Start with the company, not the brand
Identify the legal entity, regulator and licence that would apply in the relevant country. Check the regulator’s own records and read the provider’s customer agreement.
If those details are difficult to find or inconsistent across pages, that is useful information in itself.
Break down cost and access
Compare spreads, commissions, financing charges and non-trading fees separately. Also check the available funding and withdrawal methods, supported currencies and any limits or processing rules.
A cheap headline spread is less useful if other charges or access constraints dominate the total cost.
Look for evidence
Prefer reviews that distinguish official provider claims from independent observations and regulator records. Dates matter because terms and licences change.
General information only. Investment products can lose value, and terms, fees and regulation can change.