E*TRADE

4.3(1900)

SEC/FINRA

Lightspeed

4.1(420)

SEC/FINRA

E*TRADE vs Lightspeed

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

E*TRADE has a higher rating of 4.3/5 compared to Lightspeed (4.1/5). E*TRADE offers 6 instrument types, while Lightspeed offers 4. The minimum deposit is lower at E*TRADE with 0 $. E*TRADE has been in the market since 1982, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	E*TRADE	Lightspeed
Rating	4.3/5 (1900 reviews)✓	4.1/5 (420 reviews)
Regulation	SEC/FINRA	SEC/FINRA
Fees	$0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades)	Stocks from $0.0045 per share (250+ trades/month), options from $0.60 per contract
Min. Deposit	0 $	10.000 $
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Futures	Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures
Platforms	ETRADE Web, Power ETRADE, E*TRADE App	Lightspeed Trader, Sterling Trader Pro, Eze EMS
Options Trading	Yes, comprehensive options trading with Power E*TRADE	Yes, professional options trading
Founded	1982	2006
Headquarters	New York	New York

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

E*TRADE: $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades). Minimum deposit: 0 $.

Lightspeed: Stocks from $0.0045 per share (250+ trades/month), options from $0.60 per contract. Minimum deposit: 10.000 $.

Product Range

E*TRADE (6 categories)

StocksETFsOptionsBondsMutual FundsFutures

Lightspeed (4 categories)

StocksETFsOptionsFutures

Trading Platforms

E*TRADE

E*TRADE Web
Power E*TRADE
E*TRADE App

Lightspeed

Lightspeed Trader
Sterling Trader Pro
Eze EMS

Regulation & Security

E*TRADE is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: New York).

Lightspeed is regulated by SEC/FINRA (HQ: New York).

Who Is It For?

E*TRADE

Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform

✓ Power E*TRADE – excellent options platform

✓ Commission-free stock and ETF trading

✓ Part of Morgan Stanley – high security

✗ Only available for US customers

✗ International markets not available

Lightspeed

US broker for professional day traders with ultra-fast execution

✓ Ultra-fast order execution for day traders

✓ Very low fees for frequent traders

✓ Professional trading platforms

✗ Very high minimum deposit ($10,000)

✗ Not suitable for beginners

Frequently Asked Questions

Is E*TRADE or Lightspeed cheaper?

E*TRADE charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 for 30+ trades). Lightspeed charges Stocks from $0.0045 per share (250+ trades/month), options from $0.60 per contract. The minimum deposit is 0 $ at E*TRADE and 10.000 $ at Lightspeed.

Which broker offers more products: E*TRADE or Lightspeed?

E*TRADE offers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Futures. Lightspeed offers Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures.

Which broker is better regulated?

E*TRADE is regulated by SEC/FINRA. Lightspeed is regulated by SEC/FINRA.

Is E*TRADE or Lightspeed better for beginners?

E*TRADE has a minimum deposit of 0 $ and offers E*TRADE Web, Power E*TRADE, E*TRADE App as platforms. Lightspeed has a minimum deposit of 10.000 $ and offers Lightspeed Trader, Sterling Trader Pro, Eze EMS. E*TRADE has the lower entry barrier.

E*TRADE vs Lightspeed: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between E*TRADE (4.3/5, 1900 reviews) and Lightspeed (4.1/5, 420 reviews) depends on your needs. E*TRADE: Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform. Lightspeed: US broker for professional day traders with ultra-fast execution.

E*TRADE

Established US broker by Morgan Stanley with strong options platform

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From 0 $ min. deposit

Lightspeed

US broker for professional day traders with ultra-fast execution

Open Account →

From 10.000 $ min. deposit

E*TRADE read review →Lightspeed read review →