Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Markets.com
Where Lightyear and Markets.com differ
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, ASIC |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%Lower | 0.6% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | no deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $100 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4% |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web Platform, Mobile App, MT4, MT5 |
| Account types | Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Markets.com scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Markets.com offers CySEC, FCA, FSCA.
- Markets.com is licensed in 3 more countries.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Markets.com: $0 vs $1.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Lightyear: 0.35% vs 0.6%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Funds.
- Markets: only Markets.com offers Forex, CFDs, Spread betting.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Markets.com offers Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account.
Our verdict on each
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.
Markets.com
Markets.com suits retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting under a single account with no commission charged on share dealing. Stock trades carry fees of $0 and the account fee is $0, though the $100 minimum deposit and an inactivity charge of $10 are the figures to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 8.9Commission-free model: stock trades at fees of $0, account fee of $0, currency conversion of 0.6%. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.9Higher |
Pick Lightyear if, pick Markets.com if
Pick Lightyear if currency conversion fee matter most.
Pick Markets.com if offer and stock trade fee matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lightyear | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 49 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Mobile app, Copy trading, Demo account, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Finalto Financial Services Limited |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Markets.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 72.4%above the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | 0.6%above the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
Markets.com
Pros
- Stock trades carry fees of $0 on a commission-free model, so placing a share trade is not chargeable
- The account fee is $0, which ranks Markets.com at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees, so moving money on and off the account stays cheap
Cons
- An inactivity charge of $10 catches dormant balances, placing Markets.com at 35 of 56 brands on that measure
- The minimum deposit of $100 is heavy, ranking at 148 of 213 brands, so a smaller opening balance rules it out
- A currency conversion fee of 0.6% sits on top of the commission-free model, so currency trades cost more than the share trades priced at $0
Who each suits
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
Markets.com
Who it suits
- Retail traders who want stocks, forex, cfds, crypto and spread betting inside a single account
- Investors who trade often enough to clear the $100 minimum and steer clear of the $10 inactivity charge
- UK residents who want the account run by Finalto Financial Services Limited under the FCA
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone opening with a small balance, since the $100 minimum deposit compares with a site median of €4.64 while CFI takes $0 and Vantage takes $5
- Long term holders of an idle balance, because an inactivity charge of $10 applies
- Traders who mainly want forex and the lowest way in, since CFI and Vantage set minimum deposits at $0 and $5
Questions about each
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.
Markets.com
Does Markets.com charge commission on shares?+
The pricing model is commission-free, and stock trades carry fees of $0 on the trade itself. Currency conversion of 0.6% and an inactivity charge of $10 sit outside that figure, so regular traders should build both into the running cost.
Is there a monthly or annual account fee?+
Fees run $0 on the account, which ranks Markets.com at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. Deposits and withdrawals carry no deposit or withdrawal fees as well, so funding the account and taking money back out stay clear of extra charges.
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