Platforms get less scrutiny than brokers, and they probably shouldn't. Before you move from demo to live, what is on your checklist?
Some starting points:
- Does the demo fill like live? Compare spreads and slippage on a quiet day versus a news release.
- Where do stop orders live: on the broker's server or on your own computer?
- What happens to open positions if your connection drops?
- Can you export a full trade history (with fills and costs) to feed your journal?
- How are margin call and stop-out levels shown, and have you read them in the client agreement?
What would you add, and what is a platform quirk that surprised you the first time you traded live? Mistakes and near misses are welcome; they help beginners more than polished advice.
What do you check before trusting a platform with real money?
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