Trust Score vs Trading Cost Quadrant
Every broker sits somewhere on the trust-cost spectrum. This chart combines two independent datasets — our Safety Score and Spread Index — into a single visual that reveals which brokers deliver the best trust-for-cost trade-off.
Markets Desk
Markets desk
Interactive Quadrant Chart
Each dot represents one broker. Horizontal position = total EUR/USD cost per standard lot (lower is better). Vertical position = Safety Score out of 100 (higher is better). The dashed lines mark the median on each axis, creating four quadrants. Gold rings indicate affiliate partners.
Hover or tap a dot to see broker details.
Quadrant-by-Quadrant Analysis
Best Value (top-left): High Trust, Low Cost
These brokers score above the median on safety and below the median on cost. They deliver strong regulatory infrastructure without charging a premium for it. This is the ideal quadrant for most traders.
| Broker | Safety | Cost/lot |
|---|---|---|
| Swissquote(partner) | 95 | $8.00 |
| Interactive Brokers(partner) | 92 | $5.56 |
| XTB(partner) | 89 | $8.00 |
| Forex.com(partner) | 88 | $7.00 |
| Pepperstone(partner) | 80 | $8.00 |
Premium (top-right): High Trust, High Cost
Strong regulation and protection, but trading costs sit above the median. The extra cost may be justified for large accounts where fund protection matters more than marginal spread savings.
Budget Risk (bottom-left): Low Cost, Lower Trust
Cheap to trade but with a narrower regulatory footprint. The cost saving is real, but so is the structural protection gap. Suitable for small accounts or experienced traders who understand the jurisdictional risk.
| Broker | Safety | Cost/lot |
|---|---|---|
| eToro(partner) | 79 | $5.70 |
| Admirals(partner) | 75 | $7.00 |
| Capital.com(partner) | 68 | $7.00 |
| AvaTrade(partner) | 73 | $8.00 |
| IC Markets(partner) | 72 | $8.00 |
Worst Value (bottom-right): Low Trust, High Cost
Below the median on safety and above it on cost. Higher trading costs without commensurate regulatory protection. There may be specific reasons to use these brokers (platform features, niche markets), but on a pure trust-for-cost basis they are the weakest value proposition.
| Broker | Safety | Cost/lot |
|---|---|---|
| FXCM | 79 | $13.00 |
Full Broker Table: Safety Score & Trading Cost
| # | Broker | Safety Score | Cost/Lot | Quadrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swissquote(partner) | 95 | $8.00 | Best Value |
| 2 | Interactive Brokers(partner) | 92 | $5.56 | Best Value |
| 3 | IG(partner) | 92 | $9.00 | Premium |
| 4 | XTB(partner) | 89 | $8.00 | Best Value |
| 5 | Forex.com(partner) | 88 | $7.00 | Best Value |
| 6 | Saxo Bank(partner) | 85 | $11.00 | Premium |
| 7 | Pepperstone(partner) | 80 | $8.00 | Best Value |
| 8 | eToro(partner) | 79 | $5.70 | Budget Risk |
| 9 | FXCM(partner) | 79 | $13.00 | Worst Value |
| 10 | Admirals(partner) | 75 | $7.00 | Budget Risk |
| 11 | AvaTrade(partner) | 73 | $8.00 | Budget Risk |
| 12 | IC Markets(partner) | 72 | $8.00 | Budget Risk |
| 13 | Capital.com(partner) | 68 | $7.00 | Budget Risk |
Key Findings
The trust-cost frontier is not a straight line
If higher trust always meant higher cost, the chart would show a neat diagonal. It does not. Several brokers deliver top-quartile safety scores at or below the median cost, while others charge premium spreads without commensurate regulatory depth. The quadrant chart makes these inefficiencies visible at a glance.
Public listing is the clearest safety premium
Most publicly listed brokers (IG, XTB, Plus500, Interactive Brokers, Forex.com/StoneX) sit in the upper half of the chart. The listing bonus in our Safety Score reflects audited financials, regulatory filing obligations, and market discipline. Some of these brokers also charge higher spreads, landing them in the Premium quadrant.
Compare the all-in cost, not the pricing model
A raw-spread account (near-zero spread plus a fixed commission per lot) can cost more or less per lot than a spread-only account. The headline spread does not settle it; the all-in figure on the horizontal axis does.
Best overall value
Swissquote leads the Best Value quadrant with a Safety Score of 95/100 at $8.00 per lot — the strongest trust-for-cost ratio in the dataset.
Our Partners on the Chart
We have affiliate partnerships with the brokers marked by gold rings on the chart. Partnerships do not influence the Safety Score (editorial, pre-set component values) or the Spread Index (computed from published spreads and commissions). Both datasets are independently verifiable.
Methodology
Data sources
The vertical axis uses our Broker Safety Score (0–100, seven weighted components, 19 brokers scored). The horizontal axis uses our EU Broker Spread Index (total EUR/USD cost per standard lot, computed from advertised spreads and commissions). Both datasets are independently maintained and updated monthly.
Quadrant boundaries
The dividing lines are placed at the median Safety Score (80/100) and median all-in cost ($8.00/lot) of the plotted brokers. The median is preferred over the mean because it is robust to extreme values (here all-in cost tops out at $13.00/lot and the lowest safety score is 68/100). Only brokers we list for EU/EEA retail clients are plotted.
Affiliate disclosure
We earn commission from some of the brokers on this chart; they are marked with gold rings and listed under “Our Partners on the Chart”. Affiliate status does not influence either input dataset. The Safety Score uses editorial component values; the Spread Index uses published spread and commission figures. Both are verifiable against their respective methodology pages.
Limitations
The chart maps two dimensions of a multi-dimensional decision. Platform quality, instrument range, deposit/withdrawal speed, education, and customer support are not captured. A broker in the Premium quadrant may still be the best choice for a trader who values its specific platform or market access. Similarly, the Safety Score measures structural protection, not the probability of broker misconduct.
Related Research
Broker Safety Score 2026
The full 0-100 methodology behind the vertical axis. Seven weighted components, 19 brokers scored.
EU Broker Spread Index
The monthly cost benchmark behind the horizontal axis. All-in EUR/USD cost ranked.
EU Broker Trust Signals
Granular trust signal comparison: regulator count, years regulated, EU entity status, compensation.
Compensation Schemes Deep Dive
What happens if your broker goes bankrupt. 30-jurisdiction comparison with historical payouts.
EU Broker Regulation Map
Every EU/EEA regulator compared: licence counts, marketing rules, compensation limits.
Best Country for Forex Trading
29-jurisdiction decision engine ranking countries by tax drag, regulation tier, and broker access.
Cite This Research
This page is published under CC BY 4.0. You may share, adapt, and build upon it for any purpose, provided you give appropriate credit.
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