Lightyear
Best for simple, low-cost EU investingOur verdict. One of the simplest, lowest-cost ways for EU investors to hold stocks, ETFs and euro money market funds in a single app. The trade-off is a focused product with no options or futures. Best for cost-conscious long-term investors who value a clean experience over advanced tooling.
- Lightyear is built for low-cost, long-term EU investing: stocks, ETFs and euro money market funds in one clean app, with no account or inactivity fees and no minimum to open.
- EU pricing is competitive, not free: ETFs trade with no execution fee, EU stocks cost €1, US stocks 0.1% capped at $1, and currency conversion is a flat 0.35%.
- Your idle cash can work too. Vaults pay up to 2.15% (APY) on euros as of 29 June 2026 through money market funds, and crypto is now available to EU investors (not the UK or Hungary).
- Client money sits under EU investor protection up to €20,000 via Lightyear Europe AS, regulated in Estonia and passported across the EU. Capital is at risk when you invest.
Lightyear has grown into one of the more talked-about investing apps in Europe, and for a specific kind of investor it deserves the attention. It strips investing back to the essentials: stocks, ETFs, euro money market funds and, more recently, crypto, all in an app that is genuinely pleasant to use. For EU investors who want low fees and a clean experience rather than a wall of professional tools, it is an easy platform to recommend.
We have tested the account opening flow, the fees in practice and the wider product range to give EU investors an honest, euro-first breakdown. This review focuses on the EU proposition specifically; the UK version of Lightyear has its own pricing and its own ISA, which we flag where it matters.
Strengths & drawbacksWhat we like, and what to watch
After putting Lightyear through its paces from an EU investor's seat, here is how the strengths and limitations balance out.
- One of the best app experiences in the EU. Clean, fast and simple enough for a first-time investor, with desktop and mobile kept in sync.
- ETFs free of execution and trading fees. No commission to buy or sell ETFs; underlying fund manager fees and potential FX fees still apply.
- Low, transparent pricing. EU stocks at €1, US stocks at 0.1% capped at $1, and a flat 0.35% currency conversion fee with no hidden spread.
- Idle euros can earn through Vaults. Uninvested cash can sit in money market funds rather than doing nothing. Relatively low risk, though capital is still at risk.
- Multi-currency account. Hold euros, US dollars and pounds in one place to avoid converting on every US trade.
- Crypto available to EU investors. A growing list of coins at a flat 0.45% per order, with no separate spread markup.
- Focused product range. Stocks, ETFs, money market funds and crypto only. No options, futures or bonds trading for active or advanced traders.
- EU pays more than the UK. EU accounts pay per-trade stock commissions and 0.35% FX, while UK accounts get commission-free stock trading and a 0.10% FX fee.
- Younger than the incumbents. Launched in 2021, so it has a shorter track record than names like Interactive Brokers or Trade Republic.
Lightyear at a glance
What Lightyear is known for
Lightyear was founded in 2021 by two early Wise employees, and that heritage shows. The app is built around clarity and low cost rather than breadth: you get American and European stocks, a deep ETF range, money market funds for idle cash, and a multi-currency account that lets you hold euros, dollars and pounds without a forced conversion on every trade.
Where it has earned its reputation is the experience. The app is one of the cleanest in the European market, and features like fractional shares and recurring Plans make it straightforward to drip-feed money into a portfolio each month. It is not trying to be a professional trading terminal, and that focus is a large part of its appeal.
CostsFees and pricing for EU investors
Lightyear keeps pricing simple and easy to predict, which is one of its strongest cards for EU investors. ETFs are free of execution and trading fees, individual stocks carry a small, flat commission, and the currency conversion fee is among the lowest you will find for a euro-based account.
| Item | EU fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ETFs | No execution or custody fee | Fund manager fees and FX still apply |
| EU stocks | €1 per order | Flat fee on euro-denominated trades |
| US stocks | 0.1%, max $1 (min $0.10) | Among the lowest for EU investors |
| Other European stocks | 0.1% per order | Non-euro European exchanges |
| Currency conversion (FX) | 0.35% | Flat, at the interbank rate |
| Crypto | 0.45% per order | EU only, not the UK or Hungary |
| Account, inactivity, bank transfers | Free | Card deposits cost 0.6% |
The 0.35% FX fee is the figure to watch if you buy a lot of US-listed assets. It is competitive against many euro brokers, and the multi-currency account helps you avoid converting more often than you need to. Use our ETF fee calculator to see how these costs stack up over a long holding period.
Safety and regulation
For EU investors, Lightyear operates through Lightyear Europe AS, which is regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (Finantsinspektsioon) and passports its services across the EU under MiFID II. Client assets are held separately from the company's own money, and eligible claims are covered by EU investor protection up to €20,000.
That €20,000 figure is lower than the UK's FSCS investment cover of £85,000, which UK customers of Lightyear U.K. Ltd benefit from instead. Neither scheme protects you against investment losses; they cover the failure of the firm itself. As always, the value of your investments can fall as well as rise.
PlatformsThe platform and app experience
This is where Lightyear stands out. The app is fast, uncluttered and easy to navigate, and the web platform mirrors it closely so you can manage a portfolio from either. Buying a stock or ETF takes a few taps, fractional shares let you put a fixed amount to work rather than buying whole shares, and recurring Plans automate monthly contributions.
The app also layers in light research tools, including AI-assisted summaries that explain why a holding moved on a given day, plus a newer feature that turns a plain-language theme, such as European defence or clean energy, into a suggested starting list of stocks and funds when you build your own Plan. They are a helpful orientation for newer investors rather than a substitute for doing your own research. If you want a deeper, professional-grade terminal, this is not that, and our Interactive Brokers review covers the heavier alternative.
CoverageWhat you can invest in
Lightyear covers the essentials an EU investor needs to build a long-term portfolio, without spreading itself thin:
- US stocks across the NYSE and Nasdaq, with more than 4,000 names and fractional-share support
- European stocks from more than 20 countries, traded in their local currency where possible
- ETFs from major providers such as Vanguard, iShares and Amundi, free of execution and trading fees (fund manager fees and potential FX fees apply)
- Money market funds via Vaults, for earning on uninvested cash
- Crypto for EU investors, at a flat 0.45% per order
For investors focused on a core index strategy, that ETF range is the part that matters most. We walk through the options in our guides to ETF investing for Europeans and how to invest in the S&P 500 as a European.
Ready-made Plans
For investors who would rather not assemble a portfolio themselves, Lightyear added Ready-made Plans in 2026: three diversified portfolios you pick by risk level and then leave to run, with optional automatic contributions. Each is built from funds managed by BlackRock and Vanguard.
- Moderate Mix, a balanced portfolio of international stocks and bonds, actively managed to a moderate risk profile
- Growth Group, weighted further towards equities for a higher-risk, higher-growth profile
- All-World Wonder, a fully invested equity portfolio passively tracking the FTSE All-World index of more than 3,700 companies across 45-plus countries
You choose the risk level, switch on recurring contributions if you want them, and the portfolio runs in the background. It is a reasonable middle ground between buying a single ETF and building a full portfolio yourself. As with any investment, the value can fall as well as rise, and past performance is not a useful guide to future returns, which are never guaranteed.
CashVaults: earning on your euros
Vaults are Lightyear's answer to idle cash. Instead of leaving uninvested euros sitting at 0%, you can move them into money market funds managed by names such as BlackRock and J.P. Morgan. As of 29 June 2026, the rate is up to 2.15% (APY) on euros, shown net of fund fees.
Lightyear has also been widening where this is offered. As of 29 June 2026, savings reached seven more EU markets, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Slovakia and Slovenia, where idle euros sit in a J.P. Morgan money market fund (the JPMorgan EUR Liquidity LVNAV Select fund) at a rate of 2.03% (APY), variable and net of fees.
It is worth being precise about what this is: a Vault is an investment product, not a bank savings account. Money market funds are relatively low risk, but the value can still move and your capital is at risk. The rate is variable, so it can change without notice. For investors who keep a cash buffer in their brokerage account, it is a sensible way to stop that cash losing ground to inflation.
Digital assetsCrypto for EU investors
Crypto is one of the clearest points of difference between the EU and UK versions of Lightyear. EU investors can buy a growing list of major coins at a flat 0.45% per order, with no separate spread markup, inside the same app they use for stocks and ETFs. It can also be added to recurring Plans for those who prefer to average in over time.
Because crypto sits outside the EU investor protection scheme, treat it differently from the rest of your portfolio. It is a high-risk corner of the platform, not a like-for-like swap for stocks or a Vault.
Welcome offerThe EUINVEST welcome bonus
New EU investors who open an account through our link and enter promo code EUINVEST can receive up to €100 in a free fractional share. To qualify, you deposit at least €100 within 15 days of signing up, and the reward lands in your General Investment Account. The value is weighted, so most users land in the lower bands rather than the headline figure.
We break down the probability tiers, the six-month holding rule and the exact steps in our dedicated Lightyear promo code guide. It is a fair incentive to try the platform, as long as you go in with realistic expectations about the likely amount.
Open Lightyear with code EUINVEST and claim up to €100 →
Capital at risk, terms apply. Seek guidance if necessary.
Best fitWho Lightyear is best for
A good fit for:
- Beginners who want a simple, low-cost first investing app
- Cost-conscious long-term investors building an ETF portfolio
- EU investors who want to hold euros, dollars and pounds in one account
- Anyone who wants idle cash to earn through money market funds
Less suitable for:
- Active traders who need options, futures or advanced order types
- Investors who want the widest possible market access (consider Interactive Brokers instead)
UK investors: this review covers the EU account. The UK app has its own pricing and its own ISA.
Getting startedHow to open a Lightyear account
Final verdict
For EU investors, Lightyear is one of the most appealing low-cost investing apps available right now. It pairs a genuinely excellent experience with transparent fees, a sensible product range and a way to earn on idle euros, and it backs all of that with EU regulation and investor protection. The EUINVEST welcome bonus is a fair reason to give it a try.
The honest caveat is its focus. If you need options, futures or the deepest market access, Lightyear is not built for you, and a full-service broker will serve you better. But for the long-term investor who wants to buy stocks and ETFs cheaply without the complexity, it is an easy platform to recommend, and earns a 4.8 out of 5 from us.
FAQFrequently asked questions
Lightyear Europe AS is regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (Finantsinspektsioon) and passports across the EU under MiFID II. Client assets are held separately from the company, and EU investor protection covers eligible claims up to €20,000. It is a younger platform than incumbents like Interactive Brokers, but the regulatory framework is solid. Capital is at risk when you invest.
ETFs trade with no execution fee (underlying fund manager fees still apply). EU stocks cost €1 per order, US stocks 0.1% capped at $1, and other European stocks 0.1%. Currency conversion is a flat 0.35%. There are no account, inactivity, or bank-transfer fees; card deposits cost 0.6%. Figures verified on 25 June 2026.
Yes, through Vaults. Idle euros are invested into money market funds and earned a rate of up to 2.15% (APY) as of 29 June 2026, shown net of fund fees. This is an investment product, not a bank deposit, so the value can move and capital is at risk, though money market funds are relatively low risk. The rate is variable.
Yes. Crypto launched for EU investors and trades at a flat 0.45% per order. It is not available in the UK or Hungary. Crypto-assets are highly volatile and carry significant risks, and investor protection schemes do not apply to them.
The Stocks and Shares ISA and Cash ISA are UK-only products. Most EU investors use a General Investment Account, with the Estonian investment account (Investeerimiskonto) the main local exception. Lightyear does not provide tax advice; check the rules for your country. For UK readers, see how the ISA works in our EU and UK broker guides.
Open an account through our link, enter promo code EUINVEST, verify your identity and deposit at least €100 within 15 days. You can then receive up to €100 in a free fractional share. Full terms and the weighted value bands are in our Lightyear promo code guide.
For EU investors, Lightyear sits between the two: simpler and more focused than Interactive Brokers, which wins on market access and advanced tools, and a close rival to Trading 212 on cost, where Lightyear’s edge is the multi-currency account, money market Vaults and a cleaner app. Trade Republic is another euro-native alternative.
