Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Lightyear
Kraken vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  Kraken |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Minimum deposit | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | Not confirmed |
| 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
- Kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Kraken: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Futures.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Features: only Kraken offers Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only Kraken offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
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 | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 |
| Offer | 9.0HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans |
| Trust | 9.3HigherRegisters cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 | Not confirmed |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 71030 | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 16 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Kraken | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1below 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
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
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
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
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
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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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