Best Investment Apps for New Investors

Investment apps have torn down the barriers that once kept ordinary people out of the market. With zero commissions, fractional shares, and beginner-friendly designs, you can start investing from your phone in minutes. Here's how to choose the right app for you.

What to Look For

The best investment apps share a few traits: low or no fees, no account minimums, fractional shares so you can start small, a clear interface, and access to low-cost index funds and ETFs. Strong security and reliable customer support round out a good choice.

Beginner-Friendly Brokerages

Commission-free brokerage apps let you buy stocks, ETFs, and funds with no trading fees and no minimums. They're ideal for new investors who want simplicity and the flexibility to choose their own investments.

Robo-Advisors

Prefer a hands-off approach? Robo-advisors build and manage a diversified portfolio for you based on your goals and risk tolerance, automatically rebalancing along the way. They're perfect for people who want to invest without making every decision themselves.

Micro-Investing Apps

Micro-investing apps let you start with spare change, sometimes rounding up purchases and investing the difference. They're a painless way to build the habit, though it's worth increasing your contributions as you grow comfortable.

Retirement-Focused Apps

Some apps specialize in tax-advantaged retirement accounts like IRAs, making it easy to invest for the long term with automatic contributions and built-in tax benefits.

Choosing Your App

Match the app to your style. Want control? Choose a self-directed brokerage. Want it automated? Pick a robo-advisor. Want to start with pennies? Try micro-investing. The best app is the one that gets you invested and keeps you contributing.