★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked June 25, 2026
Tool Comparison
Lightyear vs MarketScreener
Lightyear
Best for brokerage and AI research
Free
MarketScreener
Best for news and alerts
Free • From $39/mo
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The verdict
The bottom line
Lightyear and MarketScreener cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including portfolio, watchlist, and stock ideas), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. MarketScreener simply does more: 16 categories to Lightyear's 8, including news, alerts, and calendar. Lightyear counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 8 categories
- Free plan
- Both
Choose
Lightyear if…
- You care about brokerage, AI research, and ETF analysis, things MarketScreener doesn't offer
Choose
MarketScreener if…
- You care about news, alerts, and calendar, things Lightyear doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
Comparison snapshot
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free | Free • From $39/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | 5 limits: Access: annual equivalent monthly usd: 34, Premium: annual billing usd: 600 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 8 | 16 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more | 3 partners: FactSet, Morningstar +1 more |
Capabilities | Multi-currency | Universe builder |
| Try it | Visit Lightyear | Visit MarketScreener |
Standout features
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.
What MarketScreener does best
- Follow market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Build custom watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and smart email alerts.
- Screen stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Use dynamic charts with configurable technical indicators and quick switching between individual stocks and personal lists.
- Explore thematic investment lists for idea discovery and compare themes against index trends and historical performance.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos | StocksETFsCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsValue InvestorsGrowth InvestorsDividend Investors |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and ISIN |
| Data | ||
Data partners | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management | FactSetMorningstarS&P Global Market Intelligence |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Multi-currency | Universe builder |
Vendor & support | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat | Surperformance SASCountry: France |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
$39/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- annual equivalent monthly usd: 34
- annual billing usd: 600
- annual equivalent monthly usd: 50
- annual billing usd: 2,628
- annual equivalent monthly usd: 219
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
4Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Lightyear strengths
4What you only get with Lightyear.
MarketScreener strengths
12What you only get with MarketScreener.
Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Lightyear and MarketScreener?
Lightyear leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while MarketScreener puts more weight on news, alerts, and calendar. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Lightyear and MarketScreener cost?
Good news: both Lightyear and MarketScreener have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Which is better for beginners: Lightyear or MarketScreener?
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 Lightyear or MarketScreener?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Lightyear if brokerage and AI research matter to you; go with MarketScreener if you'd rather have news and alerts. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Lightyear and MarketScreener cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and cryptos. Lightyear also handles bonds and funds. MarketScreener adds commodities and currencies on top.
Are Lightyear and MarketScreener 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: Lightyear or MarketScreener?
MarketScreener has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Lightyear doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Lightyear or MarketScreener?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Other tools you might like
These profiles share overlapping coverage with both sides of this matchup.
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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.