Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Wealthsimple
Where Lightyear and Wealthsimple differ
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | CA$0 |
| Account fee | €0 | CA$0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto, Futures |
| Account types | Corporate | Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%Higher | 1.25% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | CA$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 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | CA$0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Wealthsimple scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Markets: only Wealthsimple offers Options, Futures.
- Account types: only Wealthsimple offers Joint.
- Interest on cash is higher at Lightyear: 2.42% vs 1.25%.
- Features: only Wealthsimple offers Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Wealthsimple 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.
Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple serves Canadian beginners and experienced investors who want self-directed trading and managed portfolios in a single app. The minimum deposit is CAD 0, the stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, while the UK is not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options).
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.6HigherMinimum deposit of CAD 0, stock trade fee of CAD 0, options contract fee of CAD 0 and account fee of CAD 0. |
| Offer | 8.8Covers stocks, ETFs and crypto with fractional shares and crypto access for varied plans | 9.2HigherManaged portfolios charge 0.5% and start at CAD 1, with cash earning 1.25%. |
| Trust | 8.7Cover through EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 alongside Estonian supervision for reassurance | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Lightyear if interest on cash matter most.
Pick Wealthsimple if cost, offer, and account types matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | Yes |
Also worth a look
ActivTrades has interest on cash at 3.3%, against 2.42% for Lightyear and 1.25% for Wealthsimple.
ActivTrades reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 29 of 490 | 53 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 6 of 153 | 15 of 153 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Wealthsimple Technologies Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Canada |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Wealthsimple |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | CA$1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Wealthsimple | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inactivity fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | CA$0below the median | CA$0.90 |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | 1.25%lowest quarter | 3% |
Median across 34 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
Wealthsimple
Pros
- Stock trade fee of CAD 0 on a commission-free model across self-directed accounts
- Minimum deposit of CAD 0, so an account opens with a small sum
- Managed portfolios charge a management fee of 0.5% and start at CAD 1
Cons
- The UK and Europe are not among its markets (stocks, etfs and options), so a reader there would need a different broker
- Managed portfolios carry a management fee of 0.5% on top of CAD 0 self-directed trades
- Margin is available at a margin rate of 3.95%, which amplifies losses on a levered position
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
Wealthsimple
Who it suits
- Canadian beginners putting money away in a managed portfolio
- Canadian investors buying fractional shares in a mobile app
- Experienced traders wanting stocks, ETFs, options, crypto and futures in a single account
Who should look elsewhere
- UK or EU readers, who should look at CFI, eToro or Vantage instead
- Traders who want a forex and CFD range, since stocks, etfs and options omits both
- Anyone seeking an ISA, SIPP or similar tax-sheltered wrapper, since neither is among its account types (joint and corporate)
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.
Wealthsimple
What does it cost to trade stocks at Wealthsimple?+
The stock trade fee is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0. Options contracts carry a fee of CAD 0. Cash earns interest of 1.25%. Managed portfolios are the part that still charges, at a management fee of 0.5%.
Is there a minimum deposit or account fee?+
The minimum deposit is CAD 0 and the account fee is CAD 0, so opening an account costs nothing. Managed portfolios ask for a minimum investment of CAD 1. Brands across the site typically ask €4.64 to start.
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