Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lime Financial vs Nutmeg
Lime Financial vs Nutmeg: the differences
| Compare |  Lime Financial |  Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000 | £500 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | ETFs, Funds, Stocks, Bonds |
| Regulators | FINRA, NFA | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Platforms | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit | Web, Mobile app |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, Corporate | ISA, SIPP |
| Margin rate | 12.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | no set-up, trading or exit fees |
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Key differences
- Nutmeg scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Regulators: only Nutmeg offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Founded is lower at Lime Financial: 2000 vs 2012.
- Markets: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Markets: only Nutmeg offers Funds, Bonds.
- Platforms: only Lime Financial offers Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile.
- Platforms: only Nutmeg offers Web, Mobile app.
- Account types: only Lime Financial offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only Nutmeg offers ISA, SIPP.
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.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg suits UK investors who want a managed portfolio held in an ISA or SIPP rather than a self-directed dealing account. The cost of that convenience is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, with a £0 stock trade fee and FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 in place.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. | 9.0HigherManagement fees of 0.25% to 0.75% run above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the entry floor is high. |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.1 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 552016 |
| United States | FINRA 11826 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Lime Financial: 1. Additional countries for Nutmeg: 1.
Where these facts come from
Lime Financial
- lime.co: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Nutmeg
- nutmeg.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investing-reviews.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- compareandinvest.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- jpm-personal-investing-marketing.cdn.prismic.io: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 118 of 471 | 101 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 24 of 86 | 21 of 86 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Lime Trading Corp. | J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | United Kingdom |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2012 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lime Financial | Nutmeg | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin rate | 12.5%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
Median across 23 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
Nutmeg
Pros
- One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
- Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
Cons
- Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
- The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
- The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
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
Nutmeg
Who it suits
- UK investors who want a managed portfolio inside an ISA or a SIPP and accept a single ongoing charge for the service.
- People who would rather not research individual funds, since the holdings run to etf, esg and cash approaches chosen and held for you.
- Investors who want a phone line as well as written support, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small first payment, since the £500 deposit is well above the robo-advisor lower quartile of €0, and Axos Invest begins at $100 in US dollars.
- Shoppers who want the lowest ongoing charge, since eToro runs a 0% management fee and Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, against Nutmeg's 0.25% to 0.75%.
- Investors who want accounts in US dollars, because Axos Invest takes $100 in dollars while Nutmeg's £100 to £500 sits in pounds.
Current offers
Nutmeg
Current offer
Bonus
Earn £100 when you invest £1,000: GBP 100 cash reward
Invest at least £1,000 in one payment into a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Personal Pension and keep it invested for at least 6 months; new contributions only, transfers excluded; reward paid as unallocated cash within 55 days; new clients only, cannot be combined with other new-client offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lime Financial | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| 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.
Nutmeg
What does Nutmeg charge to manage my money?+
The charge is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, which sits above the robo-adviser median of 0.35% in this group. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees to add on top. Money can go in from £100 to £500, so the cost is a percentage of what you hold rather than a price per deal.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £500, and once the account is open money can go in from £100 to £500. That first payment is the step most readers notice, and it sits above the lower quartile of €0 across robo-advisers here.
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