Independent · Funded testing · Updated May 2026
Three traders open funded live accounts on every broker reviewed, run real withdrawal cycles, and publish the numbers — including the ones competitors hedge.
Editor's picks · May 2026
Each pick is the broker our trader would route their own deposit through this quarter, under their named jurisdiction.
Worldwide editorial picks
Exness
9.3/10 Tested
FP Markets
8.9/10 Tested
XM Group
9.1/10 Tested
FTMO
9.0/10 Tested
Bybit
9.2/10 Tested
Vertical, country, account type — six entry points into the database.
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Enter lot size and trade count. See the annual cost across XM, Exness and FP Markets — same trader profile, three real account types.
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Pip value in dollars across forex pairs and lot sizes. Used to plan position size before placing a trade.
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⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex. Capital at risk. How we earn.
⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex. Capital at risk. How we earn.
⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex. Capital at risk. How we earn.
⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex. Capital at risk. How we earn.
⚠️ Risk warning: CFDs are complex. Capital at risk. How we earn.
Side-by-side comparison of XM and Exness. Spreads, regulation, withdrawal speed, account types, real testing notes.
| Criterion | XM Group | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 9.1 | ★ 9.3 |
| Min Deposit | ★ $5 | $10 |
| Spread From | 0.6 pips | 0.0 pips |
| Max Leverage | 1:1000 | 1:Unlimited |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, XM App, WebTrader | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness App |
| Regulation | CySEC, ASIC, FCA, DFSA | CySEC, FCA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Instruments | ★ 1,400 | 230 |
| Support Score | 8.0 | ★ 9.0 |
| Education Score | ★ 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Mobile App Score | 8.0 | ★ 9.0 |
We open funded live accounts. We place hundreds of real orders. We run full withdrawal cycles. Then we score 10 dimensions and publish the actual numbers — including the failures.
Read our methodology →No. Editorial scoring is independent of affiliate relationships. We do receive commissions when readers open accounts through tracked links, but no broker pays for placement in our rankings or for a specific score. See our methodology and how-we-make-money pages for full detail.
Each review is updated when a material change occurs: regulation change, account-type change, spread structure change, or new withdrawal-test data. Reviews carry a visible Updated date. Listing pages refresh monthly.
Three traders: Laura West (forex trader & reviewer, trading since 2015), Mike Volkov (crypto trader & reviewer, trading since 2017), and Tom Nakamura (prop trader & reviewer, funded across multiple firms since 2021). Each opens funded live accounts before publishing.
We open funded live accounts on every platform reviewed. We publish actual withdrawal times across multiple test cycles. We name specific weaknesses where competitors hedge. And we disclose affiliate revenue with the same prominence as the recommendations themselves.
If you have a payment, regulation or withdrawal issue with a broker reviewed here, contact us through the email on our contact page. We log incidents into our 12-month rolling broker-risk tracker and update reviews accordingly.