Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs SoFi
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | SIPC, FDIC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only SoFi offers SIPC, FDIC.
- Stock trade fee is lower at SoFi: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Options.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only SoFi offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Features: only SoFi 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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.2Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 39 of 471 | 80 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 8 of 151 | 22 of 151 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
SoFi
- en.wikipedia.org: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sofi.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2011 |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | SoFi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| 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 134 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
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
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
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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