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

Broker Name

Lightspeed

FXCM

Broker Overview

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

STP broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2005

1999

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA, SEC

FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, ISA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Best In Class 2024 - ForexBrokers.com

Security Measures

SIPC

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Commodity futures

10,000+ trading instruments shares

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Mutual Funds

Fractional Shares

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

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

Trading station, Trading View Pro

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes except Mac, iOS, Android

Yes

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

Standard, Active trading, Spread betting, Professional

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$2,000

$50

Leverage Available

4:1 to 2:1

30:1 to 1000:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on asset class

50 million per trade

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

$ 4 / lot

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

Active traders, professionals, and institutional traders

Active and experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer, Check

Debit/Credit Card Via mobile app, Bank wire, China online payment, Crypto

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer,Check

Debit/Credit Card, Bank Wire, Local Bank Transfer, and Online Bank Transfer.

Other E-Wallets Supported

Skrill, Neteller, Google pay, Apple pay

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

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

Education, Trading Guides, Trading Tools, Research

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

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

Spread- 1.3 pips

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Typical

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

$0.20

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

4:1

1000:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$25 monthly minimum

$50

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$130

Advisory Fees

$30

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$15 - $50 per month

Account Opening Fee

$20

Account Maintenance Fee

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

$25

Deposit Fee

Currency Conversion Fee

$10

Withdrawal Fee

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

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

4 AM to 8 PM EST on weekdays only.

Varies by product

Customer Support

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

24/7

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

WhatsApp: +44 7537 432259 (message only), Email: [email protected], Live chat, Request a call

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

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

London, United Kingdom

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

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.

Lightspeed is known for competitive pricing on basic trades, especially for beginners. However, FXCM fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.

While Lightspeed prioritizes fast registration with minimal steps, FXCM focuses on a thorough vetting process that gives more flexibility in choosing account types and features.

While Lightspeed focuses on mobile-first design and clean user experience, FXCM includes features like in-depth charting, integrated news feeds, and strong desktop performance.

For market veterans, Lightspeed brings the tools they need. New investors might find FXCM more approachable and cost-effective.

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