Freetrade

3.9(550)

FCA

Lightyear

4.1(500)

FCA/EFSA

Freetrade vs Lightyear

Head-to-Head Comparison 2026

Our Verdict

Lightyear has a higher rating of 4.1/5 compared to Freetrade (3.9/5). Freetrade offers 4 instrument types, while Lightyear offers 3. The minimum deposit is lower at Freetrade with 0 £. Freetrade has been in the market since 2016, making it the more experienced provider.

Comparison Table

Criteria	Freetrade	Lightyear
Rating	3.9/5 (550 reviews)	4.1/5 (500 reviews)✓
Regulation	FCA	FCA/EFSA
Fees	£0 commission, 0.45% FX fee for non-GBP stocks	€0 commission on US/EU stocks, 0.35% FX fee
Min. Deposit	0 £	1 €
Instruments	Stocks, ETFs, REITs, SPACs	Stocks, ETFs, Government Bonds
Platforms	Freetrade App	Lightyear App, Lightyear Web
Options Trading	No	No
Founded	2016	2020
Headquarters	London	London

Detailed Comparison

Fee Comparison

Freetrade: £0 commission, 0.45% FX fee for non-GBP stocks. Minimum deposit: 0 £.

Lightyear: €0 commission on US/EU stocks, 0.35% FX fee. Minimum deposit: 1 €.

Product Range

Freetrade (4 categories)

StocksETFsREITsSPACs

Lightyear (3 categories)

StocksETFsGovernment Bonds

Trading Platforms

Freetrade

Freetrade App

Lightyear

Lightyear App
Lightyear Web

Regulation & Security

Freetrade is regulated by FCA (HQ: London).

Lightyear is regulated by FCA/EFSA (HQ: London).

Who Is It For?

Freetrade

UK neobroker with commission-free stock trading

✓ No commissions on UK stocks

✓ ISA account available (tax-free in UK)

✓ User-friendly app

✗ Mainly focused on UK market

✗ FX fees for international stocks

Lightyear

Commission-free stock trading with multi-currency accounts

✓ No commissions on stocks and ETFs

✓ Multi-currency accounts without exchange fees

✓ Modern, user-friendly app

✗ Relatively new broker

✗ Limited product range

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freetrade or Lightyear cheaper?

Freetrade charges £0 commission, 0.45% FX fee for non-GBP stocks. Lightyear charges €0 commission on US/EU stocks, 0.35% FX fee. The minimum deposit is 0 £ at Freetrade and 1 € at Lightyear.

Which broker offers more products: Freetrade or Lightyear?

Freetrade offers Stocks, ETFs, REITs, SPACs. Lightyear offers Stocks, ETFs, Government Bonds.

Which broker is better regulated?

Freetrade is regulated by FCA. Lightyear is regulated by FCA/EFSA.

Is Freetrade or Lightyear better for beginners?

Freetrade has a minimum deposit of 0 £ and offers Freetrade App as platforms. Lightyear has a minimum deposit of 1 € and offers Lightyear App, Lightyear Web. Freetrade has the lower entry barrier.

Freetrade vs Lightyear: Which broker is better overall?

The choice between Freetrade (3.9/5, 550 reviews) and Lightyear (4.1/5, 500 reviews) depends on your needs. Freetrade: UK neobroker with commission-free stock trading. Lightyear: Commission-free stock trading with multi-currency accounts.

Freetrade

UK neobroker with commission-free stock trading

Open Account →

From 0 £ min. deposit

Lightyear

Commission-free stock trading with multi-currency accounts

Open Account →

From 1 € min. deposit

Freetrade read review →Lightyear read review →