Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Axos Invest vs Lightyear
Where Axos Invest and Lightyear differ
| Compare | Axos Invest ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $100 | €1 |
| Regulators | SIPC | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account types | Joint, Roth IRA, IRA | Corporate |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Axos Invest offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Account types: only Axos Invest offers Joint, Roth IRA, IRA.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Portfolio types: only Lightyear offers Cash, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Axos Invest
Axos Invest suits US savers who want a managed ETF portfolio alongside self-directed trading in one account. It earns its place on protection, with SIPC up to USD 500,000, while the options contract fee of $0.80 is the cost to watch if you trade options often.
Lightyear
Lightyear suits you if you want stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a place with clear upkeep costs and email based help. Your stock trades cost $1, account upkeep sits at €0 and inactivity stays at €0 while cover reaches EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7The $100 entry point sits above the €25 site median, and the ranking on minimum investment is 43 of 82. | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 8.9Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 8.7 | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Side by side, item by item
| Portfolio types | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| Cash | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Account types | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 69507 | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 172 of 471 | 39 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 69 of 151 | 8 of 151 |
What we checked
Axos Invest
- axos.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | AXOS INVEST LLC | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Brokers
| Fact | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Options contract fee | $0.80 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
Pros and cons
Axos Invest
Pros
- One platform covers the managed portfolio and self-directed dealing across stocks, etfs and options.
- The managed range is ETF based, listed as etf, so diversification comes from funds rather than hand-picked shares.
- A mobile app is included, listed under mobile app, for checking the portfolio away from a desktop.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed for account questions.
- Account choice stops at joint, roth ira and ira, so the wrappers offered by some rivals are not part of the platform.
- The managed entry point of $100 sits above the €25 site median, and options add $0.80 a contract on top.
Lightyear
Pros
- Account upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 keep quiet months calm
- You can hold stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares available for smaller positions
- You can begin from €1, below many peers, with cash interest at 2.42%
Cons
- Stock trades at $1 look pricey beside ActivTrades at $0 for frequent equity orders
- Currency conversion at 0.35% adds cost when you trade outside your base currency
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so you use email and help centre without phone or chat
Who each suits
Axos Invest
Who it suits
- US savers who want retirement wrappers, since the platform lists joint, roth ira and ira.
- Readers who keep trading costs down, since stock trades cost $0 and the pricing model is commission free.
- Couples investing together, since a joint account forms part of joint, roth ira and ira.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to begin with no outlay, since Acorns Checking asks $0.
- Readers who prefer a smaller euro ticket, since Vivid Standard opens at €2.
Lightyear
Who it suits
- You want upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 and prefer XTB only if ticket fees matter more
- You seek stocks, ETFs and crypto from modest sums starting at €1 rather than eToro style ranged pricing
Who should look elsewhere
- You trade stocks very often and want ticket fees of $0 from ActivTrades rather than fees of $1
- You want phone or chat help rather than help on email and help centre, so XTB may suit you better
Country by country
| Country | Axos Invest | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Axos Invest
What does it cost to trade stocks and options on Axos Invest?+
Axos Invest charges $0 for a stock trade on the self-directed side, and the pricing model is listed as commission free. Options carry a contract fee of $0.80, so a strategy leaning on options pays more per trade than one that only buys shares and funds.
How much do I need to start a managed portfolio?+
The managed portfolios start at $100, so a single transfer of that size opens the account. That is lighter than eToro, which asks $500 for its portfolios, and it leaves room to add money in stages rather than committing a large sum on day one.
Lightyear
What will I pay to trade stocks and keep the account open?+
Stock orders carry fees of $1. Account upkeep sits at €0 and inactivity stays at €0. Currency conversion applies at 0.35% when your trade currency differs from your account currency.
Who regulates Lightyear and where can I check it?+
Lightyear names Estonian Financial Supervision Authority and Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) as its supervisors. Oversight sits in Estonia under MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54. You can check the licence details on the relevant public register before you fund an account.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Axos Invest vs Betterment
- Axos Invest vs Public
- Axos Invest vs Trading 212
- Axos Invest vs Wealthyhood
- Axos Invest vs Saxo
- Axos Invest vs Acorns Checking
- Axos Invest vs Ellevest
- Axos Invest vs Webull
- Axos Invest vs Totality
- Axos Invest vs Fineco Bank
- Axos Invest vs flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- Axos Invest vs IG
- Axos Invest vs BUX
- Lightyear vs ActivTrades
- Axos Invest vs NAGA
- Lightyear vs UNest
- Lightyear vs eToro
- Lightyear vs Mintos
- Axos Invest vs Bitpanda
- Axos Invest vs Revolut
- Axos Invest vs Robinhood
- Lightyear vs Kraken
- Axos Invest vs Traders Place