Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
InvestEngine vs Lightspeed Financial
Where InvestEngine and Lightspeed Financial differ
| Compare |  InvestEngine |  Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £100 | $10,000 |
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $4.50 |
| Markets | ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Options, FuturesCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | FINRA |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.60 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 0% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- InvestEngine scores higher overall: 8.7 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only InvestEngine offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Lightspeed Financial offers FINRA.
- Markets: only Lightspeed Financial offers Stocks, Options, Futures.
- Platforms: only InvestEngine offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Platforms: only Lightspeed Financial offers Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile.
- Support channels: only InvestEngine offers Email.
- Support channels: only Lightspeed Financial offers Phone.
- Features: only InvestEngine offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Lightspeed Financial offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
InvestEngine
InvestEngine suits beginners who want their money spread across ETFs without picking shares themselves. Costs stay thin: an account fee of £0, a stock trade fee of £0 and a single portfolio management charge of 0.25%, with deposits and withdrawals free.
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 | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Higher | 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 | 8.8The isa, sipp and corporate account range wraps one ETF plan for savers and firms alike. | 9.0Higher |
| Trust | 8.4 | 8.6Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | FINRA 104369 |
Additional countries for InvestEngine: 1. Additional countries for Lightspeed Financial: 1.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 195 of 471 | 208 of 471 |
Choosing between them
Pick InvestEngine if cost matter most.
Pick Lightspeed Financial if markets matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
InvestEngine
- investengine.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- blog.investengine.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.investengine.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Lightspeed Financial
- lightspeed.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- files.brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- smartasset.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wikistock.cn: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | InvestEngine (UK) Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2019 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | £1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $25highest quarter | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.60below the median | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 0%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 43 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
InvestEngine
Pros
- An account fee of £0 and a stock trade fee of £0 leave almost nothing to pay for holding or trading.
- Investor protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000, with the platform regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
- The platform list covers Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares make small regular buys work.
Cons
- Shares are not among its markets (etfs), so the range stays on funds rather than a general dealing list.
- Support runs on email and help centre, with no phone number for urgent account questions.
- Cash waiting to be invested earns 0%.
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
InvestEngine
Who it suits
- Beginners who want a curated portfolio and can start from a minimum investment of £1.
- ISA and SIPP holders in the UK who would rather not pay an account fee.
- Investors who only need help by email and are happy to stay inside a single asset class.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for anyone who wants to open with a minimum deposit of $0 rather than £100.
- Vantage, for anyone who wants a smaller entry point, since its minimum deposit is $5.
- eToro, for traders who want share dealing, because shares are not among its markets (etfs).
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 | InvestEngine | Lightspeed Financial |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
InvestEngine
What does it cost to hold an InvestEngine account?+
The account fee is £0 and a stock trade costs £0, so buying and holding leaves most of the pot intact. The only ongoing charge is the portfolio management fee of 0.25%, which is taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Cash left uninvested earns 0%.
Is my money protected if the platform fails?+
The Financial Conduct Authority is the regulator named on the licence, and the platform states investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The account is run by InvestEngine (UK) Limited, a UK company, so UK rules and the protection scheme both apply to the account.
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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