Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs quirion
Lightyear vs quirion: the differences
| Compare |  Lightyear |  quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more | ETFs, Funds |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | free deposits and withdrawals |
| Account types | Corporate | Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €25 |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | 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
- quirion scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only quirion offers Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin).
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Stocks, Crypto, Bonds.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only quirion offers Joint.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only quirion offers Mobile app.
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.
quirion
quirion suits German and European savers who want a ready-made portfolio, with regulation by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) and money held under the EU investor compensation scheme. A minimum investment of €0 makes it easy to begin, though the ongoing fee is higher than at some rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.4HigherManagement fee of 0.48% with a minimum investment of €0 and no charge on deposits or withdrawals. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.0Higher |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 102 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 7 of 151 | 33 of 151 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Choosing between them
Pick Lightyear if markets matter most.
Pick quirion if cost, offer, and trust matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | quirion AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.48% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | €0Lower |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, ESG, Cash |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | quirion | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €25above the median | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| 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 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
quirion
Pros
- Regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin), with money held under the EU investor compensation scheme up to the limit that scheme states
- Portfolio types cover etf, esg and cash, so a cash option sits alongside the ETF and ESG portfolios
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, and a mobile app covers the everyday account tasks
Cons
- The management fee of 0.48% is above the robo-advisor median of 0.35%, so the gap grows with the balance
- Investing covers etfs and funds only, so there is nothing here for readers who want to deal in individual shares
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
quirion
Who it suits
- First-time investors who would rather not choose funds and ETFs themselves
- German and European savers who want a regulated provider with a joint account option
- People who want part of their money in a cash portfolio and the rest managed
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to deal in individual shares: quirion covers etfs and funds, so eToro is the closer fit for self-directed trading
- Readers who prefer to commit a larger sum from the start: Axos Invest asks for a minimum investment of $100, against €0 here
Current offers
quirion
Current offer
Bonus
Studierendendepot: 50 EUR bonus for your first ETF portfolio: 50 EUR
For students, campaign runs until 16.11.2026
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | quirion |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | 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.
quirion
What does quirion cost?+
The management fee is 0.48%, taken on the portfolio rather than per trade. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, and support comes through email, chat and phone. The fee sits above the robo-advisor median of 0.35%, so a large balance costs more than it would at a lower-fee rival.
Is quirion regulated, and what happens to my money if the firm fails?+
quirion is regulated by Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin), the German financial supervisor, so it operates under supervision rather than as an informal saving scheme. Money with quirion is covered by the EU investor compensation scheme up to the limit that scheme states. That protection concerns the firm failing, not the market moving against a portfolio.
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