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The sources we rely on

We don't take a broker's word for it. We check every licence in the regulator's official register and go through warning lists before publishing a review. These are the sources we use, so you can check them yourself.

Official licence registers

The regulators whose licences we verify. Open the official register and search for the broker's name or licence number to confirm the licence is active and that the entity you deal with is the one that holds it.

Strict regulators (19)

Strict supervision, segregated client funds and often an investor compensation scheme.

Mid-level and local regulators (14)

Real supervision with lighter requirements and protection, including local regulators in Arab countries.

  • CySEC هيئة الأوراق المالية والبورصات القبرصية Cyprus · Brokers it licenses on our site: 23 official licence register Official website
  • FSCA Financial Sector Conduct Authority South Africa · Brokers it licenses on our site: 18 Official website
  • CMA Capital Market Authority (UAE) UAE · Brokers it licenses on our site: 15 Official website
  • CMA (KE) Capital Markets Authority of Kenya Kenya · Brokers it licenses on our site: 6 Official website
  • FRA الهيئة العامة للرقابة المالية Egypt · Brokers it licenses on our site: 6 Official website
  • JSC Jordan Securities Commission Jordan · Brokers it licenses on our site: 4 Official website
  • ISA Israel Securities Authority Israel · Brokers it licenses on our site: 3 Official website
  • CMVM Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários Portugal · Brokers it licenses on our site: 2 Official website
  • MFSA Malta Financial Services Authority Malta · Brokers it licenses on our site: 2 Official website
  • BACEN Central Bank of Brazil Brazil · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website
  • CVM Comissão de Valores Mobiliários Brazil · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website
  • EFSA Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority Estonia · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website
  • FMA (AT) Financial Market Authority Austria · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website
  • SFC (CO) Financial Superintendence of Colombia Colombia · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website

Offshore regulators (8)

Few requirements and limited client protection. This licence alone is not enough to trust a broker.

  • FSA هيئة الخدمات المالية في سيشل Seychelles · Brokers it licenses on our site: 13 Official website
  • FSC (MU) Financial Services Commission Mauritius Mauritius · Brokers it licenses on our site: 12 Official website
  • VFSC Vanuatu Financial Services Commission Vanuatu · Brokers it licenses on our site: 11 Official website
  • SCB Securities Commission of The Bahamas Bahamas · Brokers it licenses on our site: 9 Official website
  • FSC (VG) Financial Services Commission, British Virgin Islands British Virgin Islands · Brokers it licenses on our site: 5 Official website
  • CIMA Cayman Islands Monetary Authority Cayman Islands · Brokers it licenses on our site: 3 Official website
  • BMA Bermuda Monetary Authority Bermuda · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website
  • CBCS Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten Curaçao · Brokers it licenses on our site: 1 Official website

Warning lists of unauthorised firms

Regulators publish the names of firms operating without a licence or impersonating licensed ones. We check these lists before publishing any review.

Investor education

Learn more about risks and terms from official sources:

  • ESMA investor protection and leverage limits in Europe
  • Investor.gov glossary of investing terms from the US SEC
  • FCA consumer guidance before you invest
  • CFTC education for futures and forex traders

Market data and prices

The charts, economic calendar and exchange rates in our tools and calculators come from these providers. Prices are for guidance only and may differ slightly from your broker's.

How we use these sources

We record each broker's licence number and regulator as they appear in the official register and update them when they change. If you spot something that is no longer correct, contact us and we will review it. No broker can pay for its position or rating.

Editorial policy Review methodology
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