Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lime Financial vs Mintos
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lime Financial |  Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000 | €50 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Bonds, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | FINRA, NFA | Latvijas Banka, LV LV |
| 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, iOS, Android |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Margin rate | 12.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
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Key differences
- Lime Financial scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Regulators: only Mintos offers Latvijas Banka, LV LV.
- Founded is lower at Lime Financial: 2000 vs 2015.
- Markets: only Lime Financial offers Stocks, Options, Futures.
- Markets: only Mintos offers Bonds, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
- Platforms: only Mintos offers Web, iOS, Android.
- Support channels: only Lime Financial offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Mintos offers Community.
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.
Mintos
Mintos is a cheap, commission-free platform for lending money to businesses through their loan marketplace, with an account fee of €0 and a secondary market for exiting early. It suits investors who want lending exposure in euro-denominated loans rather than a share dealing account, and accept that the money carries borrower default risk.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. | 8.9HigherAccount fee of €0, an inactivity fee of €4.90 and a minimum deposit of €50. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.2Minimum investment of €50, target return of 9.2% and a secondary market. |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.0 |
Choosing between them
Pick Lime Financial if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Mintos if cost matter most.
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | 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
Mintos
- mintos.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.mintos.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 118 of 471 | 9 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Lime Trading Corp. | SIA Mintos Payments |
| Headquarters | United States | Latvia |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre, Community |
P2P lending
| Fact | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Target return | Not confirmed | 9.2% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €50 |
| Secondary market | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lime Financial | Mintos | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €4.90above the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | 12.5%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 91 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
Mintos
Pros
- The account fee is €0, and Mintos ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Investing is commission-free, and the minimum investment is €50
- A secondary market is available, so loans can be sold before they mature
Cons
- Card deposits cost Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, so topping up is dearer than a bank transfer
- An inactivity fee of €4.90 applies, against an inactivity fee position of 33 of 56
- The minimum deposit of €50 sits far above a site minimum deposit median of €4.64
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
Mintos
Who it suits
- Investors who want to lend to businesses and earn a target return of 9.2%
- Lenders who want a secondary market to sell a loan before it matures
- Euro-based investors who accept that defaults can reduce returns
Who should look elsewhere
- Share traders, who should look at eToro with a commission-free model and a wider market list
- Anyone wanting to start with a very small sum, since CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Lenders who need a guaranteed buyback, as the return of 9.2% is a target rather than a promise
Country by country
| Country | Lime Financial | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Mintos
What fees does Mintos charge on an account?+
The account fee is €0, and the platform is commission-free, so there is no dealing charge on an investment. The charges that apply are a currency conversion fee of 0.5%, card deposit costs set out as Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, and an inactivity fee of €4.90.
How much do I need to put in to start lending?+
The minimum deposit is €50, and the smallest single investment is €50. The two figures are close, so funding to the deposit minimum is enough to purchase a loan. For scale, the site median for a minimum investment is €25.
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