Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lime Financial vs LYNX
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lime Financial |  LYNX |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $5 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Margin rate | 12.5% | 7.1%Lower |
| Platforms | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit | LYNX+, Trader Workstation, Trading App |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €5 |
| Regulators | FINRA, NFA | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | One withdrawal per month free |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- LYNX scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Minimum deposit is lower at LYNX: $0 vs $30,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Lime Financial: $0 vs $5.
- Margin rate is lower at LYNX: 7.1% vs 12.5%.
- Markets: only LYNX offers Forex, Bonds, Funds.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
- Platforms: only LYNX offers LYNX+, Trader Workstation, Trading App.
- Features: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Features: only LYNX offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Lime Financial offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
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.
LYNX
LYNX suits experienced traders who want a long list of markets behind the same account. The account fee is €0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so holding costs nothing, while a stock trade fee of $5 makes dealing the cost centre.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lime Financial | LYNX |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. | 9.0HigherCostly to trade: stock trade fees rank 139 of 161 and the inactivity fee 34 of 56, against an account fee of €0. |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.4 | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Lime Financial if stock trade fee matter most.
Pick LYNX if cost, minimum deposit, markets, and margin rate matter most.
Sources behind this comparison
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
LYNX
- brokerchooser.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- lynxbroker.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- mygermanfinances.de: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- traderfrancophone.fr: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lime Financial | LYNX |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 109 of 490 | 65 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 41 of 103 | 20 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 28 of 83 | 16 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 14 of 22 | 10 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lime Financial | LYNX |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Day tradersCovers more | Experienced |
| Legal entity | Lime Trading Corp. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2000 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lime Financial | LYNX | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000highest quarter | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $5highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €5above the median | €0 |
| Margin rate | 12.5%highest quarter | 7.1%below the median | 8.79% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
LYNX
Pros
- Nothing to pay for the account itself: fees run €0 and the minimum deposit is $0.
- The same account covers stocks, etfs and forex, putting shares, funds, bonds and derivatives under one roof.
- Platform choice runs from the LYNX+ terminal to the Trader Workstation and a mobile app, and a demo account with fractional shares comes with it.
Cons
- A stock trade fee of $5 applies to every deal, so frequent dealing raises the bill quickly.
- An inactivity fee of €5 applies, so money left untouched still carries a charge.
- A margin rate of 7.1% means a small deposit can control a much larger position.
Who each suits
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
LYNX
Who it suits
- Experienced traders: the audience listed is experienced, and the account is priced as a low fee model.
- Anyone who wants stocks, etfs and forex sitting in the same login.
- Traders who want to practise first, with a demo account and fractional shares alongside a mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro for occasional share buying: its stock trade fee is $0 against $5 at LYNX, so small repeated deals cost more here.
- Vantage for anyone who must start with a deposit: the minimum deposit there is $5 while LYNX opens at $0.
- CFI for CFD and crypto trading, since its markets run to stocks, etfs and forex while LYNX runs to stocks, etfs and forex.
Country by country
| Country | Lime Financial | LYNX |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
LYNX
What does LYNX charge to open and hold an account?+
Opening and holding are free: the account fee is €0 and the minimum deposit is $0. Costs appear only when you trade, through a stock trade fee of $5. The account is priced overall as a low fee model rather than a subscription service.
What does a stock trade cost on LYNX?+
A stock trade costs $5 with no account fee on top, and the same account also carries forex, options, futures, bonds and funds. On share dealing alone LYNX sits near the back of the brands compared, at 139 of 161.