First Trade
lightspeed
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Overview
First Trade was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. First Trade holds licences including Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), while lightspeed is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. First Trade serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. The minimum deposit is $5 at First Trade and $250 at lightspeed.
| Feature | First Trade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Regulation | Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) | 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 First Trade and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. lightspeed has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $250 (vs $5 at First Trade). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. lightspeed applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; First Trade does not. First Trade charges deposit fees; lightspeed does not. Overall, First Trade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | First Trade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $5 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | Yes | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
First Trade 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 First Trade does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | First Trade | 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,WEB | 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 First Trade and lightspeed compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | First Trade | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. First Trade 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 | First Trade | 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 First Trade and lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. First Trade supports 2 languages and lightspeed supports 8, giving lightspeed broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | First Trade | 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 |