Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Dodl vs Lightyear
Dodl vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  Dodl |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | £0 | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.75% | 0.35%Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | free deposits and withdrawals | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, Lisa | Corporate |
| Interest on cash | 3.8%Higher | 2.42% |
| Minimum deposit | £25 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Platforms | Dodl app | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Dodl offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Lightyear: 0.35% vs 0.75%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Bonds.
- Account types: only Dodl offers ISA, SIPP, Lisa.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Interest on cash is higher at Dodl: 3.8% vs 2.42%.
- Features: only Dodl offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
Dodl
Dodl is an AJ Bell app aimed at UK beginners who want to sidestep dealing costs entirely. Stock trades cost £0 and cash earns 3.8%, so the saving comes from the fee-free model rather than from a richer market list.
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 | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9 | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.2HigherStock trade fee of £0 across isa, sipp and lisa, plus free deposits and withdrawals, undercuts priced platforms. | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.7HigherCover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
| Lisa | Yes | No |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 176 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Choosing between them
Pick Dodl if offer and interest on cash matter most.
Pick Lightyear if markets and currency conversion fee matter most.
Where these facts come from
Dodl
- dodl.co.uk: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.dodl.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | AJ Bell | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Dodl | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £25above the median | Not confirmed | £20 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €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 | 3.8%highest quarter | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Dodl
Pros
- Stock trades cost £0, the lowest stock trade fee recorded in this comparison
- free deposits and withdrawals means moving money in and out adds nothing to a portfolio
- Cash held with the account earns interest of 3.8% while you save for a purchase
Cons
- Cash interest of 3.8% is a variable rate, so the return on uninvested money can move
- Dealing runs on Dodl app only, which suits casual investors less well than a desktop platform
- Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line for urgent account problems
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
Dodl
Who it suits
- UK beginners opening a first stocks, ETFs and funds portfolio
- Investors who want dealing fees at £0 and want to keep cash earning 3.8%
- Savers setting aside money in an ISA, SIPP or LISA before investing
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need a desktop dealing platform, because dealing sits on Dodl app
- Anyone wanting phone support, since help runs on email, chat and help centre
- Investors who trade often in foreign currency, where 0.75% charges apply
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 | Dodl | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Dodl
What does it cost to buy shares at Dodl?+
A stock trade costs £0, which is the figure that stands out on this platform. The pricing model is commission-free rather than low-fee, so dealing is designed to cost nothing. Money in and out is also free deposits and withdrawals, so a transfer adds nothing extra. The one charge to watch is 0.75% on currency conversion when you buy shares priced outside sterling.
Is my money protected at Dodl?+
Dodl is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and eligible balances are covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. That protection is a stated limit on a claim to the firm, not a promise that investments cannot fall in value. The company operating the app is AJ Bell, so the account sits with an established UK provider rather than an offshore entity.
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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