Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Fidelity vs Lightyear
Lightyear
Fidelity
Higher score in this comparison
Where Fidelity and Lightyear differ
| Compare | FidelityReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | LightyearReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, Futures, Forex | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Corporate |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Margin rate | 12.375% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free bank transfers in and out |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
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Key differences
- Fidelity scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Fidelity offers SEC, FINRA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Stock trade fee is lower at Fidelity: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Fidelity offers Options, Futures, Forex.
- Markets: only Lightyear offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Fidelity offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Features: only Fidelity offers Demo account, Mobile app, Options.
- Pricing model: only Fidelity offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
Fidelity
Fidelity suits US investors who want a broad brokerage without a monthly charge, and its stock trade fee and minimum deposit both sit at $0 and $0. The catch is the wider set of charges around the edges, and support that runs on phone and community.
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 | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Stock trade fee $0 and account fee $0, offset by options at $0.65 and margin at 12.375%. | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. |
| Offer | 9.5Higher | 8.9Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 8.7Licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Estonia | Not confirmed | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 23292 | Not confirmed |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 62 of 654 | 51 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 37 of 358 | 29 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 11 of 154 | 6 of 154 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | No |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto, Options, FuturesCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | FIDELITY BROKERAGE SERVICES LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1946 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Community | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €1 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Savings
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 2.42% |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Easy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Fidelity | Lightyear | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.35%below the median | 0.4% |
| Margin rate | 12.375%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.83% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65at the median | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 2.42%below the median | 2.875% |
Median across 94 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Fidelity
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0
- Minimum deposit is $0, so accounts open at any size
- Regulated in the US by SEC, FINRA and SIPC
Cons
- Options trades are charged $0.65 per contract
- Support runs on phone and community only
- Margin borrowing starts at 12.375%, so leverage carries its own cost
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
Fidelity
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
- Experienced traders who want a wide market list in one place
- Retirement savers using the available retirement account types
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a broker with no product charges, since options cost $0.65
- Support-first users, as help runs on phone and community
- People who borrow on margin, where the rate starts at 12.375%
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
Country by country
| Country | Fidelity | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Fidelity
What does it cost to trade stocks at Fidelity?+
Trading stocks costs $0 per trade, on a commission-free model. The account fee is also $0, so there is nothing to pay for holding an account open. Options and margin are the exceptions, and both are priced separately.
Is there a minimum deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so there is no floor to meet before you can start. Small sums can go in from the beginning. Account types include a retirement account, a Roth retirement account and a joint account.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Lightyear
Fidelity