Method in brief
Four steps guide every comparison
The site separates calculations, documented platform capabilities and editorial context. It does not combine those fields into a numerical score or claim that one platform is a universal winner.
Record primary sources
We attach official pricing pages, regulatory registers, platform documentation and published disclosures to structured records.
Normalize the data
Pricing is converted into computation-ready rules so compatible plans can be tested with the same trading scenario.
Compare documented capabilities
We present market access, execution tools, device support and regulation as separate evidence fields rather than one opaque score.
Label uncertainty
A record remains review-needed, estimated or unknown until its current primary source supports a stronger status.
The site does not publish numerical platform scores or an algorithmic ranking. The homepage uses a neutral alphabetical default order. All 27 current structured pricing rules were verified against their cited official schedules on the recorded dates. Verified status confirms the recorded base rule, not every account-specific or pass-through fee.
What we record
Comparison dimensions
These dimensions organize the evidence shown in the database. They are not weighted and are not combined into an overall score.
| Dimension | What we examine |
|---|---|
| Execution and order tools | Documented order types, hotkeys, DOM, bracket orders and order-entry workflows. |
| Total trading cost | Structured commissions, contract fees, plan fees, bundled market-data fees, caps and minimums. |
| Platform and charting | Documented charting, indicators, layout customization, simulation and replay capabilities. |
| Market access | Supported asset classes, exchanges and eligible regions recorded for the platform. |
| Margin and capital requirements | Published margin schedules, account minimums and plan-specific capital requirements where recorded. |
| Usability and device support | Supported desktop, web and mobile environments plus documented workflow limitations. |
| API and automation | Published APIs, strategy automation and third-party integration capabilities. |
| Short-selling access | Documented locate, borrow and short-selling tools where the information is available. |
| Education and paper trading | Simulation, onboarding and educational resources documented by the platform. |
Reproducible calculations
How the cost calculator works
The cost calculator applies structured pricing rules to the activity entered by the reader. Per-share or per-contract commissions, caps, minimums, plan subscriptions and recorded bundled market-data fees are processed by the same engine for every compatible plan.
One opening and one closing trade of equal size.
Transaction costs plus recorded monthly platform and bundled market-data fees.
The recurring monthly total plus any recorded one-time plan fee.
Sorting and break-even calculations use unrounded internal values; rounding occurs for display.
“Lowest estimated cost” means the lowest precise ongoing monthly total for the entered scenario, including recorded recurring plan and bundled market-data fees. It does not include fee categories explicitly marked as excluded.
Descriptive context
How editorial labels are formed
Evidence used
- Structured pricing rules and calculated scenario costs
- Documented execution tools, order types and workflow features
- Recorded market access, device support and account limitations
- Regulatory entities and protections tied to source records
What labels do not mean
- They are not numerical scores or guaranteed rankings
- They do not prove suitability for an individual trader
- They do not override a review-needed data status
- They do not represent undocumented hands-on testing
Homepage use-case labels describe the workflow a platform is commonly designed to support. They are not presented as universal “best” awards.
Evidence standards
Sources, testing scope and verification
Broker pricing and product pagesOfficial commission schedules, account plans and feature documentation.
Regulatory databasesFINRA BrokerCheck, SEC, CFTC and NFA BASIC records.
Platform documentationOfficial help centers, API documentation and technical resources.
Published disclosuresMargin schedules, legal disclosures and account-specific notices.
Recording an official source URL does not automatically make a value verified. A record receives a
verified status only after the current source is inspected and a full verification date is stored.
Feature flags reflect documented capabilities; the site does not claim personal testing where none occurred.
Verification status definitions
verified Confirmed against the cited current primary source, with a full verification date.
review-needed A source is recorded, but the current value has not yet been confirmed against the latest primary source.
estimated A clearly labeled approximation that must not be treated as an official quote.
varies-by-plan A display field that depends on account type, subscription tier, volume or region.
not-applicable The feature or fee does not apply to the platform or plan.
Commercial separation
Editorial independence
Affiliate status is not an input to calculator formulas, cost sorting, verification statuses or platform inclusion. The default table order is alphabetical. Commercial links are labeled and kept separate from non-affiliate source links.
Read the Affiliate DisclosureMaintenance
Review cycle and change control
- We aim to review platform, pricing and regulation records quarterly.
- Material official changes are prioritized when identified.
- Only verified records display a completed verification date.
- Review-needed records remain visibly labeled until the current source is checked.
Page update dates describe changes to the page or methodology. They must not be interpreted as verification dates for every price, feature or regulatory record.
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