+£15
General account17 mins
LightyearGeneral account
£15 Free Cash•17 mins
£15 Free Cash
+£15What is Lightyear?
Lightyear is an investment platform founded in 2020 by former Wise employees, offering UK, US and EU stocks, ETFs, and money market funds with industry-low fees. Both the General Investment Account and Stocks & Shares ISA have zero platform fees.
Regulated by the FCA (No. 987226) with FSCS cash protection up to £85,000, Lightyear is built for cost-conscious investors who want straightforward access to global markets without hidden charges.
Launched
2020
Customers
20k+
Google Play
4.4 (3k)
★★★★★★
Key Terms
Profit
+£15
Upfront deposit£5
Cashback arrives56 days
Step by Step Guide
Chris's overview
Optional·1 min read
Quidco is paying £15 cash for opening a Lightyear account and making your first deposit. There is no minimum deposit listed on the Quidco page, but I would recommend depositing at least £5 to be safe.
You can invest in either a General Investment Account (GIA) or a Stocks & Shares ISA. Both have zero platform fees on Lightyear.
Deposit your £5, invest it as you normally would, and only withdraw it once you have received the cashback. If you do not want stock market volatility while you wait, Lightyear's Vaults are a money market fund paying around 3.75% AER on cash with very low risk.
1
Sign up to Lightyear via Quidco
10 mins
- Click the button below to open the Lightyear cashback offer on Quidco
- Sign up to Quidco if you do not already have an account, then click through to Lightyear from the Quidco offer page
- Create your Lightyear account and complete ID verification
2
Deposit £5+ and put it to work
5 mins
- Deposit and invest £5 as you normally would
- Keep the money invested. You can't withdraw it until you've received the cashback
3
Receive £15 free cash56d
2 mins
- Quidco will pay £15 cash into your Quidco account within eight weeks of your first deposit being tracked
- Once the cashback reaches confirmed status, you can withdraw it to your bank or PayPal
- Your Lightyear deposit and any returns remain yours, so you can withdraw whenever you want or keep investing.
Offer Complete
Done? Tick off each step above to see your total.
Lightyear Full Review
Completed the offer? Awesome! Here's our full review on why Lightyear could work well for you going forward.
Lightyear is an FCA-authorised investment platform that lets you buy stocks, ETFs, and hold multiple currencies with competitive fees. Founded in 2020 by former Wise (TransferWise) employees, it is built for cost-conscious investors who want straightforward access to global markets without hidden charges. Lightyear offers a General Investment Account (GIA) with zero platform fees, making it one of the cheapest ways to invest in stocks and ETFs. The platform is regulated by the FCA (No. 987226) and your cash is protected by the FSCS up to £85,000.
Is Lightyear safe?
Lightyear is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 987226). Your cash balance is protected by the FSCS up to £85,000 if Lightyear were to fail. Your investments are held in segregated accounts, meaning they are kept separate from Lightyear's own assets. The company was founded by former Wise employees, bringing experience from one of the UK's most trusted fintech companies.
Who is Lightyear for?
Lightyear is best suited for self-directed investors who want to pick their own stocks and ETFs without paying high platform fees. The zero-fee GIA and Stocks & Shares ISA make it a strong option for both general investing and tax-efficient ISA contributions. It is also a good choice for anyone who invests in US or European markets, thanks to competitive FX rates and multi-currency accounts.
Top Features
1
Zero platform fees on GIA and ISA
No monthly or annual fees on the General Investment Account or Stocks & Shares ISA. You only pay when you trade.
2
Multi-currency accounts
Hold and convert between multiple currencies at competitive rates, similar to Wise.
3
UK, US and EU stocks and ETFs
Access to major global markets including FTSE, S&P 500, and European exchanges.
4
Founded by ex-Wise team
Built by the team behind one of the UK's most successful fintech companies, bringing a focus on transparency and low fees.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✓Zero platform fees on the General Investment Account and Stocks & Shares ISA
- ✓Competitive FX rates for multi-currency investing
- ✓Clean, simple app designed for straightforward investing
- ✓FCA-regulated with FSCS cash protection up to £85,000
Cons
- ✗Smaller stock selection compared to established brokers
- ✗Relatively new platform (founded 2020)
- ✗Limited research and analysis tools
Chris's Verdict
Lightyear is a solid choice if you want a no-frills investment platform with genuinely low costs. The zero-fee GIA and Stocks & Shares ISA are hard to beat, and the ex-Wise pedigree shows in the clean app design and competitive currency rates.
The £15 cashback offer via Quidco is a low-effort win. Open a General Investment Account, deposit £5 or more, and Quidco will pay £15 cash within eight weeks. The deposit stays yours to withdraw or invest. If you want it working in the meantime, Lightyear's Vaults pay around 3.75% AER on cash with very low risk.
