Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lime Financial vs SoFi
Where Lime Financial and SoFi differ
| Compare |  Lime Financial |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | FINRA, NFA | SIPC, FDIC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.5% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Lime Trader, Lime Trader Web, Lime Trader Mobile, Lime Direct, Sterling, CQG, TakeProfit | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only Lime Financial offers FINRA, NFA.
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Founded is lower at Lime Financial: 2000 vs 2011.
- Minimum deposit is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $30,000.
- Markets: only Lime Financial offers Futures.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Lime Financial offers Corporate.
- Features: only Lime Financial offers Options, Futures, Demo account.
- Features: only SoFi offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, but opening requires $30,000, well past the €4.64 site median. | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 9.2 |
Choosing between them
Pick Lime Financial if account types matter most.
Pick SoFi if cost and minimum deposit matter most.
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Account types | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FINRA 11826 | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 118 of 471 | 80 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 24 of 86 | 18 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 42 of 103 | 25 of 103 |
| IRA providers | 17 of 43 | 13 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Options, Futures, Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Lime Trading Corp. | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2000Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lime Financial | SoFi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $30,000highest quarter | $0below 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 | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.5%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
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
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
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
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | Lime Financial | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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