Best Apps For Share Market

The share market is a great way to invest your money and potentially make a lot of money. However, it can be difficult to know where to start and what the best apps for share market are.

We’ve done some research and found some of the best apps for share market. The first one is called [name of app]. It’s an app that lets you buy and sell shares in companies like Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft. You can buy one share at a time or multiple shares of any company you want. This app is available on both iOS and Android devices.

The second app we recommend is called [name of app]. It works in much the same way as [name of app] but has slightly different features. Both apps let you buy shares in companies in Australia without having to pay brokerage fees so they’re both great options if you’re looking to save money when investing your money into these types of products!

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How Trading Apps Help You To Earn More Profit

Best Apps For Share Market

If you’re looking to start trading stocks, there’s some good news. Not only have virtually all major brokerage firms done away with commissions on stock trades, but the actual process of buying and selling stocks is easier than it has even been before. And a big reason for this is that there are some excellent commission-free stock trading apps available that allow for stock trading and much more.

In this guide, we’ll share some of our favorite free stock trading apps from some of the best stock brokers as well as some things to consider when deciding which is the best choice for you.

The Ascent’s best free stock trading apps:
Show The List [+]
Ratings Methodology
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.

5.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
Few brokers can match the robust feature set offered to trade, research, and monitor your investments while on the go.
Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 stock trades

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

Open Accountfor TD Ameritrade
On TD Ameritrade’s Secure Website.

SoFi Active Investing
SoFi Active Investing

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
SoFi Invest delivers for investors a full-service financial institution in an app, in addition to a great trading platform and experience.
Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 for stocks, 1.25% for cryptocurrencies

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

Open Accountfor SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing’s Secure Website.

Robinhood
Robinhood

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
Robinhood offers a user-friendly mobile app that allows trading in stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies.
Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

SPECIAL OFFER
Get a free stock with a new account

Open Accountfor Robinhood
On Robinhood’s Secure Website.

Ally Invest
Ally Invest

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
Ally’s app offers an easy-to-use trading platform, commission-free ETFs, and potential for strong bonus cash for opening an account.
Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 stock and ETF trades

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

SPECIAL OFFER — $3,000 bonus: $2mm+ deposit/transfer
— $2,000 bonus: $1mm-$1.99m deposit/transfer
— $1,200 bonus: $500k-$999.9k deposit/transfer
— $600 bonus: $250k-$499.9k deposit/transfer
— $300 bonus: $100k-$249.9k deposit/transfer
— $250 bonus: $25k-$99.9k deposit/transfer
— $100 bonus: $10k-$24.9k deposit/transfer
Up to $3,000 bonus cash

Open Accountfor Ally Invest
On Ally Invest’s Secure Website.

ETRADE ETRADE

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
E*TRADE sports two solid apps: one that shines for its ease-of-use, and one tailored to advanced active traders.
Read Full Review
FEES:
Commission Free

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

SPECIAL OFFER
Open and fund an E*TRADE account & get up to $600 or more

Open Accountfor ETRADE On ETRADE’s Secure Website.

Webull
Webull

OPEN ACCOUNT Double arrow
Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.

4.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
Webull offers a user-friendly stock investing platform with more features than some of its app-based rivals.
Read Full Review
FEES:
$0 per trade

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

SPECIAL OFFER
Up to five free stocks

Open Accountfor Webull
On Webull’s Secure Website.

Merrill Edge® Self-Directed
Merrill Edge® Self-Directed

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
Merrill Edge® Self-Directed is a great option to consider not only for users of Bank of America (which it is a part of), but also those who are looking to invest and bank under one roof and with a highly capable app.
FEES:
$0 for online stock and ETF trades

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

SPECIAL OFFER
Open a self-directed account and get up to $600

Read Review
Fidelity
Fidelity

Our Rating:

Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.

5.0 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
A highly customizable and user-friendly mobile app offered by one of the most full-featured brokers in the U.S.
FEES:
$0 commission for online US stock and ETF trades

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

Read Review
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab

Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.

4.5 stars
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
BOTTOM LINE
A full-featured broker with an excellent app to complement its desktop platform.
FEES:
$0 stock and ETF trades

ACCOUNT MINIMUM:
$0

Read Review
TIP

Buying your first stocks: Do it the smart way
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Best free stock trading apps overview

  1. TD Ameritrade
    Best for: Diverse investing on the go

TD Ameritrade shines beyond just its free trading app, which is among the best we’ve come across. Combining TD Ameritrade’s app capabilities with its highly-regarded customer service, array of investment vehicles, diversity of account types, and best-in-class trading platforms explains why the broker is a top pick to consider. This isn’t to say that TD Ameritrade nails everything, though. For example, investors wanting to invest in fractional shares or cryptocurrencies will need to look elsewhere.

iOS rating: 4.5/5 stars

Android rating: 3.5/5 stars

Pros
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
Diverse investing vehicles available
Great customer service
Robust active trading platforms
Cons
No fractional shares investing
No cryptocurrency investing
Open Account

  1. Robinhood
    Best for: No-frills stock and options trading.

Robinhood is a user-friendly trading app that allows for trading in stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies (including Bitcoin). Robinhood users have access to a cash management feature that allows interest to be earned on cash balances, and the $5 per month Robinhood Gold premium version of the platform allows for $1,000 of interest-free margin and access to Morningstar stock research reports. One of the standout features is $0 options commissions and no fee per contract. Even many of the best options brokers charge a fee per contract, but Robinhood doesn’t.

There are some downsides, however. Specifically, there are few educational tools or advanced trading tools. There are also no mutual funds or IRAs. All this suggests Robinhood is designed more for traders, not long-term investors.

iOS rating: 4.1/5 stars

Android rating: 3.8/5 stars

Pros
No commissions
User-friendly trading platform
Allows fractional share investing
Functionality includes options and cryptocurrencies as well as stocks
Cons
Few educational resources
No access to stock research unless you pay for an upgraded account
No mutual fund investing or robo-advisory service
Open Account

  1. SoFi Invest
    Best for: Investors who want access to other financial products as well.

SoFi Invest offers both active investing (stock trading) and automated investing (robo-advisory) services. It also allows investors to trade cryptocurrencies. And unlike several other tech-focused investment apps, SoFi offers traditional and Roth IRAs. The best part — all of these features (lending, saving, investing, and more) are available through a single, highly-rated app.

One big differentiator is that SoFi, which is short for Social Finance, is designed to be an all-in-one financial community. In addition to its investment platform, the SoFi app also offers personal loans, mortgages, private student loans, credit cards, and high-yield savings accounts.

iOS rating: 4.8/5 stars

Android rating: 4.4/5 stars

RELATED: See The Ascent’s side-by-side review of SoFi vs Webull

Pros
Offers stock investing, automated investing, and cryptocurrency trading
Fractional shares are available
Retirement accounts are available
Lots of other financial products
Cons
No options or mutual fund trading
Doesn’t offer stock research or an advanced trading platform
Open Account

  1. E*TRADE
    Best for: Easy-to-use platform for average investors, and an advanced app for active traders

ETRADE scores high marks from our experts as a one-stop-shop for most things an investor needs in a trading app. In fact, ETRADE actually sports two apps: the regular ETRADE app and the Power ETRADE app designed for active traders. Both apps are free.

Users of the regular E*TRADE app get an easy-to-use app that gives them access to most of the features that an average investor would expect: an intuitive platform for placing trades, managing your account, staying up-to-date on news, and performing stock research and screening.

If you’re an active trader, you’ll want to opt for the more advanced Power E*TRADE app. This app provides real-time technical analysis of stocks, advanced options trading features, futures trading, and excellent charting capabilities. Looking at app store reviews, it seems there may be some technical issues with the Android app that appear to be less of an issue on iOS, so that is perhaps something to take into consideration.

Unfortunately, neither app allows for cryptocurrency, forex, or fractional share trading, so you’ll want to look elsewhere if this is important to you.

iOS rating:

E*TRADE app: 4.6/5 stars

Power E*TRADE app: 4.5/5 stars

Android rating:

E*TRADE app: 4.2/5 stars

Power E*TRADE app: 3.7/5 stars

Pros
Feature-packed, easy-to-use regular app
Advanced app ideal for active traders
Strong in-app news and research offerings
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
Cons
Does not support fractional share investing
Does not support cryptocurrency investing (except some futures trading)
Does not have access to international exchanges
Open Account

  1. Webull
    Best for: Active investors who want a simple and user-friendly trading platform.

Webull is a mobile-based stock trading platform that offers more features than most of its app-based rivals. Customers can trade stocks and options with no commissions whatsoever and no account minimums. For investors who use margin, Webull has some of the lowest rates we know of. New investors can take advantage of Webull’s “Paper Trading” feature, a virtual trading simulator where you can learn investing without risking your hard-earned money.

iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars

Android rating: 4.4/5 stars

RELATED: See The Ascent’s Webull vs. E*Trade review

Pros
Commission-free stock trading
Options trading is available
More features than most other app-based trading platforms
Offers traditional IRAs
Allows investors to trade cryptocurrencies
Cons
Does not support fractional shares
Investors cannot trade mutual funds or OTC stocks
Few educational resources
Most market data and research require subscriptions
Open Account

  1. Merrill Edge
    Best for: Investing and banking in one

Merrill Edge, its brokerage offerings, and the investing app are a clear great fit for Bank of America banking customers. But that’s not the only audience Merrill Edge is a fit for. Merrill Edge is a top stock broker to consider for anyone focused on finding one place to manage the majority of their money needs under one roof. Importantly, Merrill Edge’s mobile investing app integrates well with Bank of America’s banking app and this is reflect with its high iOS and Android app ratings. But investors wanting a leading trading platform or access to invest in cryptocurrencies will want to consider alternatives.

iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars

Android rating: 4/5 stars

Pros
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
Wide array of account types offered
Nation-wide branch access
Preferred Rewards program
Cons
Trading platforms can be beat
No cryptocurrency investing

  1. Fidelity
    Best for: Investors who want to trade stocks and other investments with all the features of Fidelity’s brokerage.

Fidelity is a highly-rated mobile app. For a non-app-based broker, this is impressive, especially when you consider the impact some of the disruptive “trading apps” have had on the industry. The app’s trading platform is user friendly and highly customizable. Through the app, users can set up a customized news feed, view stock research, and even deposit checks and pay their bills.

iOS rating: 4.8/5 stars

Android rating: 4.4/5 stars

Pros
Fractional share investing (on S&P 500 stocks only)
Highest-rated mobile app among brokers that aren’t primarily app-based
One of only a few brokers to allow trading on international stock exchanges
Cons
Higher margin rates than many peers
Options commissions are on the higher end of the spectrum
No cryptocurrency functionality

  1. Ally Invest
    Best for: Investors who want their bank and investment accounts in the same place.

In addition to being able to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds, Ally Invest also offers the Managed Portfolios robo-advisory service, a high-yield savings account, checking accounts, CDs, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and more.

Ally Invest is more than just a trading app. In a nutshell, Ally is a great financial app that also has impressive investing functionality, making it an excellent choice for people who want to trade stocks in the same place where their checking and savings accounts are maintained.

iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars

Android rating: 4.1/5 stars

Pros
A feature-packed, app-based trading platform
One of the lowest mutual fund commissions we know of
IRAs are available for retirement saving
Offers banking and investment accounts in one app
Cons
No sophisticated trading platform for serious traders
Doesn’t offer no-transaction-fee (NTF) mutual funds

  1. Charles Schwab
    Best for: Serious investors who want to build a portfolio for the long term.

For investors who want to be able to buy and sell stocks on the go but also benefit from a full-featured brokerage account, Charles Schwab could be the brokerage with the trading app for you. Schwab has top-notch customer service and a great selection of mutual funds. It also supports a variety of different account types and allows customers to buy and sell fractional shares of stock. And for those who want to put some or all of their investing on autopilot, Schwab also has one of the best platforms for robo-advisors, called “Schwab Intelligent Portfolio.” RELATED: See The Ascent’s comparison of Charles Schwab vs Robinhood.

iOS rating: 4.8/5 stars

Android rating: 3.6/5 stars

Pros
One of the most feature-packed brokers in the United States
Allows fractional share trading
Lots of educational features and research offerings
Great selection of mutual funds, including Schwab’s proprietary products
Users with Schwab 401(k) plans can access their account through the app
Cons
No cryptocurrency trading
Margin rates are on the high end
What the best free stock trading apps offer
There’s no such thing as the best investment app for every investor. And if there is, we certainly haven’t found it. Some investors want things like stock research and educational tools, while others simply don’t care about having access to that and just want a user-friendly way to buy and sell stocks. With that in mind, here are some things the best stock trading apps might offer. Before making your choice, you should decide which features are most important to you.

Commission-free stock trading
The ability to buy fractional shares of stock
Support for different account types, such as IRAs, custodial accounts for minors, joint accounts, and more
Cryptocurrency trading
Options trading
Competitive margin rates
Mutual funds — and preferably a good selection that are available with no transaction fees
User-friendly trading platform
Sophisticated trading tools for active investors
Other financial products like bank accounts, loans, credit cards, etc.
Educational tools
Access to stock research
Free stock trading apps pros and cons
Pros
The advantages to using free trading apps like these for your investment needs generally have to do with convenience. With these apps, you can buy and sell stocks with the click of a button, anywhere in the world where you have a data connection. This makes them great brokers for beginners and for seasoned investors.

Cons
The major downside to using any free stock trading apps — even those offered by best stock brokers — is that you’re never going to get as much functionality as you would with a desktop-based trading platform. Many apps don’t have features like stock research and educational resources, even if the web-based versions of their platforms offer such features.

How much does it cost to start trading stocks?
There’s no official minimum amount of money you need to start buying stocks.

Some brokerages have minimum required deposits, but many online brokerages have none. Those let you buy in with as little as a few dollars, purchasing fractional shares of stocks instead of full shares.

If you want to buy a full share of a specific stock, the minimum amount you’ll need to get started is the cost of that stock — which varies widely across companies. To ensure a diversified portfolio, we often suggest buying a minimum of 10 stocks, so that would put your minimum investment at the cost of those 10 stocks plus any commissions and fees paid to your brokerage.

What investments can you buy with free trading apps?
The free trading apps listed here will let you buy stocks, but the actual investment universe available depends on the particular app. For example, some of the apps allow trading in over-the-counter (OTC) stocks, while others don’t. Some allow you to buy stocks directly on foreign stock markets in addition to U.S. exchanges. And some offer the ability to buy and sell options and mutual funds, while others are limited to only stock trading.

In addition, some of these apps offer automated investing or robo-advisory services, which essentially create and maintain an investment portfolio for you. The bottom line is that investment selection varies from one trading app to another and should certainly be a factor when deciding which to use.

How to choose a stock trading app as a beginner
No broker is perfect for everyone, but some brokers are better aimed at beginners.

Here are some of the factors to consider when you pick an online stock broker:

Cost structure: Do they charge monthly fees or commissions on trades?
Account minimums: Note the minimum deposit needed to open your account. For some brokerages, there’s no minimum, but some might be as high as $500.
Variety of funds: As a beginner, you might not want to choose individual stocks. Look for brokerages that invest in no-fee mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) so you can invest without being a stock market expert.
Features and support: If you want to grow your investing knowledge and skills over time, look for an app that includes educational resources and strong customer support.
How to invest in stocks as a beginner
Follow these steps to get started investing in stocks:

Determine your investing approach. You could be hands-on, selecting individual stocks, or hands-off, letting a robo-advisor manage your portfolio. You could fall somewhere in between, working with a broker to choose low-effort index funds for your portfolio.
Choose how much to invest. Don’t invest money you’ll need within five years — your investments aren’t liquid funds, and short-term investments are too vulnerable to volatility. Before deciding how much to invest, make sure you’ve set aside an emergency fund, any vacation savings, short-term education costs, and other short-term savings like a down payment for a home or car.
Open an investment account with a brokerage. Choose a brokerage like the ones we’ve listed above to manage your investments. Open your account with at least the minimum investment.
Diversify your stocks. If you’re investing in a self-directed account — where you pick individual stocks — choose stocks from businesses you understand across an array of industries. Avoid high-volatility stocks for now, or choose an ETF or index fund to skip having to choose altogether.
Continue investing. Continue to contribute to your investment accounts and hold on to the investments long term in order to get the best and most stable returns on your investments.

best trading app to earn money

Looking for the best investing apps to get your financial life back on track? A solid finance app can handle routine financial tasks, shuffle money into investing accounts, and track spending. But the best investment apps can also let you quickly trade stocks, follow your account in real time, help you learn about the markets and more. Because they can do so much, investment apps have become increasingly popular.

Here are some of the top apps for getting your finances organized and invested. All of these apps are great for beginners, and they make it easy for those just starting to invest or looking to play a stock-picking game for fun.

Here are the best investment apps in May 2022:
Betterment – Best app overall
Invstr – Best app for education
Acorns – Best app for saving
Wealthbase – Best app for trading games and contests
Wealthfront – Best app for portfolio management
Stockpile – Best app for gifting stocks
Fidelity Investments – Best app for managing money all-in-one
Robinhood – Best app for active trading
Charles Schwab – Best app for beginners
Ellevest – Best app for socially responsible investing
Overview: Top investment apps in May 2022
Betterment – Best investment app overall
Betterment is one of the largest and most popular robo-advisors, and for good reason. The app provides professionally managed portfolios using a selection of ETFs that’s calibrated against your own risk tolerance and when you need the money. Betterment can create socially responsible portfolios focusing on climate change or social impact. If you’re willing to stomach a bit more risk, the app can find you investments with a potentially higher return. If you need a safer portfolio, Betterment can do that, too. Then add in a robust (and free) cash management account. Set up Betterment and then kick back while the pros do the rest of the work.

Betterment charges a much smaller price than you’d pay for a traditional financial advisor. The management fee for the basic account amounts to 0.25 percent — a competitive rate in the robo-advisor world, or $25 annually for every $10,000 you have invested. But you’ll have to pay extra for the ETFs that Betterment invests in, as you would at any robo-advisor. The app lets you set goals to invest for, such as a safety net or retirement, and there’s no account minimum.

Reasons to get this app: You like having a professionally managed portfolio for a low cost, along with a cash management account.

Minimum balance required: $0 for digital service; $100,000 for premium service

Fees: Management fee of 0.25 – 0.40 percent of assets annually

Invstr – Best app for education
Invstr is what you get when you mix learning, real-life investing and community into an app that’s designed to give beginning investors a way to get into stocks, especially if you like games. The app combines a fantasy stock game, where you can assist in managing a virtual portfolio, with access to investors’ thoughts on stocks and other investments.

The fantasy game gives you $1 million in virtual money, and you can use the app’s social network and news feed to source ideas. The month’s top performers win real cash, too. And if you want to turn some of those fantasy picks into real-life stakes, you can buy fractional shares and whole shares commission-free in the app. The app will even give new users $30 worth of Bitcoin when they open and fund an account with $100. Invstr has also started offering commission-free trading in cryptocurrencies.

Reasons to get this app: You want to learn from an investing community, hear why they like certain stocks and play a fun fantasy game.

Acorns – Best app for saving
Acorns remains one of the most popular of the new breed of savings apps, because of how easy it is to use. You really don’t have to pay much attention once you’ve set it up. Link a debit or credit card to your account, and Acorns will round up the total on purchases to the next dollar and invest that difference into one of a few ETF portfolios.

The cost is a modest $3 per month for Acorns Personal, which includes the investment account, an individual retirement account (IRA), a metal debit card and more. You’ll be able to open one of three IRA versions: the traditional, Roth or a SEP, and can roll over an existing 401(k) or IRA.

Acorns chooses your portfolio based on the targeted time until your retirement (calculated as age 59 ½), becoming more conservative as you near that age, a timing that may not be appropriate for all investors. This tier offers an FDIC-protected checking account, too, with no additional fees, fee-free access to thousands of ATMs and early access to direct deposits.

And for a total of $5 per month, you can add Acorns Family, which includes the features of the first tier as well as investment accounts for children.

Reasons to get this app: You like getting automatic investments while you’re spending without worrying about it. You like retirement investing without the hassle.

Minimum balance required: $0 for savings account

Fees: $3 or $5 per month depending on the service tier

Wealthbase – Best app for trading games and contests
Wealthbase is a newer entrant into the world of stock market games, and it may be the most user-friendly investing app out there for having fun and picking stocks. You can set up games with friends to last however long you want — a few weeks, days, even just until the end of the day.

Two things set Wealthbase apart in the stock simulator world: first, the app marries social media with stock picking. You’ll see a feed of stocks your friends are picking, with daily updates of who’s winning, and you can engage in a little friendly “trash talk.” Second, the app runs very smoothly — no delays to load, no hiccups. Even if you’re not a huge stock-picker, you’ll have fun here. And you can trade crypto in the simulation as well.

Reasons to get this app: You like picking stocks and playing games in a social environment with friends and colleagues.

Wealthfront – Best app for portfolio management
Wealthfront is one of the largest independent robo-advisors, and for a small fee it can manage your money, whether that’s in a taxable account or an IRA. Wealthfront uses hundreds of ETFs to construct your portfolio and takes into account how much risk you want to take as well as when you’ll need the money. As you deposit money, Wealthfront will add it to your portfolio and keep your account balanced and on target toward your goal.

Wealthfront’s management fee runs 0.25 percent annually, which is the industry standard. It’s an eminently reasonable price for the features on offer, including tax-loss harvesting, which effectively covers the annual fee for many clients, says the company. Wealthfront also brings an attractive cash management account (even if you don’t sign up for the investment account), and you’ll receive early access to direct-deposited paychecks and a debit card – all without a monthly fee.

UBS is purchasing Wealthfront in 2022 and will continue to operate it under the Wealthfront banner.

Reasons to get this app: All you’ll need to do is add money to the account and Wealthfront manages your portfolio to help you reach your goal. The cash management account is cool, too. As a Bankrate user, get $5,000 managed for free when you open a Wealthfront investment account.

Minimum balance required: $500

Fees: Management fee of 0.25 percent of assets annually

Stockpile – Best app for gifting stocks
Stockpile is a neat app because it allows you to buy fractional shares of companies. So if you don’t have $300 to buy that one expensive tech stock, you can buy a half or a third of it, instead. Stockpile does not charge any trading fees.

The other neat thing about Stockpile is that it allows you to give a gift card that’s redeemable for stock, so it may be a way to get a younger relative into investing in a fun way. You don’t even need an account to send a gift. Stockpile allows kids to track their investments at any time, and you can set a list of approved stocks for them to trade. The app lets kids share a wish list of stocks with family and friends.

Reasons to get this app: You like investing but don’t have enough to buy high-priced stock and you like the idea of gifting stock to younger relatives.

Fidelity Investments – Best app for managing money all-in-one
If you wanted to live your whole financial life on Fidelity Investments, you could do it with little issue – and have the top integrated experience. At Fidelity, you can get an investment account, a checking account, an IRA, a business retirement account such as a SEP IRA, bill paying, a savings account, a robo-advisor account and even credit card accounts, to cover the big ones.

You can get all your finances in order with one company on one dashboard, and never feel like you’re missing a thing. You’ll get solid research on ETFs and mutual funds, tons of articles on budgeting, investing and personal finance and webinars, too. Plus, if you never need help, you’ll be connected with a courteous and helpful Fidelity rep in short order.

Reasons to get this app: You want all your financial accounts under one roof, and you enjoy being treated like a valuable customer.

Minimum balance required: $0

Robinhood – Best app for active trading
Robinhood is the app to have if you like a smooth interface and avoiding trading commissions, whether you’re trading stocks, ETFs, options or cryptocurrency. You’ll get to do it all with no commission and using a slick mobile interface that makes smooth work of it all. The stripped-down app is simple to navigate, and after a while you’ll move intuitively from screen to screen as you trade the market.

You can access a stock’s page from a search bar at the top of the screen and then pull up charts and vital statistics. Also useful is a feed that aggregates stories from news and investing sites, so that you keep on top of what’s going on. After you’ve decided what you want to trade and enter the number of shares to buy or sell, swipe up and the order is on its way. (Here’s Bankrate’s full review.)

Reasons to get this app: You like trading stocks (as well as ETFs, options and cryptocurrency) for free and having a simple way to quickly do so.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: No commissions for stock, ETF, options or crypto trades

Charles Schwab – Best app for beginners
Charles Schwab does well for experts, but it’s also a great app for beginners, because of all the resources it provides. Schwab provides tons of research and education, helping newer investors get up to speed on topics such as investing and personal finance. It also offers fractional shares, meaning you can invest all your money into your stocks, rather than have idle investment money sitting around. And of course, you’ll get commission-free stock and ETF trades.

Schwab is also great for mutual fund investors, with more than 4,000 no-transaction fee funds, one of the largest selections in the industry. You’ll also get highly responsive customer service that gets your questions answered quickly. As if that weren’t enough, you’ll get one of the best sign-on promotions around, with a cash bonus that starts with just a $25,000 deposit.

Reasons to get this app: You like investing with a friendly company that starts off in the right direction and then helps you along the way.

Minimum balance required: $0

Ellevest – Best app for socially responsible investing
Ellevest is one of the top-ranked robo-advisors, but it’s also the top app for socially responsible investing. Ellevest’s mission is to help women investors make smart investing decisions (though, of course, anyone can become a client). It does so by creating investment portfolios and plans that take into account the differing circumstances of women, such as lower lifetime earnings.

Ellevest allows clients to build portfolios that incorporate up to 53 percent of their portfolio in ESG or social impact funds – what it calls its Impact portfolio. These funds invest in companies that have more women leaders, that support affordable housing and community services, and that have higher standards for sustainability. The Impact portfolio costs only modestly more than Ellevest’s low-cost core portfolio, just $13-$19 per year on average for every $10,000 invested.

Reasons to get this app: You want a socially responsible portfolio that can offer attractive returns and also makes it easy for you to invest.

Minimum balance required: $0

Fees: $1, $5, or $9 a month (or discounted annually)

What to consider when choosing an investment app
When it comes to investment apps, think about how you’ll plan to use them. Do you need an educational tool or are you looking to actually trade and invest? Some apps charge fees that can eat into your investment returns, while others have very low costs and offer commission-free trading. If you’re interested in trading things like cryptocurrencies, you’ll want to make sure that’s a feature offered by the app or broker – not all brokers offer crypto trading.

How much money should I plan to invest?
The good news for investors starting out today is that it requires very little money to get started. Fees are so low or even non-existent that you can start with virtually any amount of money. In fact, what you start with matters much less than your saving and investing discipline over time.

The key to achieving ongoing investing success is to add money regularly over time. So you’ll want to add cash to the account and keep investing in your positions regularly over time in order to build wealth.

How much you actually invest depends on your own financial situation and needs. And today’s low-fee brokerages and apps leave more money in your pocket to actually invest.

Are some apps better for investing than others?
Some apps provide special features or focus more on education, while others focus largely on executing trades. For example, Wealthbase is a great app for playing stock market games, but it won’t execute trades for you. In contrast, Wealthfront and Betterment will both invest your money for you, so you don’t have to do much but deposit money in your account.

And those apps differ from brokerage apps such as Robinhood, Charles Schwab and Fidelity Investments, where you need to know what you want to buy. These brokers also allow you to buy different securities, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds and more. Robinhood and Invstr allow you to buy cryptocurrency commission-free, too.

So the investment apps can provide a variety of different features and benefits, and you’ll need to select which ones meet your needs.

Investment apps FAQ:
Can you use investment apps to trade stocks?
Some investment apps allow you to trade stocks and other securities, but that depends specifically on the kind of app and what it’s designed to do:

For example, brokerage apps such as Robinhood and Fidelity Investments allow you to buy stocks and ETFs.
Other apps such as those from robo-advisors Wealthfront and Betterment will buy stock funds and create a portfolio on your behalf.
Still other apps such as Wealthbase and Invstr allow you to learn about investing or play investing games.
So the ability to buy stocks with an app depends on the app itself.

Is the money I use to trade on investment apps insured?
If you’re investing money in the market, then it’s not insured and you could lose some or all of your investment. Market-based assets include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options and cryptocurrency. These kinds of assets fluctuate over time, meaning you could make a lot of money or lose a lot, depending on how the market swings.

If you need a highly safe asset, you’ll need to turn to guaranteed accounts such as a traditional savings account, high-yield savings account or CD at an FDIC-insured bank. These accounts insure your money up to $250,000 per account type per bank.

What assets can you trade on investing apps?
If the app is an online broker such as Robinhood, Fidelity Investments or Charles Schwab, you’ll be able to trade securities such as stocks, bonds, ETFs and options. Other apps that are more educational in nature, don’t typically offer the ability to trade (with real money) at all, such as Wealthbase.

Are investing apps good for active trading?
Some investing apps are popular with active traders, but you’ll want to pick one that offers trading in the type of assets you’re interested in. Active traders might want to turn to Robinhood, Fidelity or Charles Schwab for their low-cost trading in everything from stocks and ETFs to cryptocurrencies (at Robinhood) and options.

Conclusion

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