Prime Investor Lab

Independent Broker Reviews & Trading Guides for 2025

We help you understand online brokers – not just who is popular, but how they really work: fees, platforms,
regulation and risks. Clear, honest reviews so you can make more informed decisions.

✔ Regulated brokers only
✔ Transparent risk warnings
✔ Content updated for 2025

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Our Top Broker Picks for 2025

Curatedshortlist

These brokers are frequently chosen by our readers. Each one serves a slightly different type of trader –
read the full review before deciding which (if any) is right for you.

eToro
Best for social & copy trading

4.6/5

Copy Trading
Stocks & ETFs
CFDs & Crypto*

User-friendly platform with a large social trading community. Follow and copy other traders,
invest long term in stocks & ETFs, or use CFDs for short-term speculation (availability varies by region).

XM
Best for Forex & education

4.5/5

Forex & CFDs
MT4 / MT5
Webinars & training

Multiple account types, strong MetaTrader support and a lot of educational content make XM attractive
for traders who want to grow their skills over time.

Plus500
Best for simple CFD-only trading

4.4/5

CFDs only
WebTrader & App
Wide market list

Clean, straightforward platform built around CFDs on Forex, indices, stocks, ETFs and more.
You do not own the underlying assets when you trade with Plus500.

79% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
See full broker comparison
Includes AvaTrade, IQ Option and more.

Our approach

How We Review & Compare Brokers

We aim to give you balanced information: what a broker does well, where it is weaker,
and what type of trader it suits – without exaggerated promises.

  • Regulation & reliability: we highlight the main regulators and entity information.
  • Costs & fees: spreads, commissions, overnight funding and extra account charges.
  • Platforms & tools: usability, charting, mobile experience and order types.
  • Products: Forex pairs, indices, shares, ETFs, crypto and more (where available).
  • Risk transparency: we repeat and explain key risk warnings, especially around CFDs and leverage.

Our content is for information only. We do not provide personal investment advice and never promise profits.

About Prime Investor Lab

A place for realistic trading expectations

Prime Investor Lab was created for traders who are tired of unrealistic promises and want straight answers
about how online brokers really work – including the risks.

  • Clear breakdowns instead of marketing buzzwords.
  • Focus on education and risk management.
  • We may receive affiliate commissions, but we keep our structure and scoring consistent.

Before you open an account anywhere, make sure you fully understand the products, read the broker’s own risk warnings,
and only trade money you can afford to lose.

Guides & Education

Learn Before You Trade

New to trading?

If you are just starting out, focus first on understanding risk, position sizing and the products you trade.
Opening an account is the easy part – protecting your capital is the hard part.

  • Read at least a few guides before depositing.
  • Use demo accounts to test platforms and strategies.
  • Never trade money you need for living expenses.

Risk Warning

Affiliate Disclosure