Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Openbank
Lightyear
Openbank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | LightyearReviewVisitVisit | OpenbankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1 | €1 |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | 0%Lower |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | free transfers |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | 2.75%Higher |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, App |
| Account types | Corporate | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit (€1), Account fee (€0), Markets (Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Openbank scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Openbank offers Comision Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV).
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Openbank: 0% vs 0.35%.
- Interest on cash is higher at Openbank: 2.75% vs 2.42%.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Openbank offers Travel, Multi currency.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Openbank offers No annual fee.
Our verdict on each
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.
Openbank
Openbank runs a Spanish current account, an easy-access savings pot paying 2.75% and a Mastercard debit card from one app. It suits savers who want interest paid monthly with no lock-in, and households that want everyday banking and card spending in one place.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. | 9.4HigherMonthly fee €0, account fee €0 and stock trade fee €1 keep the running cost light. |
| Offer | 8.9Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. | 9.9Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. | 9.2Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 49 of 1492 | 103 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 35 of 658 | 78 of 658 |
| Investing | 51 of 654 | 70 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 29 of 358 | 43 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 6 of 154 | 15 of 154 |
What each covers
| Markets | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | Yes |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 13 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Openbank
- openbank.es: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- financeads.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Travel, Multi currency |
| Pricing model | Low fees | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | OPEN BANK S.A. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Spain |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1995 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Chat, Email, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.42% | 2.75%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Access terms | Easy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days | Interest paid monthly; money withdrawable at any time in full or in part including accrued interest; free immediate transfers between the current and remunerated account |
| Monthly fee | €0 | €0 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.42% to 1.03% |
| Minimum investment | €1Lower | €500 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ESG |
Credit cards
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | None |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Loans
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Openbank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1at the median | €1at the median | €1 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | 0%below the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | 2.75%below the median | 2.875% |
Median across 80 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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
Openbank
Pros
- Interest is credited monthly, and money is withdrawable at any time in full or in part, accrued interest included
- Transfers between the current and remunerated account are free and immediate, and the card runs on mastercard
- The Mastercard debit card carries a currency conversion fee of 0% with a multi-currency feature for travel
Cons
- The headline rate of 2.75% sits below the site median, which stands at 3%
- The credit card has a rewards type of none, so nothing comes back on card spending
- The robo adviser takes a management fee of 0.42% to 1.03% and needs a minimum investment of €500
Who each suits
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
Openbank
Who it suits
- Savers who want interest paid monthly and no fixed term
- Households that want a current account, a savings pot and a card in one app
- Travellers who want a multi-currency card
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if a multi-currency account with a monthly fee of £0 matters more than deposit interest
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, which charges a monthly fee of £0, if a UK current account fits better
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, which has a monthly fee of $0, if building a credit record is the aim
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | Openbank |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Openbank
What does it cost to hold the account?+
Openbank charges a monthly fee of €0 and a credit card annual fee of €0. Transfers between the current and the remunerated account are free and immediate, and a stock trade costs €1, so everyday banking adds very little.
How much interest do I earn?+
The easy-access account pays a headline rate of 2.75%, credited monthly, and the rate type is variable. The site median stands at 3%, so the offer sits in the middle of the market rather than at either end.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Lightyear
Openbank