Gotrade vs Lightyear: Features, Coverage and Pricing Compared (2026)
Updated November 10, 2026 · Reviewed by Benjamin Margolis
Gotrade and Lightyear both sell low-cost investing apps outside the US. Gotrade offers fractional US stocks from $1 to investors in more than 150 countries. Lightyear serves the UK and Europe with stocks, ETFs, and multi-currency cash.
Our analysts compared the two on November 10, 2026, using each company's own product, pricing, and company pages and our full reviews of Gotrade and Lightyear.
Choose Gotrade if
- you live outside Europe
- you only want US stocks
- you want to start from $1
Choose Lightyear if
- you live in the UK or Europe
- you want ETFs and a UK ISA
- you want SIPC and Estonian protection
Gotrade scores 78 and Lightyear scores 80 in our ratings. The choice follows where you live.
Key Features Compared
Gotrade vs Lightyear at a Glance, November 2026
| Feature |  Gotrade | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Fintech Index score | 78 / 100 | 80 / 100Higher score |
| Overview | ||
| What it is | Labuan-licensed mobile brokerage that lets people in many countries buy fractional US stocks starting from $1 | Investing platform, regulated in the UK and the European Union, where people can buy stocks, funds, bonds, and more, and keep savings in a separate balance |
| Who it suits | Retail investors in more than 150 countries; 900,000+ traders and investors | Retail and small-business investors in the UK and Europe |
| Main products | Fractional US stocks from $1 across 3,200+ US stocks | Stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, and multi-currency cash |
| Where it operates | More than 150 countries | UK and many EU countries |
| Pricing | ||
| How pricing works | Fees on the app's fee pages | €0 commission on many ETF trades, €0 account fees, FX 0.1% (UK) or 0.35% (Estonia) |
| Published prices | Fees posted in the app | Fees posted |
| Technology and compliance | ||
| Regulation and protection | Labuan Financial Services Authority securities licensee | Regulated in the UK and EU; US securities with Alpaca under SIPC; EU assets covered by Estonia's scheme up to €20,000 |
| App and platform | Mobile-first app | Mobile and web app |
| Integrations and partners | Retail app, no adviser tools | Multi-currency accounts |
| Onboarding and support | Account opening in the app with identity checks for supported countries | Business accounts available |
| Company | ||
| Founded | 2019 (Y Combinator S19) | 2020-2021 (founders began work mid-2020; public launch followed) |
| Headquarters | Labuan, Malaysia | Tallinn, Estonia (Lightyear Europe AS); UK entity Lightyear UK Ltd |
| Ownership | Private company (Gotrade Securities Inc.) | Private |
| Funding | Not published | $58M from NordicNinja, Lightspeed, Metaplanet and others |
| Key leader | Norman Wanto | Martin Sokk |
| Scale | More than 900,000 users | Fee and commission income of €4.2M in the year to March 2026 |
Fintech Index Scores Compared
We rate every company on eight criteria from 0 to 100, four tied to what buyers in its sector need and four shared by every company, and the rating is their average. Gotrade scores 78 and Lightyear scores 80.
Criterion Scores Out of 100
Key Differences Between Gotrade and Lightyear
Countries
Gotrade serves more than 150 countries. Lightyear serves the UK and many EU countries.
Assets
Gotrade offers 3,200+ US stocks. Lightyear offers stocks, ETFs, funds, bonds, and cash.
Regulation
Gotrade holds a Labuan securities licence. Lightyear is regulated in the UK and EU.
Pros and Cons
Gotrade
Pros
- US stocks from $1
- Serves 150+ countries
- Simple app
- Fractional shares
Cons
- US stocks only
- Offshore licence
- No tax wrappers
Lightyear
Pros
- Clear published fees
- Multi-currency accounts
- Business accounts
- SIPC and Estonian protection
Cons
- No deep options or futures
- No adviser tools
- Small revenue base
Who Each Is Best For
Gotrade
A retail investor outside the US who wants a simple app to buy fractional US stocks without a full-service Western brokerage relationship.
Lightyear
The European retail or business investor who wants multi-market stocks and ETFs with published low fees and multi-currency cash.
Alternatives to Gotrade and Lightyear
These companies, all reviewed and rated on The Fintech Index, cover some of the same ground as Gotrade and Lightyear.
Other Card Issuing and Processing Companies
| Company | Score | Best for | Comparisons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharesies | 75 | NZ and Australian beginners who make small orders | None yet |
| Trading 212 | 81 | Cost-conscious UK and European investors | Lightyear vs Trading 212 |
| Interactive Brokers | 83 | Active investors who trade many markets | Lightyear vs Interactive Brokers |
| Moneyfarm | 75 | UK savers who want a managed ETF portfolio | Moneyfarm vs Lightyear |
| Plum | 74 | Savers who struggle to put money aside | Plum vs Lightyear |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invest from $1 with Gotrade?
Yes.
Does Lightyear charge account fees?
No.
Which offers ETFs?
Sources
- The Fintech Index analysis of Gotrade and Lightyear, conducted November 2026 (As of November 10, 2026)
- Gotrade home page: https://www.heygotrade.com/ (As of November 10, 2026)