How we rate
The checklist every broker on this site is measured against: the same one, in the same order, with points published.
Every review on The Broker Bench follows the checklist below. It is applied in the same order to every company, whether or not that company has any commercial relationship with us. Where we could not verify something, the review says so rather than guessing.
What we score
Regulation and safety
- Licence verified directly in the regulator's public register, not taken from the broker's own claims
- Which entity actually holds the client relationship, and in which jurisdiction
- Client fund segregation and any compensation scheme cover
- Negative balance protection for retail accounts
Costs
- Typical spread on major pairs during London and New York sessions
- Commission per lot, if charged separately
- Overnight financing (swap) rates, and whether swap-free accounts exist
- Deposit, withdrawal and inactivity fees
Platform and execution
- Platforms offered (MT4, MT5, cTrader, proprietary) and what is missing
- Order types, execution model and published slippage or requote data
- Mobile app stability and rating trend, not just the headline score
Access and terms
- Minimum deposit and maximum leverage by jurisdiction
- Countries accepted and, more importantly, those refused
- Payment methods and realistic withdrawal times
Track record
- Company age and ownership structure
- Regulatory actions, fines or warnings on public record
- Pattern of user complaints, weighted by how specific and verifiable they are
Where the numbers come from
Regulatory status is checked in the register of the regulator named by the broker, not in the broker's marketing copy. Costs are recorded from live accounts or from the broker's own published schedule, with the date noted, because spreads and swaps change. Complaint patterns are read across public forums and regulator warning lists, and we count how specific a complaint is: a withdrawal held for six weeks with a ticket number counts, an anonymous "scam!" does not.
What we do not do
We do not accept payment for a higher score, and a company's rating does not change because it starts or stops advertising with us. If that ever changes, this page changes with it. See our advertising disclosurefor how the site is funded, and our editorial policyfor how reviews are written and corrected.
When reviews are updated
Each review carries the date it was last checked. Costs and platform details are re-verified at least twice a year, and immediately when a regulator publishes an action against a company we cover.