Lightyear vs Qtrade Direct Investing - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Lightyear vs Qtrade Direct Investing

Compare Lightyear and Qtrade Direct Investing side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Lightyear

Lightyear

Cost-conscious long-term investors

Low-cost investing platform with free ETFs, multi-currency accounts, fractional investing, savings products, …

VS
Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Canadian self-directed investors seeking research tools

Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian online brokerage offering zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and m…

Head-to-head comparison

Lightyear vs Qtrade Direct Investing
Feature Lightyear Qtrade Direct Investing
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee US shares: 0.10% (0.10 USD min - 1 USD max); UK shares: 1 GBP; EUR-denominated stocks, bonds, ETNs and ETCs: 1 EUR; other European stocks: 0.10% $0 per trade (Canadian and U.S. exchanges)
Regulators FCA, EFSA, FINRA, SIPC CIRO, CIPF
Best for Cost-conscious long-term investors Canadian self-directed investors seeking research tools
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
Options
-
Funds
Fractional Shares
-
Investment Plans
-
Ready Made Portfolios
Savings Vaults
-
Money Market Funds
-
Multi Currency
-
Business Account
Margin
-
Demo Account
-

Pros & cons

Lightyear

Lightyear

Pros

  • No account fee
  • Free ETF execution and custody
  • 0.35% FX conversion fee
  • Multi-currency account
  • Fractional investing
  • Web, iOS and Android access
  • Savings Vaults with money market funds
  • SIPC protection for US securities

Cons

  • Stock fees vary by instrument
  • Card deposits cost 0.6%
  • Crypto assets lack investor compensation cover
  • Product availability may vary
  • Money market fund fees apply
  • Some withdrawals may require currency conversion
Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Pros

  • Zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and mutual funds since October 2025
  • No quarterly account or inactivity fees
  • Strong research tools including Morningstar analyst reports and screeners
  • Portfolio analytics with risk exposure and ESG scoring
  • Qtrade Guided Portfolios robo-advisor available for hands-off investors
  • Wide range of registered account types (TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP, RRIF, LIRA, LIF)
  • Pre-market and after-hours trading available for U.S. markets
  • 30-day free trial account for platform exploration

Cons

  • No support for forex, CFDs, crypto, futures or precious metals
  • No fractional share trading
  • Currency conversion markup of approximately 0.9% applies to U.S. trades
  • Stock alerts not available on the mobile app
  • Options fee of $0.75 per contract is not the cheapest in Canada
  • Transfer-out fee of $150 per account
  • Limited to Canadian and U.S. exchanges only
  • 30-day trial account is view-only and does not support simulated trading
Lightyear

Lightyear

Low-cost investing platform with free ETFs, multi-currency accounts, fractional investing, savings products, and a 0.35% FX fee.

Visit Lightyear Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing

Qtrade Direct Investing is a Canadian online brokerage offering zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs and mutual funds, with strong research tools and a robo-advisor option.

Visit Qtrade Direct Investing Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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