Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Lightyear
What sets them apart
| Compare |  eToro |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Account types | ISA | Corporate |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| 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
- eToro scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Stock trade fee is lower at eToro: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only eToro offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only eToro offers ISA.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Features: only eToro offers Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits readers who want to hold shares, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one app without paying commission on trades. Costs look light on the standard account, with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, though the account fee applies to the virtual portfolio rather than every standard account.
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 | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherCommission-free pricing with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, but currency conversion on non-USD balances sits outside that headline. | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 6 of 490 | 29 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 2 of 153 | 6 of 153 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
eToro
- etoro.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2007 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | €1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 81 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- No commission on share dealing: stock trade fees are $0
- No account fee on the standard dealing account: $0
- Regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and a SIPC member in the US
Cons
- A separate management fee of 0% applies to the managed portfolio service, so headline dealing costs are not the whole bill
- Support runs on help centre only, so there is no stated phone or live chat route for account problems
- The same commission-free model at XTB comes with a stated stock trade fee of €0, so commission alone does not separate the two
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
eToro
Who it suits
- Beginners who want commission-free share dealing plus fractional shares
- Readers who want stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one place
- Anyone saving in a currency other than US dollars who wants to watch the cost of conversion
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a stated phone or live chat support channel, since support runs on help centre
- Day traders who judge a broker on spreads alone, as no spread figure is listed
- Anyone wanting managed portfolios at no cost, since the management fee is 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
eToro
What does it cost to buy shares with eToro?+
The stock trade fee is $0, and the account fee is $0. Both sit at the low end of the market, and eToro is ranked at 1 on trade fees and 1 on account fees among the brands compared here. Currency conversion can still apply if your balance is not in the account currency.
Is there an account fee on the standard eToro account?+
The account fee is $0 for the standard dealing account, which is why eToro places at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. The managed portfolio service is charged differently, at a management fee of 0%, so treat the dealing and portfolio costs as two separate lines.
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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