Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Global Prime vs Lightspeed Financial
Global Prime vs Lightspeed Financial: the differences
| Compare |  Global Prime |  Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures |
| Regulators | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPC | FINRA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $4.50 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.60 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 deposit fees | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Global Prime scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only Global Prime offers Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightspeed Financial offers FINRA.
- Global Prime is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Global Prime: $0 vs $10,000.
- Markets: only Global Prime offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Lightspeed Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Platforms: only Global Prime offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Lightspeed Financial offers Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile.
- Features: only Global Prime offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Global Prime
Global Prime is a low-cost broker for traders who already work in a standard terminal and want shares, forex and CFDs in one place. A minimum deposit of $0 and a listed EUR/USD spread of 0.1% keep the running costs down, though leverage of 1:1000 is not for beginners.
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 | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 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 | 9.2Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 55 of 471 | 208 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Crypto | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Australia | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $4.50highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25highest quarter | $0 |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.60below the median | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Global Prime
Pros
- Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC), so the money sits in a regulated structure.
- One account covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and metals (stocks, etfs and forex) on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5).
- A demo account is offered, so you can test the terminals before funding, and pricing comes in commission free and low fees variants.
Cons
- Account types run to joint and corporate only, with no ISA, SIPP or IRA listed, so tax wrappers sit elsewhere.
- Leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses as much as gains, so oversized positions hurt quickly.
- SIPC cover attaches to TD PRIME SERVICES LLC, the US entity, while the brand sits in Australia, so the entity on your account matters.
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
Global Prime
Who it suits
- Traders who already work in MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and want one account for shares, forex, CFDs and crypto.
- Anyone testing a platform first, since a demo account is offered and both joint and corporate accounts sit in the range (joint and corporate).
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for beginners: leverage of 1:1000 turns a wrong position into a fast loss, and the platforms are MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 rather than a simplified app.
- Not for futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, which adds futures that the Global Prime markets list leaves out.
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 | Global Prime | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Global Prime
What will it cost me to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $0 and the published deposit charge is $0 deposit fees. What you pay afterwards depends on the account model you pick, either commission-free or low-fee (commission free and low fees), and on the spread you trade through, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.1% listed.
How is my money protected?+
Global Prime is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), and it appears on the SIPC membership list. The listed investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. That cover belongs to the US entity, so check the legal entity named on your account before you fund it.
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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