★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked July 16, 2026
Tool Comparison
Lightyear vs MarketScreener
Pick Lightyear if
Lightyear
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You care about brokerage, AI research, and ETF analysis, things MarketScreener doesn't offer
Pick MarketScreener if
MarketScreener
Free • From $34/mo · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about news, alerts, and calendar, things Lightyear doesn't offer
- You've outgrown the basics and want pro-level depth
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
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 keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Lightyear
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
MarketScreener
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- MarketScreener
- Broader coverage
- MarketScreener16 vs 8 categories
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 | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Free • From $34/mo |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 5 limits: Currency conversion: fee percent: 0.35, Crypto order: fee percent: 0.45 +3 more | 6 limits: Access: annual equivalent monthly usd: 28, Access: annual billing usd: 336 +4 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 |
Where each one shines
What Lightyear and MarketScreener each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Lightyear and MarketScreener each do best.What Lightyear does best
- Investment access for in US, UK, and European stocks, with fractional availability where supported.
- 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.
- Ready-made plans or build custom plans for recurring structured investing.
- Access to Lightyear AI and in-app tools for lighter research support around investable assets.
What MarketScreener does best
- Monitoring market news and quotes across equities, ETFs, commodities, currencies, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
- Tools for building custom watchlists with quotes, news, earnings releases, valuation trends, broker recommendations, and smart email alerts.
- Screening for stocks globally with hundreds of fundamental and technical criteria, with higher filter counts reserved for Premium and Expert tiers.
- Dynamic charts with configurable technical indicators and quick switching between individual stocks and personal lists.
- Tools for exploring thematic investment lists for idea discovery and compare themes against index trends and historical performance.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Lightyear and MarketScreener, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Lightyear and MarketScreener, side by side.| 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.
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“Free account” | Free“Free (Member)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $34/mo“Access”annual equivalent monthly usd: 28 · annual billing usd: 336 |
| Tier 2 | — | $59/mo“Premium”annual billing usd: 600 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 50 |
| Top plan | — | $279/mo“Expert”annual billing usd: 2,628 · annual equivalent monthly usd: 219 |
Questions we keep getting
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.
Is Lightyear or MarketScreener free to use?
MarketScreener has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Lightyear is paid-only. If budget matters, start with MarketScreener and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
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.
Keep researching
More comparisons to check
Other tools you might like
Keep Exploring
Feedback
Spot stale pricing, missing features, or a comparison that feels off? Send feedback on the verdict, table, alternatives, or recommendation.
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.