Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Revolut
Lightyear
Revolut
Higher score in this comparison
Where Lightyear and Revolut differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.42% | 4%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | €1 | £0 |
| Access terms | Easy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days | Instant access via the Revolut app, fee-free withdrawals, no withdrawal limits |
| Monthly fee | €0 | £0 |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Deposit protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000), Account kind (Easy access).
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Key differences
- Revolut scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Revolut offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL.
- Revolut is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Revolut: 4% vs 2.42%.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Revolut offers No monthly 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.
Revolut
Revolut suits people who want everyday banking, travel spending and easy-access savings in one app. Its debit account has a monthly fee of £0, a free ATM allowance of £200 and multi-currency, virtual-card and travel features, although its currency conversion fee can reach 0% to 2%.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. | 9.4HigherThe debit account has a monthly fee of £0, while its currency conversion fee is 0% to 2%. |
| Offer | 8.9Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. | 9.8HigherThe offer includes multi-currency, virtual-card and travel features, plus a headline savings rate of 4%. |
| Trust | 8.7HigherLicence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. | 8.5 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 49 of 1492 | 22 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 35 of 658 | 14 of 658 |
| Investing | 51 of 654 | 139 of 654 |
| Robo-advisors | 6 of 154 | 3 of 154 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 549300ET4IUR6RCZOL84 |
| Estonia | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 | Not confirmed |
| Lithuania | Not confirmed | LT_BL PSD_EMI LT_LT_BL_304940980 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Also worth a look
Finom has headline rate at 5%, against 2.42% for Lightyear and 4% for Revolut.
Finom reviewWhere these facts come from
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- register.fca.org.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Revolut
- revolut.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- pocketwise.co.uk: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Low fees | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Revolut Digital Assets (Europe) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Email, Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Account types | Corporate | ISA, Joint |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | Not confirmed | 0.09% |
| Coins listed | Not confirmed | 200 to 230 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Not confirmed | Card, Bank |
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | network fee plus service fee |
| Derivatives | Not confirmed | No |
| Exchange type | Not confirmed | Cex |
Credit cards
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 13.34% to 17.99% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | 0% to 2%Lower |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | Points |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 1.5 points per EUR1 |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Loans
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.42%below the median | 4%above the median | 3.3% |
Median across 710 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
Revolut
Pros
- The debit account has a monthly fee of £0 and a free ATM allowance of £200.
- Savings offer instant access through the Revolut app, fee-free withdrawals and no withdrawal limits.
- The debit card includes multi-currency, virtual-card and travel features.
Cons
- Currency conversion fees can reach 0% to 2%, which may add cost when travelling or spending abroad.
- Crypto withdrawals carry network fee plus service fee.
- The savings rate is variable at variable, so the headline return may change.
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
Revolut
Who it suits
- People who use Revolut for everyday spending and travel.
- Savings users wanting app-based easy access with fee-free withdrawals.
- Customers who want debit, credit, savings, investing and crypto services together.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise users prioritising a lower stated currency conversion fee of 0.1%.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card users seeking a secured credit card rather than Revolut's debit and credit products.
- bunq users focused on comparing the stated monthly fee of €0 against Revolut's fee.
Country by country
| Country | Lightyear | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
| Denmark | No | Yes |
| Estonia | No | Yes |
8 of 29 countries where either is available.
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.
Revolut
What is Revolut's debit card monthly fee?+
Revolut's debit account has a monthly fee of £0. The card is a debit card on the Visa network, with multi-currency, virtual-card and travel features included in the stated offer.
How much can I withdraw from Revolut ATMs?+
The stated free ATM allowance is £200. Revolut is ranked 15 for this measure among 124 listed brands.
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