[torero]

I think the best answer is to test drive them all when the free fake accounts. But be aware that the test accounts won't be exactly as the real accounts, there are miles apart from the two. But two things I check for, the quotes, and the speed of the execution (especially when it's AT THE MARKET, for what the current last price was and what you got and how long it took to be executed). If the spread is wider than another, put it as a con. If it executes longer than expected (even at Market), double con. If it executes at prices way out last prices (exception is at the news announcement, all bets are off), triple con. If they all hold up, then you have a decent platform on your hand.

So I've done this and had experienced with real accounts with a few out there. I'm currently using MBTrading, which uses the same platform as EFX. No complains from me so far. Been using for more than 1 year. I won't mention names, but the bigger and popular the brokers, then you know you're not dealing with highly personal customer rep service or decent platform (slaughterhouse). These are the ones the amateurs and uninformed first go when they see an ad all over the place. Do due diligence and see through the smoke and mirrors and judge for yourself.

Hope that helps.