Lightspeed Trading vs TradeStation

Lightspeed Financial vs TradeStation Comparison Table 2024
Lightspeed Financial TradeStation
4.2
3.5

Lightspeed Financial is a SEC-regulated broker specializing in intraday trading on US markets. Traders can access the full range of NYSE stocks plus futures and options via a wide selection of professional-grade trading platforms and discounts for loyal traders.

TradeStation is a popular, SEC-regulated broker offering stock, CFD and futures trading through powerful proprietary trading platforms. Available assets vary by region, with CFD trading available on the global branch. The US-based broker has different pricing methods split to cater for active day traders, or longer term stock holders.

Comment by Reviewer
"High-volume day traders will benefit from Lightspeed Financial's powerful tools and fast execution speeds. The broker stands out for its 15+ high-grade trading platforms." "TradeStation is a secure, tried-and-tested broker for stock traders who want a powerful, flexible platform. The $500 minimum deposit makes this broker a better fit for experienced traders."
Pros
  • Huge selection of deep trading platforms and tools to choose from
  • Low fees and tight spreads for active day traders
  • Regulated by FINRA, the CFTC and the NFA
  • Risk-assessment software packages
  • Full access to NYSE stocks
  • Futures and options trading
  • Reputable brand with oversight from top US regulators
  • Powerful trading platform with desktop, webtrader and mobile app
  • Support for third-party platform add-ons
  • Fast and responsive customer service
  • Quick, straightforward account setup
  • Competitive commissions on US stocks
Cons
  • Not suitable for beginners with a high minimum deposit of $10,000 / $25,000
  • Limited range of asset classes with no forex trading
  • Trading platforms are complex for novice traders
  • Margin trading limited to max 1:4
  • Limited ETF options with no commission-free ETFs
  • Expensive subscription fees for many add-ons
  • Pricing disadvantages less active traders
  • Limited free data and in-depth research
Instruments
Equities, options, futures CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Futures, Commodities
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$10,000 $500
Trading Platforms
  • eSignal
  • MT4
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
Variable Min lot size will vary
Regulator
FINRA, NFA SEC
Margin Trading
No No
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No Yes
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No No
Mobile Apps
Yes iOS, Android and Windows
Auto Trading
Yes
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Islamic Account
Yes No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
Stock Exchanges
Commodities
CFD Trading
CFD trading not offered Trade CFDs on popular asset classes, including forex and stocks. FX CFD commissions are competitive at 0.6 basis points while for shares it's a minimum of $3 per order.
Leverage
1:20
FTSE Spread
N/A
GBPUSD Spread
N/A
Oil Spread
0.06 pips
Stocks Spread
0.2% Var
Forex Trading
Forex trading not offered Speculate on 26 currencies including majors. Top-tier liquidity is available from 17 of the biggest forex dealing banks, alongside dynamic order management and low commissions.
GBPUSD Spread
Variable
EURUSD Spread
Variable
EURGBP Spread
Variable
Assets
26
Cryptocurrency
Use Lightspeed Crypto to trade BTC, ETH, BCH, LTC and USDC in pairs with USD with low commissions. On the negative side, the choice of cryptocurrencies is limited vs alternatives like eToro. Crypto trading not offered
Spread
Floating
Coins
  • BTC
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No
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