Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Saxo
Lightyear vs Saxo: the differences
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | 0.25%Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Free deposits and withdrawals |
| Account types | Corporate | Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | CHF 0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | SaxoInvestor, SaxoTrader |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($1), Account fee (€0), Inactivity fee (€0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Saxo scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Saxo offers Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Saxo is licensed in 1 more country.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Saxo: 0.25% vs 0.35%.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Saxo offers Forex, CFDs, Options.
- Account types: only Saxo offers Joint.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Features: only Saxo offers Demo account, 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.
Saxo
Saxo suits investors who want a Danish bank with no account or inactivity charge and a wide market list, but the stock trade fee is $1 and the FX fee is 0.25%. Costs stay predictable for long holders, less so for frequent traders.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.1Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0, and the minimum deposit is CHF 0. Stock trades cost $1. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.5Higher |
If neither fits
Freestoxx has currency conversion fee at 0%, against 0.35% for Lightyear and 0.25% for Saxo.
Freestoxx reviewWhat we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Saxo
- home.saxo: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokerchooser.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- bestbrokers.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- landofforex.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneyland.ch: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 78 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Saxo Bank A/S |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Denmark |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1992 |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Saxo |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Saxo | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 64%lowest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | 0.25%below the median | 0.45% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $2highest quarter | $0.625 |
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
Saxo
Pros
- Account fee and inactivity fee are both €0 and €0
- Minimum deposit is CHF 0 and deposits and withdrawals carry no charge
- Regulated in Denmark by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority and in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority
Cons
- Stock trade fee of $1 sits well above the site median of €0
- FX fee of 0.25% applies on top of trading costs
- Investor protection is limited to the EU scheme at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
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
Saxo
Who it suits
- Investors holding stocks and ETFs long term who want no account or inactivity charge
- Traders who need forex, options, futures and CFDs on one account
- Joint and corporate account holders
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners wanting commission-free share dealing, where eToro charges $0 per trade
- Small-balance traders unwilling to meet the Vantage minimum deposit of $5
- Frequent currency converters put off by the 0.25% FX fee
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.
Saxo
What does Saxo charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0 and the inactivity fee is €0, so there is no annual or dormancy charge. Saxo ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. That makes it a straightforward choice for long-term holdings.
How much does it cost to buy a stock?+
Stock trades cost $1 through Saxo. That places it at 107 of 161 on this measure, and above the site median of €0. Active share traders should weigh that before opening.
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