Updated October 17, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Lightyear vs Revolut UK
Lightyear
Revolut UK
Higher score in this comparison
Lightyear vs Revolut UK: the differences
| Compare | LightyearReviewVisitVisit | Revolut UKReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €1 | £0 |
| Regulators | Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35% | 0% to 2%Lower |
| Account types | Corporate | ISA, Joint |
| Stock trade fee | $1 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfers in and out | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 2.42% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Revolut UK scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Lightyear offers Estonian Financial Supervision Authority, Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).
- Regulators: only Revolut UK offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), LT BL, SIPC.
- Revolut UK is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Revolut UK: 0% to 2% vs 0.35%.
- Account types: only Lightyear offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Revolut UK offers ISA, Joint.
- Features: only Lightyear offers Crypto, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Revolut UK offers Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel.
- Pricing model: only Lightyear offers Low fees.
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 UK
For readers in the UK managing everyday money and investing in one place, Revolut UK works as a broker linked to app based accounts and cards. It suits people who want easy access savings alongside joint and ISA options with multi currency and investing choices.
Score breakdown
| Area | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Account fees of €0 with inactivity fees of €0 anchor holding costs. | 9.7Higher |
| Offer | 8.9Markets of stocks, ETFs and crypto span shares, funds, bonds and crypto alongside cash. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 8.7Licence MiCA CASP 254900BBBJZF2IE8EN54 under Estonian supervision frames oversight. | 9.1Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 49 of 1492 | 46 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 35 of 658 | 32 of 658 |
| Investing | 51 of 654 | 50 of 654 |
| Robo-advisors | 6 of 154 | 5 of 154 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| 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 States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 70365 |
Side by side, item by item
| Account types | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
What we checked
Lightyear
- lightyear.com: 13 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Revolut UK
- revolut.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- moneytothemasses.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares | Multi currency, Virtual card, Travel |
| Pricing model | Low fees | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Revolut Digital Assets (Europe) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 2.42% | 4%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| 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 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Easy access |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | €1 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash, Crypto | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Credit cards
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| APR | Not confirmed | 13.34% to 17.99% |
| Rewards type | Not confirmed | Points |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | 1.5 points per EUR1 |
| Card kind | Not confirmed | Credit |
Debit cards
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK |
|---|---|---|
| Free ATM withdrawals | Not confirmed | £200 |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Visa |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 160 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Lightyear | Revolut UK | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $1highest quarter | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €0below the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.35%below the median | 0% to 2%below the median | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 2.42%below the median | Not confirmed | 2.875% |
Median across 94 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 UK
Pros
- Easy access account opened and managed through the Revolut app
- Joint and ISA account choices alongside ETF, cash and crypto portfolios
- Multi currency handling with virtual card support for travel spending
Cons
- Investments carry risk, and the value of holdings can fall as well as rise.
- Investing happens on an execution only basis, so every decision rests with the investor.
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 UK
Who it suits
- People combining savings, cards and investing in one app
- Travellers handling more than one currency day to day
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who want a firm to recommend which shares to buy.
- People who want only a traditional bank with local branches.
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 UK
Which products does Revolut UK cover as a broker?+
Revolut UK covers brokerage with easy access savings alongside joint and ISA account types. Portfolios include ETF, cash and crypto holdings. Card use includes debit and credit options with virtual card support.
Who is Revolut UK suited to?+
It suits people who prefer managing savings and investing through an app. Multi currency features and travel support help everyday use abroad. Joint account choices also support shared household money.