Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Stash
Where Lightyear and Stash differ
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $144 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | SEC, FINRA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS, Android |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Stash scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Stash offers SEC, FINRA.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Stash: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Stash offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Features: only Stash 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.
Stash
Stash suits US beginners who want a retirement pot built from a phone rather than a wide market. Trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is free, but the account fee of $144 a year is the price of that simplicity.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.1A free minimum deposit and $0 trades rank 1 of 213 and 1 of 161, but the $144 account fee is the weight. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 8.8 |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.0Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Stash
- stash.com: 14 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingplatforms.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 148 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 7 of 151 | 57 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Stash Investments LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | $108 to $144 |
| Minimum investment | €1 | $5 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Stash | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $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 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
Stash
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so small orders carry no per-trade charge.
- The portfolio option is an etf portfolio alongside ira and roth ira accounts, which keeps retirement saving in one place.
- Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares spread small contributions across holdings.
Cons
- The account fee of $144 a year leaves Stash at 134 of 138 brands on that measure, while eToro lists $0.
- Support runs on help centre only, so questions about a retirement account are left to articles.
- Trading is limited to stocks and etfs with an etf portfolio, so there is no forex, crypto or CFD route.
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
Stash
Who it suits
- US beginners who want a retirement account, a phone app and a small starting amount rather than a wide market.
- Long-term savers content to hold stocks and etfs and an etf portfolio without picking markets themselves.
- Readers who weigh regulation first, since Stash is registered with SEC and FINRA in the US.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want forex, crypto or CFDs, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone put off by a yearly charge, as eToro lists $0 for its account.
- Readers who prefer a provider with a published entry figure, such as Vantage at $5, rather than a free minimum deposit.
Current offers
Stash
Current offer
Free trial
Try Stash for 7 days: 7-day trial
new Stash Plan subscriptions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | Stash |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Stash
How much does Stash cost to run?+
Running the plan costs a management fee of $108 to $144 a year, and the account fee is $144. Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so the charge sits with the subscription rather than the order. The site median account fee is €0, so Stash sits at the dear end of the table.
How much do I need to start?+
The minimum deposit is free, and the minimum investment is $5, so an account can be opened at a size that suits a monthly habit rather than a lump sum. Stash ranks 1 of 213 brands on this measure, against a site median of €4.64.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Lightyear vs Interactive Brokers
- Lightyear vs Lightspeed Financial
- Lightyear vs Markets.com
- Lightyear vs Composer
- Lightyear vs Trading 212
- Lightyear vs Nutmeg
- Lightyear vs AJ Bell
- Lightyear vs BUX
- Lightyear vs SoFi
- Lightyear vs Vanguard
- Lightyear vs Freedom24
- Lightyear vs Global Prime
- Lightyear vs TradeStation
- Lightyear vs ActivTrades
- Lightyear vs UNest
- Lightyear vs eToro
- Stash vs bunq
- Lightyear vs Mintos
- Lightyear vs Bitpanda
- Stash vs Robinhood
- Lightyear vs Kraken
- Stash vs EBC Financial Group
- Lightyear vs CapTrader