Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightspeed Financial vs Lightyear
Lightspeed Financial vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare |  Lightspeed Financial |  Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $4.50 | $1Lower |
| Inactivity fee | $25 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FINRA | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Minimum deposit | $10,000 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Options contract fee | $0.60 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Platforms | Lightspeed Trader Pro, Web & Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | Corporate |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.6.
- Regulators: only Lightspeed Financial offers FINRA.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at Lightyear: $1 vs $4.50.
- Markets: only Lightspeed Financial offers Options, Futures.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Bonds, Funds.
- Features: only Lightspeed Financial offers Demo account, Mobile app.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
Our verdict on each
Lightspeed Financial
Lightspeed Financial suits experienced traders and day traders who put on a large amount to clear a steep entry bar. Fees of $4.50 a stock trade, $0.60 an options contract and a $10,000 minimum deposit set it well apart from cheaper platforms such as eToro.
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 | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.4Minimum deposit of $10,000, stock trade fees of $4.50 and an inactivity fee of $25 put costs well above lighter rivals. | 9.1HigherUpkeep 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 |
What each covers
| Markets | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
A third option
ActivTrades has stock trade fee at $0, against $4.50 for Lightspeed Financial and $1 for Lightyear.
ActivTrades reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 208 of 471 | 38 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Day traders | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $4.50highest quarter | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | $0.60below the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Lightspeed Financial
Pros
- Regulated in the US by FINRA, with SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Trades run across stocks, etfs and options in one account
- A demo account is available to practise before funding
Cons
- A $10,000 minimum deposit is far above the site median of €4.64
- An inactivity fee of $25 applies on dormant accounts
- Support runs on phone and help centre only
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
Lightspeed Financial
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who already trade options and futures
- Day traders who keep a large cash balance
- Anyone who wants a single account across stocks, etfs and options
Who should look elsewhere
- New investors, since no beginner audience is listed
- Small savers put off by a $10,000 minimum deposit
- Anyone wanting a free stock trade, as eToro charges $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
Current offers
Lightspeed Financial
Current offer
Bonus
Get Up To $10,000 Cash Back: Up to $10,000
open an account with a $25,000 deposit and maintain the amount for 3 months
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lightspeed Financial | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Lightspeed Financial
What does it cost to trade stocks at Lightspeed Financial?+
A stock trade costs $4.50. That sits well above the site median stock trade fee of €0, and above what the median-ranked broker in this field charges, so the cost only makes sense for high-volume trading.
What is the minimum deposit?+
You need a minimum deposit of $10,000 to open an account. That is far higher than the site median minimum deposit of €4.64, and it rules out the small-balance investor entirely.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Lightspeed Financial vs Interactive Brokers
- Lightspeed Financial vs Webull
- Lightspeed Financial vs Public
- Lightspeed Financial vs TradeZero
- Lightspeed Financial vs TradeStation
- Lightspeed Financial vs Markets.com
- Lightspeed Financial vs Trading 212
- Lightspeed Financial vs tastytrade
- Lightspeed Financial vs Lime Financial
- Lightspeed Financial vs Totality
- Lightspeed Financial vs Fidelity
- Lightspeed Financial vs ChoiceTrade
- Lightspeed Financial vs ActivTrades
- Lightspeed Financial vs NAGA
- Lightyear vs UNest
- Lightyear vs eToro
- Lightspeed Financial vs Mintos
- Lightspeed Financial vs Bitpanda
- Lightyear vs Kraken
- Lightspeed Financial vs EBC Financial Group
- Lightspeed Financial vs Traders Place