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Lightspeed vs Cobra Trading : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Lightspeed

Lightspeed

VS
Cobra Trading

Cobra Trading

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP broker

None

Years of Existence / Established Year

2005

2003

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

Info not available


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA, SEC

FINRA NFA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Cobra Trading the best day trading platform

Security Measures

SIPC

SIPC

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

No

No


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Commodity futures

-

Currency Pairs

No

No

Commodities

No

No

Indices

No

No

Cryptocurrencies

No

No

CFDs

No

No

ETFs

Yes

No

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes with Venom trading

Bonds

No

No

Mutual Funds

No

No

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

Yes

Yes


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

No

Copy Trading

No

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Light speed trader, Web and mobile trading, Speciality trading platform, Future trading platform, Risk management Software

DAS Trader Pro Sterling Trader Pro Cobra Trading view integration

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes except Mac, iOS, Android

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Standard account- Individual, Joint, Retirement, Corporate, Trust, LLC, Institutional account- Prime brokerage, Separately Manged account, DVP, RVP,Cash and Margin account

Joint (JTWROS) Individual Retirement Account - IRA Roth - IRA Corporate LLC Trust Partnership

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$2,000

$25,000

Leverage Available

4:1 to 2:1

4:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on asset class

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

Accounts under $15,000: $25 monthly fee, Lightspeed Trader and Sterling Trader Pro: $0.50 minimum per order, Eze EMS (formerly RealTick): $3.00 minimum commission, Lightspeed Web & Mobile: $1 minimum commission

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Active traders, professionals, and institutional traders

Experienced


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer, Check

Check Wire Account transfer

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer,Check

Check Wire Account transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

No

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Trading Platform Tutorials, Market Insights and Analysis, Webinars and Online Events, Trading Education Resources, Market News and Research

Advanced order types Basket trading Charting & Multi account management Blogs, Posts & platform videos


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

ETFs- $2, Share- $0.001, Future option fee- $1.29

$0.0015 per share

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

NA

NA

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0.20

$0.30 per contract

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

4:1

4:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$25 monthly minimum

$15

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$130

$0

Advisory Fees

NA

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

NA

Statement or Document Fee

$15 - $50 per month

NA

Account Opening Fee

$20

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

Maintenance fees will be billed weekly, based on the previous month's commissions

$0

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

$10

NA

Withdrawal Fee

$20 fee for domestic wires and a $50 fee for international wires, Check standard time- free or overnight $30

$0


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

4 AM to 8 PM EST on weekdays only.

4am to 8pm EST


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/7

Monday-Friday - 7am to 4.30pm Saturday & Sunday - Closed

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

E-mail: [email protected], Phone: 1-888-577-3123 , 1-646-393-4800, Schedule a call

Toll free: 877-792-6272 Direct: 972-491-7999 Fax: 972-491-3111 Email: mailto:[email protected] Live Chat

Support Languages

1

1


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Chicago office, 181 West Madison Street, Suite 2950, Chicago, IL 60602

3008 E. Hebron Pkwy Building 400 Carrolton, TX 75010

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
While Lightspeed maintains low trading fees with no minimum deposit, Cobra Trading includes some charges for premium features and certain asset trades, making Lightspeed the better option for budget-focused traders.
Creating an account with Lightspeed is generally faster and more user-friendly, often taking just a few minutes, while Cobra Trading requires more detailed steps and identity verification, which may suit more cautious investors.
If you're trading on-the-go, Lightspeed mobile platform is fluid and intuitive. Cobra Trading desktop and web apps are more robust, making them suitable for in-depth trading sessions.
Lightspeed stands out for active traders with robust tools, while Cobra Trading suits investors seeking simplicity and ease of use.