B

lightspeed

8.3/10

Markets.com

7.1/10
10/10RegulationTied10/10
0/10FeesWinner1/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research4/10
10/10WinnerDeposits & Withdrawals6.5/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

lightspeed was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in USA, while Markets.com was established in 2008 and is based in Cyprus. lightspeed holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Markets.com is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. lightspeed serves 142,500+ clients worldwide; Markets.com has 10,000+. Both brokers share the same minimum deposit of $250.

lightspeed wins this category
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
Min. Deposit$250$250
RegulationFinancial 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-F269Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC)
Founded20142008
CountryUSACyprus
Clients142,500+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between lightspeed and Markets.com, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Both require a minimum deposit of $250. lightspeed charges withdrawal fees while Markets.com does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. lightspeed applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Markets.com does not. Overall, Markets.com scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Markets.com wins this category
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
Min. Deposit$250$250
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesNoNo
CFD FeesNoNo

Platforms

lightspeed offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Markets.com 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.

Tied
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, MT5, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how lightspeed and Markets.com compare. lightspeed runs regular live webinars; Markets.com does not. Both provide video tutorials. lightspeed publishes daily market commentary; Markets.com 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.

lightspeed wins this category
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
Forex EducationYesYes
CFD EducationYesNo
Weekly WebinarsYesNo
Daily CommentaryYesNo
Trading CentralYesNo
AutochartistYesYes

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. lightspeed accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Markets.com supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal). lightspeed uniquely supports Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. lightspeed scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

lightspeed wins this category
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesYes
SkrillYesNo
NetellerYesNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both lightspeed and Markets.com offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. lightspeed supports 8 languages and Markets.com supports 14, giving Markets.com broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeaturelightspeedMarkets.com
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicArabic, Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish