★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Source check: Lightyear checked July 16, 2026
Tool Comparison
Lightyear vs Portfolio123
Pick Lightyear if
Lightyear
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- 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
Pick Portfolio123 if
Portfolio123
Free • From $25/mo · Web · API · Desktop
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
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 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 keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Lightyear
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Portfolio123
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Portfolio123
- Broader coverage
- Portfolio12319 vs 8 categories
- Mobile app
- Lightyear
- Desktop app
- Portfolio123
- API access
- Portfolio123
- Real-time data
- Portfolio123
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 $25/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 | 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 |
Where each one shines
What Lightyear and Portfolio123 each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Lightyear and Portfolio123 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 Portfolio123 does best
- Tools for building multifactor ranking systems, stock screens, ETF screens, and complete rules-based strategies through a web research environment.
- Tools for running simulations and backtests with long historical equity data, custom universes, buy and sell rules, position sizing, hedging, rebalancing, and realistic assumptions.
- Point-in-time data designed to avoid survivorship and look-ahead bias, with fundamentals, estimates, corporate actions, sector and industry classifications, and historical issues.
- Tools for creating ranking systems from fundamental, technical, sentiment, and macro factors, including public factor documentation and FRED-linked economic series.
- AI Factor to train machine-learning predictors for expected returns and feed those predictions into rankings, simulations, and asset-level analysis.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Lightyear and Portfolio123, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Lightyear and Portfolio123, side by side.| 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.
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“Manage (Free)” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $25/mo“Retail Research Plans” |
| Custom / enterprise | — | Contact sales“Professional / API & Data Licenses” |
Questions we keep getting
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.
Is Lightyear or Portfolio123 free to use?
Portfolio123 has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Lightyear is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Portfolio123 and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
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.
Keep researching
More comparisons to check
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Feedback
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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.