Methodology

How Our Broker Matching Tool Works

Our broker matching tool uses a structured, rules-based scoring system to identify brokers that align with your stated preferences. It does not use personal data, behavioural tracking, or predictive modelling. Results are generated solely from the inputs you select.

Step 1: Profile Interpretation

Your selections (country, instrument, experience level and priority) are translated into a trading profile. For example:

• A beginner selecting “regulation” is treated as a safety-focused new trader.
• An advanced user selecting “low fees” for forex is treated as a high-frequency trader.
• A stock investor selecting UK investing options is treated as requiring real share ownership.

This profile determines which broker attributes are prioritised.

Step 2: Eligibility Screening

Before scoring, brokers are screened for structural suitability:

• Availability in your selected country
• Instrument availability
• Real share ownership where required
• Regulatory alignment where prioritised

Brokers that are not available in your country are excluded entirely. Brokers that partially meet requirements may receive penalties.

Step 3: Weighted Scoring

Each eligible broker is evaluated across six dimensions:

• Regulation & Client Protection
• Instrument Fit
• Experience Alignment
• Priority Match
• Pricing Model
• Platform Compatibility

Each dimension is scored on a 0–10 scale and weighted according to relevance. Regulation and instrument suitability carry greater weight than secondary features.

Step 4: Persona Adjustment

The system applies small positive or negative adjustments based on how closely a broker aligns with your trading profile (for example, “beginner-friendly” or “professional-grade”).

Step 5: Ranking

Brokers are ranked by total weighted score. The top results are labelled “Strong Match,” “Good Match,” or “Fair Match” based on how closely they align with your selected criteria.

Important Limitations

• The tool does not account for your financial situation.
• It does not provide personalised financial advice.
• It does not predict performance.
• It does not evaluate real-time spread changes.
• The results are designed to assist comparison — not replace independent research.

The brokers featured on our “best” pages were selected and ranked using a structured evaluation framework designed for UK retail traders.

Evaluation Framework

Each broker was assessed across the following criteria:

• FCA regulation status and client protection structure
• Pricing transparency (spread structure, commission model, financing charges)
• Platform quality and execution tools
• Product coverage (CFDs, shares, ISA/SIPP where applicable)
• Suitability for the target audience of the page
• Publicly available customer feedback trends

The weight assigned to each factor depends on the theme of the page. For example:

• On “Best Low-Cost Brokers,” pricing carries greater weight than platform aesthetics.
• On “Best Regulated Brokers,” regulatory structure and corporate transparency take priority over cost.
• On “Best Brokers for Beginners,” usability and onboarding clarity are prioritised.

Inclusion Criteria

All brokers listed operate UK-accessible accounts. Where regulation differs by entity, this is stated clearly.

We do not rank brokers based solely on headline spreads. Total cost of trading includes:

• Spread + commission
• Financing charges
• Currency conversion
• Account type differences

Rankings and Commercial Relationships

Some brokers may pay affiliate commissions. These relationships do not influence scoring criteria or ranking logic. Rankings reflect structural suitability for the page's target audience.

Each broker comparison is based on publicly available information and structured evaluation criteria. The goal is to highlight practical differences rather than declare a universal “winner.”

What We Compare

Each head-to-head comparison examines:

• Regulatory structure (FCA status, client fund segregation, protections)
• Pricing model (spread-only vs commission + spread)
• Platform availability (MetaTrader, proprietary platforms, advanced tools)
• Product coverage (CFDs, shares, ISA/SIPP where available)
• Suitability for different trader types
• Known structural limitations

We do not compare promotional offers, temporary incentives, or short-term campaigns.

Cost Comparisons

Pricing analysis focuses on structure rather than marketing claims. For example:

• Whether raw-spread accounts are available
• Whether commission is charged
• Whether real share investing is supported
• Whether financing applies

Actual trading costs vary by instrument, account type and market conditions.

No Universal Winner

Most comparisons do not produce a single “best” broker. Instead, the outcome depends on:

• Trading frequency
• Preferred instruments
• Experience level
• Need for investing accounts vs derivatives

Where regulatory protections are comparable, this is stated clearly.

Independence

Affiliate partnerships may exist with brokers referenced. These partnerships do not influence the evaluation structure or outcome logic.