Everyone wants to get rich fast. It’s no surprise that there are apps for investing in stocks available online. Depending on the app you might be able to get more followers on social media, early access to new products, or get discounts at selected retail stores.
But will these apps help you make money? Are they worth your time? Can you even invest with them? Let us find out!
TradeStation: Best for Intermediate to Advanced Traders
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Advanced traders, Options and Futures traders, Active stock traders
- Sign up here
TradeStation is a powerful stock trading app and platform which comes with analytic tools useful to seasoned professionals and new traders alike. The platform comes equipped with brokerage services and trading education resources recognized by respected industry reviewers.
Much like every other online broker found on this list, the free stock trading app charges no commissions for stock and ETF trades and low fees on options and futures contracts.
TradeStation caters to its target audience: advanced, active and technically-minded traders. Beginning traders likely will be overwhelmed by this service and may even face fees.
The technical tools and screeners provided by TradeStation are all at or near the top of the class, making it the best stock trading platform for advanced traders on this list.
TD Ameritrade
Best For: Free Options Trading
If you’re a trader, you may have heard of TD Ameritrade – or maybe one of their platforms, like thinkorswim. With TD Ameritrade’s commission free pricing structure (for stocks, options, and ETFs), they are more compelling than ever to use as an investing app.
TD Ameritrade offers over commission free ETFs from industry giants iShares, Vanguard and more. Because of the diversity of no load ETF funds, TD Ameritrade is my top broker for people who want to consider tax loss harvesting on their own.
Remember, TD Ameritrade also offers $0 commission stock, ETF, and options trades.
Furthermore, TD Ameritrade also have no minimum and no maintenance fee IRAs. That makes it a better pick to options such as Acorns, which charge maintenance fees.
TD Ameritrade’s mobile app also offers research, information and portfolio analysis that makes the free investing that much sweeter. Just remember, TD Ameritrade charges for some ETFs, mutual funds, and equity trades. Filter for no load ETFs before you buy.
It’s app also isn’t as user friendly as Fidelity’s but we put them as a very, very close second.
| TD Ameritrade | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | $100 |
| Commission | $0 for stocks, ETFs, options |
| Monthly Fees | $0 |
| Account Type | Taxable, IRA, HSA, 401k, Trust |
| Promotions | None |
Webull: Best Stock Trading App for Beginners
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Self-directed investors and intermediate traders
- Sign up here
Webull first hit the investing world in 2018 by offering free stock trading in addition to free trades of ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies.
The company provides you the ability to trade on your smartphone, tablet or desktop, track your stocks and charges no commissions for the trades you make in your portfolio.
It also recently began allowing fractional shares for you to buy smaller portions of stocks with higher share prices.
SoFi Invest: Best for Personal Finance-Focused Investors
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Investors looking for automated investing already using SoFi’s other personal finance products
- Sign up here: (iOS), Android, Desktop
SoFi Invest is an app that allows you to track and trade your money. The service is the latest from the SoFi financial wellness platform and offers free trades on stocks, ETFs, cryptos and more.
The service allows you to be an active trader by buying and selling offered assets on a daily basis or passive through its automated investing service.
The company wants to serve all customers who have an interest in improving their financial situation alongside participating in their other personal finance products like student loans, money management, credit cards and more.
Public.com: Best Free Stock App for Theme-Based Investing
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: New investors with limited capital
- Sign up here
Public.com is another commission-free investing app that targets Millennials and Gen-Zers who have attuned their senses to social media. These age groups want to align their investing with their social preferences as well as keep good company to socialize and learn from others.
The stock investing app boasts an increasingly-common feature geared toward younger investors who may not have enough money to buy some higher cost shares at one time: fractional investing.
This product feature plays on the company’s mission of making the stock market an inclusive, educational investment opportunity which can be fun. They accomplish the latter point by allowing people to invest alongside friends and other well-regarded investors.
Much like social media platforms who provide the standard blue check mark logo to verify public figures, Public.com provides visibility into trade activity and other insights these verified investors wish to provide to the Public.com community.
M1 Finance
Best For: Building A Free Portfolio For The Long Term
M1 has become our favorite investing app and platform over the last year. With commission free investing, the ability to invest in fractional shares, automatic deposits, and more, M1 Finance is top notch.
If you’re looking for a way to create and maintain a free, diversified portfolio of stocks and ETFs, look no further than M1 Finance. They provide a pretty revolutionary tool/investing app that allows you to setup a portfolio and invest into it (correctly allocated) for free.
What do I mean? Well, imagine a portfolio of ETFs – maybe you have 5 ETFs at 20% each. Well, instead of having to do 5 transactions (and commission for each) when you buy, you can now simply invest and M1 Finance takes care of the rest – for free!
If you don’t know exactly how to set it up, you’re more than welcome to use one of their already setup portfolios as well.
Plus, M1 Finance has a great investing bonus offer right now! You can get up to $2,500 if you deposit new money!
It doesn’t get much better than M1 Finance when it comes to investing for free. Try M1 Finance >>
| M1 Finance | |
|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | $100 |
| Commission | $0 |
| Monthly Fees | $0 |
| Account Type | Taxable, IRA |
| Promotions | None |
Unifimoney: All Financial Products in One Place [iOS Only]
- Available: Sign up here
- Best For: High earners looking for multiple financial products on one platform
- Price: Commission-free stock/ETF trades
Unifimoney is a digital money management app allowing users to invest in stocks, ETFs, precious metals and cryptos as well as bank, purchase insurance, sign up for credit cards, loans, mortgages, and even more!
The service combines robo-advisor with self-directed investing capability, allowing you to customize your portfolio on the fly or automate your portfolio in the background. Depending on your lifestyle and financial goals, Unifimoney offers the capability to invest how you want.
Further, you can even dive into cryptocurrency trading if that attracts your interest.
The company’s integrated banking and investment platforms help higher earning individuals make the most of their money in one location.
To qualify for the company’s competitive high-yield checking account’s top tier rates, you’ll need to deposit at least $2,000 per month or maintain a minimum balance of $20,000.
Axos Self-Directed Trading
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Self-directed investors currently banking with Axos
- Sign up here
Axos Self-Directed Trading (SDT) offers no commission trading on US-listed equities—providing you with an easy-to-use platform and the tools you need to succeed.
Axos SDT also works to save you time with an intuitive interface and mobile access so you can trade anytime or anywhere.
So, just how will Axos help your self-directed investing experience?
For starters, Axos SDT offers commission-free equity and exchange-traded funds as well as access to 10,000+ mutual funds.
Where Axos SDT differs from its competitors is its unified financial dashboard with its other Axos Banking products, allowing you to sync all of your accounts in one convenient place.
If you’d like to upgrade to a higher level of service, you might consider Axos Elite. This service provides:
- Instant fund access
- Lower fees
- Increased buying power with leverage
- Enhanced market knowledge through real-time market data expert insights and premium TipRanks market research
You can open individual taxable accounts, joint accounts and IRAs.
E-Trade
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Options traders
- Sign up here
E-Trade has long been seen as a leading stock trading app for retail investors. E-Trade provides investors access to educational resources that assist you with conducting investment research and analysis and diversifying your portfolio.
The online brokerage platform also has a significant amount of options trading and data functionality after the company acquired OptionsHouse.
These tools can assist with making more-informed options investment decisions. The company also acts as a stock futures app for more experienced investors.
As another service, E-Trade also offers retirement planning to clients as well as in-person informational sessions annually in certain areas.
E-Trade has three platforms. All are free and have no minimum investment limit.
- Power E-Trade offers investors real-time data and studies.
- E-Trade Web provides live market commentary and stock analysis.
- E-Trade Pro gives you strategy scanners and back-testing.
Each stock trading platform gives you access to a dashboard for tracking your investment accounts, types of investment vehicles, and your trades. E-trade does have small fees for options contracts and some fees involved with retirement accounts.
Ally Invest
- Minimum Deposit: $0.00
- Stock Trade Fee: $0.00
- Options (Per Contract): $0.50
Pros
- As far as banking and brokerage combinations go, Ally delivers with universal account access, instant money transfers between accounts, and $0 trades.
- $0 minimum deposit. $0 stock and ETF trades. Options trades $.50 per contract.
Cons
- If you are not already an Ally Bank customer, Ally Invest struggles to compete as a standalone broker. Ally Invest trails industry leaders TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab in most areas, including trading platforms, tools, investment research, and education.
- Usability and banking synergies aside, if you have no ties to Ally, Ally Invest does not provide enough value to warrant a recommendation.
Overall Summary
| Feature | Ally Invest |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4 Stars |
| Commissions & Fees | 4.5 Stars |
| Platforms & Tools | 3 Stars |
| Research | 3.5 Stars |
| Mobile Trading | 3.5 Stars |
| Offering of Investments | 4 Stars |
| Education | 3.5 Stars |
| Ease of Use | 5 Stars |
Firstrade: Best for International Investors
- Available via desktop, Apple iOS and Android App on Google Play
- Best For: Mutual fund and target date fund investors
- Sign up here
Firstrade is a leading online brokerage firm offering a full line of investment products and tools designed to help investors improve their financial position through sound investing practices.
Like every other investing app provided on this list, it too does not assess commissions for making stock trades.
Firstrade combines proprietary trading technology with an intuitive user interface, offers customer service availability and utilizes a mobile application like all others in this article.
In short, the platform offers access to over 11,000 different investments, including index funds, stocks, bonds, target date funds, mutual funds, and more.
Firstrade offers a comprehensive solution for all of your investing needs, committing itself to excellence and putting customers first.
Conclusion
The stock market can be an intimidating place, but it doesn’t have to be. We’ve curated the following list of top apps to help you get started investing. These apps are designed to help you find new opportunities, explore different areas of expertise, and keep tabs on your favorite companies — all with the purpose of helping you become a savvy investor.