Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
HYCM vs Lightyear
Where HYCM and Lightyear differ
| Compare |  HYCM |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $0 card deposits | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Minimum deposit | $20 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, HYCM Trader | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
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Key differences
- Regulators: only HYCM offers Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at HYCM: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only HYCM offers Forex, CFDs.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Features: only HYCM offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only HYCM offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
HYCM
HYCM suits UK and European retail traders who want forex, CFDs, shares, ETFs and crypto on one account. Commission-free pricing with a stock trade fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $20 keeps charges easy to read, though help runs thinner than at the alternatives.
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 | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Cost side is simple: a commission-free model and card deposits at $0 card deposits. | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.0Higher | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 8.6 | 8.7HigherCover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
How they place
| Ranking | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 162 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Mobile app, Crypto | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Legal entity | HYCM Capital Markets (UK) Limited | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | HYCM | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | HYCM | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $20below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $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% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
HYCM
Pros
- Commission-free dealing with a stock trade fee of $0
- Entry of $20, below the site median of €4.64
- Card deposits at $0 card deposits
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only
- No bonds, funds or futures in the stocks, etfs and forex list
- Entry of $20 sits above the $0 minimum at CFI
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
HYCM
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want forex and CFDs beside shares and crypto in one account
- Beginners who prefer commission-free dealing to a tiered commission schedule
- Anyone who values a low entry point of $20 and a mobile app
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you need futures as well as the stocks, etfs and forex it lists
- CFI, if you would rather start at $0
- Vantage, whose $5 entry sets a different bar
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
HYCM
What does it cost to buy shares with HYCM?+
HYCM trades commission-free, and the stock trade fee on the account types is $0. Deals are not split into tiers, so the headline dealing charge is easy to read. Costs still show up in the spread and in overnight charges if you hold leveraged positions open.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $20, which sits below the site median of €4.64. On entry size HYCM ranks 118 of 213 brands, so the opening balance is modest. Stock dealing itself adds a stock trade fee of $0.
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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