Ellevest
lightspeed
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Ellevest was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. Ellevest holds licences including Unregulated, while lightspeed is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Ellevest serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Ellevest and $250 at lightspeed.
| Feature | Ellevest | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | 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 | 2008 | 2014 |
| Country | USA | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 142,500+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Ellevest and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Ellevest has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at lightspeed). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Ellevest charges deposit fees; lightspeed does not. Overall, Ellevest scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Ellevest | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Ellevest offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while lightspeed supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. lightspeed supports social and copy trading features, which Ellevest does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | Ellevest | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Windows, Android, Mac OS, iOS | 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 Ellevest and lightspeed compare. lightspeed runs regular live webinars; Ellevest does not. Both provide video tutorials. lightspeed publishes daily market commentary; Ellevest 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 | Ellevest | 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. Ellevest accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while lightspeed supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). lightspeed uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. lightspeed scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Ellevest | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Ellevest and lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Ellevest supports 2 languages and lightspeed supports 8, giving lightspeed broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Ellevest | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic |