Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
BUX vs Lightyear
Where BUX and Lightyear differ
| Compare |  BUX |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | €3.99 | $1 |
| Account fee | €2.99 | €0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | 0.35%Lower |
| Interest on cash | 2% | 2.42%Higher |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Platforms | BUX app | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only BUX offers Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Account fee is lower at Lightyear: €0 vs €2.99.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Lightyear: 0.35% vs 0.75%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Bonds, Funds.
- Interest on cash is higher at Lightyear: 2.42% vs 2%.
- Features: only BUX offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
Our verdict on each
BUX
BUX suits investors who want a Dutch broker for stocks and ETFs and accept a set fee per trade. It charges an account fee of €2.99 and a stock trade fee of €3.99, which is why the offer score sits at 2.1 and the overall score at 2.1.
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 | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4 | 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 | 8.7 | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 203 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
BUX
- bux.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fxverify.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | BUX B.V. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Netherlands | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | BUX | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | BUX | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | €2.99highest quarter | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75%highest quarter | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2%lowest quarter | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
BUX
Pros
- Fees follow a low-fee model: a stock trade fee of €3.99 per trade, an account fee of €2.99 and a currency exchange fee of 0.75%.
- Regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), with money held under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Aimed at both beginners and experienced investors, with fractional shares and a mobile app listed in fractional shares and mobile app.
Cons
- The account fee of €2.99 applies on top of a stock trade fee of €3.99, so frequent trading costs add up.
- On stock trade fee it ranks 136 of 161, so cheaper share dealing sits elsewhere.
- Markets are limited to stocks and etfs, where CFI offers stocks, etfs and forex.
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
BUX
Who it suits
- Investors who want a regulated European broker covering stocks and etfs at a flat fee per trade.
- People who prefer mobile investing, since fractional shares and mobile app includes fractional shares and a mobile app.
- Readers who weigh protection first, since money sits under the EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 at a broker regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex and BUX covers stocks and etfs.
- Share dealing fans after a free stock trade fee, since eToro lists $0 against the €3.99 here.
- Anyone put off by a standing charge, given the account fee of €2.99 where Vantage lists $0.
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
BUX
How much does it cost to buy a share at BUX?+
A stock trade costs €3.99 per trade under a low-fee model, and a currency exchange fee of 0.75% applies on currency conversions. Because the trade fee is a flat amount rather than a percentage, the cost does not grow with the size of the order. A flat account fee of €2.99 also applies to the account.
Is there an account or inactivity fee?+
There is an account fee of €2.99, charged on the account regardless of how much it holds. That is a flat charge rather than a percentage, so it does not rise as the portfolio grows. BUX ranks 108 of 138 on this line, which places it towards the expensive end of the brands compared here.
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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