VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Fiscal.ai vs Lightyear
Start here
Fiscal.ai
Free • From $39/mo · Web · API
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
Pick Lightyear instead if
Lightyear
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You want brokerage.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
Fiscal.ai and Lightyear cover a lot of the same ground (7 shared categories, including stock ideas, data visualizations, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Fiscal.ai simply does more: 29 categories to Lightyear's 8, including screeners, stock comparison, and institutional ownership. Lightyear counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Fiscal.ai
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Lightyear
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Fiscal.ai
- Free trial
- Fiscal.ai14 days
- Broader coverage
- Fiscal.ai29 vs 8 categories
- Mobile app
- Lightyear
- API access
- Fiscal.ai
- Real-time data
- Fiscal.ai
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $39/mo | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | Yes | No |
Free trial | 14 days | — |
Plan limits | 37 limits: Terminal - Free: financials history (annual): 10, Terminal - Free: financials history (quarterly): 6 +35 more | 6 limits: European account: currency conversion: fee percent: 0.35, UK personal account trading: fx fee percent: 0.1 +4 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | MCP, Claude Connector +7 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +11 more | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more |
Categories covered | 29 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time, 15-min Delayed, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +1 more | — |
Data partners | 5 partners: Fiscal.ai Data Feed, S&P Global Market Intelligence +3 more | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more |
Capabilities | 4 signals: Custom formulas, Universe builder +2 more | Multi-currency and AI summaries: News |
Security | SOC2 and Status page | — |
| Try it | Visit Fiscal.ai | Visit Lightyear |
Where each one shines
What Fiscal.ai and Lightyear each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Fiscal.ai and Lightyear each do best.What Fiscal.ai does best
- Research coverage for global stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and funds through dashboards, watchlists, portfolio views, visualizations, fundamentals, estimates, transcripts, filings, news, and event data.
- Use AI Copilot, summaries, and generated reports for earnings, filings, peer comparisons, financial analysis, and company research.
- Analysis of fundamentals, ratios, standardized financials, as-reported data, adjusted metrics, segment data, KPIs, analyst estimates, revisions, ratings, and price targets.
- Run 24 documented Fiscal Skills in MCP clients for financial models, company snapshots, screens, valuation, ownership, fund letters, filings, credit, quality scores, and earnings analysis.
- Trace research back to source filings, transcripts, slides, company news, investor-relations material, and source-to-filing images or PDFs where supported.
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.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fiscal.ai and Lightyear, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Fiscal.ai and Lightyear, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsMutual FundsFunds | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth Investors+5 more | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker, CUSIP, ISIN, and FIGI | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-time15-min DelayedEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | TickEOD | Not specified |
Data partners | Fiscal.ai Data FeedS&P Global Market IntelligenceMorningstarYChartsPerplexity | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeyWebhooks50 req/minDocs | Not specified |
Import methods | Manual | Manual |
Integrations | MCPClaude ConnectorChatGPTCodex CLICursorVS Code CopilotGemini CLIPerplexity+1 more | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVImagePDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | SOC2Status page | Not specified |
Capability signals | Custom formulasUniverse builderCitation pinningAI summaries: Filings, Transcripts, and News | Multi-currencyAI summaries: News |
Vendor & support | Stratosphere Technology Inc.Country: CanadaFounded 2021Support: Email | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat |
Curation ratings | Methodology 5/5Reliability 4/5UX 5/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Terminal - Free”financials history (annual): 10 · financials history (quarterly): 6 · +8 more | Free“Account” |
| Entry paid plan | $39/mo“Terminal - Pro (Monthly)”financials history (annual): 15 · financials history (quarterly): 20 · +10 more | — |
| Top plan | $199/mo“Terminal - Enterprise (Monthly)”financials history (annual): 20+ · financials history (quarterly): 40+ · +10 more | — |
| Custom / enterprise | Contact sales“API - Paid” | — |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Fiscal.ai and Lightyear?
Fiscal.ai leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison, while Lightyear puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 7 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Fiscal.ai or Lightyear free to use?
Fiscal.ai has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Lightyear is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Fiscal.ai and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Which is better for beginners: Fiscal.ai or Lightyear?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Can I use Fiscal.ai or Lightyear on my phone?
Lightyear lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Fiscal.ai doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web and API.
Does Fiscal.ai or Lightyear have an API?
Fiscal.ai has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Lightyear doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Fiscal.ai or Lightyear?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Fiscal.ai if screeners and stock comparison matter to you; go with Lightyear if you'd rather have brokerage. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Fiscal.ai and Lightyear cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and funds. Fiscal.ai also handles mutual funds. Lightyear adds bonds and cryptos on top.
Does Fiscal.ai or Lightyear have real-time data?
Fiscal.ai 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 Fiscal.ai and Lightyear?
Fiscal.ai exports to CSV. Lightyear is stingier about getting data out.
Are Fiscal.ai and Lightyear good for long-term investing?
Yes, both are aimed squarely at long-term investors. Compare their coverage, workflow, and price before assuming they solve the same long-term research job.
Which has a better stock screener: Fiscal.ai or Lightyear?
Fiscal.ai has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Lightyear doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Fiscal.ai or Lightyear?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Curation & Accuracy
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.