Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
flatex Online-Broker (DE) vs Lime Financial
flatex Online-Broker (DE) vs Lime Financial: the differences
| Compare |  flatex Online-Broker (DE) |  Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €5.90 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures |
| Regulators | BaFin | FINRA, NFA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web, Mobile | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit |
| Account types | Joint | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $30,000 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Lime Financial scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only flatex Online-Broker (DE) offers BaFin.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Markets: only flatex Online-Broker (DE) offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Lime Financial offers Futures.
- Platforms: only flatex Online-Broker (DE) offers Web, Mobile.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
- Account types: only Lime Financial offers IRA, Roth IRA, Corporate.
- Features: only flatex Online-Broker (DE) offers Crypto.
- Features: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures.
Our verdict on each
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
flatex suits investors who prefer a flat fee per trade and no account charge. A stock trade costs €5.90, the account fee is €0 and deposits and withdrawals are free, so holding an account costs nothing beyond each order placed.
Lime Financial
Lime Financial suits experienced traders and active day traders who want options and futures on a commission-free basis. Stock trades cost $0 and the account is regulated by FINRA and NFA with SIPC protection, but the account starts at $30,000, so the entry point is the trade-off.
Score breakdown
| Area | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.8HigherAccount fee of €0, a flat €5.90 per stock trade and free deposits. | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.2 | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.4Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Metals | Yes | No |
| Account types | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick flatex Online-Broker (DE) if cost matter most.
Pick Lime Financial if offer, trust, and account types matter most.
Where these facts come from
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- flatex.de: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 178 of 471 | 118 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 36 of 86 | 24 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 60 of 103 | 42 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | flatexDEGIRO SE | Lime Trading Corp. |
| Headquarters | Germany | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2000 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $30,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.4%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.5%highest quarter | 8.75% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
Pros
- No account fee: €0 on the standard account.
- Deposits and withdrawals are free: free.
- A flat stock trade fee of €5.90 rather than a percentage, with currency exchange at 0.4%.
Cons
- The stock trade fee of €5.90 is higher than most rivals, where the site median is €0.
- Only a joint account type is listed in joint, so there is no ISA or SIPP wrapper for UK investors.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
Lime Financial
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 on a commission-free model, so no per-trade charge
- Options and futures are available alongside stocks, etfs and options
- Regulated by FINRA and NFA, with investor protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- The minimum deposit of $30,000 puts Lime Financial beyond most starter accounts, ranking 210 of 213 on this measure
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre with no live chat listed
Who each suits
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
Who it suits
- Investors in Germany who want a flat fee per trade and no account charge
- Long-term stock, ETF, fund and bond holders rather than active traders
- Anyone who needs crypto, forex, CFDs and options under the same account
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders, who pay €5.90 on every small order where eToro charges $0
- UK investors after an ISA or SIPP wrapper, since joint lists a joint account only
Lime Financial
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who want commission-free options and futures
- Day traders working across Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web and Lime Trader Mobile
- US accounts holders wanting SIPC protection
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners building a first portfolio, who should look at CFI with a $0 entry point
- Small savers, who should compare Vantage at $5
- Readers wanting forex, CFDs or crypto, which sit outside stocks, etfs and options
Current offers
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
Current offer
Bonus
20 commission-free trades on account opening: 20 trades
upon account opening
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | flatex Online-Broker (DE) | Lime Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
flatex Online-Broker (DE)
What does it cost to trade a stock at flatex?+
A stock trade costs €5.90 per order, the same flat rate on every trade size. There is no account fee, at €0, so holding an account adds nothing to the bill. For comparison, the typical broker charges €0 per stock trade.
Is there any account or inactivity fee?+
The account fee is €0, so there is nothing to pay for holding the account open. No separate inactivity charge appears in the available details. Across the brokers listed, the highest account fee reaches €219.24.
Lime Financial
What does it cost to trade stocks at Lime Financial?+
Stock trades cost $0, and the account runs on a commission-free model. There is no per-trade charge for equities. The catch is the entry requirement: a minimum deposit of $30,000 to open the account.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $30,000. That is a high bar for a first account, ranking 210 of 213 brands on this comparison. Readers with a smaller starting balance would be better served elsewhere.
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