Tool Comparison
DEGIRO vs Lightyear
Pick DEGIRO if
DEGIRO
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want advanced order types, smart/direct routing, and news.
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Pick Lightyear if
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
DEGIRO 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. DEGIRO includes advanced order types and smart/direct routing, and Lightyear includes AI research and stock ideas.
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DEGIRO
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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 | — | 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 | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders and Pro Retail | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more |
Categories covered | 8 | 8 |
Regions | Europe, North America | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and 15-min Delayed | — |
Data partners | — | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more |
Capabilities | Multi-leg options | Multi-currency and AI summaries: News |
| Try it | Visit DEGIRO | Visit Lightyear |
Standout features
The best features of DEGIRO and Lightyear.ShowHide
Standout features
What DEGIRO does best
- Web platform and mobile app with access to shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, options, futures, warrants, and leveraged products where local account settings allow.
- More than 45 markets across 30 countries; venue and product availability depends on the local DEGIRO country site and account profile.
- Order types include market, limit, stop loss, stop limit, day, good-till-cancelled, and trailing stops where the exchange supports them.
- Orders route direct to market on some venues and through the Morgan Stanley Smart Order Router on others, depending on product and market.
- Portfolio views, favourites lists, streaming or real-time quotes where available, market news, market overviews, and an economic calendar.
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 DEGIRO and Lightyear.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFuturesOther | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro Retail | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors |
Regions | EuropeNorth America | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-time15-min Delayed | Not specified |
Data partners | Not specified | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | CSVExcelPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Multi-leg options | Multi-currencyAI summaries: News |
Vendor & support | flatexDEGIRO Bank SE (DEGIRO brand)Country: GermanySupport: Email and Phone | 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“Account” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between DEGIRO and Lightyear?
DEGIRO leans toward brokerage, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing, 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 DEGIRO 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.
Which is better for beginners: DEGIRO or Lightyear?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Should I choose DEGIRO or Lightyear?
It depends on what you're after. Pick DEGIRO if advanced order types and smart/direct routing 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 DEGIRO and Lightyear cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and bonds. DEGIRO also handles mutual funds, options, and futures. Lightyear adds funds and cryptos on top.
Does DEGIRO or Lightyear have real-time data?
DEGIRO offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Lightyear runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from DEGIRO and Lightyear?
DEGIRO exports to CSV and Excel. Lightyear is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with DEGIRO 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).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.