Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs TradeZero
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, Options |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | AFM |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | $15 wire transfer out |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView |
| Account types | Corporate | 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
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Stock trade fee is lower at TradeZero: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers ETFs, Crypto, Bonds.
- Markets: only TradeZero offers Options.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only TradeZero offers Demo account, Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only TradeZero offers Commission free.
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.
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.1Higher |
| Trust | 8.7HigherCover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | 8.6 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lightyear | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
TradeZero
- tradezero.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 169 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | TradeZero Europe B.V. |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | TradeZero | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 9%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.59below the median | $0.625 |
| 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
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
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.
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
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