Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs Lightspeed Financial
Where ActivTrades and Lightspeed Financial differ
| Compare |  ActivTrades |  Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $4.50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | FINRA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.60 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers FCA, SCB, CMVM.
- Regulators: only Lightspeed Financial offers FINRA.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $10,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $4.50.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Lightspeed Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Platforms: only ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Lightspeed Financial offers Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile.
- Features: only ActivTrades offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades suits active share and CFD traders who want broad market access with commission free dealing and flexible platform choice for everyday orders. Minimum deposit sits at $0, stock trade fee sits at $0 and retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, so careful risk controls remain essential.
Lightspeed Financial
Lightspeed Financial suits experienced traders and day traders who put on a large amount to clear a steep entry bar. Fees of $4.50 a stock trade, $0.60 an options contract and a $10,000 minimum deposit set it well apart from cheaper platforms such as eToro.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherAccount fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained | 8.4Minimum deposit of $10,000, stock trade fees of $4.50 and an inactivity fee of $25 put costs well above lighter rivals. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.5HigherOversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance | 8.6 |
Licences and countries
| Country | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | FINRA 104369 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 1 of 471 | 208 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $4.50highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25highest quarter | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing under commission free
- Minimum deposit sits at $0, below eToro at $50
- Funding terms read Free deposits and withdrawals for deposits and withdrawals
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, above the CFD median at 72.05%
- Currency conversion on funding costs 0.5% for balances held in other currencies
- Cash interest sits at 3.3%, which limits appeal for cash heavy portfolios
Lightspeed Financial
Pros
- Regulated in the US by FINRA, with SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Trades run across stocks, etfs and options in one account
- A demo account is available to practise before funding
Cons
- A $10,000 minimum deposit is far above the site median of €4.64
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies on dormant accounts
- Support runs on phone and help centre only
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- New traders starting modestly with entry at $0 and practice via crypto, demo account and fractional shares
- Share traders wanting dealing at $0 across stocks, ETFs and forex with platform choice
- CFD traders wanting structured support via email, chat and phone where funding reads Free deposits and withdrawals
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting crypto led dealing with very low cash entry may prefer Kraken at $1
- Traders wanting social and copy features may prefer eToro despite higher entry at $50
Lightspeed Financial
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who already trade options and futures
- Day traders who keep a large cash balance
- Anyone who wants a single account across stocks, etfs and options
Who should look elsewhere
- New investors, since no beginner audience is listed
- Small savers put off by a $10,000 minimum deposit
- Anyone wanting a free stock trade, as eToro charges $0
Current offers
Lightspeed Financial
Current offer
Bonus
Get Up To $10,000 Cash Back: Up to $10,000
open an account with a $25,000 deposit and maintain the amount for 3 months
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ActivTrades | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge for stock trades?+
Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing. The pricing model is described by commission free, which helps keep ticket costs predictable for equity orders. Spreads and conversion charges can still apply on leveraged trades, so review order previews and statements before dealing.
Is ActivTrades regulated and safe?+
Oversight comes via FCA, SCB and CMVM, including FCA cover alongside other regional entities. Eligible balances carry protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies under scheme rules and by entity, so confirm which entity serves your account during signup and keep account records.
Lightspeed Financial
What does it cost to trade stocks at Lightspeed Financial?+
A stock trade costs $4.50. That sits well above the site median stock trade fee of €0, and above what the median-ranked broker in this field charges, so the cost only makes sense for high-volume trading.
What is the minimum deposit?+
You need a minimum deposit of $10,000 to open an account. That is far higher than the site median minimum deposit of €4.64, and it rules out the small-balance investor entirely.
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