Investing can be intimidating. Between complex platforms, high fees and little guidance, getting started in the stock market is a challenge for many beginners.
This is where Lightyear comes in. The Estonian startup launched its investing app in 2020 to make buying stocks and ETFs simple and cheap, and it now runs a UK business regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
But does Lightyear actually make investing easy for newcomers? In this review we look at its fees, accounts, ISAs, safety and promo code, so you can decide if it fits your needs.
What is Lightyear?
Key information
| Regulation | FCA (UK) and EFSA (Estonia) |
| Trading fees | £0 on stocks and ETFs |
| FX fee | 0.1% |
| Deposit fee | £0 by bank transfer (0.6% by card) |
| Minimum deposit | £0 |
| Currencies | GBP, USD, EUR |
| Instruments | Stocks, ETFs, gilts, money market funds |
| Accounts | GIA, Stocks and Shares ISA, Cash ISA, Business |
Source: Lightyear pricing, October 2026.
Lightyear is an investing app with offices in Estonia and the UK, launched in 2020. It offers more than 6,000 stocks and ETFs, including over 4,000 US stocks on the NYSE and Nasdaq, shares listed on the London Stock Exchange and European stocks from Germany, France, the Netherlands and other markets. You can also buy ETFs from providers such as Vanguard and iShares, and UK government bonds (gilts).
What sets Lightyear apart? In the UK it no longer charges commission on stocks or ETFs. The only fee you pay on a trade is a 0.1% currency conversion fee, and only when you convert currency.
Pros and cons of Lightyear
Pros
- No commission on UK, US and EU stocks, ETFs or gilts.
- Low 0.1% FX fee, and you can hold GBP, USD and EUR in the GIA.
- Stocks and Shares ISA and Cash ISA, both flexible.
- Vaults pay 3.84% AER on GBP (variable, October 2026).
- Fast, fully digital account opening.
- Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot.
Cons
- No phone support: help is by email and in the app.
- No options or crypto for UK customers.
- Card deposits cost 0.6%.
- Shorter track record than older UK platforms.
Is Lightyear a safe app?
Lightyear is regulated in both the UK and the EU. In the UK, Lightyear UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA, with firm reference number 987226, and is registered in England and Wales under company number 14367910. In the EU, Lightyear Europe AS is authorised by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA) under licence number 4.1-1/31.
You are the beneficial owner of your cash and investments, which are kept separate from Lightyear’s own money. If Lightyear went bust, they would be returned to you. Lightyear does not lend out customer money.
If there were still a shortfall, for example due to fraud, the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) covers investments up to £85,000 per person. Uninvested cash is held with Citibank and NatWest, which are covered by FSCS deposit protection, and in Qualifying Money Market Funds, which are not. No scheme covers losses when your investments fall in value.
Lightyear is still a young company, so it has a shorter record through market crises than older platforms.
Products offered by Lightyear
Lightyear focuses on a small set of products: stocks, ETFs, gilts and money market funds. Is a limited range a problem? For most long-term investors, simplicity is an advantage.
- Stocks: over 4,000 US stocks plus UK shares on the London Stock Exchange and European stocks. Fractional US shares are available, and trades cost no commission.
- ETFs: funds from providers such as Vanguard, iShares, SPDR, Amundi and Invesco, with no execution or custody fees. The fund manager’s own fees still apply.
- Gilts: UK government bonds, with no commission per order.
- Vaults (money market funds): Vaults invest your cash in a BlackRock money market fund that follows the Bank of England rate. GBP Vaults paid 3.84% AER in October 2026, after fees of 0.15% or less. Interest is earned daily and paid monthly, from £1. Vaults are an investment, so your capital is at risk and the FSCS deposit protection does not apply.
- Plans: you can set up regular automatic investments, or pick a ready-made plan.
Lightyear does not offer options or crypto to UK customers. If you want these, Interactive Brokers covers almost every asset class, while eToro offers crypto. For a simple commission-free alternative, Freetrade is another option for beginners.
How much does Lightyear charge to trade?
Lightyear charges UK customers for only two things: currency conversion and Vaults.
- UK, US and EU stocks: free per order.
- ETFs and gilts: free per order.
- Currency conversion: 0.1% at the live interbank rate.
- Vaults: 0.15% a year or less, already deducted from the rate shown.
- Card deposits (debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay): 0.6%.
- Receiving a USD wire: up to $8.50 per payment.
There is no account fee, and bank transfers in and out are free.
Let’s say you buy 3 shares of a US company at $200 each with pounds from your account. The trade costs $600 and Lightyear charges no commission. You only pay the 0.1% FX fee to convert your pounds into dollars, about $0.60.
Available accounts
Lightyear offers personal accounts (a General Investment Account and two ISAs) and a Business account.
| Category | Personal | Business |
| For | Individuals investing their own money | Freelancers, sole directors and companies |
| Minimum deposit | £0 | £0 |
| Opening | Online, in minutes | Needs company documents and an LEI |
To invest through a business account, the company needs a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI). Lightyear can register one for £42.50 + VAT, with a yearly renewal of £40 + VAT. The director must also hold a personal Lightyear account. Company investments are taxed under Corporation Tax rules, so check the impact with your accountant.
Stocks and Shares ISA and Cash ISA at Lightyear
Lightyear offers two ISAs to UK residents: a Stocks and Shares ISA and a Cash ISA. Both are flexible, so you can withdraw money and put it back in the same tax year without using up more of your allowance. Transferring an ISA to Lightyear is free, although your current provider may charge exit fees.
Stocks and Shares ISA
The Stocks and Shares ISA suits long-term investors who want to invest in the markets free of UK tax on gains and dividends.
With a Lightyear Stocks and Shares ISA:
- You can invest in UK, US and EU stocks, ETFs, gilts and money market funds.
- You can hold cash in Vaults, at 3.84% AER on GBP (October 2026).
- You pay no commission or account fee, only the 0.1% FX fee when you convert currency.
- There is no minimum deposit.
ISA allowance: you can put up to £20,000 a year across all your ISAs.
Cash ISA
The Lightyear Cash ISA paid 3.75% AER in October 2026, equal to the Bank of England base rate. The rate is variable and follows the base rate up and down.
Key features of the Lightyear Cash ISA:
- Tax-free interest, paid monthly.
- No account fees, no withdrawal penalties and no minimum deposit.
- No short-term bonus rate that drops after a few months.
- Counts towards the same £20,000 yearly ISA allowance.
The money in the Cash ISA is held in banks and in qualifying money market funds. For this reason, Lightyear warns that your capital is at risk, unlike a Cash ISA held fully as bank deposits.
Which ISA should you choose?
- Stocks and Shares ISA: if you invest for the long term and can accept that your investments go up and down.
- Cash ISA: if you want to earn interest on savings you may need in the short term.
- Both: you can use both, as long as the total stays within the yearly allowance.
Lightyear promo code: get up to £100 in a fractional share
| Lightyear promo code | |
| Promo code | MONEYGROWER |
| Reward | A fractional share worth up to £100, in your GIA |
| Conditions | New users who deposit at least £100 within 15 days after onboarding |
When investing, your capital is at risk. Terms apply.
To claim the reward:
- Sign up to Lightyear using the code MONEYGROWER.
- Deposit at least £100 within 15 days after onboarding.
- Choose your fractional share. The reward is placed in your General Investment Account.
The value of the share is random. According to Lightyear’s terms, 80% of rewards are worth between £10 and £20, 15% between £21 and £50, 3% between £51 and £75 and 2% between £76 and £100.
You can only withdraw the reward 6 months after you receive it. During those 6 months you must also stay funded with at least your qualifying deposit plus the value of the reward, or Lightyear will take the reward back.
Lightyear mobile vs. web app
Lightyear has a mobile app for iOS and Android and a web platform with the same accounts.
What do you get in the app?
- A clean, simple interface.
- A search function for stocks, ETFs and gilts.
- Fast account opening and deposits.
- Regular investing through Plans.
The web platform offers the same accounts and investments on a bigger screen, which helps when you research a company. Lightyear has also added Lightyear AI, an AI tool for market data inside the platform.
Customer support
Lightyear does not offer phone support. You can contact the team by email at support@lightyear.com or through “Help and support” in the app settings.
When we contacted support, the answer was helpful but took some time. For quick answers, the Help Centre on the Lightyear website covers most common questions.
On Trustpilot, Lightyear is rated 4.7 out of 5. Negative reviews mostly mention the lack of phone support and slow answers to complex questions.
To sum up
Lightyear is a simple and cheap way to invest from the UK. Stocks, ETFs and gilts cost no commission, the FX fee is 0.1% and there is no account fee. Add a flexible Stocks and Shares ISA, a Cash ISA at 3.75% AER and Vaults at 3.84% AER on GBP, and it covers most needs of a long-term investor.
If you are starting out, Lightyear is worth a look. If you trade options or crypto, you will need another platform, such as Interactive Brokers or eToro.
FAQ
How much does Lightyear charge to trade?
Nothing in commission. UK customers pay no fee per order on UK, US and EU stocks, ETFs and gilts. The only trading cost is a 0.1% fee when you convert currency.
How do I transfer shares or an ISA to Lightyear?
Lightyear handles ISA transfers for you, and moving your ISA to Lightyear is free. Your current provider may charge an exit fee. Transferring an ISA does not affect your £20,000 yearly allowance.
Is Lightyear a good broker?
Lightyear suits beginners and long-term investors who want a simple app with low fees. It is execution-only, so it does not give investment advice. Active traders who want options or crypto may prefer another broker.
Is the Lightyear app free?
Yes. The app is free to download and there is no account fee. You only pay the 0.1% FX fee when you convert currency, 0.6% on card deposits and the fee already included in the Vaults rate.
Is Lightyear a private company?
Yes. Lightyear is a private company and its shares are not listed on a stock exchange.
Who owns the Lightyear app?
The Lightyear group is led by Lightyear Financial Ltd. In the UK, the service is provided by Lightyear UK Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 987226), with its registered office at 1 Old Street Yard, London EC1Y 8AF. In the EU, it is provided by Lightyear Europe AS, regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority under licence number 4.1-1/31.
Is Lightyear profitable?
As a private company, Lightyear does not publish its profitability.
