Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Mintos
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | €0Lower | €4.90 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Bonds, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Latvijas Banka, LV LV |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%Lower | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | 2.5%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €50 |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS, Android |
| Account types | Corporate | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Account fee (€0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Mintos scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Mintos offers Latvijas Banka, LV LV.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Lightyear: €0 vs €4.90.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Lightyear: 0.35% vs 0.5%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Stocks, Funds.
- Interest on cash is higher at Mintos: 2.5% vs 2.42%.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Fractional shares.
- Features: only Mintos offers Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
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.
Mintos
Mintos is a cheap, commission-free platform for lending money to businesses through their loan marketplace, with an account fee of €0 and a secondary market for exiting early. It suits investors who want lending exposure in euro-denominated loans rather than a share dealing account, and accept that the money carries borrower default risk.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 8.9Account fee of €0, an inactivity fee of €4.90 and a minimum deposit of €50. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.2HigherMinimum investment of €50, target return of 9.2% and a secondary market. |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.0Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| Latvia | Not confirmed | LV_LV PSD_EMI LV_FCMC!723 |
Sources behind this comparison
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Mintos
- mintos.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.mintos.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 9 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | SIA Mintos Payments |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Latvia |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre, Community |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1Lower | €50 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
P2P lending
| Fact | Lightyear | Mintos |
|---|---|---|
| Target return | Not confirmed | 9.2% |
| Secondary market | Not confirmed | Yes |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Mintos | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €50above the median | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | €4.90above the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | 2.5%below the median | 3% |
Median across 91 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
Mintos
Pros
- The account fee is €0, and Mintos ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Investing is commission-free, and the minimum investment is €50
- A secondary market is available, so loans can be sold before they mature
Cons
- Card deposits cost Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, so topping up is dearer than a bank transfer
- An inactivity fee of €4.90 applies, against an inactivity fee position of 33 of 56
- The minimum deposit of €50 sits far above a site minimum deposit median of €4.64
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
Mintos
Who it suits
- Investors who want to lend to businesses and earn a target return of 9.2%
- Lenders who want a secondary market to sell a loan before it matures
- Euro-based investors who accept that defaults can reduce returns
Who should look elsewhere
- Share traders, who should look at eToro with a commission-free model and a wider market list
- Anyone wanting to start with a very small sum, since CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Lenders who need a guaranteed buyback, as the return of 9.2% is a target rather than a promise
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.
Mintos
What fees does Mintos charge on an account?+
The account fee is €0, and the platform is commission-free, so there is no dealing charge on an investment. The charges that apply are a currency conversion fee of 0.5%, card deposit costs set out as Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, and an inactivity fee of €4.90.
How much do I need to put in to start lending?+
The minimum deposit is €50, and the smallest single investment is €50. The two figures are close, so funding to the deposit minimum is enough to purchase a loan. For scale, the site median for a minimum investment is €25.
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