Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs Lightyear
FBS vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Minimum deposit | $5 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Not confirmed |
| 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
- FBS scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at FBS: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only FBS offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Bonds, Funds.
- Features: only FBS offers Demo account, Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only FBS offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
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 | FBS | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 8.8Higher | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
How they place
| Ranking | FBS | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
What we checked
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2009 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | FBS | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in 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
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
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
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
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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