Affiliate Disclosure: How We Keep the Lights On

How affiliate marketing works

Understanding how we earn helps explain how we can give you in-depth broker reviews, educational content, and trading resources for free.

1. You click a broker link. While reading a review on FX Recap, you click through one of our links to visit the broker’s website.
2. You open an account. If you sign up and start trading, the broker sees that you came from us through our referral code.
3. We receive a commission. The broker pays us a one-time fee or a share of revenue based on your activity. This model is standard across financial comparison sites.
4. We reinvest in better content. Every dollar goes back into deeper research, expert traders, live testing accounts, and educational resources that help you trade smarter.

Does this cost you anything?

The short answer is no. Here’s why using our links actually works in your favor.

• No extra fees or spreads. Your trading costs are identical whether you sign up through us or directly with the broker. Affiliate commissions come out of the broker’s marketing budget, not your pocket.
• Possible exclusive bonuses. Thanks to our reputation and volume, we can sometimes negotiate deposit bonuses, lower spreads, or premium features available only through FX Recap links.
• Extra consumer protection. When something goes wrong with a broker, like a withdrawal delay or an account dispute, our relationships give us direct lines to escalate the issue on your behalf, which individual traders rarely have.
• Access to premium research. Affiliate revenue pays for expensive live testing, multiple real-money accounts, and professional analysis, all provided free with no subscription paywall.

Our editorial firewall

This is the most important part of this page. We earn commissions, but our reviews stay completely independent. Here’s how we protect that.

• No pay-for-placement rankings. Brokers cannot buy their way to the top. Every ranking comes from our 100-point scoring system, covering regulation, fees, execution, platform quality, and support. A broker paying higher commissions will never outrank a better one that pays less.
• The “no-affiliate” principle. We regularly recommend brokers that have no affiliate program at all. If a broker is excellent but offers us nothing, it still earns honest, high marks. Quality always beats commission potential.
• Standardized commission terms. We refuse custom commission deals that could create a conflict of interest. Partnerships run on standard terms tied to broker quality scores, not marketing budgets or negotiation.
• Separate teams. Our research team works independently from business development. Writers and analysts can’t see commission rates, and their pay is never tied to affiliate performance, so there’s no incentive to favor a high payer.
• We publish critical reviews. When testing turns up execution delays, hidden fees, or poor support, we publish it, even for high-paying partners. We’ve ended lucrative partnerships over brokers that failed our standards.
• Live testing is required. Every review involves real-money testing. We deposit our own funds, place live trades, test withdrawals, and contact support. None of that can be faked or bought.

Our 100-point testing system

Every broker goes through the same evaluation, scored out of 100 points across these areas. You can read the full breakdown and weightings on our methodology page.

• Regulation & safety. License verification, fund protection, regulatory history, and complaint records.
• User satisfaction. Verified trader feedback, complaint patterns, and how the broker resolves problems over time.
• Trading costs. Spreads, commissions, overnight (swap) fees, and any hidden charges.
• Trading platforms. Charting, mobile apps, order types, stability, and the tools available to you.
• Deposit & withdrawal. Processing speed, payment methods, fee transparency, and minimums.
• Account types & opening. The range and fairness of accounts, plus how simple and clear sign-up is.
• Instruments & support. The markets you can trade, and the speed and quality of customer service, which we test ourselves.

Important risk disclosure

We work hard to help you find a good trading environment, but we are not financial advisers, and nothing here is investment advice.

• Forex and CFD trading carries a significant risk of loss and isn’t suitable for everyone.
• You could lose some or all of what you put in, so never trade with money you can’t afford to lose.
• Past performance never guarantees future results. Market conditions can change without warning.
• Our reviews reflect our own independent testing, but your experience with a broker may differ based on your location, account type, and market conditions.
• Always do your own due diligence, understand the risks, and consider seeking independent financial advice before trading.

Our commitment to you

We started FX Recap because we were tired of fake reviews from sites that put commissions ahead of honesty. We’re traders first, and we promise to put every dollar of affiliate revenue back into building a better, more transparent resource for the trading community. When we recommend a broker, it’s because we tested them thoroughly and believe they’re worth your consideration, not because they pay the most.

Common questions

Which relationships are affiliate-based?

We have affiliate relationships with most of the brokers featured on FX Recap. That said, several brokers in our database have no affiliate program at all, and they get exactly the same editorial treatment as everyone else.

How are affiliate links marked?

Every broker review carries a clear disclosure at the top stating that FX Recap may earn commissions from affiliate links. We don’t mark each individual link, since that would clutter the page without adding any real transparency.

Do commission rates vary by broker?

Yes. Commission structures vary based on broker size, trading volume, and industry norms. But our editorial team can’t see those rates and never factors them into reviews or rankings.

What about sponsored content?

Occasionally a broker may sponsor a specific piece, such as an educational article or a market analysis. All sponsored content is clearly labeled as “Sponsored” or “Paid Partnership” and styled differently from our editorial reviews. Sponsors cannot influence our opinions or review scores.