Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Nutmeg
Lightyear vs Nutmeg: the differences
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | £0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds, Stocks, Bonds |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Financial Conduct Authority |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | no set-up, trading or exit fees |
| Account types | Corporate | ISA, SIPP |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £500 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, Mobile app |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Nutmeg scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Nutmeg offers Financial Conduct Authority.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Nutmeg offers ISA, SIPP.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Nutmeg offers Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Nutmeg offers Commission free.
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.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg suits UK investors who want a managed portfolio held in an ISA or SIPP rather than a self-directed dealing account. The cost of that convenience is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, with a £0 stock trade fee and FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 in place.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.0Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% run above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the entry floor is high. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.6Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.1Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | Financial Conduct Authority 552016 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 101 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 7 of 151 | 32 of 151 |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Nutmeg
- nutmeg.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investing-reviews.co.uk: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- compareandinvest.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- jpm-personal-investing-marketing.cdn.prismic.io: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | J.P. Morgan Personal Investing Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2012 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% to 0.75% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | £100 to £500 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, ESG, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Nutmeg | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | £500highest quarter | £20 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 52 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
Nutmeg
Pros
- One ongoing charge to read: management fees of 0.25% to 0.75%, with no set-up, trading or exit fees on top.
- Holdings span etfs, funds and stocks, so a managed basket can still cover a wide spread of asset types.
- Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the account.
Cons
- Management fees of 0.25% to 0.75% sit above the robo-adviser median of 0.35%, and the cost rises as the balance grows.
- The opening deposit is £500 and later money goes in from £100 to £500, higher than the robo-adviser median of €60.06.
- The portfolio range is etf, esg and cash only, so there is no crypto or thematic option to tilt towards.
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
Nutmeg
Who it suits
- UK investors who want a managed portfolio inside an ISA or a SIPP and accept a single ongoing charge for the service.
- People who would rather not research individual funds, since the holdings run to etf, esg and cash approaches chosen and held for you.
- Investors who want a phone line as well as written support, since email, chat and phone includes phone, chat, email and a help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small first payment, since the £500 deposit is well above the robo-advisor lower quartile of €0, and Axos Invest begins at $100 in US dollars.
- Shoppers who want the lowest ongoing charge, since eToro runs a 0% management fee and Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%, against Nutmeg's 0.25% to 0.75%.
- Investors who want accounts in US dollars, because Axos Invest takes $100 in dollars while Nutmeg's £100 to £500 sits in pounds.
Current offers
Nutmeg
Current offer
Bonus
Earn £100 when you invest £1,000: GBP 100 cash reward
Invest at least £1,000 in one payment into a General Investment Account, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Personal Pension and keep it invested for at least 6 months; new contributions only, transfers excluded; reward paid as unallocated cash within 55 days; new clients only, cannot be combined with other new-client offers
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | Nutmeg |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
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.
Nutmeg
What does Nutmeg charge to manage my money?+
The charge is a single management fee of 0.25% to 0.75%, which sits above the robo-adviser median of 0.35% in this group. There are no set-up, trading or exit fees to add on top. Money can go in from £100 to £500, so the cost is a percentage of what you hold rather than a price per deal.
How much do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is £500, and once the account is open money can go in from £100 to £500. That first payment is the step most readers notice, and it sits above the lower quartile of €0 across robo-advisers here.
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