Best Alternatives to Lightyear in 2026
People look for Lightyear alternatives usually because they want a longer track record than a 2021 launch, because they want deeper research and trading tools, or — for EU investors — because the 0.35% FX fee is higher than the 0.10% UK rate. Below are the closest alternatives, ranked, with how each compares on cost.
Risk warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. The majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
1. eToro
eToro is a multi-asset platform best known for copy trading and an extremely beginner-friendly interface. Commission-free stock investing, but watch the withdrawal and currency-conversion fees.
Compare Lightyear vs eToro →Visit eToroeToro
Best for beginners and social/copy trading
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. 50% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
2. XTB
XTB offers commission-free real stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover, a polished platform, and strong regulation. A low-cost choice for EU and UK investors, with a 0.5% FX fee being the main cost to watch.
Compare Lightyear vs XTB →Visit XTBXTB
Best for low-cost stock and ETF investing in the EU/UK
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
3. Trading 212
Trading 212 offers genuinely commission-free investing with no withdrawal fee and an Invest/ISA account for UK users. A strong low-cost pick, though product depth is narrower than full-service brokers.
Compare Lightyear vs Trading 212 →Visit Trading 212Trading 212
Best for low fees and UK investors
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
4. InvestEngine
InvestEngine is a UK ETF-only investment platform with no platform fee, no dealing commission and no FX fee on its DIY portfolios, across ISA, SIPP and General accounts. All ETFs are GBP-denominated, so you pay only the underlying ETF's ongoing charge. ETFs only — no individual stocks.
Compare Lightyear vs InvestEngine →Visit InvestEngineInvestEngine
Best for zero-fee DIY ETF investing with a free ISA and SIPP
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
5. DEGIRO
DEGIRO (part of flatexDEGIRO Bank, BaFin-regulated) is one of Europe's cheapest brokers for real stocks and ETFs. A €1 handling fee applies to most trades, and its Core Selection ETFs can be traded commission-free (just the €1 handling fee) under a fair-use policy. The costs to watch are the 0.25% AutoFX currency-conversion mark-up and a €2.50 per-exchange, per-year connectivity fee.
Compare Lightyear vs DEGIRO →Visit DEGIRODEGIRO
Best low-cost broker for buy-and-hold ETF investors in the EU
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
6. Trade Republic
Trade Republic is a German neobroker and licensed bank offering stocks, ETFs, bonds and crypto at a flat €1 external-settlement fee per trade, with completely free ETF savings-plan executions. It also pays interest on uninvested cash (linked to ECB rates) and runs a Saveback card scheme. Available across most of the eurozone; a mobile-first, no-frills platform.
Compare Lightyear vs Trade Republic →Visit Trade RepublicTrade Republic
Best €1-flat neobroker for low-cost investing in the eurozone
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
7. Webull
Webull pairs commission-free stocks, ETFs and options with surprisingly advanced charting and analysis tools. Strong for active US traders; available in the UK with a 0.35% FX fee. Only regulatory fees apply on sells.
Compare Lightyear vs Webull →Visit WebullWebull
Best for active traders who want advanced tools free
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
8. Capital.com
Capital.com is a CFD broker with tight spreads (from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD), no commission, and no inactivity or withdrawal fees. A low-cost, well-regulated choice for CFD traders — but it is CFD-only, not a share-ownership investing platform.
Compare Lightyear vs Capital.com →Visit Capital.comCapital.com
Best for low-cost CFD trading with tight spreads
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
9. Freetrade
Freetrade is a UK mobile-first investing app offering commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and investment trusts, with a genuinely free Stocks & Shares ISA and SIPP on its Basic plan. The main cost for most users is the FX fee on non-GBP trades: 0.99% on the free plan, dropping to 0.59% (Standard, £5.99/mo) and 0.39% (Plus, £11.99/mo).
Compare Lightyear vs Freetrade →Visit FreetradeFreetrade
Best free ISA and SIPP for commission-free UK investing
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
10. Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital is a German neobroker offering real stocks and ETFs on two plans. The FREE Broker charges €0.99 per trade (free for €250+ purchases of Prime ETFs) with no account fee, while PRIME+ Broker (€4.99/month) gives a trading flat rate with €0 per-trade commission. ETF savings-plan executions are free on both plans. Trades run via gettex and Xetra.
Compare Lightyear vs Scalable Capital →Visit Scalable CapitalScalable Capital
Best broker with a free savings-plan tier and an optional flat-rate plan
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
11. Robinhood
Robinhood pioneered commission-free trading in the US. Zero commission on stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto, no FX fees (USD only), and a clean app. US residents only, and the $75 account-transfer-out fee is worth noting.
Compare Lightyear vs Robinhood →Visit RobinhoodRobinhood
Best for commission-free investing in the US
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
12. AvaTrade
AvaTrade is an established, multi-regulated CFD and forex broker with fixed spreads and a beginner-friendly app (AvaTradeGO). Costs sit in the spread, so watch the quarterly inactivity and annual administration fees if you trade rarely. CFD-only — not a share-ownership investing platform.
Compare Lightyear vs AvaTrade →Visit AvaTradeAvaTrade
Best for CFD and forex trading with fixed spreads
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
13. Fortrade
Fortrade is an established, multi-regulated CFD and forex broker with a deliberately simple, spread-only pricing model and a beginner-friendly platform. There are no trading commissions — the cost sits in the spread — but watch the inactivity fee and overnight holding costs. CFD-only, not a share-ownership investing platform.
Compare Lightyear vs Fortrade →Visit FortradeFortrade
Best for simple, spread-only CFD and forex trading
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
14. Revolut
Revolut bolts simple stock investing onto its popular banking app. Convenient if you already use Revolut, with one free trade per month on Standard, but the 0.25% per-trade commission makes it pricier than dedicated low-cost brokers for active investors.
Compare Lightyear vs Revolut →Visit RevolutRevolut
Best for investing inside an all-in-one money app
Capital at risk. This is not financial advice. Investing involves risk of loss.
Compare alternatives
| Feature | Lightyear | eToro | XTB | Trading 212 | InvestEngine | DEGIRO | Trade Republic | Webull | Capital.comCFD | Freetrade | Scalable Capital | Robinhood | AvaTradeCFD | FortradeCFD | Revolut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Stock commission | £0 commission on UK, US and European stocks and ETFs (EU accounts: 0.10% on US stocks, $1 max) | $1–$2 per stock trade (varies by country/exchange); ETFs 0% | 0% up to €100k monthly turnover, then 0.2% (min €10) | 0% | £0 dealing commission on all ETFs (DIY portfolios); no platform fee | €1 handling fee per trade on most markets; US stocks add a further ~€1 commission. Core Selection ETFs: €1 handling fee only (fair-use policy applies) | €1 flat external-settlement fee per trade (stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto) | $0 on stocks, ETFs and options (regulatory fees on sells) | No commission; cost is in the spread (from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD) | £0 commission on all UK & US stocks, ETFs and investment trusts (all plans) | FREE Broker: €0.99 per trade (€0 on €250+ Prime ETF purchases). PRIME+ Broker (€4.99/mo): €0 per trade on €250+, else €0.99. Xetra trades €3.99 on both plans | $0 on US stocks, ETFs, options and crypto | No commission; cost is in the spread (from 0.9 pips on EUR/USD) | No commission; cost is in the spread (EUR/USD ~2 pips) | 0.25% per trade (min ~$1), 0.12% on Ultra; 1+ free trades/month by plan |
| Withdrawal fee | Free by bank transfer | $5 per withdrawal on USD accounts ($30 min); free on GBP/EUR accounts | Free above €100 (some entities charge €10 below €100) | Free | Free — no withdrawal fee | Free to a linked bank account | Free to a linked bank account | Free (ACH); wires $25 to send; account transfer out $75 | Free | Free standard withdrawals; £5 for same-day withdrawal | Free to a linked bank account | Free (ACH); instant withdrawal 1.75%; account transfer out $100 | Free | Free (some payment methods may charge) | Free |
| Inactivity fee | None | None (eToro removed the inactivity fee in 2026) | €10/month after 1 year inactive with no deposit in 90 days | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | None | $50/quarter after 3 months idle, plus $100/year administration fee after 12 months | $10/month after 180 days (6 months) of no trading | None |
| Min deposit | $0 | $50 | $0 | $1 | $100 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $20 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $100 | $100 | $0 |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Demo account | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Regulators | FCA, EFSA | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | FCA, CySEC, KNF | FCA, CySEC | FCA | BaFin, AFM, DNB | BaFin, Bundesbank | SEC, FINRA, SIPC, FCA | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SCB | FCA | BaFin, Bundesbank | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSCA | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, CIRO | FCA, CySEC |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best alternative to Lightyear?
eToro is the strongest alternative for most users — best for beginners and social/copy trading.
Why switch from Lightyear?
Common reasons include lower fees, different account types, or a simpler interface. Compare the options above against what matters to you.