How We Test

#1 New Trading Tool

Methodology: Our #1 New Trading Tool award is partly based on data collected during our testing across all primary categories, with particular attention given to Research, Education, Platforms & Tools, Mobile Trading, and Investment Options. This award recognizes a new innovative product or feature launched by a broker during the previous calendar year that impacts the trading experience. Our editorial team looks for tools that push the industry forward in a unique way, whether that be in investment research, portfolio management, education, account offering, etc.

#1 Innovation

Methodology: Our #1 Innovation recognizes achievement in pushing the industry forward. Our team tests and analyzes new tools, experiences, and features that challenge industry standards and unlock new abilities for individual traders and investors. This award is designed to highlight innovations in forex broker trading technology that stand out as unique or radically different than what is available from most brokers. Our Innovation award can be applicable to a wide variety of features and we evaluate contenders across our entire range of award categories.

#1 Interactive Educational Experience

Methodology: This award goes beyond a straightforward evaluation of the standard educational resources or trading courses provided by most forex brokers. When judging this award, we look for innovations in the educational space and take into account the interactive nature of the overall educational experience offered. We consider factors such as the quality and layout of course materials, the availability of interactive tools like quizzes and assessments, and the overall impact and difficulty of the educational content.

#1 Platform Technology

Methodology: Our #1 Platform Technology award is based on the sophistication and advanced nature of a broker’s proprietary trading technology. Our team considers the depth of available tools, variety of features, and richness of data that contributes to the overall platform experience. Results are determined in part by the data collected for the 22 variables within our Platforms & Tools category.

#1 Desktop Platform

Methodology: Brokers that offer a desktop platform, defined as a downloadable Windows-based or Mac-based trading platform, are considered for the #1 Desktop Platform award. This individual award is based in part on the results from our testing of 22 data-based variables within the Platforms & Tools category.

#1 Mobile App

Methodology: Awarded to the broker with the best mobile app for retail traders, our research team evaluates the richness (and sophistication) of available features within the trading app. Also considered is the quality of the app’s design and how it impacts the overall user experience. A dozen individual variables are assessed for each mobile app as part of our testing within the Mobile Trading category.

#1 Web Platform

Methodology: Brokers that offer a web trading platform, defined as a trading platform that runs through a web browser (such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge), are considered for the #1 Web Platform award. The winner of this award is determined in part by the results from our testing of 22 data-based variables within our Platforms & Tools category.

#1 Most Currency Pairs

Methodology: This award recognizes the broker that offers the largest number of currency pairs. Our calculation includes cross-currency pairs, exotic pairs, and forex pairs that may be quoted in both directions (i.e. EUR/USD and USD/EUR count as two distinct pairs).

#1 Most CFDs

Methodology: A contract for difference, or CFD, is a tradeable instrument that tracks the price of an underlying security or asset. CFDs are not available to traders in the U.S. but are otherwise offered by brokers around the world. Our award for #1 Most CFDs recognizes the international broker that offers the largest number of CFDs, worldwide.

#1 Most Cryptos

Methodology: To choose the winner for our #1 Most Cryptos award, our team examines the full scope of a broker’s cryptocurrency offering, including whether crypto is offered through a third party or the broker offers an in-house solution. We consider additional features, such as whether the crypto is available as a CFD or the underlying asset, the ability to deposit and withdraw crypto with the broker, the availability of crypto wallets, and the ability to stake crypto and earn interest.

#1 Institutional Clients

Methodology: For this award, we focus on the areas of importance to institutional – or, professional – traders, such as those trading independently for a living (e.g., day traders) or those working for a professional institution such as a hedge fund. We look at platform depth, customization, trading tools, portfolio management, and order management, including the availability of complex order types. Results are determined in part by the data collected for the 22 variables within our Platforms & Tools category.

#1 Tradeable Symbols

Methodology: When determining the winner for this Industry Award, we count each individual product as a trading symbol (i.e., TSLA is the ticker symbol for Tesla), and recognize the broker with the largest number of tradeable symbols across all available asset classes and underlying markets.

#1 Trader Community

Methodology: This award recognizes the broker that most effectively encourages client social interaction and hosts an active, engaged trader community across a variety of venues, including social media, forums, networks, and other means of interaction.

#1 Forex Options

Methodology: This award recognizes the depth of a broker’s offering of forex options. We determine the number and type of available forex options, and whether it’s possible to trade forex options on-exchange (i.e. exchange-traded options on a national stock or derivatives exchange) or off-exchange. We also consider the number and quality of tools available, such as options screeners and pre-defined options strategies.

#1 Banking Services

Methodology: As a rapidly expanding area of brokerage services, banking features have grown in importance to forex traders who value ease of money transfer and the ability to keep their investing and banking under one roof. Our research team evaluates each broker’s offerings, such as cash management tools, debit and credit cards, traditional bank accounts, mobile deposits, no-fee banking, and branch accessibility.

#1 VIP Client Experience

Methodology: Deciding factors when evaluating the best VIP Client Experience include any minimum deposit requirements, the availability (and quality) of associated perks, lifestyle benefits, entry to special events, and access to discounted trading costs (such as reduced commissions and/or spreads).

#1 YouTube Channel

Methodology: This Industry Award recognizes the broker with the most impressive forex-related YouTube channel. Deciding factors include the variety, quality, and quantity of available content. Also factored into our decision is the channel’s level of organization and the broker’s effective use of dedicated playlists.

#1 ESG Offering

Methodology: Our #1 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) award is heavily informed by the testing in our Research category, and highlights the broker that provides the most comprehensive experience for socially responsible investing. We consider the availability of screening tools, third-party ratings, visual data, and other research features that help to identify ESG-related investment opportunities.

#1 Podcast Series

Methodology: This Industry Award recognizes the best podcast series developed and provided by a forex broker. Our research team considers the number and quality of podcast episodes available, any topical relevance or potential educational value for traders and investors, as well as the expertise and relevance of persons featured in persons featured and/or interviewed within podcast episodes.

#1 Charting Technology

Methodology: Many investors and forex traders demand access to robust charts for analyzing current and historical market prices. When deciding the winner of our award for #1 Charting Technology, our research team considers the number (and quality) of tools, indicators, and features that are available with the broker’s charting software.

#1 Risk Management Tool

Methodology: When determining the winner of this award, we look at a range of specialized risk management tools. We look for the availability of features including (but not limited to) automated stop-loss reminders, guaranteed stop-loss orders, and specialized tools that help traders calculate risk-reward ratios in real time. We’ve also tested tools that provide risk-management analysis on a pre-trade or post-trade basis.

#1 Trading Platform Provider

Methodology: When choosing the winner of the #1 Trading Platform Provider award, our team considers the depth of available tools, variety of features, and richness of data that contributes to the overall platform experience. We also consider new approaches to platform design, such as creative layouts, streamlined navigation, or other optimizations to the user experience.

#1 Charting Technology Provider

Methodology: Charting technology is important for analyzing historical market trends and current prices and determining future price projections using technical analysis. The best third-party charting technology providers deliver powerful, responsive charts that come with a range of customization settings that enhance the charting experience without hampering the user interface.

#1 Copy Trading Technology Provider

Methodology: Though many brokers develop copy-trading solutions in-house, there are a growing number of third-party developers that offer brokers a turn-key copy-trading solution by using the broker's network of traders or providing access to the developer’s network (or both). When deciding the winner of the #1 Copy Trading Technology Provider award, we consider the providers’ range of available platform settings, analysis features, screener tools, and underlying controls.

#1 MetaTrader Plug-In Provider

Methodology: The MetaTrader software suite has long enjoyed a rich market of third-party plugins designed to enhance the default platform experience. When determining the winner of the #1 MetaTrader Plug-In Provider award, our team looks at the availability of custom widgets and/or indicators that provide traders with real-time information to complement their trading platform experience. We also examine calculators, tools, and programs that enhance technical and sentiment analysis.

#1 Trading Signals Technology Provider

Methodology: Factors considered for the #1 Trading Signals Technology Provider award include (but are not limited to) the number of qualitative parameters used to assess and categorize signals (i.e. probability, strength, and patterns). We also consider the user experience along with conveniences such as the ability to automatically copy a signal into a new order window.

#1 Sentiment Analysis Provider

Methodology: Factors considered for the #1 Sentiment Analysis Provider award include (but are not limited to), the availability of specialized tools designed to help traders identify sentiment trends and changes in sentiment.

#1 Technical Analysis Provider

Methodology: Factors considered for the #1 Technical Analysis Provider award include (but are not limited to) the availability and quality of specialized technical analysis tools, such as pattern recognition, heat maps, and technical indicators. We also examine the technical analysis content provided (or algo-generated) by in-house staff.

#1 Fundamental Analysis Provider

Methodology: When choosing a winner for the #1 Fundamental Analysis Provider award, we examine a range of specialized third-party tools designed to help traders filter out the noise from the myriad news headlines and economic calendar events that affect financial markets. Some tools track keywords and tags across assets to perform complex calculations, while others offer research reports and comprehensive fundamental analysis content.

#1 Automated Trading Tool Provider

Methodology: Factors considered for the #1 Automated Trading Tool Provider include (but are not limited to) the ability to program with natural language powered by AI or the availability of specialized tools that make the complex task of programming algorithmic trading strategies easier.

#1 Forex Trading Course Provider

Methodology: The best providers offer detailed forex trading courses across various levels of educational experience, often delivering content for beginners as well as advanced forex traders. Factors considered for the #1 Forex Trading Course Provider award include (but are not limited to) the quality, layout, format, and difficulty level of the course curriculums.

#1 Algo Trading Platform Provider

Methodology: Factors considered for the #1 Algo Trading Platform Provider include (but are not limited to) the breadth of community support, the scope of available programming languages and backtesting capabilities, and the ability to run asynchronous scripts and concurrent operations in parallel with multithreading. We also consider the ability to develop custom scripts, indicators, and studies.

Overall

Methodology: The Overall category winner is determined by our proprietary formula that calculates the sum of rankings from our other core categories, including Commissions & Fees, Offering of Investments, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading Apps, Education, and Trust Score. Weightings across each category can change from year to year; you can find more information by checking out our how we test page.

Offering of Investments

Methodology: When determining our rankings for the Offering of Investments category, we consider the full range of available markets for each broker. We examine all asset classes and tradeable symbols across each broker’s trading platforms and account for connectivity to national and international exchanges across global markets. Beyond our quantitative data collection, we also consider qualitative factors such as the accessibility of symbols across account types, platforms, websites, and devices.

Commissions & Fees

Methodology: Scoring for our Commissions & Fees category utilizes a different scoring rubric than our other categories due to the inherent complexity of the category. First, multiple scenarios are assessed for placing trades. For example, the average reported and/or observed spread for the EUR/USD pair. Brokers are then awarded points depending on how expensive (or inexpensive) their average spreads (in this example) are, relative to their peers. Next, multiple scenarios are assessed for different investor types monthly, incorporating any miscellaneous account fees, alongside any active trader or VIP rates. The goal is to determine a net, "all-in" cost per trade. All data is analyzed to determine an overall score for the Commissions & Fees category.

Platforms & Tools

Methodology: When determining the rankings for the Platforms & Tools category, we test each broker's full trading platform suite. This includes all platform software (whether developed in-house or by a third-party provider) across desktop, web, and mobile devices. Beyond assessing basic features such as a platform's charting capabilities, the versatility of its watchlists, and trade ticket parameters, we consider qualitative factors such as the range and depth of available features, quality of tools, and the level of customization and platform configuration options.

Research

Methodology: When determining rankings for the Research category, we look at the quantity, quality, frequency, and depth of research materials. We assess a wide range of formats, including written articles, video recordings, podcasts, webinars, and other content designed to help traders assess technical and fundamental market opportunities. Factors considered can be as subtle as the level of organization within a broker's video playlist or as complex as the way a broker integrates trading signals within their trading platform.

Education

Methodology: Rankings for our Education category are determined based on the qualitative aspects of each broker's overall body of educational content. Factors considered include (but are not limited to) the variety and depth of offered materials and whether they are organized in a course, module, or academy structure. We also assess the overall level of detail and quality of provided content. We test and assess a variety of educational formats, including interactive courses, videos, written articles, and webinars. Other factors considered include community resources, FAQs, quizzes, and tests.

Mobile Trading Apps

Methodology: As modern mobile devices have evolved, the lines separating the functionality of mobile platforms and their desktop/web platform counterparts have become increasingly blurred. As such, our approach to ranking brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category is similar to our testing methodology for the Platforms & Tools category. In addition to the basic features we look for on any desktop or web platform, we consider the overall layout and responsiveness of the broker's mobile app(s), ease of navigation, and the simplicity of placing trades and managing orders. We also consider the level of customization available within the app(s).

Trust Score

Methodology: Our Trust Score algorithm is powered by our extensive research into each broker's regulatory licences across a range of global regulatory jurisdictions. Licenses and regulatory jurisdictions are categorized by Tier (Tier-1 is reserved for the most stringent regulators, and Tier-5 is for jurisdictions that may not offer any consumer protections whatsoever); learn more by checking out our Trust Score page. Beyond each broker's range of regulatory licenses, we also consider a range of secondary factors. These can include (but are not limited to) the number of years a company has been in business, whether the company is publicly listed, and whether it holds a banking license. Other factors include the existence of national compensation schemes and whether a broker offers indemnity issuance.

Social Copy Trading

Methodology: When determining the rankings for the Social Copy Trading category, we consider the range of social copy trading platforms available (whether developed in-house or by a third-party provider) along with the scope and breadth of their related social offerings for traders. For example, some brokers may offer social copy trading on a standalone basis, segmented away from a trading platform, whereas others may integrate it directly within their platform. Beyond the basics, we look at the size of the trader community that can be copied, the length of history of related providers (other traders they wish to copy), and the range of performance statistics and tools available to traders. We also consider the level of control investors have for managing risk thresholds on their account (or on a per-strategy basis).

MetaTrader

Methodology: When determining the rankings for the MetaTrader category, we first assess whether a broker offers both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader (MT5). Then, we examine the availability of third-party tools such as plugins, add-ons, custom indicators, or other scripts that add value to the default platform experience. We also consider the range of account types offered and the number of markets available within each account and platform configuration. Given that MetaTrader was popularized for its automated trading capabilities, we also consider each broker's overall ability to cater to algorithmic trading.

Crypto Trading

Methodology: When determining the rankings for the Crypto Trading category, we look at which brokers offer the most comprehensive and extensive crypto trading offering. This may include crypto CFDs (where permissible), crypto securities and exchange-traded products (ETPs), structured instruments, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and of course the underlying cryptocurrency assets. We also look at qualitative factors such as the range of trading options – for example, some brokers don’t permit crypto withdrawals, requiring you to sell assets to withdraw cash.

Ease of Use

Methodology: When determining rankings for the Ease of Use category, we recognize brokers that have been able to pack a rich variety of powerful tools and features into a simplified user experience. The brokers that rank highest in this category effectively balance a dense ecosystem of tools and complex features with a clean, intuitive user experience. Our overall approach to ranking brokers in the Ease of Use category is similar to our testing methodology for the Platforms & Tools category; we consider many of the same factors, but our decisions are heavily influenced by the overall user experience.

Professional Trading

Methodology: The Professional Trading category is entirely qualitative and rankings are based on a range of factors considered important for professional traders. Factors considered include (but are not limited to) the range of markets available, support for algorithmic trading and complex order types, discounts for high-volume and active trading, and the availability of API connectivity and advanced and speciality trading platforms.

Beginners

Methodology: Rankings for the Beginners category are determined by each broker's ability to cater to forex traders and investors that are new to the forex markets. The testing methodology for the Beginners category is similar to that of the Ease of Use category as well as the Education category. Factors considered include the overall educational experience, quality of materials designed specifically for beginner traders, level of complexity within trading platforms, and the ease of the overall user experience. When determining rankings for this category, we assess each broker's platform, website, educational materials, and client portal.

Algo Trading

Methodology: Rankings for the Algo Trading category are determined by the level of accommodation afforded to algorithmic traders. Factors considered include (but are not limited to) each broker's order execution policy, range of available orders, permitted trading strategies, commissions, spreads, and other factors considered important to high-frequency forex traders.