RS
Rakuten Securities
3.4 / 5Score: 2 / 3
Zero minimum deposit and zero commissions make Rakuten Securities one of the most accessible entry points into Japanese and global markets.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:3
- Spread from
- 0 pips
- Regulators
- FSA
Reviewed by Experts Updated 9/12/2026
Rakuten Securities vs LiteFinance: Which Broker Wins in 2026?
Rakuten Securities and LiteFinance sit almost neck-and-neck in our 2026 ratings, at 3.4/5 apiece. Rakuten Securities edges ahead on cost and accessibility, while LiteFinance counters with broader regulatory coverage and higher leverage. Here's the full breakdown.
L
LiteFinance
3.4 / 5Score: 1 / 3
Higher leverage and broader multi-jurisdictional regulation make LiteFinance a flexible pick for active forex and CFD traders.
- Min deposit
- $50
- Max leverage
- 1:500
- Spread from
- 0 pips
- Regulators
- CySEC, FSA
Our #1 Pick Right Now: AvaTrade
Same category, top-tier regulation, and it's currently accepting new traders.
See What Makes It Different Best for Beginners
Rakuten Securities
Lowest Fees
Rakuten Securities
Top Regulation
LiteFinance
Side-by-side comparison
Core features compared head-to-head.
| Feature | RS Rakuten Securities | L LiteFinance |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.4 / 5 | 3.4 / 5 |
| Founded | 1999 | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan | Kingstown, St Vincent |
| Regulation | FSA | CySEC, FSA |
| Fees & Limits | ||
| Min Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Spreads From | 0 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission | None | $2/lot |
| Max Leverage | 1:3 | 1:500 |
| Platforms & Markets | ||
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile, MarketSpeed II | MT4, MT5, Proprietary Web |
| Markets Offered | Stocks, Etf, Crypto, Forex, Indices | Forex, Cfd, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto |
Trading & non-trading fees
Min Deposit
Rakuten Securities
$0
LiteFinance
$50
Spreads From
Rakuten Securities
0 pips
LiteFinance
0 pips
Commission
Rakuten Securities
None
LiteFinance
$2/lot
Deposit Fees
Rakuten Securities
None
LiteFinance
None
Withdrawal Fees
Rakuten Securities
None
LiteFinance
None
Pros & cons
RS
Rakuten Securities
Pros
- No minimum deposit required to open an account
- Zero commission on trades reduces overall trading costs
- Established broker with a track record dating back to 1999
- Regulated by Japan's respected FSA authority
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Spreads starting from 0 pips
Cons
- Maximum leverage capped at just 1:3, low compared to global peers
- Single regulatory licence versus LiteFinance's multi-jurisdictional coverage
- No dedicated CFD or commodities markets offered
- Fewer platform options for algorithmic or MetaTrader-based trading
- Product range geared more toward Japanese domestic market
L
LiteFinance
Pros
- Higher leverage ceiling of up to 1:500 for active traders
- Regulated across two jurisdictions (CySEC and FSA)
- Wider range of six tradable market types
- Full MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 compatibility
- No deposit or withdrawal fees
- Spreads starting from 0 pips
Cons
- Charges a $2 per lot commission on top of spreads
- Higher minimum deposit of $50 compared to Rakuten's $0
- Higher leverage carries increased risk for inexperienced traders
- Slightly lower overall score in our proprietary rating (1/3 vs 2/3)
- Offshore headquarters may concern traders preferring onshore brokers
Our expert verdict
Editor's verdict
Lowest fees Rakuten Securities
Best regulation LiteFinance
Better for beginners Rakuten Securities
Rakuten Securities and LiteFinance are closely matched, with Rakuten Securities scoring 3.42/5 against LiteFinance's 3.40/5 in our proprietary rating system. Rakuten Securities is more accessible for new traders thanks to its $0 minimum deposit and commission-free structure, while LiteFinance counters with regulatory coverage across two jurisdictions and considerably higher leverage. For most traders, Rakuten Securities is the stronger all-round choice, though LiteFinance remains competitive for those who prioritise regulatory breadth and access to leveraged forex/CFD trading.
Regulation & Safety
Rakuten Securities is regulated solely by Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA), one of the world's most respected financial watchdogs known for stringent capital adequacy and client-asset segregation rules. This single-license setup reflects the broker's focus on the domestic Japanese market rather than a lack of oversight.
LiteFinance, by contrast, holds licences from both CySEC and FSA, giving it a broader multi-jurisdictional regulatory footprint. This appeals to traders who value having recourse across more than one regulatory body, particularly those operating outside Japan.
In our awards breakdown, LiteFinance is named best for regulation due to this dual-licence structure, though Rakuten Securities' single FSA licence remains a robust and trustworthy standard on its own.
Account Costs & Minimum Deposit
Rakuten Securities requires no minimum deposit at all, making it exceptionally easy for beginners or cost-conscious traders to open an account and start small. LiteFinance requires a $50 minimum deposit, still a low barrier by industry standards but noticeably higher than Rakuten's zero-dollar entry point.
Neither broker charges deposit or withdrawal fees, which is a welcome parity that keeps ongoing account maintenance costs predictable for traders at both platforms.
Given the $0 threshold, Rakuten Securities earns our award for best accessibility for beginners, a meaningful factor for anyone testing strategies with limited starting capital.
Trading Fees & Commissions
Both brokers advertise spreads from 0 pips, putting them on equal footing at the headline level. However, the commission structures diverge sharply: Rakuten Securities charges no per-trade commission, while LiteFinance applies a $2 per lot commission on top of its spreads.
This difference matters most to high-frequency or high-volume traders, where commission costs compound quickly across dozens or hundreds of trades. Rakuten Securities' zero-commission model gives it a clear edge for cost-sensitive traders and earns it our award for best low-fee broker in this matchup.
LiteFinance's commission may still be justified for traders who value its higher leverage and wider market access, but the raw cost comparison favours Rakuten Securities.
Trading Platforms & Tools
Rakuten Securities offers a Proprietary Web platform, a Proprietary Mobile app, and its notable MarketSpeed II terminal, which is tailored to Japanese equity and derivatives traders who want advanced charting and order-routing tools.
LiteFinance instead supports the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms alongside its own Proprietary Web interface. This gives LiteFinance an advantage for traders who already have MT4/MT5 experience, expert advisors, or custom indicators they want to carry over.
Platform choice ultimately comes down to ecosystem familiarity: Rakuten suits those embedded in Japanese markets, while LiteFinance suits globally-minded traders reliant on MetaTrader's automation and community tools.
Leverage & Market Access
LiteFinance offers considerably higher maximum leverage at 1:500, compared to Rakuten Securities' more conservative 1:3 cap. This makes LiteFinance far more appealing to forex and CFD traders who actively use leverage to amplify position sizing.
On market breadth, LiteFinance also supports six asset classes, including forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, commodities, and crypto, versus Rakuten Securities' five, which include stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, and indices, but notably no dedicated CFD or commodities line.
Traders whose strategies depend on leveraged forex/CFD exposure or diversified commodity trading will likely find LiteFinance's setup more accommodating, despite Rakuten's cost advantages elsewhere.
Our Verdict
Rakuten Securities and LiteFinance land in a virtual tie on our rating scale, 3.42/5 versus 3.40/5, but they serve distinctly different trader profiles. Rakuten Securities is the more accessible and cost-efficient option, ideal for beginners and equity-focused investors who want a $0 entry point and no commissions.
LiteFinance is the better fit for forex and CFD traders who need higher leverage, MetaTrader compatibility, and multi-jurisdictional regulatory assurance. Its $2/lot commission and $50 minimum deposit are modest trade-offs for that expanded flexibility.
Overall, we lean toward Rakuten Securities as the stronger all-round choice for most traders, primarily due to its lower costs and easier accessibility, but LiteFinance remains a highly competitive alternative for leverage-driven, globally diversified trading strategies.
Verdict summary
The bottom line — category winners and our final pick based on ratings.
Editor's verdict
Rakuten Securities wins overall
Rakuten Securities edges out LiteFinance overall based on our expert rating score.
RS
Highest Rated
Rakuten Securities
3.4 / 5 / 5
Category winners
Overall winner
Based on overall expert rating (3.4/5).
Rakuten SecuritiesBetter for beginners
Stronger onboarding and educational resources.
Rakuten SecuritiesLower trading costs
More competitive spreads and baseline commissions.
Rakuten SecuritiesStronger regulation
Higher trust based on tier-1 regulatory oversight.
LiteFinance
Frequently asked questions
Rakuten Securities (3.4/5) and LiteFinance (3.4/5) are closely matched on our independent rating scale, separated by only a fraction of a point. Rakuten Securities pulls ahead on cost and accessibility with its $0 minimum deposit and commission-free trading, while LiteFinance counters with broader regulatory coverage and higher leverage. The better choice ultimately depends on whether you prioritise low costs or leveraged, multi-jurisdictional trading flexibility.
Rakuten Securities offers spreads from 0 pips with no per-trade commission, while LiteFinance also starts spreads at 0 pips but adds a $2 per lot commission. For cost-sensitive traders, particularly high-volume ones, Rakuten Securities' commission-free structure typically results in lower overall trading costs.
Rakuten Securities requires no minimum deposit at all, making it exceptionally accessible for beginners. LiteFinance requires a $50 minimum deposit, which is still low by industry standards but a notable difference for traders starting with very limited capital.
Rakuten Securities is regulated by Japan's FSA, a highly respected single-jurisdiction regulator known for strict oversight. LiteFinance holds licences from both CySEC and FSA, giving it broader multi-jurisdictional coverage, which is why we award it best for regulation in this matchup.
Rakuten Securities offers a Proprietary Web platform, Proprietary Mobile app, and its specialised MarketSpeed II terminal. LiteFinance supports the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms alongside its own Proprietary Web interface, appealing to traders who use automated strategies or expert advisors.
LiteFinance offers significantly higher maximum leverage at 1:500, compared to Rakuten Securities' conservative 1:3 cap. Traders who rely on leverage to size forex or CFD positions will find LiteFinance far more accommodating, though higher leverage always carries increased risk.
LiteFinance supports six market types: forex, CFDs, stocks, indices, commodities, and crypto. Rakuten Securities covers five: stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, and indices, but lacks dedicated CFD or commodities offerings, making LiteFinance the broader choice for diversified traders.
Yes, you can hold accounts at multiple brokers simultaneously, and many traders do exactly this to diversify across markets and tools. You might use Rakuten Securities for low-cost equity and ETF investing while using LiteFinance for leveraged forex or CFD trading via MetaTrader.
Rakuten Securities was founded in 1999, giving it a longer operating history than LiteFinance, which was founded in 2005. Both brokers have maintained continuous operations for well over a decade, but Rakuten Securities' longer track record may appeal to traders who value institutional longevity.
Rakuten Securities is our pick for best beginner-friendly broker in this comparison, largely due to its $0 minimum deposit and zero-commission structure. New traders can start trading without committing significant capital upfront or worrying about per-trade costs eating into small positions.
Risk warning: Trading CFDs and forex involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Please consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.