Lightyear vs Freetrade

Lightyear or Freetrade – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare Lightyear and Freetrade in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Lightyear vs Freetrade Comparison Table 2024
Lightyear Freetrade
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4.5
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3.5
Lightyear is ranked #118 among UK brokers. Freetrade is ranked #63 among UK brokers.
Lightyear is a trading app that offers multi-currency investing with low-commission US, EU and UK stocks, no commission on ETF trades, and the chance to earn high interest on uninvested USD, GBP and EUR. The firm launched in 2015 and UK retail traders will be registered under the Lightyear Financial Ltd entity. This company is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), license number 955739. Capital at risk Freetrade is a London-headquartered investing platform that offers zero-commission trading on thousands of UK, European and US stocks and ETFs through a beginner-friendly platform. Open a standard investment account, a self-invested pension or a stocks and shares ISA and start building a portfolio from as little as £2.
Capital at risk
Pros
  • Lightyear offers a user-friendly trading app with thousands of global equities
  • The investing app has been featured in the Financial Times & CNBC
  • Low-cost trading with no hidden fees or inactivity penalties
  • Traders can earn interest on uninvested cash
  • Low starting deposit of just $1 for new investors
  • FCA-regulated brand with FSCS cover for investors
  • Thousands of US and UK stocks and hundreds of ETFs to choose from
  • Very competitive pricing vs competitors with low fees and zero commissions
  • Earn interest on uninvested cash with competitive rates
  • Transfer/move ISAs from other accounts
  • News and blog feed updated regularly
  • Built-in customer support via live chat
  • Fast revenue withdrawals
  • Dividends on stocks
Cons
  • Platform features are basic and won't meet the needs of seasoned traders
  • Limited range of instruments with no forex trading
  • No demo account for prospective users
  • No MetaTrader 4 integration
  • No copy trading service
  • Competitors have larger selection of assets
  • Trading platform lacks deep analytical tools
  • Less suitable for active, high-volume traders
  • Many countries not accepted
  • No leveraged trading
  • No demo account
Awards
  • Best Online Trading Platform 2020 - British Bank Awards
  • Best Share Trading Platform 2019 - British Bank Awards
  • People’s Choice 2019 - Good Money Guide
  • Best New Investment Service 2019 - Consumer Investment Awards
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs Stocks, ETFs
Demo Account
No No
Minimum Deposit
$1 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 £2
Regulator
FSA FCA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android Yes
iOS App Rating
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4.3
Android App Rating
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4.3
Margin Trading
No No
MetaTrader 4
No No
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No No
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No No
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
Lightyear Freetrade
Capital at risk
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