Is Lightyear good for investing?
Independent review by Boring Money
18 Feb, 2025
Investment expert’s opinion
Lightyear is an app-first low-cost trading app with decent rates on cash ISAs and decent access to trade international shares and ETFs. Charging nothing to buy and hold Exchange Traded Funds will make the traditional players sweat a bit. Best suited to younger, more confident investors who want to build and manage a low-cost ISA, using ETFs and shares as building blocks, with somewhere to save cash via the same app. Account deposits via card are 0.60%, so this is on the expensive side. Still new, so customer service is relatively unproven, as with all newer entrants, and there are the usual questions about backing and financial strength.
*This is the view of investment expert Holly Mackay based on her first-hand customer experience as a test account holder. This does not constitute regulated advice. You can read more about Holly's investments here.
Who is Lightyear?
Lightyear launched in the UK in 2021, founded by ex-Wise (formerly TransferWise) early employees Martin Sokk & Mihkel Aamer. The company is now present in 25 countries. Lightyear's mission is to create successful investors by building a platform for people and businesses to grow their wealth over the long term.
Unlike many newer fintech players, Lightyear puts cost effectiveness and a user-friendly experience at the heart of its client offering. They boast that one of their unique selling points is that they offer low-cost global trading thanks to the multi-currency accounts. They have secured over $35 million in funding from top venture capital firms and individual investors, including Sir Richard Branson.
Who is Lightyear good for?
Pros and cons
Investments
Shares |
Blackrock Money Market funds |
Over 200 ETFs |
6,000+ stocks, including foreign shares |
Accounts
Lightyear offers a Stocks & Shares ISA and a General Investment Account
Stocks & Shares ISA | Pension (SIPP) | General Investment Account (GIA) | Lifetime ISA | Junior ISA |
✔ | X | ✔ | X | X |
Get up to £100 in a fractional share with Lightyear*
Sign up with the code BORINGMONEY to get between £10 and £100 in a fractional share or ETF to your GIA.
Capital at risk.*Promotional terms apply. Click on READ MORE to see full T&Cs.
Fees and charges
When investing in stocks or funds, you'll typically encounter two main types of charges. Account charges are like a membership fee for having your investment account - they can either be a fixed one-off payment (like £100 when you open the account), a regular fee (usually annual or monthly), or calculated as a percentage of your total investment (say 0.5% per year of whatever amount you have invested). These fees apply regardless of whether you buy or sell anything. On the other hand, dealing charges are more like transaction fees - they're the costs you pay each time you actually buy or sell an investment, similar to how a shop might charge you for using a credit card.
Lightyear do not charge Account fees and you can trade ETFs and Shares for free
Fee type | Amount |
Account Fee | Free |
ETF Trading | Free |
Foreign exchange | 0.35% |
Stock trading | Free |
Free | |
Free |
See how much it would cost you
Use the handy calculator below to calculate the cost of an account. Just select which type of account you want to use, type in the amount you want to invest and - hey presto! - our calculator will give you an estimate of how much it costs. Please note estimated fees are calculated excluding promotional offers.
Step 1. Select account type.
Step 2. Enter the amount you are looking to invest.
Estimated fees:
£0.00
+ Investment fees
Cost shown is the administration fee only. There may be additional third-party investment or fund fees, which depend entirely on what you pick. Expect these to add about 0.25% to 1% a year to the total cost.
The boring disclaimer bit
This is a free resource for our readers. We’ve tried really hard to ensure that these calculations are correct and can promise you there’s no monkey business or favouritism going on. But please don’t rely on these calculations without double checking yourself. If you do think you have seen an error please contact community@boringmoney.co.uk and help us to make this better. More information on the assumptions we've used to calculate these investment fees can be found here.
Customer reviews
Your opinion matters!
Leave a review for Lightyear
13 May 2025
Simply the best broker this year to hold your ISAs or GIA with. No exaggerated fees, transparent pricing, empathetic and fast customer support. Did I mention they are regulated by the FCA as well as the Estonian equivalent, since the company is headquartered in both countries? They have my full trust, and my money.
13 May 2025
Great UX and very decent fees. The financial data provided is also top notch
13 May 2025
Hands down the best investing platform I’ve used. The interface is clean on both mobile and web, the multi-currency accounts are super handy, and the fees are refreshingly transparent. Easily the best option out there for holding an ISA.
Most asked questions
Is Lightyear safe?
Lightyear is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FSCS protection is capped at £85,000 per person, per financial service group(not per individual fund). However, if your investments lose value due to normal market conditions or your investment choices, this is part of the normal risk of investing and is not covered by FSCS compensation.
Can I invest in US stocks with Lightyear?
Yes, Lightyear offers access to US stocks with competitive trading fees and multi-currency support.
What makes Lightyear different from other platforms?
Its focus on low-cost global trading, multi-currency accounts, competitive interest rates, and a modern platform sets it apart from traditional brokers.
Glossary
Not 100% sure you understand something we’ve written in this review?
Discover jargon-free definitions of the most common words and technical terms used in the world of investing.
All information in this review correct as at 01/02/2025.
