The ForexRanks Scoring Matrix is the operational companion to the ForexRanks Broker Review Methodology.
The methodology explains how ForexRanks evaluates brokers, handles evidence, calculates category scores, treats missing information and applies qualitative scoring.
This page contains only the metric-level weights, numerical thresholds, point rules and category-specific rubrics required to convert verified broker observations into 0–10 scores.
Unless a rule below states otherwise:
feature fully verified and available = 10;
feature materially limited or conditional = 5;
feature confirmed absent = 0;
qualitative criteria use the General Qualitative Scoring Scale in the methodology;
transparency criteria use the Qualitative Transparency Rubric in the methodology;
unverified and not-applicable criteria follow the methodology's published missing-data rules.
1. Safety and Protection — 20%
Applicable Regulation and Regulatory Quality — 45%
Metric
Weight
Serving entity regulatory quality
80%
Authorization and license verifiability
20%
Serving Entity Regulatory Quality
Regulatory Position
Score
Highest-strength prudential regulator with strong supervision and client protections
10
Strong regulator with meaningful supervision but fewer protections or enforcement mechanisms
7.5
Lower-tier regulator with a more limited prudential/client-protection framework
5
Offshore authorization with limited prudential supervision
2.5
Unregulated serving entity
0
Authorization and License Verifiability
Verification
Score
Exact entity, regulator and license independently matched
10
Authorization verified with only minor non-material uncertainty
7.5
Regulator/entity identified, but authorization cannot be completely matched
5
Only registration or weak authorization evidence is available
2.5
No verifiable authorization
0
Client-Fund Protections — 20%
Metric
Weight
Investor compensation
40%
Segregation of client funds
35%
Negative balance protection
25%
Investor Compensation
Protection
Score
Applicable statutory protection above approximately $50,000 equivalent
10
Approximately $20,000–$50,000
8
Below approximately $20,000
6
Defined private/industry compensation fund
4
Private insurance or liability cover only
2
No applicable verified compensation arrangement
0
Client-Fund Segregation
Condition
Score
Legally required and confirmed applicable
10
Clearly verified contractual segregation
7.5
General segregation statement verified but implementation/legal basis unclear
5
Confirmed absent
0
Negative Balance Protection
Condition
Score
Legally required and applicable
10
Broad contractual protection
7.5
Conditional or restricted protection
5
Confirmed absent
0
Legal Entity and Ownership Transparency — 15%
Metric
Weight
Scoring Rule
Legal-entity transparency
60%
Qualitative Transparency Rubric
Ownership/control transparency
40%
General Qualitative Scoring Scale
Operating and Regulatory Record — 10%
Regulatory Record
Score
No material adverse regulatory event identified in the documented review
10
Isolated minor or resolved issue
7.5
Material resolved issue or several minor issues
5
Serious/recent enforcement or repeated regulatory concerns
2.5
Active ban, suspension, revocation or authoritative current fraud/scam warning
0
Account and Security Protections — 10%
Metric
Weight
Two-factor authentication
35%
Withdrawal authentication
30%
Device/session controls
20%
Additional verified security safeguards
15%
The standard feature rule applies.
For additional safeguards:
Additional Safeguards
Score
Multiple material additional controls
10
Two additional controls
7.5
One additional control
5
None verified
0
2. Fees and Commissions — 20%
Standard-Account Trading Costs — 35%
Metric
Weight
EUR/USD representative spread
35%
GBP/USD representative spread
25%
XAU/USD representative spread
25%
S&P 500 CFD representative spread
15%
EUR/USD
Spread, pips
Score
≤0.50
10
>0.50–0.70
9
>0.70–0.80
8
>0.80–1.00
7
>1.00–1.10
6
>1.10–1.30
5
>1.30–1.40
4
>1.40–1.60
3
>1.60–2.00
2
>2.00–2.50
1
>2.50
0
GBP/USD
Spread, pips
Score
≤0.70
10
>0.70–0.90
9
>0.90–1.00
8
>1.00–1.20
7
>1.20–1.40
6
>1.40–1.60
5
>1.60–1.80
4
>1.80–2.00
3
>2.00–2.30
2
>2.30–2.80
1
>2.80
0
XAU/USD
XAU/USD is measured in normalized price points.
Spread
Score
≤0.10
10
>0.10–0.15
9
>0.15–0.20
8
>0.20–0.25
7
>0.25–0.30
6
>0.30–0.35
5
>0.35–0.40
4
>0.40–0.50
3
>0.50–0.75
2
>0.75–1.00
1
>1.00
0
Where XAU/USD is reported in pips:
1 pip = 0.01 price points
Where reported in cents:
Price Points = Cents ÷ 100
S&P 500 CFD
Spread, points
Score
≤0.35
10
>0.35–0.40
9
>0.40–0.50
8
>0.50–0.60
7
>0.60–0.70
6
>0.70–0.80
5
>0.80–1.00
4
>1.00–1.30
3
>1.30–1.70
2
>1.70–2.50
1
>2.50
0
If a benchmark instrument is genuinely not offered, that instrument metric is excluded and the remaining metrics in this sub-factor are reweighted proportionally.
Raw/ECN/Commission Account Costs — 25%
Metric
Weight
EUR/USD all-in cost
70%
Round-turn commission
30%
EUR/USD All-In Cost
All-In Cost in Pips = Representative Raw Spread + (Round-Turn USD Commission ÷ $10)
The resulting value uses the EUR/USD spread bands above.
Round-Turn Commission
Commission per Standard Lot
Score
≤$4
10
>$4–5
9
>$5–6
8
>$6–7
7
>$7–8
6
>$8–10
5
>$10–12
4
>$12–14
3
>$14–16
2
>$16–20
1
>$20
0
Non-Trading Fees — 20%
Metric
Weight
Inactivity fee
50%
Currency-conversion fee
30%
Other recurring account/admin fees
20%
Inactivity Fee
Condition
Score
No inactivity fee
10
Very low burden or ≤$5/month after ≥12 months
9
≤$10/month after ≥12 months
8
≤$10/month after 6–11 months
7
≤$10/month after 3–5 months
6
$11–25/month after ≥6 months
5
$11–25/month after 3–5 months
4
>$25/month after ≥6 months
3
>$25/month after 3–5 months
2
Fee begins before 3 months
1
Material inactivity fee exists but cannot reasonably be quantified
