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Cost evidence
How to sample forex spreads fairly
One screenshot is not a brawl. Control the pair, account class, and session — then collect enough points to reduce noise.
Short answer
Sample the same instrument on the same account type during the same liquidity window, across multiple days. Add commission before you declare a winner.
Minimum controls
Detailed explanation
- Lock the pair (for example EUR/USD only).
- Lock the account class (raw/commission vs standard).
- Lock the window (prefer London–New York overlap for majors).
- Record timestamp, bid, ask, and commission.
- Repeat across several sessions — not one lucky minute.
Example
Two brokers look identical at 03:00 local. During overlap, Broker A averages 0.2 pip + $6, Broker B averages 0.9 pip with $0 commission. The “0.0 from” banner never appeared in either sample set.
Common mistake
Mixing news spikes with quiet hours, then averaging everything into one “typical spread.” Separate event windows.
Professional tip
Confirm both London and New York are open before heavy sampling — a live session clock beats guessing. For a worked brand pairing after your own samples, this XM vs Exness spread write-up shows how caveats should be written.