AvaTrade
lightspeed
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while lightspeed is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $250.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $250 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Financial Stability Board (FSB), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F269 |
| Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | USA |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 142,500+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $250. lightspeed charges withdrawal fees while AvaTrade does not, giving AvaTrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. lightspeed applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; AvaTrade does not. Overall, AvaTrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while lightspeed supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and lightspeed compare. lightspeed runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. lightspeed publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. lightspeed maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. lightspeed scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. AvaTrade accepts 4 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller), while lightspeed supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). lightspeed uniquely supports Skrill among the two brokers. lightspeed scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | Yes | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both AvaTrade and lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and lightspeed supports 8, giving lightspeed broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |