Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Swissquote
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1Lower | $20 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $1,000 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Corporate | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:100 |
| 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
- Lightyear scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Swissquote offers Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
- Stock trade fee is lower at Lightyear: $1 vs $20.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers ETFs, Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only Swissquote offers Forex, CFDs.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Swissquote 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.
Swissquote
Swissquote runs a Swiss bank entity under CSSF supervision with EU investor compensation, so it suits traders who want a bank behind the account. The trade-off is entry cost: a stock trade fee of $20 and a minimum deposit of $1,000 sit well above cheaper rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.0Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 9.0Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| Luxembourg | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) MiCA CASP 549300M2IHOB9P5WE714 |
What each covers
| Markets | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 187 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 7 of 151 | 78 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Luxembourg |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €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
Swissquote
Pros
- Regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg, with the legal entity named as Swissquote Bank Europe SA.
- Covers stocks, forex, CFDs and crypto on a single account, with retail leverage of 1:100.
- A demo account and a mobile app are both listed features, so you can test before committing.
Cons
- Costs are high for a retail account: a stock trade fee of $20 against a site median of €0.
- The minimum deposit of $1,000 ranks 191 of 213, far above the site median of €4.64.
- An inactivity fee of $10 applies, where the site median is €0.
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
Swissquote
Who it suits
- Traders moving between forex, CFDs, crypto and shares on a single account
- Investors who put weight on a supervised bank entity and investor compensation
- People who want to practise on a demo account before risking money
Who should look elsewhere
- Newcomers with a small starting balance, since the minimum deposit is $1,000
- Share buyers focused on trading costs, given the stock trade fee of $20 against eToro at $0
- Passive long term investors, because the portfolio options listed are esg
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.
Swissquote
How much does it cost to trade shares with Swissquote?+
The stock trade fee is $20, which is well above the site median of €0. Swissquote ranks 161 of 161 on this measure, so share dealing here is costly. eToro, by contrast, charges $0 per trade.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $1,000, which is a high bar for a first account. On our data Swissquote ranks 191 of 213 on this measure, against a site median of €4.64. Vantage asks for $5 and CFI for $0.
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