★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked June 25, 2026
Tool Comparison
GuruFocus vs Lightyear
GuruFocus
Best for screeners and ETF screeners
Free • From $549/yr
Lightyear
Best for brokerage
Free
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The verdict
The bottom line
GuruFocus 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. GuruFocus simply does more: 48 categories to Lightyear's 8, including screeners, ETF screeners, and top analysts. Lightyear counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Broker sync
- GuruFocus
- Free trial
- GuruFocus7 days
- Broader coverage
- GuruFocus48 vs 8 categories
- API access
- GuruFocus
- Free plan
- Both
Choose
GuruFocus if…
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about screeners, ETF screeners, and top analysts, things Lightyear doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $549/yr | Free |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 7 days | — |
Plan limits | 41 limits: Free: portfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members, Free: data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package +39 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | Yes | No |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data API, GuruFocus MCP Server +3 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +9 more | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more |
Categories covered | 48 | 8 |
Regions | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more | — |
Data partners | 5 partners: QuoteMedia, Morningstar +3 more | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more |
Capabilities | 8 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +6 more | Multi-currency |
Security | Status page and Encryption in transit | — |
| Try it | Visit GuruFocus | Visit Lightyear |
Standout features
What GuruFocus does best
- Research global stocks with long historical financials, valuation data, charts, comparisons, market valuation indicators, economic indicators, industry data, and company-level fundamentals.
- Use the All-in-One Screener with hundreds of filters across fundamentals, valuation, profitability, growth, dividends, guru holdings, insider trades, predefined value screens, custom filters, saved screens, and downloads.
- Backtest screener strategies across many countries with configurable stock count, ranking metric, sort order, date range, and rebalance frequency.
- Use GF Score to compare stocks through a 0-100 framework built around financial strength, profitability, growth, valuation, and momentum.
- Use GF Value to frame fair value from historical multiples, past returns, and analyst estimates, then classify stocks by valuation range.
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 | StocksETFsBondsMutual FundsOptionsFundsOther | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediate |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsQuality InvestorsDividend InvestorsAnalystsQuants/Developers+3 more | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CIK | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | End of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | EOD | Not specified |
Pricing sources | ExchangeVendorModel | Not specified |
Data partners | QuoteMediaMorningstarRefinitivFREDSEC / local regulators | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: APIKeySDKs: Python and GoDocs | Not specified |
Import methods | CSVBrokerOAuthManual | Manual |
Integrations | GuruFocus Data APIGuruFocus MCP ServerGuruFocus Excel Add-inGuruFocus Google Sheets Add-onSnapTrade | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelJSON | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status pageEncryption in transit | Not specified |
Capability signals | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderFactors: Value, Quality, Momentum, and GrowthBroker syncMulti-currencyYield curvesAI summaries: Transcripts | Multi-currency |
Vendor & support | GuruFocus.com, LLCCountry: United StatesFounded 2004Support: Email, Chat, Phone, and Forum | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
$549/yr
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- portfolio limit: Up to 3 portfolios with 25 stocks each for free members
- data api requests: 100/month included in the Free API package
- +1 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 200/month included with Premium membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 500/month included with Premium Plus membership
- +2 more
- billing: Annual only
- data api requests: 2,000/month included with Professional membership
- requests: 100/month
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +10 more
- billing: Billed annually
- monthly request limit: No limit
- +1 more
- initial top up: $100 credit
- company profile: $0.10/request
- +10 more
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
7Where the two tools cover the same ground.
GuruFocus strengths
41What you only get with GuruFocus.
Lightyear strengths
1What you only get with Lightyear.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between GuruFocus and Lightyear?
GuruFocus leans toward stock ideas, screeners, and ETF screeners, 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.
How much do GuruFocus and Lightyear cost?
Good news: both GuruFocus 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: GuruFocus or Lightyear?
Honestly, neither is aimed at beginners. Expect a learning curve either way; that's the trade-off for the depth they offer.
Does GuruFocus or Lightyear have an API?
GuruFocus has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Lightyear doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose GuruFocus or Lightyear?
It depends on what you're after. Pick GuruFocus if screeners and ETF screeners 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 GuruFocus and Lightyear cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, bonds, and funds. GuruFocus also handles mutual funds, options, and other. Lightyear adds cryptos on top.
Can I export data from GuruFocus and Lightyear?
GuruFocus exports to CSV and Excel. Lightyear is stingier about getting data out.
Can GuruFocus or Lightyear connect to my broker?
GuruFocus syncs with brokers automatically. With Lightyear, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Are GuruFocus 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: GuruFocus or Lightyear?
GuruFocus has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Lightyear doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with GuruFocus 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.