Our Review Process

We test every broker ourselves — opening real accounts, trading with real money, and testing support and withdrawals before we publish a single word.

Every broker review on BrokersSelect is produced through a structured 7-step process. We do not accept broker-supplied materials, rely on third-party data feeds, or allow commercial relationships to influence what we publish. Our analysts open real accounts, make real deposits, and conduct real trades — then score what they find against our 100-point framework.

7-Step Testing Process

Step 1

Initial Screening

Before we invest time in a full review, we verify the broker holds a valid licence from a recognised regulator. We check the official register directly — not the broker's website badge. Brokers that cannot pass basic compliance and transparency checks are excluded from the platform entirely.

Step 2

Account Opening

We register a real account using standard retail credentials. We document every step of the onboarding process, including KYC document requirements, verification time, welcome communications, and any friction or unclear steps encountered during sign-up.

Step 3

Platform Testing

We test MT4, MT5, and any proprietary platforms on both desktop and mobile. We evaluate charting functionality, order types, execution workflow, customisation options, mobile app stability, and overall usability from the perspective of a retail trader.

Step 4

Live Trading

We deposit real funds and execute actual trades across multiple instruments — including forex majors, indices, and commodities. We record live spreads at different times of day, measure execution speed, check for slippage, and note any requotes or anomalies.

Step 5

Support Testing

We contact customer support via live chat, email, and phone during both peak and off-peak hours. We ask a range of questions — from simple account queries to complex trading and regulatory questions — and score agents on response time, accuracy, and helpfulness.

Step 6

Withdrawal Testing

We request at least one real withdrawal per broker and time the processing from request submission to funds received. We document any fees, verification steps, or delays encountered, as withdrawal reliability is one of the most important real-world indicators of broker quality.

Step 7

Scoring & Publishing

All findings are compiled and scored against our 100-point rubric. Category scores are calculated, a final rating is assigned, and the review is written by our editorial team. All conclusions are based on evidence gathered during testing — no broker can review or approve content before publication.

How Often We Update Reviews

All broker reviews are reassessed on a rolling 3–6 month cycle. Each reassessment repeats the core testing steps to confirm that spreads, platforms, support quality, and withdrawal processes remain consistent with our published findings.

If a broker makes a significant change — such as revising its fee structure, introducing a new platform, or gaining or losing a regulatory licence — we update the affected review immediately, regardless of the scheduled cycle.

Regulatory enforcement actions, such as fines, licence suspensions, or public warnings, are reflected in our reviews within 24 hours of the regulator making the announcement. Every review displays a "last updated" date at the top so readers can see when content was most recently verified.

See how we score each category

Read the full scoring methodology and weightings behind our 100-point broker rating system.

How We Rate