Side-by-side comparison of two perpetual futures exchanges — updated in real time.
Lighter and ApeX are both Ethereum L2 orderbook DEXes, but Lighter's zero-fee model contrasts sharply with ApeX's traditional fee structure built on StarkEx.
Lighter charges zero trading fees across 153 markets on its custom Ethereum L2, with up to 20x leverage and USDC-only collateral. ApeX runs on StarkEx with 40 markets, 30x leverage, 0.02% maker / 0.05% taker fees, and supports both USDC and USDT. Lighter lists nearly 4x more markets and charges no fees, making it objectively cheaper. ApeX offers higher leverage (30x vs 20x) and its StarkEx infrastructure provides cryptographic validity proofs, arguably offering stronger security guarantees. ApeX accepts USDT alongside USDC, which is useful for traders holding Tether. ApeX uses 8-hour funding intervals versus Lighter's 1-hour intervals. ApeX launched in November 2022 and has an established user base with its trade-to-earn APEX token program. Lighter's LIT token launched in December 2025 with a more generous community allocation (50% vs 23%). ApeX's multi-chain deposit feature allows funding from various networks, enhancing accessibility.
Choose Lighter for zero trading fees and a significantly wider market selection (153 vs 40). Choose ApeX for higher leverage (30x vs 20x), USDT collateral support, and StarkEx's proven ZK-rollup security infrastructure.
