How our AI-assisted scores work
A score is an editorial assessment of a stated use case. It is not a customer rating, a safety grade or a recommendation to invest. AI assists with reading public evidence and applying the rubric; the result is stored after an evidence check. We have not opened accounts or tested these providers firsthand.
Current pilot: CAD 1,000 Interac cash-out
For an eligible Canadian retail spot customer withdrawing CAD 1,000 from an existing CAD balance using Interac e-Transfer. The cost category measures the exchange withdrawal charge only. It excludes buying or selling crypto, spreads, currency conversion, network fees and bank charges. Prime, VIP and negotiated pricing are excluded. Account verification, bank acceptance and personal limits still apply.
The pilot covers selected Canadian providers. Other exchanges and scenarios remain Not rated until reviewed. This is not an overall worldwide ranking. Changing your search amount or payment filter does not change this fixed pilot scenario; the separate withdrawal calculator uses your selected inputs.
Four equally weighted categories
Each category contributes 25%. The scenario score is the average, rounded to one decimal. All four categories need complete supporting evidence. Missing evidence shows Not rated and prevents an overall score; we never redistribute its weight.
These thresholds and weights are editorial choices. Local payments use published processing windows, not measured delivery speed. Spot features focus on CAD purchasing workflows, not asset count or advanced derivatives. Information clarity covers withdrawal charges, amount limits, processing times and account prerequisites. It measures the explanation of these four areas, not company trustworthiness. A confirmed restriction can lower a score; a gap in our research cannot.
| Category | 1 / 5 | 2 / 5 | 3 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 5 / 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash-out cost | Over CAD 10 | Over CAD 5 to CAD 10 | Over CAD 2.50 to CAD 5 | Above zero to CAD 2.50 | CAD 0 |
| Local payments | No direct CAD withdrawal route (confirmed) | Direct CAD withdrawal, but no two-way Interac | Two-way Interac; standard published completion may exceed one business day | Two-way Interac; published completion within one business day | Two-way Interac normally in minutes, plus an alternative domestic bank route |
| Spot features | Cash-out only; no spot buy/sell (confirmed) | Spot buy/sell requires converting through another currency | Direct CAD spot buy/sell | Direct CAD spot plus recurring buys OR CAD-funded price-triggered buys | Direct CAD spot plus both recurring buys and CAD-funded price-triggered buys |
| Information clarity | Only one of the four disclosure areas is adequately explained | Two disclosure areas explained | Three disclosure areas explained | All four explained, but an essential account-specific limit requires an account check | All four explained with public numeric transaction limits and timing; bank/account checks may still apply |
Use the highest fully evidenced anchor. If it is unclear whether a higher applicable anchor is met, the category stays Not rated until that uncertainty is resolved. Reasons and primary-source links explain each published score.
Fair comparisons and freshness
We compare the same jurisdiction, product, benchmark and methodology version. Equal values are ties. A missing or incompatible assessment prevents a winner for that row. The lowest-fee label requires complete matching fees for every selected provider; it is separate from the editorial score.
Assessments are tied to the exact listing evidence. A changed source record, expired review or mismatch removes the score until reassessed. Review dates appear on the exchange detail page. Search visits read stored data and do not trigger AI. The current beta retains its seven-day evidence window; scheduling a monthly review does not extend an expired review.
Independence and limitations
Affiliate commissions and advertising do not influence scores, category weights or fee winners. Scores do not establish legal eligibility, solvency, security or protection of funds. Check the provider's current terms before opening an account. Community ratings and comments are a separate future feature and are not included in these scores.