Interactive Investor
lightspeed
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Overview
Interactive Investor was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in UK, while lightspeed was established in 2014 and is based in USA. Both brokers are regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), among other authorities. Interactive Investor serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; lightspeed has 142,500+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Investor and $250 at lightspeed.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | 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 | 1995 | 2014 |
| Country | UK | USA |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 142,500+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Investor and lightspeed, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Investor has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at lightspeed). lightspeed charges withdrawal fees while Interactive Investor does not, giving Interactive Investor an edge for frequent withdrawers. Both brokers charge inactivity fees on dormant accounts, worth noting if you trade infrequently. Overall, Interactive Investor scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $250 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor | lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, ProTrader, 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 Interactive Investor and lightspeed compare. lightspeed runs regular live webinars; Interactive Investor does not. Both provide video tutorials. lightspeed publishes daily market commentary; Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor | 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. Interactive Investor 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 | Interactive Investor | 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 Interactive Investor and lightspeed offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Investor supports 2 languages and lightspeed supports 8, giving lightspeed broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Interactive Investor | 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 |