B

instaforex

6.9/10

lightspeed

8.3/10
6/10RegulationWinner10/10
0/10FeesTied0/10
10/10WinnerPlatforms9/10
10/10Education & ResearchTied10/10
10/10Deposits & WithdrawalsTied10/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

instaforex was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Russia, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. instaforex holds licences including BVI FSC, while lightspeed is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. instaforex serves 12,000,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $250.

lightspeed wins this category
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
Min. Deposit$250$250
RegulationBVI FSC, License Number SIBA/L/14/1082. FSC Saint Vincent, Reg. Number IBC22945. Saint Vincent, IBC24321Financial 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
Founded20172014
CountryRussiaUSA
Clients12,000,000+142,500+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between instaforex and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $250. lightspeed charges withdrawal fees while instaforex does not, giving instaforex an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.

Tied
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
Min. Deposit$250$250
Withdrawal FeesNoYes
Inactivity FeesYesYes
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

instaforex offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, 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. instaforex edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.

instaforex wins this category
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, 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 instaforex 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.

Tied
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. instaforex accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while lightspeed supports 5 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.

Tied
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesYes
NetellerYesYes

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both instaforex and lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Both brokers offer support in 8 languages. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
Featureinstaforexlightspeed
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Arabic