Mobile investing apps have made it much easier to put money into the stock market. What used to require a broker and significant capital now fits in your pocket. For beginners, this is great news—but it also means wading through dozens of apps, each claiming to be the best choice. This guide cuts through the marketing to look at what actually matters for someone just starting out.
How We Selected These Apps
We tested over 20 investment platforms available in the US. We looked at what matters to new investors: account minimums, fees, how easy the app is to use, educational content, security, and whether you can actually get help when something goes wrong.
We checked that each platform is SIPC-protected and SEC-registered. A few certified financial planners also weighed in on what features matter for clients who are new to investing.
Robinhood – Best for Commission-Free Trading
Robinhood made waves by eliminating commission fees, and that still makes it one of the cheapest ways to start trading. The interface is clean and simple—some would say too simple. It doesn’t feel like a traditional brokerage, which can be either a pro or a con depending on what you’re looking for.
You can trade stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies with zero commissions. There’s no minimum account balance. The fractional share feature lets you buy pieces of expensive stocks like Amazon or Google with just a few dollars, which is genuinely useful when you’re starting small.
The downside: Robinhood’s research tools are limited compared to older brokers. The educational content has improved with “Robinhood Snacks” and market briefings, but it’s not in-depth. You also can’t buy mutual funds, and retirement accounts aren’t available. Most people eventually outgrow Robinhood and move to a more full-featured platform.
Fidelity Investments – Best for Comprehensive Education
If you want to actually learn about investing while you do it, Fidelity is hard to beat. They offer articles, videos, webinars, and interactive tools covering everything from basic stock mechanics to options trading. The content is clear and doesn’t assume you already know the jargon.
The platform gives you access to over 10,000 mutual funds, thousands of ETFs, stocks, bonds, and more. There’s no minimum to open most accounts, and online stock and ETF trades are commission-free. Their internal research team (over 500 analysts) provides market insights that would cost a lot through other services.
Customer support is a real strength here. You can call 24/7, visit a local branch in most cities, or use chat. They also offer managed accounts if you want someone else to handle the investing decisions. For beginners who want to understand what they’re doing while building long-term wealth, this is the most complete package.
Charles Schwab – Best for Customer Service and Reliability
Schwab has been around for decades, and it shows in how they treat customers. They have over 300 physical branches nationwide—something fintech apps can’t match. For new investors who want the option to sit down with someone and ask questions, this matters.
Commissions are zero for stocks and ETFs, and there’s no minimum for most accounts. Their mutual fund marketplace has over 4,000 funds, many with no transaction fees. The thinkorswim platform (available for more advanced users) gives you tools that you’ll grow into over time rather than outgrowing.
Recent additions include fractional share trading and full IRA options (Traditional, Roth, and Rollover). Security is solid—two-factor authentication, biometric login, and fraud protection come standard. If you value being able to talk to a real person when things get confusing, Schwab delivers.
Acorns – Best for Automated Investing
Acorns built its name on round-ups: link your debit or credit card, and every purchase gets rounded up to the nearest dollar. The difference goes into a diversified ETF portfolio. You don’t have to think about investing—it happens automatically on every purchase.
You answer a few questions about your risk tolerance and goals, and Acorns builds a portfolio for you. There are five options from conservative to aggressive. The platform rebalances automatically and handles the day-to-day decisions that trip up beginners.
The app costs $3, $5, or $9 per month depending on which plan you choose. For smaller portfolios, this works out to more than a percentage-based fee at a traditional broker. But for people who don’t want to think about investing and would rather set it and forget it, the convenience is worth it. They also offer a checking account if you want to keep everything in one place.
Betterment – Best for Goal-Based Investing
Betterment organizes your investments around specific goals: a house, retirement, an emergency fund, a wedding. Each goal gets its own portfolio with a timeline and risk level that makes sense for that particular objective. This helps new investors stay focused instead of checking their balance every time the market dips.
Portfolios are built with low-cost ETFs and automatically rebalanced. Tax-loss harvesting—which helps you offset gains with losses to reduce taxes—comes standard. They offer a Digital plan with algorithm-only management and a Premium plan with access to human advisors.
The Digital plan has no minimum and charges 0.25% annually. Premium requires $100,000 and charges 0.40%. For an automated service that handles rebalancing, tax optimization, and goal tracking, this is competitively priced.
Comparison of Top Investment Apps for Beginners
| App | Commissions | Minimum Investment | Best For | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinhood | $0 | None | Active traders | Fractional shares |
| Fidelity | $0 | None | Education seekers | Research tools |
| Schwab | $0 | None | Customer support | Branch access |
| Acorns | $0/$3-$9/mo | None | Passive savers | Round-up investing |
| Betterment | 0.25% | None | Goal investors | Automated advice |
How to Start Investing as a Beginner
Before you download anything, figure out your goals. Retirement? A house? Just building wealth? Your timeline affects how much risk you should take.
Make sure you have an emergency fund first—three to six months of expenses in a savings account. You don’t want to be forced to sell investments during a downturn because you needed the money for a car repair or medical bill.
Once you’re ready, open an account, verify your identity, and link your bank. Start small. Putting in $50 or $100 monthly on a regular schedule beats trying to time the market with lump sums. This approach, called dollar-cost averaging, smooths out the bumps and removes the stress of watching daily price movements.
Conclusion
Each app here serves different needs. Robinhood is the cheapest and easiest entry point. Fidelity gives you the best tools for learning. Schwab combines digital convenience with actual branches. Acorns automates everything for hands-off investors. Betterment keeps you focused on specific goals.
What matters most is starting. The earlier you put money to work, the more time it has to grow. Markets go up and down—that’s guaranteed. But historically, staying invested over time has been one of the most reliable ways to build financial security. Pick the app that fits your situation, contribute regularly, and ignore the noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best investment app for beginners with no money?
Robinhood and Fidelity both let you open an account with $0. You can buy fractional shares with as little as $1 on Robinhood. Most apps have dropped minimums entirely, so you truly can start with whatever you have.
Are investment apps safe for beginners?
Reputable apps that are SIPC members and SEC-registered brokers are safe. If the brokerage fails, your assets are protected up to $500,000. Robinhood, Fidelity, and Schwab all meet this standard and use encryption and two-factor authentication to protect your account.
Do I need a lot of money to start investing?
No. Fractional shares let you buy portions of stocks for just a dollar or two. Contributing $25 or $50 monthly adds up faster than you’d expect when returns compound over years.
Which investment app has the lowest fees?
Robinhood, Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and E*TRADE all offer $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. But look at the full picture—monthly subscription fees, options contract fees, and mutual fund costs can add up. Acorns and Betterment charge monthly fees but provide automated management that may be worth it depending on how much hand-holding you want.
Can I open a retirement account through investment apps?
Yes. Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Betterment all offer Traditional, Roth, and Rollover IRAs. You can roll over old 401(k)s from previous employers into these accounts. Robinhood doesn’t currently offer IRAs.
What should I look for in an investment app as a beginner?
Start with low or no fees, fractional shares, and an interface that doesn’t confuse you. Educational content helps if you want to learn. Good customer support matters when you’re unsure about something. Think about whether you want to trade actively, automate everything, or organize investments around specific goals—that’ll narrow down which app fits best.
