Public vs Lightyear
By Jay Rocco, Chief Editor, FullStack Alpha. Updated . Prices checked on each vendor's own site.
Quick answer
Pick Public for stock screener plus options analytics. Pick Lightyear for global markets.
Key differences
- Broader feature set: Public (8 vs 4 core capabilities)
- MCP / AI connector: Public (Only Public has it)
- API access: Public (Only Public has it)
- Broker connection: Public (Only Public has it)
- Mobile app: Public (Only Public has it)
- Options analytics: Public (Only Public has it)
Pick Public if
- You scan the market with filters every day
- You trade options
- Multi-asset investing in one app
- Connecting AI assistants via MCP
Pick Lightyear if
- You invest outside the US
- Low-fee investing in Europe
- Holding USD, EUR and GBP
- Earning interest on cash
Side by side
| Feature | Public | Lightyear |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free plan | Free plan |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Stock screener | Yes | No |
| Broker connection | Yes | No |
| AI chat assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Options analytics | Yes | No |
| Managed portfolios | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Global markets | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | No |
| MCP / AI connector | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
Plans
Public
- Investing account: Free account, commission-free trading
Lightyear
- Pay-as-you-go: No account fee; US stocks 0.1% up to $1 max per order
Questions people ask
What is the main difference between Public and Lightyear?
Pick Public for stock screener plus options analytics. Pick Lightyear for global markets.
Which is cheaper, Public or Lightyear?
Their entry prices are hard to compare because one does not publish a monthly price. Public: Free plan. Lightyear: Free plan.
Do Public or Lightyear have a free plan?
Both have a free plan.
Which is better for beginners?
Both target beginner users. Start with whichever has the free plan or trial so you can test before you pay.
Which has better AI features?
Public goes deeper on AI with 2 AI features (AI chat assistant, MCP / AI connector).
Can I connect Public or Lightyear to ChatGPT or Claude?
Public offers an MCP server or official AI connector.
Is Public or Lightyear better for active trading?
Public has more of the active-trading toolkit: alerts, scanning, signals and charts.
Should I use both Public and Lightyear?
It can make sense. They overlap on only 3 core features, so one can fill gaps the other leaves.