★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked June 25, 2026
Tool Comparison
Lightyear vs Portfolio123
Lightyear
Best for brokerage and ETF analysis
Free
Portfolio123
Best for screeners and quant
Free • From $25/mo
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The verdict
The bottom line
Lightyear and Portfolio123 cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including portfolio, watchlist, and AI research), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Portfolio123 simply does more: 19 categories to Lightyear's 8, including screeners, quant, and scores. Lightyear counters by being completely free.
Key differences at a glance
- Mobile app
- Lightyear
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 8 categories
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Real-time data
- Portfolio123
- Broker sync
- Portfolio123
Choose
Lightyear if…
- You do a lot of your research from your phone
- You care about brokerage, ETF analysis, and fund analysis, things Portfolio123 doesn't offer
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Choose
Portfolio123 if…
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You care about screeners, quant, and scores, 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 $25/mo |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | — | Free Screener & Backtesting Access: duration days: 30 |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | No | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | No |
API access | No | Yes |
Broker sync | No | Yes |
Integrations | — | Interactive Brokers and Tradier |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +5 more |
Categories covered | 8 | 19 |
Regions | North America, Europe | North America, Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 5 signals: Latency: Real-time and End of Day, Granularity: EOD +3 more |
Data partners | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more | 4 partners: FactSet, S&P Global Market Intelligence +2 more |
Capabilities | Multi-currency | 6 signals: Custom formulas, Ranking backtests +4 more |
| Try it | Visit Lightyear | Visit Portfolio123 |
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 Portfolio123 does best
- Build multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and complete rules-based strategies through a web research environment.
- Run simulations and backtests with long historical equity data, custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, and realistic assumptions.
- Use point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Create ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- Use AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Data & access details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos | StocksETFsClosed-End Funds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors | Retail TradersPro RetailInstitutional InvestorsAnalystsQuants/DevelopersFinancial AdvisorsStudents/Researchers |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | North AmericaEurope |
Coverage details | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker | Countries: US and CAIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | Real-timeEnd of Day |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
Data partners | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management | FactSetS&P Global Market IntelligenceICE Data ServicesFRED |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | Not specified | REST |
API auth & delivery | Not specified | Auth: APIKeySDKs: PythonDocs |
Import methods | Manual | BrokerOAuthCSV |
Integrations | Not specified | Interactive BrokersTradier |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVJSON |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Multi-currency | Custom formulasRanking backtestsUniverse builderBroker syncRebalancingCorrelation |
Vendor & support | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat | Portfolio123Support: Forum |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing breakdown
Free
Lower starting price
Plans & pricing
$25/mo
Starting price
Plans & pricing
- duration days: 30
Coverage overlap
Shared categories
5Where the two tools cover the same ground.
Lightyear strengths
3What you only get with Lightyear.
Portfolio123 strengths
14Community category leaders
Vote sentiment comparison
Loading sentiment chart...
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Lightyear and Portfolio123?
Lightyear leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Portfolio123 puts more weight on screeners, data visualizations, and quant. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Lightyear and Portfolio123 cost?
Good news: both Lightyear and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123?
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 Lightyear or Portfolio123 on my phone?
Lightyear lists a dedicated mobile app, so it travels better. Portfolio123 doesn't list a dedicated mobile app; its documented access is web, API, and desktop.
Does Lightyear or Portfolio123 have an API?
Portfolio123 has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Lightyear doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Lightyear or Portfolio123?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Lightyear if brokerage and ETF analysis matter to you; go with Portfolio123 if you'd rather have screeners and quant. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Lightyear and Portfolio123 cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Lightyear also handles bonds, funds, and cryptos. Portfolio123 adds closed-end funds on top.
Does Lightyear or Portfolio123 have real-time data?
Portfolio123 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 Lightyear and Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 exports to CSV. Lightyear is stingier about getting data out.
Can Lightyear or Portfolio123 connect to my broker?
Portfolio123 syncs with brokers automatically. With Lightyear, you're entering holdings by hand or importing files.
Which has a better stock screener: Lightyear or Portfolio123?
Portfolio123 has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Lightyear doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Lightyear or Portfolio123?
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.