Tool Comparison
BUX vs Lightyear
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Mobile
Best if
- You want downloadable tax reports.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile
Best if
- You want AI research, stock ideas, and ETF analysis.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick BUX instead if
BUX
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Mobile
- You want downloadable tax reports.
Start here
Lightyear
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want AI research, stock ideas, and ETF analysis.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
BUX and Lightyear cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Lightyear simply does more: 8 categories to BUX's 4, including AI research, stock ideas, and ETF analysis. BUX counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
BUX
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Lightyear
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- LightyearAdds bonds and funds
- Broader coverage
- Lightyear8 vs 4 categories
What BUX does best
- European and U.S. stocks, ETFs and ETCs through a mobile brokerage account.
- Fractional stocks, ETFs and ETCs through market orders and Investment Plans.
- Commission-free monthly Investment Plan purchase execution on all three tiers.
- Basic, Plus and Prime tiers with distinct order allowances, service fees and FX markups.
- Interest-bearing ABN AMRO Clearing Bank cash on Plus and Prime under current limits.
What Lightyear does best
- Trade U.S., UK, and European stocks, with fractional shares where supported.
- European accounts pay no Lightyear ETF execution or custody fee, although fund manager fees still apply.
- General investment and eligible business accounts can hold GBP, USD, and EUR.
- Build custom plans, use ready-made plans, and optionally automate purchases of eligible fractional instruments.
- Lightyear AI summarizes material-move news, explains possible price-chart drivers, and presents sourced bull and bear cases.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 13 limits: BUX Basic: monthly service fee eur: 0, BUX Basic: annual variable service fee percent: 0.2 +11 more | 9 limits: European account: US stock order: fee percent: 0.1, European account: US stock order: minimum usd: 0.1 +7 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more |
Categories covered | 4 | 8 |
Regions | Europe | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | — | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more |
Capabilities | — | Multi-currency and AI summaries: News |
| Try it | Visit BUX | Visit Lightyear |
Standout features
The best features of BUX and Lightyear.ShowHide
Standout features
What BUX does best
- European and U.S. stocks, ETFs and ETCs through a mobile brokerage account.
- Fractional stocks, ETFs and ETCs through market orders and Investment Plans.
- Commission-free monthly Investment Plan purchase execution on all three tiers.
- Basic, Plus and Prime tiers with distinct order allowances, service fees and FX markups.
- Interest-bearing ABN AMRO Clearing Bank cash on Plus and Prime under current limits.
What Lightyear does best
- Trade U.S., UK, and European stocks, with fractional shares where supported.
- European accounts pay no Lightyear ETF execution or custody fee, although fund manager fees still apply.
- General investment and eligible business accounts can hold GBP, USD, and EUR.
- Build custom plans, use ready-made plans, and optionally automate purchases of eligible fractional instruments.
- Lightyear AI summarizes material-move news, explains possible price-chart drivers, and presents sourced bull and bear cases.
All details
Every attribute we track for BUX and Lightyear.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFs | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors |
Regions | Europe | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | 8 countriesIdentifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data partners | Not specified | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | PDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Multi-currencyAI summaries: News |
Vendor & support | BUX B.V.Country: NetherlandsSupport: Chat and Email | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“BUX Basic”monthly service fee eur: 0 · annual variable service fee percent: 0.2 · +3 more | Free“Account” |
| Entry paid plan | €2.99/mo“BUX Plus”annual variable service fee percent above eur250000: 0.1 · cash interest percent to eur100000: 1.75 · +2 more | — |
| Top plan | €7.99/mo“BUX Prime”annual variable service fee percent above eur500000: 0.1 · cash interest percent to eur100000: 2 · +2 more | — |
Alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between BUX and Lightyear?
BUX leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Lightyear puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do BUX and Lightyear cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Should I choose BUX or Lightyear?
It depends on what you're after. Pick BUX if downloadable tax reports matter to you; go with Lightyear if you'd rather have AI research and stock ideas. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do BUX and Lightyear cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Lightyear adds bonds, funds, and cryptos on top.
Can I track my portfolio with BUX or Lightyear?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
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