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

Broker Name

Lightspeed

HFM

Broker Overview

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

STP broker

Market maker broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2005

2010

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

2500000 clients

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA, SEC

FSC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, ISA, FSCA, MAS, CMA, FMA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Best Global Affliiate Programs 2024, Best Trading Accounts Global, Best Stock Broker 2023, Best Trading Platform Broker

Security Measures

SIPC

Civil Liability insurance program with a limit of €5,000,000

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

Over 500 markets including energies

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

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

Yes

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

HFM Platform, Web trading, Mobile trading

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

Cent, Zero, Pro , Premium, Corporate, Joint account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$2,000

Leverage Available

4:1 to 2:1

1:1000- 1:2000

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on asset class

60/ 200 Standard lots per position depends on account types

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

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

Active traders, professionals, and institutional traders

Beginners to experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer, Check

Bank Transfers, Wire transfers, Credit/Debit cards,Crypto, e-Wallets

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer,Check

Bank Transfers, Wire transfers, Credit/Debit cards,Crypto, e-Wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

FasaPay, Neteller

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

Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

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

Spread: starts from 0.0- 1.2 pips, commissions: $0.03 per 1k lot, Commission for Forex: $0.03 - $3, gold: $7- $14

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

Options Contract Fees

$0.20

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

4:1

34:20:00

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$25 monthly minimum

$10 inactive for 90 days

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$130

Advisory Fees

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

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 instrument

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

Live support: Available 24/5, Email : [email protected], Phone: +44-203 097 85 71

Support Languages

27+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

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

financial hub of Limassol, Cyprus

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 stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, HFM offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.

The account creation flow at Lightspeed is modern and app-driven, making it seamless for new users. HFM, however, leans toward traditional processes with forms and verifications that take more time.

Traders who value simplicity and execution speed may prefer Lightspeed platform. Meanwhile, HFM offers more flexibility through tools like advanced order types and multi-screen support.

Lightspeed strength lies in high-performance trading, while HFM provides a more accessible route for everyday investors.

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