Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Global Prime vs Lightyear
Global Prime vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  Global Prime |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), 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 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 deposit fees | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Account types | Joint, CorporateCovers more | Corporate |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:1000 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
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Key differences
- Global Prime scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Global Prime offers Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Global Prime is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only Global Prime offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only Global Prime offers Joint.
- Features: only Global Prime offers Demo account.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Global Prime offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Global Prime
Global Prime is a low-cost broker for traders who already work in a standard terminal and want shares, forex and CFDs in one place. A minimum deposit of $0 and a listed EUR/USD spread of 0.1% keep the running costs down, though leverage of 1:1000 is not for beginners.
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 | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 9.4Higher | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 55 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
| Account types | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 3337 | Not confirmed |
| Vanuatu | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
Global Prime
- globalprime.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Crypto | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Low fees |
| Legal entity | TD PRIME SERVICES LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Australia | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2010 | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Global Prime | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Global Prime | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.1%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Global Prime
Pros
- Regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) and SIPC), so the money sits in a regulated structure.
- One account covers stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, crypto and metals (stocks, etfs and forex) on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 (MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5).
- A demo account is offered, so you can test the terminals before funding, and pricing comes in commission free and low fees variants.
Cons
- Account types run to joint and corporate only, with no ISA, SIPP or IRA listed, so tax wrappers sit elsewhere.
- Leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses as much as gains, so oversized positions hurt quickly.
- SIPC cover attaches to TD PRIME SERVICES LLC, the US entity, while the brand sits in Australia, so the entity on your account matters.
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
Global Prime
Who it suits
- Traders who already work in MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 and want one account for shares, forex, CFDs and crypto.
- Anyone testing a platform first, since a demo account is offered and both joint and corporate accounts sit in the range (joint and corporate).
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for beginners: leverage of 1:1000 turns a wrong position into a fast loss, and the platforms are MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 rather than a simplified app.
- Not for futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, which adds futures that the Global Prime markets list leaves out.
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
Global Prime
What will it cost me to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $0 and the published deposit charge is $0 deposit fees. What you pay afterwards depends on the account model you pick, either commission-free or low-fee (commission free and low fees), and on the spread you trade through, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.1% listed.
How is my money protected?+
Global Prime is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC), and it appears on the SIPC membership list. The listed investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. That cover belongs to the US entity, so check the legal entity named on your account before you fund it.
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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