Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightspeed Financial vs Public
Where Lightspeed Financial and Public differ
| Compare |  Lightspeed Financial |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10,000 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | $4.50 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | FINRA | FINRA, SECCovers more |
| Options contract fee | $0.60 | $0.060 to $0.18Lower |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2% |
| Platforms | Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only Public offers SEC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Public: $0 vs $10,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Public: $0 vs $4.50.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.60.
- Markets: only Lightspeed Financial offers Futures.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto, Bonds.
- Support channels: only Lightspeed Financial offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Public offers Email.
- Features: only Lightspeed Financial offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
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.
Public
Public suits people building a retirement account who care most about what a trade costs and where the money sits. Stock trades are $0, the account opens from $0, and protection runs to SIPC up to USD 500,000 in the US.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Minimum deposit of $10,000, stock trade fees of $4.50 and an inactivity fee of $25 put costs well above lighter rivals. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.2HigherA ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.5Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 104369 |
Available in 1 country for both.
How they place
| Ranking | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 208 of 471 | 58 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 67 of 103 | 16 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightspeed Financial | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10,000highest quarter | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $4.50highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $25highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.60below the median | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
Public
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so a regular monthly purchase is not eaten by commission.
- The account opens from $0, which is below the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data.
- Cash parked in the high-yield account earns 3.3% while it waits to be invested.
Cons
- Options contracts add a fee of $0.06 to $0.18 each, on top of the premium you pay for the option itself.
- Margin borrowing runs at 4.2%, so borrowed positions carry an interest charge that keeps accruing.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for questions about a transfer or a tax form.
Who each suits
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
Public
Who it suits
- You are saving for retirement in the US and want commission-free stock trades in one account
- You want to hold spare cash at a stated rate while you decide what to buy
- You are starting with small amounts and want fractional shares rather than whole shares
Who should look elsewhere
- You need forex, CFDs or futures, which CFI and eToro both list in stocks, etfs and forex and stocks, etfs and forex
- You want a UK ISA or SIPP wrapper, neither of which appears in ira and roth ira
- You want to talk to a broker on the phone, since support covers email and help centre
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
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lightspeed Financial | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Public
Is Public really commission free for stock trades?+
Yes. A stock trade costs $0, so buying shares itself carries no charge. The costs sit elsewhere: options contracts cost $0.06 to $0.18 each, and margin borrowing runs at 4.2%. A simple monthly share purchase only pays the trade charge of $0.
What is the minimum deposit at Public?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded from a very small amount. That is well under the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data, where the upper quartile sits at €87.70. No threshold has to be cleared before the first trade.
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