How We Rate Brokers

Last updated: 4 September 2026

Every broker on KoboFX gets a score from 1 to 5. This page explains exactly what that score means, what we look at, and what it does not cover.

What we score

Ratings are based on publicly available information from the broker's own website, legal documents, and published terms — checked against what matters most for a beginner trader:

• Regulation and safety — which regulator(s) license the broker, and what that licence actually protects. More on this in our regulation guide.
• Cost of entry — the real minimum deposit in dollar terms, and whether a beginner can start small.
• Trading costs — spreads, commissions, and swap rates on standard accounts.
• Deposits and withdrawals for beginners — easy funding methods, USDT/P2P support, withdrawal speed and fees.
• Platform and tools — MT4/MT5 support, demo accounts, and execution quality claims.
• Beginner support — education, customer support availability, and account types that suit small accounts.

The scale

• 4.5 – 5.0: Excellent. Strong regulation, low entry cost, and beginner-friendly funding. Suitable for most beginners.
• 4.0 – 4.4: Very good. Solid overall, with one or two trade-offs (e.g. higher spreads, fewer local payment options).
• 3.0 – 3.9: Acceptable with caveats. Usable, but read the full review for the weaknesses.
• 1.0 – 2.9: Not recommended for beginners.

A score is not a guarantee. It is our judgement of how well a broker fits beginners — a broker great for scalpers in Europe may score lower here if funding is hard.

Affiliate links do not change ratings

KoboFX earns a commission if you open an account through links on this site. This never changes a score:

• We score brokers against the same criteria whether or not an affiliate program exists.
• Every review discloses its partner code, so the commercial relationship is visible.
• We publish the regulator for each broker so you can verify the licence yourself, rather than trusting our word.
• We will remove, not promote, a broker whose behaviour harms its traders (withdrawal problems, misleading terms, lost licences).

What a rating does not cover

Our scores are based on published information, not a live trading account with every broker. Conditions — spreads, bonuses, minimum deposits — change often. Always confirm current terms on the broker's own site before opening an account.

Keeping reviews current

Broker terms change frequently. When we become aware of a change (through the broker's site, news, or reader emails), we update the review. This methodology is maintained by Iriss Lee, Founder & Editor of KoboFX. Corrections and new information are always welcome at irisslee95@gmail.com.

Nothing here is financial advice. Trading CFDs carries high risk — most retail traders (74-89%) lose money. Never trade money you cannot afford to lose.