Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Lightyear
Fidelity vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  Fidelity |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Corporate |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at Fidelity: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Options, Futures, Forex.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Demo account, Mobile app, Options.
- Pricing model: only Fidelity offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Fidelity
Fidelity is a US brokerage that suits investors who want to hold and trade without a standing charge: its minimum deposit, account fee and inactivity fee all sit at $0, $0 and $0. Stock dealing is commission-free, with SIPC protection recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
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 | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Site ranks it 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 161 on stock trade fee. | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
How they place
| Ranking | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 37 of 490 | 29 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 12 of 153 | 6 of 153 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
Fidelity
- brokerage-review.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- editorialge.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fidelity.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1946 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.4% |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Fidelity
Pros
- Costs sit at the floor: stock trade fee $0, account fee $0, inactivity fee $0 and minimum deposit $0
- The client entity is listed on the SIPC register as SIPC member 23292, with protection recorded at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Account types cover retirement and shared holdings: ira, roth ira and joint
Cons
- Support runs on phone and community only, so that list carries no chat or email channel
- Options contracts cost $0.65 each, the main charge where stock dealing is free
- Margin borrowing is priced at 12.375%, a cost on top of the free equity dealing
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
Fidelity
Who it suits
- Retirement savers, since ira, roth ira and joint are all listed as account types
- Buyers investing small amounts, as fractional shares sit in fractional shares, demo account and mobile app
- Traders who want stocks, bonds, funds, options, futures and forex in one place, as stocks, etfs and options shows
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want CFDs, since stocks, etfs and options leaves them out and CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone who prefers a required opening deposit, since $0 sets none where Vantage asks $5
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 | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Fidelity
What does it cost to trade stocks at Fidelity?+
Stock dealing is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0. The account fee is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so there is no standing charge to hold the account. Options contracts are the exception, at $0.65 each.
Is there an inactivity fee if I stop trading?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged for sitting still. On the site it ranks 1 of 56 brands measured for that fee. With the account fee at $0, a dormant account carries no listed running cost.
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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