What we measure
The quoted spread on major and minor pairs, plus any per-lot commission on ECN-style accounts - combined into a single effective cost figure rather than compared as separate line items.
Why "from" figures aren't enough
Brokers commonly advertise a "from" spread captured under ideal, low-volatility conditions. We weigh typical trading-hours conditions more heavily than the single best-case number, since that's what most trades actually execute against.
Why spreads carry 25% weight
Cost compounds across every trade you make, so it's weighted equally with regulation - the two factors we treat as most consequential to a trader's actual outcome over time, ahead of platform or support quality.
How this feeds the rank score
Brokers with tighter effective cost score higher on this factor; the result is combined with the other 4 factors at their published weights to produce the overall rank score shown on the homepage.