Lightspeed vs Trading 212 : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Lightspeed

Trading 212

Broker Overview

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

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2005

2003

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

No information

3 million- lifetime funded account

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA, SEC

FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSC

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

No major awards listed

Security Measures

SIPC

ICF

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

13,000+ Global stocks and ETFs

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Mutual Funds

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Yes

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

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 212 web and mobile trading platform

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

Invest, CFD, Stock ISA, and cash ISA

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

$2,000

£1, €1, $1

Leverage Available

4:1 to 2:1

1:30

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on asset class

Depends on the assets class

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 transfer, Instant bank transfer, Card payments, Online banking PL, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct e-banking, e-wallets

Withdrawal Methods

Wire transfer, ACH, account transfer,Check

Bank transfer, Instant bank transfer, Card payments, Online banking PL, Carte Bleue, Blik, Direct e-banking, e-wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, iDEAL

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

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

Trading Academy, Market News and Analysis, Webinars, Video Tutorial, Trading Guides and eBooks

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

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

FX fees- 0.5%

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

1:30

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$25 monthly minimum

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

0.70%

Currency Conversion Fee

$10

0.15%

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.

pre-market session from 04:00 - 09:30 ET, regular trading from 09:30 - 16:00 ET, after-hours session from 16:00 - 20:00 ET

Customer Support

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

24/7

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

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

Live chat, E-mail- [email protected] Phone- +447385762101

Support Languages

18+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

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

Aldermary House, 10-15 Queen Street, London, EC4N 1TX.

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, Trading 212 fee structure, though slightly higher, covers a broader range of services, making it more suitable for active traders.

If speed and simplicity matter to you, Lightspeed delivers a streamlined account setup. In contrast, Trading 212 includes more documentation and KYC checks, which can delay access but ensures strong compliance.

Lightspeed platform is great for fast-paced day trading, especially with features like one-click trading. Trading 212 platform, by comparison, is built for strategy testing and long-term portfolio management.

For market veterans, Lightspeed brings the tools they need. New investors might find Trading 212 more approachable and cost-effective.

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