Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lime Financial vs Markets.com
Lime Financial vs Markets.com: the differences
| Compare |  Lime Financial |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000 | $100Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | FINRA, NFA | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASIC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Platforms | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6% |
| Margin rate | 12.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Markets.com scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FCA, FSCA.
- Markets.com is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Markets.com: $100 vs $30,000.
- Markets: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers Forex, CFDs, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
- Platforms: only Markets.com offers Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4.
- Features: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures.
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.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lime Financial | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. | 8.9HigherCommission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.9Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lime Financial | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 118 of 471 | 49 of 471 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lime Financial | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Markets.com
- markets.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wecomparebrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- commodity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lime Financial | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Lime Trading Corp. | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2000 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lime Financial | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000highest quarter | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $10above the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4%above the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.6%above the median | 0.45% |
Median across 134 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
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $0
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
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
Country by country
| Country | Lime Financial | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Lime Financial vs Nexo
- Markets.com vs Afranga
- Markets.com vs Nectaro
- Lime Financial vs Lightspeed Financial
- Lime Financial vs Trading 212
- Lime Financial vs Interactive Brokers
- Lime Financial vs M1
- Lime Financial vs quantfury
- Lime Financial vs SoFi
- Lime Financial vs Just2Trade
- Lime Financial vs LiteFinance
- Lime Financial vs Scalable Capital
- Lime Financial vs Merrill Edge
- Lime Financial vs Totality
- Lime Financial vs Fidelity
- Lime Financial vs LYNX
- Lime Financial vs Freedom24
- Lime Financial vs Smartbroker
- Lime Financial vs FOREX.com
- Lime Financial vs flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- Lime Financial vs ActivTrades
- Markets.com vs XTB
- Lime Financial vs NAGA
- Lime Financial vs eToro
- Markets.com vs bunq
- Lime Financial vs Mintos
- Lime Financial vs Bitpanda
- Lime Financial vs Robinhood
- Markets.com vs willbe
- Lime Financial vs Kraken
- Markets.com vs EBC Financial Group