Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Zerodha
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Lightyear |  Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | ₹0 |
| Account fee | €0 | ₹300 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Bonds, ETFs, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Free withdrawals |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | 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 | ₹20 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Coin, Console, Kite |
| Account types | Corporate | 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
- Zerodha scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Zerodha offers Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Zerodha offers Futures, Options.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Zerodha offers Demo account, Mobile app.
- Pricing model: only Zerodha 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.
Zerodha
Zerodha suits Indian investors who place their own orders and want trading costs kept down. The stock trade fee is INR 0 and the account fee is INR 300, so the bill lands on holding an account and on derivatives rather than on the shares. Platforms for placing orders are Coin, Console and Kite.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Upkeep at €0 and inactivity at €0 with trades at $1 | 9.1Equity orders cost INR 0 in brokerage, but the account fee of INR 300 and INR 20 on an options contract add up. |
| 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 | 8.8Higher |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 39 of 471 | 132 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Zerodha Broking Limited |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2010 |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Zerodha | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ₹20at the median | ₹20 |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 43 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
Zerodha
Pros
- One account covers bonds, etfs and funds, so shares, funds, bonds, options and futures sit with a single provider.
- Oversight comes from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) in India, with Zerodha Broking Limited as the named legal entity.
- Withdrawals carry no charge, and demo account and mobile app includes a demo account and a mobile app, so a new user can practise before funding.
Cons
- The account fee of INR 300 ranks 107 of 138 brands on that measure, above the site median of €0.
- Options contracts are charged INR 20, so the low equity cost does not carry over to derivatives.
- Crypto is not among its markets (bonds, etfs and funds), so digital asset traders need a second provider.
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
Zerodha
Who it suits
- Indian investors placing their own share, fund and bond orders, with Coin, Console and Kite available to trade on.
- Newcomers who want to try a demo account and a mobile app, both listed in demo account and mobile app.
- Derivatives traders who can absorb INR 20 on an options contract and want funds, bonds and equities in one place.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, for readers who want forex, CFDs and crypto in one account, since stocks, etfs and forex covers that wider asset list.
- Vantage, for light traders who would rather pay an account fee of $0 than INR 300.
- eToro, for readers who only compare the equity charge, since its stock trade fee is also $0.
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | Zerodha |
|---|---|---|
| India | 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.
Zerodha
What does Zerodha charge to buy and sell shares?+
The stock trade fee is INR 0, and Zerodha ranks 1 of 161 brands on that measure, so equity dealing sits at the cheap end of the table. Derivatives are priced apart from equities, with an options contract charged INR 20, so the headline equity cost is not the whole bill.
Is there an account fee, and how does it compare?+
Yes. The account fee is INR 300, which places Zerodha at 107 of 138 on the account fee table, well below its stock trade fee ranking of 1 of 161. Withdrawals, by contrast, cost nothing. Holding the account open is the pricier side of this cost profile, while dealing through it ranks well.
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 ActivTrades
- Zerodha vs XTB
- Zerodha vs NAGA
- Lightyear vs UNest
- Lightyear vs eToro
- Lightyear vs Mintos
- Lightyear vs Bitpanda
- Lightyear vs Kraken
- Lightyear vs CapTrader