UK investing app Lightyear has announced a major reduction in its pricing for UK retail investors, scrapping trading commissions and lowering foreign exchange fees to 0.1%.
The new pricing structure applies to both general investment accounts (GIAs) and Stocks and Shares ISAs, placing the London-based brokerage among the lowest-cost investing platforms currently available in the UK.
Under the new model, Lightyear customers will charged
- Charge no commission on trades in its general investment account,
- Reducing FX fees to 0.1% on it’s GIA
- Stocks and Shares ISA accounts will also continue to offer zero trading fees, with FX costs falling to the same 0.1% level.
The firm says the move is designed to make investing cheaper and more accessible for UK retail investors.
Wander Rutgers, UK CEO of Lightyear, said broker fees are one of the few predictable costs investors face, and lowering them can materially improve long-term returns.
“The most predictable factor when you invest is how much you pay your broker in fees,” Rutgers said. “We can’t make stocks go up, but we can make fees go down.”
Rutgers also criticised existing fee structures across the industry, arguing that UK investors have historically faced high costs or hidden charges.
“For too long, UK investors have got the short end of the stick,” he said. “Legacy platforms charge sky-high fees for market access, while some neobrokers advertise free trading but monetise through wide FX markups or push customers towards complex products like CFDs.”
The lower pricing follows infrastructure upgrades at the company, including Lightyear becoming a member of the UK’s CREST securities settlement system operated by Euroclear UK & International. The company says closer integration with market infrastructure allows it to reduce operational costs and pass savings on to investors.
Rutgers added the price cuts are part of a broader effort to increase competition in the retail brokerage market.
“I’m excited to turn up the heat in the retail brokerage market today – to create a fair playing field for Brits to become more successful investors,” he said.
The move increases competition for established UK platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell, as newer fintech brokers continue to challenge traditional pricing models.
Richard is the founder of the Good Money Guide (formerly Good Broker Guide), one of the original investment comparison sites established in 2015. With a career spanning two decades as a broker, he brings extensive expertise and knowledge to the financial landscape.
Having worked as a broker at Investors Intelligence and a multi-asset derivatives broker at MF Global (Man Financial), Richard has acquired substantial experience in the industry. His career began as a private client stockbroker at Walker Crips and Phillip Securities (now King and Shaxson), following internships on the NYMEX oil trading floor in New York and London IPE in 2001 and 2000.
Richard’s contributions and expertise have been recognized by respected publications such as The Sunday Times, BusinessInsider, Yahoo Finance, BusinessNews.org.uk, Master Investor, Wealth Briefing, iNews, and The FT, among many others.
Under Richard’s leadership, the Good Money Guide has evolved into a valuable destination for comprehensive information and expert guidance, specialising in trading, investment, and currency exchange. His commitment to delivering high-quality insights has solidified the Good Money Guide’s standing as a well-respected resource for both customers and industry colleagues.
