Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Bitpanda vs Lightyear
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Bitpanda |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €1 | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), AT FMA | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Minimum deposit | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Bitpanda scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Bitpanda offers FMA (Austria), BaFin (Germany), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Bitpanda is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only Bitpanda offers Metals.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Features: only Bitpanda offers Mobile app, Demo account.
Our verdict on each
Bitpanda
Bitpanda suits retail investors in Europe who want one app for shares, ETFs, crypto and metals, starting from a minimum deposit of €1. Regulated in Austria, Germany and Malta, it charges €1 for a stock trade, a per-trade cost active traders will notice.
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 | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9A minimum deposit of €1 and stock trade fees of €1, with free deposits, sit well against the site medians. | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 8.7 | 8.8HigherCovers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Licences and countries
| Country | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5493007WZ7IFULIL8G21 AT_FMA PSD_EMI AT_FMA_54966 | Not confirmed |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| Germany | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 9845005X9B7N610K0093 | Not confirmed |
| Malta | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) MiCA CASP 984500DEID7B03J77118 | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 11 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
What we checked
Bitpanda
- bitpanda.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app, Demo accountCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Bitpanda GmbH | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Austria | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Bitpanda | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Bitpanda | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1at the median | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Bitpanda
Pros
- The minimum deposit is €1, low against the site median of €4.64
- A stock trade costs €1 and deposits are free
- Regulated by the FMA, BaFin and the MFSA, with investor protection stated as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Cons
- Stock trade fees of €1 are higher than a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0
- Support runs on help centre only
- A flat stock trade fee of €1 does not suit frequent small trades
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
Bitpanda
Who it suits
- Beginners building a first portfolio in euro amounts
- Investors who want shares and crypto in one app
- Retail investors who value a low deposit of €1
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, since eToro charges $0 on a stock trade
- Anyone wanting phone or live chat help, as support runs on help centre
- Anyone wanting to start without funding, since CFI asks for a minimum deposit of $0 against €1 here
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
Questions about each
Bitpanda
What is the minimum deposit at Bitpanda?+
The minimum deposit is €1, below the site median of €4.64, and Bitpanda ranks at 75 of 213 brands on that measure. Money can also be added at no charge, since deposits are free.
How much does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade costs €1. That sits above a commission-free model, where eToro charges $0, and Bitpanda ranks at 116 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, so the cost per order is the figure to weigh.
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.
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