How We Evaluate Forex Brokers
Every broker review on calc.forex follows the same 7-step evaluation process, based on regulatory registers, published fee schedules, platform documentation, and aggregated public user feedback. No broker pays for a higher rating, and the process is identical whether or not the broker is an affiliate partner.
Last updated: March 2026 · Methodology version: 2.0 · Sources: regulator registers, official broker docs, public reviews
Regulatory Verification
We verify every broker's license directly with the regulator's public database. A CySEC claim gets checked on cysec.gov.cy. An FCA claim gets checked on the FCA register. We don't take the broker's word for it.
Onboarding & Account Requirements
We document each broker's onboarding requirements from its official site and account agreements: minimum deposit, KYC documents required, available account types, and supported regions.
Fees & Spreads (Published & Reported)
We collect each broker's published spreads, commissions, swap rates, and non-trading fees from its official fee schedule, then cross-reference them against typical figures reported in public reviews.
Execution Model & Reported Quality
We document the broker's stated execution model (market maker, STP, or ECN), its order-handling policy, and patterns in aggregated public user reports — not first-hand trade testing.
Platforms & Tools
We catalogue the platforms each broker supports (MT4, MT5, cTrader, or proprietary), the documented charting and order features, and the consensus from public app-store and community feedback.
Deposits & Withdrawals
We document the deposit and withdrawal methods, published fees, and stated processing times from each broker's site, alongside the experience patterns reported in public user reviews.
Scoring & Review Writing
Each broker receives a score across 6 categories, weighted by importance. Reviews are written from documented public-source findings — never from invented personal experience — and are clearly editorial.
Scoring System
| Category | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation & Safety | 25% | License tier, fund segregation, compensation schemes, track record |
| Trading Costs | 20% | Published spreads, commissions, swap rates, and non-trading fees |
| Execution Quality | 20% | Stated execution model, order handling, and reported slippage/requotes |
| Platform & Tools | 15% | Charting, order types, mobile app, stability, available platforms |
| Deposits & Withdrawals | 10% | Methods, processing speed, fees, reliability |
| Customer Support | 10% | Response time, quality of answers, available channels |
Affiliate Disclosure
Some brokers on this site are affiliate partners. If you open an account through our links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
This does not affect our ratings. Every broker goes through the same 7-step evaluation. We have rejected affiliate partnerships with brokers that scored below our minimum threshold. Our revenue model is transparent: we make money when you find a broker that works for you.
If a broker is an affiliate partner, this is clearly disclosed on their review page.
Review Update Policy
Broker reviews are re-evaluated quarterly. If a broker changes their fee structure, loses a regulatory license, or makes significant platform changes, we update the review within 7 days.
Each review page shows a "Last reviewed" date. If that date is older than 6 months, treat the review as potentially outdated and verify critical information directly with the broker.