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Updated September 29, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team

Finom vs Lightyear

Finom scores 8.9 and Lightyear 8.9 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
Finom

Finom

Higher score in this comparison

8.9/10
Visit
Lightyear

Lightyear

8.9/10
Visit

Finom vs Lightyear: the differences

Finom vs Lightyear
CompareFinomFinomReviewVisitVisitLightyearLightyearReviewVisitVisit
Headline rate5%Higher2.42%
Rate typeFixedVariable
Minimum deposit€0Lower€1
Deposit protectionEU DGS up to EUR 100,000FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Access termsInstant access, withdraw at any time with no withdrawal penaltiesEasy access: interest accrues daily and is paid monthly; withdrawal within 2 business days
Account kindCash managementEasy access
RegulatorsNot confirmedFinancial Conduct Authority, Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority (Finantsinspektsioon), Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA)

Same on both: Monthly fee (€0).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • Minimum deposit is lower at Finom: €0 vs €1.
  • Headline rate is higher at Finom: 5% vs 2.42%.
  • Pricing model: only Finom offers Fixed rate.

Our verdict on each

Finom

Finom suits freelancers and small businesses that want a euro cash account with a set rate and instant access. A minimum deposit of €0 and local IBAN details make it easy to open, though the fixed rate will not follow the market and support runs on email, chat and help centre only.

Read the full Finom review

Lightyear

Lightyear suits savers who want easy access with a variable rate and monthly interest payments without locking cash away for a fixed term. It pays a headline rate of 2.42% with a minimum deposit of €1 and protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 for eligible balances held with the firm.

Read the full Lightyear review

Score breakdown

Finom vs Lightyear
AreaFinomLightyear
Cost9.3HigherCosts sit at the free end: a monthly fee of €0 and a conversion fee of 1% near the site median of 0.5%.9.0No monthly charge with fees of €0 keeps holding costs low for savers.
Offer9.7HigherA fixed rate of 5% with instant access, ranking 92 of 473 on rate.8.5Easy access and variable terms with rate of variable plus headline rate of 2.42% shape the offer.
Trust8.29.0HigherProtection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 supports saver confidence.

What it costs in practice

10,000 saved for 12 months

Finom

€500

5% of 10,000 - 12 × €0

Lightyear

€242

2.42% of 10,000 - 12 × €0

Finom comes out €258 ahead.

Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.

Availability and regulation

Finom vs Lightyear
CountryFinomLightyear
CyprusNot confirmed
EstoniaNot confirmed
NetherlandsNot confirmed
United KingdomNot confirmed

How they place

Finom vs Lightyear
RankingFinomLightyear
Savings accounts1 of 142041 of 1420

Every fact side by side

Finom vs Lightyear
FactFinomLightyear
Pricing modelNo monthly fee, Fixed rateCovers moreNo monthly fee
Legal entityPNL Fintech B.V.Not confirmed
HeadquartersNetherlandsNot confirmed
Founded2019Not confirmed
Support channelsEmail, Chat, Help centre, CommunityNot confirmed

Everyday accounts

Finom vs Lightyear
FactFinomLightyear
Currency conversion fee1%Not confirmed
Currencies17Not confirmed
AudienceBusiness, FreelancerNot confirmed
FeaturesFree ATMNot confirmed
Local account detailsIBANNot confirmed
Free ATM withdrawals€10,000Not confirmed
Transfer feeFree outgoing SEPA transfers up to EUR 2,500 per month (Solo plan); outgoing international payments 1% (Solo) to 0.20% (Pro)Not confirmed

Where each stands against the rest

Finom vs Lightyear
FactFinomLightyearMedian
Headline rate5%above the median2.42%below the median3.25%
Minimum deposit€0below the median€1at the median€1
Monthly fee€0at the median€0at the median€0

Median across 658 listed accounts.

Pros and cons

Finom

Pros

  • The minimum deposit is €0, so an account can be opened without a large opening balance.
  • The transfer fee leaves outgoing SEPA transfers free on the Solo plan within a monthly limit.
  • Local IBAN details sit alongside 17 currencies, so one account can take payments in several currencies.

Cons

  • The interest rate is fixed, so it will not rise with the market while most savings accounts here are variable (79%).
  • The transfer fee for outgoing international payments is higher on the Solo plan than on the Pro plan.
  • Deposit protection is EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so any balance above that cap sits outside the scheme.

Lightyear

Pros

  • Easy access Vaults pay a headline rate of 2.42% with a variable profile of variable for flexible saving.
  • Minimum deposit of €1 keeps entry low, while monthly fees of €0 leave no recurring account charge.
  • Deposit protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 supports confidence alongside oversight by Financial Conduct Authority, Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority (Finantsinspektsioon) and Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (EFSA).

Cons

  • Support runs on help centre and email only, which limits choice for savers who prefer phone or live chat contact.
  • Headline rate of 2.42% trails the eToro headline rate of 3.8%, which matters for rate led savers.
  • Variable rate of variable means the return can move, which suits flexible savers less focused on certainty.

Who each suits

Finom

Who it suits

  • Freelancers and sole traders who need local IBAN details and can move money the same day it arrives.
  • Small businesses paid in euros by clients abroad who want several currencies in one place.
  • Readers who want a set rate on working money rather than the highest variable rate on the table.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Anyone ranking purely on the headline figure, since Plazo ES lists 24.19% and AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito 21.59%.
  • Variable rate savers, since 79% of the brands in this group pay a variable rate and the Finom rate is fixed.
  • Readers happy with a wallet and a smaller return, since PayPal Colombia lists 3.3%.

Lightyear

Who it suits

  • Savers who want flexible access may choose Lightyear over Santander Consumer Bank because Lightyear combines easy access with monthly interest payments.
  • Savers starting with modest balances may choose Lightyear over eToro because the minimum deposit of €1 keeps entry simple while retaining access.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Savers chasing a higher headline rate may prefer eToro because its headline rate of 3.8% exceeds Lightyear headline rate of 2.42%.
  • Savers wanting a bank branch relationship may prefer Santander Consumer Bank because Lightyear operates with online support on help centre and email.
  • Borrowers comparing credit costs may look at AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito because its headline rate of 21.59% reflects a different credit product.

Current offers

Finom

Current offer

  • Bonus

    Fixed 5% p.a. on EUR funds for the first 5 months: 5% p.a. fixed for 5 months on up to EUR 200,000

    Interest Account, new EUR funds; promo rate for the first 5 months, then standard rate from 0.5% to 2.25% p.a. depending on plan; up to EUR 200,000 held; market analysis dated March 2026; Aksys client agreement terms apply

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Free trial

    30-day trial on paid plans: 30 days

    Paid Basic and Smart plans, excl. VAT; paid monthly or yearly

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • First period offer

    3 months for free for partners customers only: 3 months free

    Customers introduced through the Finom Partner Program

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

Country by country

Finom vs Lightyear
CountryFinomLightyear
AustriaYesNo
BelgiumYesNo
CyprusYesNo
FranceYesNo
GermanyYesNo
IrelandYesNo
ItalyYesNo
NetherlandsYesNo

8 of 11 countries where either is available.

Questions about each

Finom

What does it cost to keep a Finom account?+

The monthly fee is €0 and the minimum deposit is €0, so there is no cost to holding a balance and no need for a large opening payment. The charge that matters is currency conversion at 1%, plus outgoing international payments, which cost more on the Solo plan than on the Pro plan.

Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+

Balances sit under the EU deposit guarantee scheme, with protection stated as EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. Finom is entered on the Dutch register as R180074 and on the Cypriot register as 456/25, so more than one supervisor is watching the business.

Lightyear

What rate does Lightyear pay on savings balances+

Lightyear pays a headline rate of 2.42% on Vaults balances. The rate is variable, described by variable, so it can move over time rather than staying locked for a set period.

What is needed to open a Lightyear Vault+

Lightyear asks for a minimum deposit of €1 to start saving in Vaults. That low entry point allows savers to open and add funds without committing large sums at the outset.

Other options to compare

Other matchups

Finom

Visit

Lightyear

Visit