Methodology · published in full
Our overall score (from 0 to 10) is the weighted average of six dimensions assessed separately. The framework has been in place since HelloBrokers launched in 2021 and is refined continuously. Each dimension is scored against objective, public criteria, supplemented by editorial judgment where the qualitative matters. This page documents the framework in detail, including the cases where we make adjustments.
Last updated · May 19, 2026
Each broker receives a score from 0 to 10 across the six dimensions below. The weightings are chosen according to their impact on the real long-term outcome for a retail investor. They apply identically to partner brokers and non-partner brokers.
PILLAR 01 25%
Regulation & security
Primary regulators covering the entity that opens your account (FCA, BaFin, SEC, ASIC, etc.), applicable deposit guarantees (€100k in the EU, £85k FSCS in the United Kingdom, $500k SIPC in the United States), client fund segregation, capital adequacy, parent group oversight. Tier-2 or offshore regulation caps this pillar at 5/10 regardless of everything else.
PILLAR 02 25%
Fees
The real total cost to a retail investor over one year: per-order commissions, custody fees, currency conversion fees, withdrawal fees, inactivity fees, account maintenance fees, surcharges on tax-advantaged accounts (ISA, SIPP, etc.). We calculate an annualized cost on a representative profile (10 orders / month, $50k holdings, 30% USD allocation) to compare across brokers.
PILLAR 03 15%
Instruments
Breadth of asset classes (EU / US equities, ETFs, bonds, funds), geographic coverage, fractional shares, access to primary markets, foreign dividends, securities lending. A platform limited to 2-3 asset classes does not exceed 6/10.
PILLAR 04 15%
Platform
Quality of the web platform, mobile app (feature parity with desktop), available order types (stop-limit, OCO, trailing, iceberg), charting tools, public API, paper trading, multi-account management, accounting exports. UX tested under real conditions for at least 4 weeks.
PILLAR 05 10%
Support
Available channels (phone, chat, email), opening hours, supported languages, real response times tested at peak and off-peak hours, technical quality of the answers (canned replies vs. individualized handling), escalation procedures in case of a dispute.
PILLAR 06 10%
Transparency
Order routing reports (RTS 27/28 in the EU, 606 in the US), disclosure of conflicts of interest, history of external audits, known ownership structure, communication on incidents (downtime, price anomalies, market-maker failures). Transparency sheds light on every other dimension.
No score is assigned without real testing. Every broker goes through the same four-step process, regardless of its size or whether a partnership exists.
STEP 01
$2k+
Fund a real account
Opened through the standard public journey, from a connection in the target country. No press treatment, no shortcuts: we go through the same experience as any ordinary customer.
STEP 02
50+
Execute real trades
At least fifty or so orders, across several asset classes and several order types (market, limit, stop). We measure fill rate, average slippage, re-quote frequency, and execution latency.
STEP 03
4–6 weeks
Read every contract
Account agreement, fee schedule, general terms, special conditions depending on the account type. We systematically note the gaps between marketing promises and the legal text.
STEP 04
/10
Score and publish
Score calculated according to the weightings above. Published even if the broker is a partner, even if the score is poor, even if the broker demands the content be taken down (we refuse).
01 Independence
HelloBrokers has a business model based on affiliation: we earn a commission when a visitor opens an account through one of our links. To preserve editorial independence, we apply the following rules:
• No editorial clauses in affiliate contracts. If a broker demands a minimum score or preferential placement, we refuse and cover it anyway according to our methodology.
• Scores are public before a partnership is activated. A broker cannot negotiate its score by offering a partnership.
• Transparent labeling of links. All affiliate links carry the rel="sponsored" attribute and are flagged by a visible label on the page.
• Coverage of non-affiliated brokers. When a broker that is editorially relevant has no affiliate program, or when its program is inaccessible to us, we cover it anyway.
02 Conflicts
We publish here any relationship liable to influence the editorial analysis of a broker, beyond simple affiliate links: equity stakes, service contracts, privileged access to data, or an editor's personal ties to a company under review.
As of publication: no conflicts declared beyond the standard affiliate partnerships listed on the relevant broker pages.
03 Revisions
Every broker review is refreshed at least once per quarter (verification of fees, regulation, platform). In the event of a material change (change of regulator, deterioration of support, published security incident, sanction), we carry out an immediate revision. The date of the last update appears at the top of each review.
If you spot outdated information, you can report it to us via the contact form. We correct it within 48 business hours if the report is well-founded.
04 Limits
Our methodology assesses the characteristics of a broker, not the fit between a given broker and a given investor. It does not take into account your financial situation, your investment horizon, your risk tolerance, or your personal tax situation.
Before opening any account, we recommend that you consult a licensed financial investment adviser, read the KIID (key investor information document) of the products under consideration, and check the broker's eligibility with your national regulator.
Past performance is not a guide to future performance. Derivative products (CFDs, forex, options) carry a significant risk of capital loss. According to figures published by brokers, between 67% and 89% of retail accounts lose money trading CFDs.