Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Vanguard
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | $20 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Account types | Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| 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
- Vanguard scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Vanguard: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Vanguard offers Options.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Vanguard offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Vanguard 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.
Vanguard
Vanguard suits beginner US investors who want straightforward retirement investing without a trading bill, with stock trades at $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The catch is an account fee of $20, plus $1 for every options contract traded.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1HigherUpkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 8.9Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, but the account itself carries an account fee of $20. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | Not confirmed |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lightyear | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Lightyear | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 38 of 471 | 128 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 7 of 151 | 46 of 151 |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 12 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Vanguard
- investor.vanguard.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investguiding.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- vanguard.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | The Vanguard Group, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Vanguard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Vanguard | 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% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| 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
Vanguard
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens at $0, so entry costs nothing
- stocks, etfs and options covers the range most long term investors need in one place
- Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, which suits retirement saving
Cons
- An account fee of $20 applies to the account whatever the trade volume
- Options cost $1 per contract against $0 for stock trades
- Forex, crypto and CFDs are not among its stocks, etfs and options
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
Vanguard
Who it suits
- Beginners building a retirement pot in the US
- Investors holding funds and ETFs alongside individual stocks
- Anyone who accepts an account fee to keep trading costs low
Who should look elsewhere
- Day traders who want no account fee, since eToro charges $0
- Traders wanting forex, crypto or CFDs alongside shares, which CFI lists in stocks, etfs and forex
- Anyone put off by an opening balance, since Vantage requires $5 where Vanguard asks $0
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.
Vanguard
What does it cost to buy shares at Vanguard?+
Buying shares costs $0, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $0. The running cost is an account fee of $20 rather than a charge on each trade, so frequent trading does not add commission.
Is there an account fee?+
There is. The account fee is $20, and it is the main ongoing cost here. Investors who expect to hold rather than trade repeatedly can absorb it, while active traders would feel it more on smaller balances.
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 Freedom24
- Lightyear vs Global Prime
- Lightyear vs ActivTrades
- Vanguard vs XTB
- Lightyear vs UNest
- Lightyear vs eToro
- Lightyear vs Mintos
- Lightyear vs Bitpanda
- Lightyear vs Kraken
- Lightyear vs CapTrader