Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Finhabits vs Lightyear
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Finhabits |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) | 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 | Corporate |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
| Management fee | 1% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
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Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.5.
- Regulators: only Finhabits offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Account types: only Finhabits offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Portfolio types: only Lightyear offers Cash, Crypto.
Our verdict on each
Finhabits
Finhabits is a US robo-advisor built for beginners, opening at a minimum deposit of $0 and running managed stocks and etfs portfolios under US regulation. The trade-off is the $120 account fee, which sits on top of the 1% management fee.
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 | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1Management fee of 1% against a 0.35% median here, plus an account fee of $120 and a minimum deposit of $0. | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 8.9Higher | 8.8Covers 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 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 213 of 471 | 39 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 93 of 151 | 8 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Finhabits, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Brokers
| Fact | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | $120 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| 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% |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Finhabits | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 1%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.345% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1lowest quarter | €25 |
Median across 86 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Finhabits
Pros
- Regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with investor protection listed as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is easy to reach.
- The portfolio build is etf focused, with picks made for you across stocks and etfs.
Cons
- The $120 account fee is the sting, sitting on top of the 1% management fee.
- The range is limited to stocks and etfs, so there is no wider asset choice.
- Account types come down to ira and roth ira options at a brand based in the United States.
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
Finhabits
Who it suits
- US beginners, since the service is built for beginners.
- Savers who want the holdings chosen for them across stocks and etfs.
- People already investing for retirement, matching the ira and roth ira list.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to pay nothing on management can start with eToro, where the fee is 0%.
- Anyone after a wider fee band should look at Vivid Standard, at 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Investors who treat the protection scheme as the deciding factor can also check Axos Invest, which names SIPC.
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 | Finhabits | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Finhabits
What does Finhabits cost to run an account?+
Finhabits charges a management fee of 1% on the portfolio and an account fee of $120. The account fee is the part to watch, since it is a flat charge on top of the percentage. The median management fee across the robo-advisors compared here is 0.35%.
How much do I need to put in before I can start?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so there is no floor to clear before saving begins. Accounts come as ira and roth ira options, which decides the wrapper you hold. The listed feature is mobile app, so the app is the main way in.
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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