★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked June 25, 2026
Tool Comparison
Gainify vs Lightyear
Gainify
Best for screeners and stock comparison
Free • From $9.92/yr
Lightyear
Best for brokerage and ETF analysis
Free
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The verdict
The bottom line
Gainify and Lightyear cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including stock ideas, data visualizations, and portfolio), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Gainify simply does more: 24 categories to Lightyear's 8, including screeners, stock comparison, and custom dashboards. Lightyear counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- Lightyear
- Broader coverage
- Gainify24 vs 8 categories
- Real-time data
- Gainify
- Asset coverage
- LightyearAdds ETFs and bonds
- Free plan
- Both
Choose
Gainify if…
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about screeners, stock comparison, and custom dashboards, things Lightyear doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Choose
Lightyear if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about brokerage, ETF analysis, and fund analysis, things Gainify doesn't offer
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $9.92/yr | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 16 limits: Starter: ai chat queries: 10/month, Starter: watchlists: 1 +14 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | No | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more |
Categories covered | 24 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +1 more | — |
Data partners | 3 partners: S&P Global Market Intelligence, Financial Modeling Prep +1 more | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more |
Capabilities | 5 signals: Universe builder, Factors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and Growth +3 more | Multi-currency |
Security | Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit Gainify | Visit Lightyear |
Standout features
What Gainify does best
- Treat Gainify as discontinued historical context rather than a live product to buy; the current homepage says the service is closed and no longer available.
- Use the legacy profile to understand an AI stock analysis workflow that combined global screening, stock reports, AI chat, earnings recaps, charting, watchlists, and portfolio tracking.
- Review the historical screener concept: 1,000+ filters, broad global ticker coverage, S&P Global data references, custom output columns, and fast watchlist workflows.
- Compare legacy stock reports that bundled company snapshots, Wall Street estimates, valuation metrics, ownership, dividends, financial history, forecasts, ratings, AI earnings summaries, and transcripts.
- Study the Gainify Rating and Gainify Score as examples of explainable, multi-factor stock scoring for quality, value, growth, and related research dimensions.
What Lightyear does best
- Invest in US, UK, and European stocks, with fractional availability where supported.
- Use ETF access with no Lightyear execution or custody fee, while still accounting for fund manager fees.
- Hold GBP, USD, and EUR in a multi-currency account to reduce repeated FX conversions.
- Use ready-made plans or build custom plans for recurring structured investing.
- Access Lightyear AI and in-app tools for lighter research support around investable assets.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | Stocks | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalysts | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Real-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Pricing sources | VendorModel | Not specified |
Data partners | S&P Global Market IntelligenceFinancial Modeling PrepProprietary Derived Data | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Manual |
Export formats | Image | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Encryption in transit | Not specified |
Capability signals | Universe builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthPerformance attributionPortfolio attributionAI summaries: Transcripts | Multi-currency |
Vendor & support | GainifyCountry: LithuaniaFounded 2024Support: Email | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat |
Curation ratings | Methodology 3/5Reliability 3/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$9.92/yr
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- ai chat queries: 10/month
- watchlists: 1
- +2 more
- billing: $14.99 monthly or $9.92/month billed yearly.
- ai chat queries: 50/month
- +4 more
- billing: $36.99 monthly or $26.99/month billed yearly.
- ai chat queries: 500/month
- +4 more
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
5Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Gainify strengths
19Lightyear strengths
3What you only get with Lightyear.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Gainify and Lightyear?
Gainify leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and stock comparison, while Lightyear puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Gainify and Lightyear cost?
Good news: both Gainify and Lightyear have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: Gainify 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 Gainify or Lightyear on my phone?
Lightyear lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Gainify doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web.
Should I choose Gainify or Lightyear?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Gainify if screeners and stock comparison matter to you; go with Lightyear if you'd rather have brokerage and ETF analysis. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Gainify and Lightyear cover?
Both cover stocks. Lightyear adds ETFs, bonds, and funds on top.
Does Gainify or Lightyear have real-time data?
Gainify 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.
Are Gainify 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: Gainify or Lightyear?
Gainify has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Lightyear doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Gainify 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.