (EAs), offer TradingView integration, or provide proprietary analytical tools score higher.
What we evaluate
We evaluate the quality of in-house research, market commentary, economic calendars, and analytical tools. Brokers that provide daily technical analysis, fundamental outlooks, sentiment data, and structured educational content earn higher scores in this category. Third-party research integrations are noted but weighted lower than original content.
What we evaluate
For brokers targeting retail traders, education is a genuine differentiator. We assess whether educational content is structured, multi-level, and genuinely useful — not just marketing material. Live webinars, video libraries, in-person seminars, and multilingual content all contribute positively. We distinguish between real educational value and superficial content designed purely for SEO.
What we evaluate
We select brokers based on their market presence, regulatory standing, and relevance to our audience. We do not review brokers that are unregulated or have outstanding serious regulatory sanctions.
Our analysts research each broker across public regulatory databases, broker websites, and third-party sources. Where possible, we open accounts and test the deposit, trading, and withdrawal experience hands-on.
Each analyst scores the broker across all nine categories using our standardized rubric. Scores are cross-checked by a second reviewer before publication.
Published reviews are revisited when brokers make material changes — new regulations, fee changes, platform updates, or customer complaints that affect our assessment.
We do not accept payment from brokers to improve their rating or position in our lists.
We do not publish unverified claims about a broker's performance or safety.
We do not recommend brokers we believe pose a significant risk to retail traders.
We do not guarantee the accuracy of information beyond the date of our last review update.
We do not provide personalized financial advice — our reviews are for informational purposes only.
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