Trading platform
The software interface used for charts, order entry and account tools. Features and access can vary by platform version and account.
THE FACTFX RESOURCE LIBRARY
A better-informed starting point.
A practical checklist, a clear trading glossary and answers to the questions behind this project.
THE READING ROOM
Explore the research library.
Practical guides to platforms, costs, account conditions and source records.
Trading essentialsA platform that fits your routine.Regulation essentialsRead the permission behind the license.Trading essentialsRead the account beyond its headline.Evidence & researchMake every finding traceable.Risk awarenessFamiliar branding can hide a different destination.Risk awarenessRead the conditions before the money moves.Risk awarenessTurn a persuasive claim into a precise question.Research essentialsSlow the decision down. Sharpen the questions.Trading essentialsThe headline spread is only one line.Trading essentialsRead the instruction behind the order.Trading essentialsRead the cost of holding a position.Trading essentialsUnderstand exposure before the margin figure.
01 / MAKE A START
A considered approach,
one question at a time.
Use this checklist to organize your own research. Checking a box records your progress here; it does not verify a broker.
0 of 6 steps markedSession-only progress. No visitor account or personal information is required.
02 / UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE
A clearer vocabulary.
Plain-language definitions for a more useful research process.
Account type
A set of account features and conditions described in the current account documentation. Read its fees, funding requirements and platform access together.
Primary source
An original record or document, such as an official register entry or a provider’s current account terms. A primary source still needs context and a date.
Spread
The difference between the quoted buying and selling prices for an instrument. It is one component of trading costs.
Commission
A separate charge associated with a transaction. Its calculation and applicability depend on the account and current fee schedule.
Leverage
A way to obtain market exposure larger than the capital committed to a position. It can magnify losses as well as gains.
Margin
The funds required to open or maintain a leveraged position. Requirements and close-out conditions depend on the product and agreement.
CFD
A contract for difference: a derivative based on a change in an underlying price, without taking ownership of that underlying asset.
Execution
The process of carrying out an order. Pricing, speed and order handling should be researched from documented terms and attributable observations.
Withdrawal policy
The written conditions governing requests to transfer money out of an account. Check processing terms, requirements and applicable charges.
Source provenance
The record of where information came from, when it was accessed and on what basis it may be used.
Unverified
A claim or record that has not completed a documented verification process. It is not the same as a finding that the claim is false.
Market order
An instruction to trade at the available market price under the platform’s execution rules. The requested or displayed price need not be the final fill price.
Limit order
An instruction to trade at a specified price or better. An unfilled instruction can remain pending under its stated expiry conditions.
Stop order
An instruction activated when a specified trigger condition is met. Read the platform’s documentation for the order created after activation.
Stop-limit order
An instruction that activates a limit order after a trigger condition. Reaching the trigger does not by itself establish that a fill occurs.
Slippage
The difference between a requested or expected price and an actual execution price. A specific observation needs its order, timing and market context.
Liquidity
The availability of trading interest at prices and sizes in a market. It can affect how an instruction is executed.
Overnight financing
An adjustment that can apply to holding a position beyond a stated boundary. Read the product schedule, calculation units and timing convention.
Account currency
The currency used for an account’s records. Check the current terms for how amounts in other currencies are translated and whether conversion charges apply.
Equity
An account-value measure that includes the effect of open positions under the platform’s calculation rules. Read the current platform definition.
Used margin
The margin allocated to support open exposure under current account and product rules. It is distinct from an account’s cash balance.
Available margin
An account measure of remaining margin capacity under the platform’s rules. It is not a recommendation to add exposure.
Instrument specification
The current document or platform record defining a product’s units, trading conditions and other parameters. Keep the instrument identifier and source date together.
General educational definitions. Read more at the FCA and ASIC’s Moneysmart .
03 / KNOW THE PROJECT
Questions, with clear answers.
Where should broker research begin?+
Begin with platform availability, markets, costs and account conditions. Consult the relevant official sources and current documentation. Keep unanswered questions visible in your research notes.
How is the FactFX score calculated?+
FactFX policy version 2.2 uses a consistent displayed maximum of 100. Recorded composites retain their documented 50:50 weighting and existing numerical totals without rescaling. Five-category values sum exactly to the displayed total. Reference dates and historical status appear on the relevant profile. Missing verified inputs leave the result pending, and values are not forced into a target range.
What does the FactFX assessment consider?+
Our 50% component uses a common offering rubric out of 100: platforms, devices and tools 30 points; account and product choices 25; pricing and account models 25; support, learning and research 20. The assessment concerns documented features within the stated market, with individual reasons. An unavailable register lookup or spread average is not itself a deduction. It does not claim measured cheapness or hands-on performance. The administrator may save a subjective override with a written rationale.
Does a link to a regulator mean a broker is approved?+
No. The regulation hub provides official starting points for independent research. A link does not establish authorization or endorsement for a listed profile.
Where does the content come from?+
FactFX writes original educational articles and broker summaries. Broker facts retain supporting records and dates. Ratings combine an external reference with our assessment of the documented offering under a common rubric. Each assessment has individual reasons, and administrator overrides are subjective revisions with a written rationale. This does not claim independent hands-on broker testing.
Can I leave a review or open an account here?+
This website has no visitor reviews, comments, sign-up or brokerage account opening. Its purpose is structured broker research and education.
How should source information be recorded?+
Use official records, licensed feeds or authorized submissions. Record source URLs, usage rights, attribution, access dates and document versions before publication or assessment.
Why can a broker have several platform names?+
A provider can document several trading interfaces. FactFX records the platforms found in the linked source pages and lets the directory search them. The list is scoped to the cited website edition, not a guarantee of local availability.
Why are regions labeled as source regions?+
The region follows the website edition used for the profile. A UK, US or Australian source describes that edition; it does not determine where a visitor can open an account. International is a website scope, not worldwide eligibility.
How are real broker profiles researched?+
FactFX writes summaries from dated official records and provider documents. Current-register checks, provider claims and unresolved facts remain distinct. Comparable cost evidence needs a representative EUR/USD average and same-account round-trip commission. The separate composite rating combines an external reference with FactFX assessment; a brand-level reference does not certify current authorisation, account eligibility or hands-on trading, withdrawal, usability or accessibility tests.
Where should funding conditions be checked?+
Use the current account documentation and independently obtained official support channels. Record supported currencies, payment requirements, charges and processing conditions only when documented for the account being researched.