Alpari vs Lightyear - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Alpari vs Lightyear

Compare Alpari and Lightyear side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Alpari

Alpari

Forex traders wanting ECN accounts

Alpari is a forex and CFD broker founded in 1998, offering MetaTrader 4 and 5, four account types including E…

VS
Lightyear

Lightyear

Cost-conscious long-term investors

Low-cost investing platform with free ETFs, multi-currency accounts, fractional investing, savings products, …

Head-to-head comparison

Alpari vs Lightyear
Feature Alpari Lightyear
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee - US shares: 0.10% (0.10 USD min - 1 USD max); UK shares: 1 GBP; EUR-denominated stocks, bonds, ETNs and ETCs: 1 EUR; other European stocks: 0.10%
Regulators MISA FCA, EFSA, FINRA, SIPC
Best for Forex traders wanting ECN accounts Cost-conscious long-term investors
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
-
Forex
-
CFDs
-
Crypto
Bonds
-
Margin
-
Demo Account
-
Multi Currency
Funds
-
Fractional Shares
-
Investment Plans
-
Ready Made Portfolios
-
Savings Vaults
-
Money Market Funds
-
Business Account
-

Pros & cons

Alpari

Alpari

Pros

  • Operating since 1998 with over 1 million clients
  • Four account types including commission-free Standard and ECN options
  • Pro ECN spreads from 0.0 pips
  • MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 support
  • PAMM copy-trading with minimum investment from $50
  • Demo account available with no restrictions
  • High leverage available (varies by account and instrument)
  • Multiple deposit and withdrawal methods including crypto

Cons

  • Regulated only by MISA, an offshore regulator - no Tier-1 license (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
  • No compensation scheme beyond the Financial Commission's 20,000 EUR limit
  • $10 monthly inactivity fee after 3 months of dormancy
  • Deposit fees of up to 2.5% on some card methods
  • Limited educational resources compared to larger brokers
  • Alpari UK went into administration in 2015 - the current entity is a separate continuation of the brand
  • Standard account EUR/USD average spread around 1.7 pips is relatively wide
Lightyear

Lightyear

Pros

  • No account fee
  • Free ETF execution and custody
  • 0.35% FX conversion fee
  • Multi-currency account
  • Fractional investing
  • Web, iOS and Android access
  • Savings Vaults with money market funds
  • SIPC protection for US securities

Cons

  • Stock fees vary by instrument
  • Card deposits cost 0.6%
  • Crypto assets lack investor compensation cover
  • Product availability may vary
  • Money market fund fees apply
  • Some withdrawals may require currency conversion
Alpari

Alpari

Alpari is a forex and CFD broker founded in 1998, offering MetaTrader 4 and 5, four account types including ECN, PAMM copy trading, and 750+ instruments.

Visit Alpari Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Lightyear

Lightyear

Low-cost investing platform with free ETFs, multi-currency accounts, fractional investing, savings products, and a 0.35% FX fee.

Visit Lightyear Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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