+£15
General account19 mins
LightyearGeneral account
£15 Free Share•19 mins
£15 Free Share
+£15What is Lightyear?
Lightyear is an investment platform founded in 2020 by former Wise employees, offering stocks, ETFs, and multi-currency accounts with competitive fees. Their General Investment Account has zero platform fees, making it one of the cheapest ways to invest in the UK.
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£100
Free share£10
Free cash arrives194 days
Your deposit: Your £100 can be withdrawn anytime. Free share locked 180 days.
Step by Step Guide
Chris's overview
Optional·1 min read
Lightyear will give you a random free share worth between £10 and £100 when you deposit £100 into a new account. Most people (around 80%) receive a share worth £10 to £20, so set your expectations at the lower end. Hence, we have set this offer at £15. Still, it is free money for a simple deposit.
I recommend opening a General Investment Account (GIA) because it has zero platform fees. You do not need to pick any stocks or make trades. Just open the account, deposit your £100, and wait for your free share to arrive.
Once you have received your free share, your £100 deposit can be withdrawn at any time. It is only the free share that is locked for 180 days. After that, you can sell the share and withdraw the proceeds along with your original deposit.
1
Sign up to Lightyear
10 mins
- Click the button below to sign up to Lightyear
- If you have been referred to Quidsy by family or a friend, you may see their Lightyear link when you click the button. If not, you will be taken to finder.com, which has an exclusive Lightyear promo
- If you land on finder.com, use promo code FFLIGHTYEAR26 when signing up
- Create your account and complete ID verification
- Choose a General account (GIA) for zero platform fees
2
Deposit £100
5 mins
- Deposit £100 into your Lightyear account via bank transfer
- You have 35 days from opening your account to make the deposit
Your deposit does not need to be invested in anything. Simply having £100 in your Lightyear account qualifies you for the free share. You can withdraw it whenever you like.
3
Receive £15 free share14d
2 mins
- Your free share will be credited to your account within 10 working days (around 14 calendar days)
- The share is randomly selected and worth between £10 and £100
- The free share is locked for 180 days. After that, you can sell it and withdraw the proceeds
- You can either keep investing with Lightyear or sell everything and withdraw once the lock period ends
| Probability | Share value |
|---|---|
80% | £10 to £20 |
15% | £20 to £50 |
~3% | £50 to £75 |
~2% | £75 to £100 |
4
Withdraw £15 free share+180d
2 mins
- After 180 days, your free share is unlocked and you can sell it
- Sell your free share and withdraw the proceeds to your bank account
- You can now withdraw your initial £100 deposit
Offer Complete
Completed the offer? Please click Mark as complete in the steps above.
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 is particularly attractive for those building a general investment portfolio outside of an ISA. It is also a strong 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
No monthly or annual fees on the General Investment Account. 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
- ✓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
- ✗No ISA available yet (GIA only)
- ✗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 is hard to beat, and the ex-Wise pedigree shows in the clean app design and competitive currency rates.
For the referral bonus, open a General Investment Account, deposit £100, and you will receive a random free share worth between £10 and £100. Most people get a share worth £10 to £20, but the deposit is yours to withdraw anytime. Only the bonus share is locked for 180 days.