How can I test execution quality on a broker’s demo account?

On a demo account, you can get a first impression of execution by observing how quickly orders are confirmed and whether prices move significantly between click and fill. Place trades at different times of day and around minor news to see how spreads and fills behave. However, demos often use simulated liquidity and may not perfectly reflect live execution or slippage. For a more realistic test, many traders open a small live account, use the same strategy and compare fill prices to independent price feeds. Tracking metrics like average slippage, frequency of rejected orders and stability of the platform over several weeks provides a clearer picture. If you notice frequent platform freezes or inconsistent fills even on demo, that may already be a warning sign.