Read the unit and qualifying conditions
Before comparing figures, check the currency in which they are quoted and what is charged: an order, a share, a contract or a side of a trade. Per-side commission is charged separately on opening and closing. Per-share commission may have a minimum per order. Also distinguish a free plan from one with a subscription fee, and an online transaction from a broker-assisted one. A smaller number in a different unit is not necessarily cheaper.
Add the cost components
Check execution commission, bid–ask spread, currency conversion, financing, custody, market data and account transactions separately. Not every component applies to every product. For example, custody fees on Saxo’s international stocks page vary by plan and residence, and the Poland-facing version of Plus500’s CFD fees page includes an inactivity condition. These are examples from the reviewed pages, not a rate for an account in Israel. Calculate total cost only after identifying which components apply to your scenario, rather than automatically adding every item in the fee schedule.
Use one identical example for all providers
Set an amount, asset, number of transactions and holding period, and use the same inputs for each candidate. In a purely arithmetic example, a commission of 2 dollars on opening and another 2 on closing, together with 3 dollars for conversion, totals 7 dollars before the spread and additional charges. This is not a provider’s quote. If the conversion cost is missing, show a partial amount and the known gap, not an apparently precise total.
Keep the review date and distinguish zero from unknown
Attach a review date, source and conditions to the price. A rate may vary by entity, country, asset, payment method and trading volume. Zero commission is a valid figure only when the source confirms zero for that specific component; it does not mean there are no other costs. An empty or null field indicates that no comparable figure is available. Before transacting, also check the price shown by the provider on the confirmation screen.
This information is for learning and comparison, not investment advice. Verify product details and eligibility conditions against the current source.
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