Methodology
How we research trading platforms
A fixed criteria set applied in the same order to every environment we discuss, including IronBridge Markets. Consistency is what makes comparison meaningful.
What our research is based on
- Financial research and established market-structure literature
- Publicly available platform documentation and published terms
- Industry data on trading costs, execution and market mechanics
- Market analysis of how conditions affect platform behaviour
- Platform comparison principles applied identically across brands
- Risk-awareness education as the framing for every conclusion
What our research is not based on
We do not use undisclosed sources, insider information, paid placements, or user testimonials we cannot verify. We do not claim certification, licensing or professional financial advisory status, and we do not verify the regulatory standing of any platform.
Cost transparency
Is a complete, dated fee schedule publicly available without contacting support?
Spread and commission model
Is pricing described precisely enough to calculate a round-trip cost?
Financing charges
Are overnight or swap costs published with a clear calculation method?
Order type coverage
Which order types exist, and what does each actually promise?
Execution disclosure
What is stated about slippage, requotes and behaviour in fast markets?
Risk controls
Margin close-out levels, protective orders, leverage tiers and account alerts.
Instrument coverage
Which markets are listed, and are they available in the reader's region?
Charting and analysis tools
History depth, timeframes, indicators, drawing tools and alerting.
Practice environment
Is a simulated account available for testing execution before capital is used?
Documentation quality
Terms, legal entity information, complaint routes and risk warnings.
Operational transparency
Status reporting, maintenance windows and incident communication.
Support accessibility
Channels, published response expectations and language coverage.
Limits we state openly
Desk research cannot measure live execution quality on an individual account, cannot confirm internal operations, and cannot determine whether a platform is suitable for a specific person. Our output is a structured question set, not a verdict. See it applied on our IronBridge Markets review, and read our editorial policy for how findings are published and corrected.