Short answer
Compare brokers by regulation, licence number, market access, custody model, fees, FX costs, complaint route, account minimums, and IPO allocation rules. A broker listing is not the same as an endorsement.
Regulation and custody
Confirm the legal entity, regulator, licence number, client asset protection, nominee structure, and complaint route before funding an account.
Fees and FX
Ask for the full fee schedule, including brokerage, statutory charges, custody, account maintenance, deposit, withdrawal, FX spread, and transfer costs.
IPO process
Check whether the broker can access primary offers, how allocations are handled, when refunds are paid, and what documentation is required.