If you're like most people, you have many financial goals you want to achieve. But, it can be difficult to save money and invest it wisely. That's where investment apps come in. Investment apps make it easy for you to manage your investments and reach your financial goals.
There are a lot of different investment apps available, but not all of them are created equal. So, which investment app is the best for you? Check out our list of the 12 best free investment apps to find out!
What Do Investing Apps Offer
“If you don't find a way to make money while you sleep, you will work until you die.” Wise words from American billionaire investor Warren Buffett.
Investing is not just for the rich. You don't need a huge bank balance to take advantage of mutual funds. With the investing price war that's been going on, many firms have cut their trading commissions to zero. This means that it's now cheaper than ever to start building your nest egg.
But for many folks, the idea of investing and trading stocks can be intimidating. That's where investing apps come in. Investment apps allow you to effortlessly save and invest money in small amounts from your couch. The set it and forget approach is what makes the apps popular.
The premise is simple. Some investing apps round up your everyday purchases to the next dollar and invest your spare change. Others allow you to invest in smaller amounts than is usually allowed in the stock market (fractional investing). It's probably money you'll never miss in your day-to-day life.
The goal is that, over time, every small bit you invest helps build up a profitable fund. The funds are then invested into a smartly diversified portfolio of stocks or low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
The best investing apps for beginners should:
- Allow you to trade anywhere and at any time.
- Have a user-friendly interface.
- Offer tools to help you manage and organize your finances.
- Offer low or no commission stock trading.
- Help you learn as you earn.
- Have low or no minimum account balance requirements.
- Let you set both short-term and long-term goals.
- Have a good reputation and strong security features.
- Be insured through the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
- Be able to send you alerts about the market.
- Offer reliable customer support.
Everyone's financial situation is different. We all have different amounts to invest, tolerance for risk, investment objectives, and knowledge. Whether you're a seasoned investor intending to analyze individual stocks on the go or an average beginning investor flirting with making your first trade, there's an app for you.
When you are trying to find the best beginner investing app that will work for your needs, the market options can be overwhelming. That's why I evaluated the investing apps in several different areas and narrowed this list to help all would-be Warren Buffets.
Summary of The Best Investment Apps of 2022
| Broker | Commissions | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Robinhood | $0 per trade | Best Fee-Free Trading |
| Betterment | $0 per trade | Best Overall |
| Fidelity | $0 per trade | Runner-Up |
| Acorns | $1 – $5 per month | Best For Worry-Free Savings |
| Webull | $0 per trade | Best Free App |
| Ally Invest | $0 per trade | Best for Beginners |
| Stockpile | $0.99 per trade | Best For Gifting Stocks |
No-Fee Investing Apps
Several apps allow you to invest without paying any fees. This can be a great way to start investing, especially if you don't have a lot of money to start with. While there are some drawbacks to no-fee investing apps (such as limited investment options and lower returns), they can still be a helpful tool for beginners.
When choosing a no-fee investing app, read the fine print carefully and understand the risks involved. With any investment, there is always the potential for loss, so make sure you are comfortable with the risks before getting started.
1. Vanguard
Vanguard is a godsend investment app if you're in the market for ETF maximization. Index funds are an easy way for new investors to enter the stock market, and Vanguard leads the pack in refining ETF alternatives for users.
Vanguard is arguably the world's largest provider of mutual funds and ETFs. There are dozens of ETFs to pick from with zero fees on online transactions, inactivity or account closure.
This low-cost investment service provider leans toward Called Position Trading. Here, you buy stocks and hold them for extended periods. The brokerage is committed to getting you the lowest possible price when you purchase Vanguard ETFs and the highest possible price when you sell.
The app has a little old-school look, but you'll enjoy a straightforward user interface. There's a $1000 fund minimum, but with free research, customer support, and 3000+ commission-free mutual funds, there's no reason why you shouldn't give Vanguard a try.
2. Robinhood
You are probably familiar with Robin Hood – the legendary heroic outlaw who stole from the rich to give to the poor. Well, this mobile app won't do that but aims at spreading the wealth around by providing a completely free way to invest – no account minimums, no commissions on stocks.
Robinhood is the best beginner investing app, designed to help novices make their first foray into investing. Robinhood was launched back in 2013 and was one of the first apps to target millennials with commission-free trading. It is the granddaddy of free investing apps for beginners.
Robinhood lets you invest in stocks, ETFs, and options. Thanks to Robinhood crypto, you can now trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum with immediate settlement. The app is free to sign up for and easy to use. All you need to open a Robinhood account is your name, email, and address. You'll be welcomed with a simple-to-understand interface.
Connect to your bank account/s, and Robinhood will turn into an electronic piggy bank for your spare change.
- Upon registration and funding your account with at least $10, you'll be awarded a free stock.
- To get even more shares, convince your friends and family to register as users.
- For every successful conversion, you will get a free stock (valued at $5-$500).
With as little as $1, you can invest in thousands of stocks. Simply decide how much you want to invest, and the app will convert from dollars to parts of a whole share.
If you want to gain access to margin accounts and extended trading hours, upgrade to Robinhood Gold. You'll need to pay $5 per month for this premium plan after a 30-day free trial.
3. TD Ameritrade
You probably know TD Ameritrade as a brokerage firm with multiple branches all over the US, but did you know they have investment mobile apps?
Yes, TD Ameritrade has two free investing apps (thinkorswim Mobile and TD Ameritrade Mobile App) that target expert traders and basic investing, respectively. Both apps are excellent for trading stocks for free.
Get this; there's no minimum investment and ETFs, equity trades, and online option trades are commission-free! TD Ameritrade is the app for you if you like having a lot of investment options. It offers noticeably more investment vehicles compared to the other apps here.
They offer taxable investment accounts, education saving accounts, 401Ks, and IRAs. On signing up, you'll gain access to commission-free trades, margin trading, Forex, Stocks, and ETFs.
“Hands-off” best investment apps like Robinhood and Betterment won't teach you much as they are thin on research tools. It boasts lots of data and charts on companies, markets, and stocks. If you want to learn various investing strategies, stocks, and ETFs, you will love the series of educational videos.
The TD Ameritrade free investing apps let you monitor your investments, see a breakdown of your portfolio, and make trades in-app. While there's no commission payable for online stocks, ETF, and options trades, you will pay $49.99 for no-load mutual funds and $25 for broker-assisted trades.
Their customer service is unparalleled, and thanks to its parent company, you can always stop in any of the 250 branches if you have a query. From a learning standpoint, TD Ameritrade is excellent. To get notified when a stock hits a specified price or to receive breaking news related to your investments, set up alerts.
4. Fidelity
Fidelity is another investing app to consider if you want to put your money into play. The brokerage boasts comprehensive resources for retirement, and long-term focused investors.
You'll get full-service trading at zero trade prices. There are over 350 commission-free, Fidelity-affiliated ETFs that allow you to build a balanced portfolio. Thanks to Fidelity's fractional share investing, you can invest in expensive stocks without buying full shares.
Fidelity is feature-rich without being overwhelming. The app's dashboard includes updated research, insights, and news. You'll get the latest professional insights from Fidelity's team of specialists.
You will enjoy benefits such as zero account fees and integration with Fidelity banking services. For even more features, the app integrates with both Apple Watch and Google Assistant.
5. M1 Finance
M1 Finance is the go-to investment app for long-term investors who want to build wealth with ease. The hybrid setup gives you the option to let the app invest for you or allows you to manually hand-pick a portfolio of 80+ stocks.
The first option is powered by a robo advisor, while the second one lets you set up an investing schedule that fits your financial needs (choose between ETFs and fractional shares).
Thanks to pie investing, you can maintain a diversified portfolio even with a smaller investing account. If you want flexibility, you can go for a blend of both strategies.
The app may not offer minute-to-minute trading functionality, but it provides an IRA and a taxable account. What's exciting is that provided you invest at least $500 or $100 respectively, both accounts are fee-free.
You can deposit money into your account and check your progress from any location and at any time. The platform will automatically rebalance your portfolio as long as you continue contributing. Dynamic rebalancing gives you the ability to streamline your investments.
M1 Finance allows you to set up recurring deposits/withdrawals into and out of your account. Ensure you have at least $10k in your account if you intend to have a credit line with a flexible payback schedule.
If you want to enjoy more stock options, a lower line of credit, 1% cashback, and other benefits, you can upgrade to an M1 Plus. The annual fee is Here, you'll be required to part with a $125 annual fee.
Best Automated Investment Apps
If you're looking to invest but don't have the time or experience, you may consider using an automated investment app. These apps use algorithms to make investment decisions for you, and they can be a helpful way to get started in the world of investing. Some of the best-automated investment apps include Acorns, Betterment, and Wealthfront.
- Acorns is a great option for beginners, as it offers a simple interface and has no minimum balance requirement.
- Betterment is ideal for those who want more control over their investments, as it allows you to set goals and customize your portfolio.
- Wealthsimple is perfect for investors who are looking for hands-off management of their money, as it offers a comprehensive suite of financial planning tools.
No matter your needs, there are automated investing apps that are right for you.
6. Personal Capital
Since its establishment in 2009, Personal Capital has maintained a top position as a successful Fin-tech product.
With over $8 billion worth of assets under management (AUM) under its belt, Personal Capital's services revolve around a fusion of expert assistance and data-driven methodologies.
The app is easy to set up and use. Once you've set up the app, you don't have to pay much attention. It invests your money in a pre-selected portfolio of ETFs and individual securities.
The app's dashboard-style interface combines all of your accounts. You can now consolidate all of your investment information in one suitable place. This gives you a holistic view of your finances.
You need to invest a minimum of $100k. After hitting a million dollars, you will be charged a wealth management fee of 0.89 percent. As your investments increase, the fee will continue to reduce.
You can join for free today to receive friendly email customer support. Other benefits of this app include smart indexing, tax-loss harvesting, and automated rebalancing.
7. Acorns
Acorns is the best app for you if you are contemplating investing but aren't diligent about saving money. It's one of the older of the new breed of personal finance apps.
You can invest automatically based on how often you whip out a debit/credit card. Just open an account in 5 minutes, link your card to the app and answer a few questions about your risk tolerance, age, etc. Acorns will automatically save your spare change for you!
Acorns does this by rounding up the total to the nearest dollar (or a selected amount) when you use the card linked to that account, making investing a daily habit. The new “found money” will give you up to a 5 percent bonus deposit when you buy products from participating brands.
Acorns will then invest this change (once your total hits $5) into 1 of 5 preset portfolios. The portfolios range from conservative to aggressive. You can then browse the ETFs to invest in. Over time, you will save and build your portfolio with little effort on your side.
The spare change method is not the only way to contribute to your investment account on Acorns. If you wish, you can set up recurring or one-time deposits by opening a standard investment or individual retirement (Acorns Later) account.
You will pay a monthly fee of $1 for Acorns Lite, $2 for Personal, and $3 for Family. If you make frequent purchases, this monthly fee makes sense.
On reaching the $1 million thresholds, you will become an accredited user and pay only $100 for every $1 million you invest. If you're a college student with a .edu email address, you can enjoy Acorns Core free of charge for four years.
8. Betterment
Established a decade ago, Betterment boasts of being the first publicly available robo-advisor. It automates the investment process from start to finish and is the perfect app if you prefer long term investing.
The signup process is straightforward. When you first download Betterment, you'll answer a few questions to establish your investment objectives and how risk-averse you'd like to be. Based on your answers, they will suggest a portfolio that is in line with your goals.
The “RetireGuide” function will help you determine how much money you should deposit each week to meet your retirement goal.
This mobile app will automatically perform tax-loss harvesting on all your accounts. If you are looking for investing apps that will save you on taxes, you should give Betterment a shot.
Betterment's asset allocation strategy sees that different investments are allocated in a very tax-efficient manner. It doesn't matter whether you have a retirement or taxable account, it is the best choice if you're interested in an after-tax return.
If you have investment accounts outside Betterment, the app will allow you to monitor all of your assets in one place. Let's talk about charges. Expect to pay lower charges than you'd pay for a traditional financial adviser. You can either pick a digital or premium portfolio.
Betterment's basic digital plan has no account minimum but charges a transparent 0.25 percent annual account management fee. With a premium portfolio, you have 24/7 access to certified financial planners and can get advice on outside investment accounts.
There's a catch, though; you have to pay a higher account management fee (0.4 percent) and have a minimum of $100k.
9. Wealthsimple
If you want automated investing apps with SRI (socially responsible investing), Wealthsimple is the app for you. It's an exciting, creative app that combines powerful technology with human help.
Wealthsimple portfolios are streamlined to ETF holdings associated with human rights, cleantech, low carbon footprint businesses, and the environment. Thanks to the refer a friend feature, you can invite friends sharing the same values as you and have your first $10k managed for free.
There is no account minimum, but you have to part with a 0.25 percent management fee. This means that once you've linked a bank account, you can start trading with as little as $1.
Besides commission-free stock trading, you get CIPF protection for balances up to $1 million. Other security measures include data encryption and two-factor authentication.
DIY Investment Apps
If you're like most people, the thought of managing your investments probably seems like a daunting task. After all, there's a lot to learn about mutual funds, stocks, and bonds. Thankfully, there's no need to go it alone. These days, there are several DIY investment apps that can help you get started.
Many of these apps offer features that make investing easy and convenient. For example, most allow you to set up a portfolio with just a few clicks. And once you've established your goals, they'll automatically invest your money in a way consistent with your risk tolerance. These apps are typically very affordable, making them a great option for anyone looking to get started in the world of investing.
10. Webull
Are your investment decisions based on weeks of research? Webull is a brilliant tool that helps DIY investors like you manage investments on the go.
You will enjoy free margin trading, research agency ratings, technical indicators (relative strength indexes, moving averages), and short selling and financial calendars. For margin trading approval, you'll need a $2000 minimum account balance.
Before risking real money, you can use Webull's virtual trading simulator to create a virtual portfolio. Use the $1 million fake money to test out strategies before going all in. You receive alerts when a rate of change hits a defined level, or a price level is hit. Get A Free Stock of up to $1600 when You Deposit $100!
11. Ally Invest
Formerly, Trade King, Ally Invest, is the investing division of Ally Bank. Unlike most banks, Ally Bank is a purely online bank with no physical locations.
Ally Invest is a great choice if you want a more hands-on way of investing your money. They offer commission-free trading on US-listed ETFs, stock, and options trades.
You can either open a managed account if you're a beginner or a self-directed account if you're an active/day trader. Of all the stock investing apps on this list, Ally Invest has the best promotional offers. You can trade mutual funds, bonds, stocks, and Forex with no minimum account balance.
There are no account inactivity fees, and you can enjoy trading stocks for free. The account minimum is $100. You'll receive a $50 cash bonus for the first $10k you deposit. Cash bonuses can go as high as $3500 for higher deposits.
If you're already trading with another brokerage, Ally Invest will credit transfer fees up to $150! Other benefits you will enjoy with this app include free research advisory and round-the-clock online chat support.
12. Stockpile
If you want low commissions on trades and fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, you should consider Stockpile.
Stockpile makes investing in high-priced securities manageable. For instance, it can be difficult for a beginner to raise $1000 to buy 1 Amazon share. You can instead buy 0.05 shares at a more affordable price ($50).
New Stockpile users receive $5 to invest in cryptocurrencies through the app's ETFs.
Thanks to Stockpile's stock as a gift card feature, you can buy stocks and ETFs in the form of gift cards. This is a fun way to get your kids into investing. You don't need an account to give a gift.
Stockpile also lets you purchase American Depository receipts which you can use to invest in foreign companies.
If you have an investment account, you can use cash to buy stock, but you have to part with $0.99 for every transaction. For gift cards, there is a charge of $2.99 for the first stock. There is a $2,000 maximum for a gift card.
Thanks to their 256-bit encryption, your sensitive personal information is protected.
Best Investing App For Education
If you're looking for an educational and fun app to help you learn about stocks and investing, Invstr is a great option. The app provides access to a fantasy stock game, where you can manage a virtual portfolio and investors' thoughts on stocks and other investments.
You'll also find educational resources on the app to help you get started in the world of investing. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced investor, Invstr is a useful tool for learning more about the stock market.
Conclusion
If you're looking for great investing apps that don't require a lot of money, any of the twelve apps we've listed here would be a good choice. We hope this list has helped you find the perfect app for your needs and goals.
Have you tried any of these investing apps? What was your experience like? Let us know in the comments below.