Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Lightyear
eToro
Higher score in this comparison
Lightyear
eToro vs Lightyear: the differences
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | LightyearReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 to $10,000 | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Account types | ISA | Corporate |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- eToro scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Stock trade fee is lower at eToro: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only eToro offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Bonds, Funds.
- Account types: only eToro offers ISA.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Features: only eToro offers Demo account, Copy trading, Mobile app.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits new investors who want shares, crypto and cash interest in a single app, with an account fee of $0 and a stock trade fee of $0. The catch is the withdrawal fee of $5 flat fee, which makes it a poor fit for anyone moving small sums in and out often.
Lightyear
Lightyear suits you if you want stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds and funds alongside easy access cash in a low-fees model. You pay stock trade fees of $1 with account fees of €0 and inactivity fees of €0 while keeping transfers simple.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherAccount fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 rank 1 and 1, while withdrawals cost $5 flat fee. | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 8.9HigherMarkets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 8.7Licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. |
Availability and regulation
| Country | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
eToro
- etoro.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 13 facts, checked September 29, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 4 of 1492 | 49 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 3 of 658 | 35 of 658 |
| Investing | 5 of 654 | 51 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 4 of 358 | 29 of 358 |
| Trading platforms | 4 of 24 | 21 of 24 |
| Robo-advisors | 1 of 154 | 6 of 154 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2007 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | Not confirmed |
| Coins listed | from 150 | Not confirmed |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 flat fee | Not confirmed |
| Derivatives | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Exchange type | Cex | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.8%Higher | 2.42% |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Interest on USD cash balance, no lock-in, withdraw at any time, calculated daily and paid monthly | Easy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days |
| Monthly fee | $0 | €0 |
| Account kind | Cash management | Easy access |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | €1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Custodial | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 2.875% |
Median across 94 listed providers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- Interest on the USD cash balance pays 3.8% on a variable basis, calculated daily and paid monthly, and withdrawals are allowed at any time.
- Regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC, with client asset protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and deposit protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- Minimum deposit $1 to $10,000 and minimum portfolio investment $500 keep the starting point low, and fractional shares are among the listed features.
Cons
- Withdrawal costs $5 flat fee each time, which makes small, regular transfers expensive next to the $0 stock trade fee.
- Client asset protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 sits well below deposit protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so a large share portfolio can outrun the cover.
- Taker fee 1% sits above the 0.25% median, which matters for anyone trading crypto often rather than holding.
Lightyear
Pros
- Account fees of €0 and monthly fees of €0 keep ongoing holding costs low
- Inactivity fees of €0 suit buy and hold investors who trade at intervals
- Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto give broad choice across shares, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto
Cons
- Stock trade fees of $1 look pricey next to ActivTrades at $0 and XTB at €0
- Currency conversion is 0.35%, which adds cost when you deal across currencies
- Support runs on email and help centre only, which limits how you can get help
Who each suits
eToro
Who it suits
- New investors, since the audience is listed as beginners and the minimum deposit is $1 to $10,000.
- Investors who want cash and markets together, with USD balance interest at 3.8% alongside stocks, etfs and forex.
- UK savers who want a tax wrapper, since an ISA sits among the isa on offer.
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, which covers stocks, etfs and crypto and suits anyone who wants shares, ETFs and crypto and can set derivatives aside.
- CFI, for readers who want stocks, etfs and forex and can leave futures aside; eToro is the wider of the two.
- Fiesta Credito MX, which answers to CONDUSEF rather than Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC, for readers trading outside those markets.
Lightyear
Who it suits
- You invest at intervals across shares and funds and prefer Lightyear over DKB for lower per trade dealing costs
- You hold spare cash alongside shares and prefer Lightyear over ActivTrades for Vault interest paired with broking
- You start modestly and prefer Lightyear over XTB for low entry balances with broad market access
Who should look elsewhere
- You want commission free share dealing on every trade, so XTB may suit better given stock trade fees of €0 against Lightyear at $1
- You want phone based help, so DKB may suit better as Lightyear support runs on email and help centre only
Questions about each
eToro
What does eToro charge to open and run an account?+
The account fee is $0 and the monthly fee is $0, so the account costs nothing to hold. Stock trades are charged at $0 and the platform describes itself as commission-free. Managed portfolios carry a management fee of 0%. Money moving out is the exception, at $5 flat fee per withdrawal.
Is my money protected at eToro?+
eToro is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC. Client assets sit under investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, while cash deposits are covered by a separate scheme at EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. These ceilings are very different, so anyone holding a large share portfolio should treat the lower figure as the real limit on recovery.
Lightyear
What does Lightyear charge for investing?+
Stock trade fees are $1 per execution. Account fees are €0 and inactivity fees are €0, while monthly fees are €0. Currency conversion is 0.35%, so cross currency dealing adds a separate charge to weigh.
How is Lightyear regulated and protected?+
Lightyear holds licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 and names Estonian Financial Supervision Authority as regulator. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and deposit protection is FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Cover applies within stated limits and eligibility rules.
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