Tool Comparison
Lightyear vs Scalable Capital
Start here
Lightyear
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want AI research, stock ideas, and ETF analysis.
- You're a long-term investor who cares more about fundamentals than headlines
Pick Scalable Capital instead if
Scalable Capital
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
- You want wealth management and downloadable tax reports.
- 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.
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Our take
The bottom line
Lightyear and Scalable Capital cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Lightyear simply does more: 8 categories to Scalable Capital's 5, including AI research, stock ideas, and ETF analysis. Scalable Capital counters by keeping things simpler.
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Lightyear
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Key differences at a glance
- Broader coverage
- Lightyear8 vs 5 categories
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 9 limits: European account: US stock order: fee percent: 0.1, European account: US stock order: minimum usd: 0.1 +7 more | 5 limits: FREE: european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99, FREE: prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | No | No |
Integrations | — | Scalable CLI and Scalable MCP |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Long-term Investors +1 more | — |
Categories covered | 8 | 5 |
Regions | North America, Europe | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Timezone: Europe/Berlin |
Data partners | 3 partners: Alpaca, BlackRock +1 more | — |
Capabilities | Multi-currency and AI summaries: News | — |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Lightyear | Visit Scalable Capital |
Standout features
The best features of Lightyear and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
Standout features
What Lightyear does best
- Trade U.S., UK, and European stocks, with fractional shares where supported.
- European accounts pay no Lightyear ETF execution or custody fee, although fund manager fees still apply.
- General investment and eligible business accounts can hold GBP, USD, and EUR.
- Build custom plans, use ready-made plans, and optionally automate purchases of eligible fractional instruments.
- Lightyear AI summarizes material-move news, explains possible price-chart drivers, and presents sourced bull and bear cases.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Stock and ETF trading through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- PRIME+ charges €0 for eligible European Investor Exchange orders of at least €250; Xetra and gettex orders cost €1.99 on both plans.
- Supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Scalable Wealth runs automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
All details
Every attribute we track for Lightyear and Scalable Capital.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsBondsFundsCryptos | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediate | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive Investors | Not specified |
Regions | North AmericaEurope | Europe |
Coverage details | Countries: US, GB, and EEExchanges: XNYS, XNAS, and XLONIdentifiers: Ticker | 6 countriesExchanges: XETR, XMUN, and European Investor ExchangeIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data partners | AlpacaBlackRockJ.P. Morgan Asset Management | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Manual | Not specified |
Integrations | Not specified | Scalable CLIScalable MCP |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Multi-currencyAI summaries: News | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Lightyear Financial Ltd.Country: United KingdomSupport: Email and Chat | Scalable Capital GmbHCountry: GermanyFounded 2014Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Account” | Freeeuropean investor exchange order from250 eur: 0.99 · prime etf purchase on eix from250 eur: 0 · +1 more |
| Entry paid plan | — | €4.99/moBilled monthly“PRIME+ Broker”european investor exchange order from250 eur: 0 · xetra and gettex order eur: 1.99 |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Lightyear and Scalable Capital?
Lightyear leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Scalable Capital puts more weight on brokerage, wealth management, and portfolio. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Lightyear and Scalable Capital cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Which is better for beginners: Lightyear or Scalable Capital?
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 Scalable Capital?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Lightyear if AI research and stock ideas matter to you; go with Scalable Capital if you'd rather have wealth management and downloadable tax reports. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Lightyear and Scalable Capital cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and bonds. Lightyear also handles funds and cryptos. Scalable Capital adds mutual funds on top.
Can I export data from Lightyear and Scalable Capital?
Scalable Capital exports to CSV. Lightyear is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with Lightyear or Scalable Capital?
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.