what is the best app to invest in stocks

Best app to invest in stocks

what is the best app to invest in stocks is a common question for retail investors deciding where to open a brokerage account. This article defines the scope (mobile and desktop brokerage and investing platforms for buying U.S. stocks, ETFs, fractional shares and related products), explains evaluation criteria, compares leading apps, and gives practical steps to help different investor types choose the right platform. It does not provide personalized financial advice; readers should verify current terms with providers.

How "best" is determined — evaluation criteria

Determining what is best requires consistent criteria. Review sites and testers typically evaluate apps on the following factors:

• Fees & commissions: per‑trade costs (many brokers now offer zero commissions for U.S. stock/ETF trades), options contract fees, margin interest, transfer or inactivity fees, and subscription tiers.
• Account minimums & funding: required deposit to open an account, deposit methods and speed, ACH, wire, or check availability.
• Asset availability: U.S. stocks, ETFs, ADRs, OTCs, fractional shares, mutual funds, bonds, crypto (where offered), and global markets.
• Order types & execution: market, limit, stop, conditional orders, extended hours, execution quality, and evidence of price improvement.
• Research & education: analyst reports, screeners, news, alerts, educational content and tutorials for beginners.
• Mobile UX & platform reliability: app responsiveness, crash history, desktop/web platform parity, and workflow efficiency.
• Advanced trading tools: charting, technical indicators, Level II market data, options analytics, APIs and algo trading support.
• Tax & reporting: consolidated 1099s, tax lot handling, wash‑sale reporting tools and support for tax‑efficient strategies.
• Margin & lending: margin rates, portfolio lending, and stock loan programs.
• Security & regulation: SIPC protection, custodial arrangements, FDIC‑insured cash sweeps, 2FA and encryption.
• Customer support & availability: phone/chat support, local offices, and geographic availability (U.S. vs international).

Different investors weight these factors differently. For example, beginners may prioritize fees, education, and UX; active traders may prioritize execution, margin rates and advanced tools.

Major categories of investing apps

Retail investing apps generally fall into categories. Knowing these helps answer what is the best app to invest in stocks for a specific user:

• Full‑service broker apps: Comprehensive product sets, strong research and retirement tools; suited to long‑term and retirement investors.
• Discount / zero‑commission brokers: Low transaction costs, competitive order execution; often the default for cost‑conscious traders.
• Mobile‑first apps: Designed around smartphone UX and simplicity; great for onboarding beginners but sometimes limited on advanced tools.
• Robo‑advisors / automated investing: Automated portfolio construction and rebalancing; good for passive investors who prefer set‑and‑forget strategies.
• Micro / fractional investing apps: Round‑ups, recurring small investments and fractional shares for investors starting with low capital.
• Hybrid apps offering crypto + stocks: Platforms that combine equities and crypto trading; useful for users who want both asset classes within one ecosystem. For crypto custody or wallet needs, Bitget and Bitget Wallet are recommended options in this guide.

Leading apps (summary comparisons)

The table below is a textual summary of widely recommended apps and their typical strengths. This is a compact guide to help decide what is the best app to invest in stocks depending on priorities.

• Fidelity — Strengths: research, retirement tools, low costs. Best for long‑term and retirement investors.
• Charles Schwab — Strengths: comprehensive research, fractional shares, strong customer support.
• E*TRADE — Strengths: strong mobile & desktop platforms, options tools, balanced for beginners and active traders.
• Robinhood — Strengths: mobile‑first UX, zero commissions, simple fractional shares; note: limited research vs full brokers.
• Webull — Strengths: advanced charting, extended hours, low costs; favored by active/technical traders.
• Interactive Brokers — Strengths: global market access, advanced tools, low margin rates for high‑volume traders and international investors.
• Public.com — Strengths: social features, fractional shares, community discovery; good for beginners who want social learning.
• SoFi (Active Invest & robo services) — Strengths: simple interface, integrated financial ecosystem, automated options for newcomers.
• Vanguard — Strengths: index fund leadership, retirement focus; best for passive long‑term investors prioritizing Vanguard funds.
• Micro investing apps (Acorns, Stash style) — Strengths: small recurring investments, round‑ups; good for beginning savers but consider fees vs small balances.
• Crypto+stock hybrids (Bitget and others) — Strengths: combined access to crypto and equities where available; check custody and regulatory scope carefully. Bitget is highlighted here for users who want crypto and stock exposure in a single ecosystem.

Fidelity Investments

Fidelity is often recommended for long‑term investors and retirement accounts because it combines low costs, comprehensive research, a wide product selection (mutual funds, ETFs, IRAs, Roth IRAs), and strong customer service. Execution quality is generally solid, and Fidelity offers robust tools for retirement planning and tax‑sensitive investing. For investors asking what is the best app to invest in stocks and build a retirement plan, Fidelity is frequently near the top of the list.

Charles Schwab

Schwab offers an extensive research suite, fractional shares via Schwab Stock Slices, strong customer support, and a broad range of account types. Schwab's desktop and mobile platforms are highly rated, and it is a strong choice for investors who want low costs and deep research resources. For those wondering what is the best app to invest in stocks when balancing research and cost, Schwab is a common recommendation.

E*TRADE

E*TRADE blends ease of use with advanced trading tools. Its Power E*TRADE platform is well suited to options traders and active investors, while its basic app remains approachable for beginners. If your question is what is the best app to invest in stocks with solid options tools and a user‑friendly mobile experience, E*TRADE is worth considering.

Robinhood

Robinhood popularized commission‑free trading and a simplified mobile UX that lowered the barriers to entry. It offers fractional shares and easy onboarding. However, Robinhood offers less research and fewer advanced tools than full‑service brokers. When asking what is the best app to invest in stocks for quick and simple trades on mobile, many beginners start with Robinhood — but they should be aware of tradeoffs in research and order execution transparency.

Webull

Webull targets technical and active traders with powerful charting, extended hours trading, and paper trading for practice. Fees are low, and the platform provides many technical indicators. If the decisive question is what is the best app to invest in stocks for active technical trading and charting, Webull is a leading option.

Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers (IB) offers extreme breadth: global market access, advanced order types, low margin rates for high‑volume traders, and APIs for algorithmic trading. The platform has a steeper learning curve. When the user asks what is the best app to invest in stocks for professional, high‑volume, or international trading, IB often ranks highest.

Public.com

Public focuses on social investing and discovery, showing community activity, commentary and allowing fractional shares. It’s appealing for beginners who value learning via a community. For the question what is the best app to invest in stocks for social discovery and fractional investing, Public is frequently recommended.

SoFi Active Invest / Robo services

SoFi combines an easy mobile experience with both active and automated investing options, plus banking and lending integration. It’s suitable for new investors wanting a simplified ecosystem. If you ask what is the best app to invest in stocks for simple automation and ecosystem convenience, SoFi is a contender.

Vanguard

Vanguard is focused on index investing and retirement accounts. It’s less about flashy mobile features and more about low‑cost funds and long‑term, passive investing. For readers asking what is the best app to invest in stocks for buy‑and‑hold index funds and retirement, Vanguard is a standard choice.

Micro / incremental investing apps (Acorns, Stash style)

Micro investing apps help turn spare change or small recurring amounts into investments, often through fractional share purchases and themed portfolios. They are useful for starting habits, but users should weigh subscription fees vs small balances. For the user asking what is the best app to invest in stocks with minimal starting capital, micro investing apps make that accessible.

Platforms combining crypto and stocks (Bitget‑focused)

Some crypto platforms offer tokenized stocks or limited stock‑related products. These generally differ from regulated brokerages in custody, regulation and taxation. Where a user wants both crypto and stock exposure in one ecosystem, Bitget offers an integrated approach and Bitget Wallet provides Web3 wallet support. If the user’s question includes crypto alongside equities — i.e., what is the best app to invest in stocks and trade crypto together — Bitget can be an option, but users must check the specific product’s regulatory status, custody model and tax reporting.

Fees, commissions & hidden costs

Zero commission for U.S. stock and ETF trades is common, but effective cost can still vary. Important fee elements:

• Options costs: per contract fees or page‑based pricing.
• Margin interest: varies widely and matters for leveraged strategies.
• Account transfer fees: outgoing ACATS/transfer fees charged by some brokers.
• Inactivity or maintenance fees: less common but still present at some providers.
• Subscription tiers: premium data, research or trading features often come with monthly fees.
• Order routing & payment for order flow: some brokers accept payment for order routing and may route to market makers, which can affect execution quality.

Compare effective cost by examining margin rates, options fees, and any subscription charges — not just headline commission rates.

Important trading/investing features to compare

• Fractional shares: allows building diversified portfolios with small amounts.
• Dividend handling: cash vs DRIP (automatic reinvestment) options.
• Recurring investments: automated buys and dollar‑cost averaging.
• Order types: advanced order types for risk management.
• Extended hours trading: pre‑market and after‑hours access.
• API access & integrations: for automated or third‑party tools.

Security, custody and regulation

Key security questions when choosing what is the best app to invest in stocks include:

• SIPC protection: most U.S. brokerages are SIPC members; SIPC covers missing securities up to limits if a broker fails, not market losses.
• Where securities are held: custody arrangements and whether the broker uses a custodian bank.
• Cash sweep protections: FDIC coverage of cash sweep accounts, subject to limits and terms.
• Account security: two‑factor authentication, device management and encrypted communications.
• Regulatory oversight: check for SEC/FINRA regulation and public disclosures.

Always read the broker’s custodial agreement and security disclosures to confirm protections and limitations.

Choosing the right app by investor type

Answering what is the best app to invest in stocks depends on investor goals:

• Beginners: prioritize education, simple UX, low minimums, fractional shares and strong customer support. Mobile‑first apps and some robo platforms work well.
• Long‑term passive investors: prioritize low expense ratios (especially for funds), tax reporting, and reliable retirement product offerings — Vanguard, Fidelity, and Schwab excel here.
• Active traders: prioritize execution quality, margin rates, advanced charts and order types — Interactive Brokers, Webull and E*TRADE are common choices.
• Options traders: need options analytics, greeks, risk visualization and reasonable per‑contract pricing.
• Small‑balance investors: value fractional shares and low or no minimums; micro investing apps and some retail brokers suit this group.
• International investors: require global market access, multi‑currency support and local regulatory availability — Interactive Brokers is often strong here.

Common pitfalls and tradeoffs

Tradeoffs include simplicity vs advanced features, low balances vs subscription fees, and mobile convenience vs research depth. Hybrid crypto+stock platforms may offer convenience but differ in regulation and custody — users should confirm legal protections. Remember the general wisdom: avoid trying to time markets; focus on regular quality investments across market conditions to capture long‑term growth and avoid missing the best market days.

Practical steps to get started

1. Decide your primary goal (long‑term growth, income, trading, or mixed).
2. Compare fees and features for those goals; use a checklist based on the evaluation criteria above.
3. Open a demo or small account to test UX and customer service, where available (paper trading helps for advanced platforms).
4. Verify deposit/withdrawal methods and timing, and confirm tax reporting practices.
5. Start small, use recurring investments for dollar‑cost averaging, and diversify across stocks/ETFs to manage risk.

When users ask what is the best app to invest in stocks, a low‑risk way to evaluate is to test two candidate apps with small, identical trades and compare timers, fills and ease of use over a month.

Performance & execution considerations

Two brokers offering zero commission can still differ in execution quality because of order routing, price improvement practices and liquidity management. Execution reports (often published quarterly) and FINRA/SEC disclosures can help evaluate a broker’s performance. Look for published order execution statistics and statements about payment for order flow and price improvement.

Taxes, reporting and account types

Broker choice affects tax reporting convenience. Standard account types include taxable brokerage accounts, traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and SEP/solo 401(k)s. Brokers provide consolidated 1099s for taxable accounts. Important tax topics:

• 1099 reporting: brokers issue consolidated 1099s (dividends, interest, proceeds) for tax filing.
• Wash sale rules: can affect deductible losses when trading frequently.
• Tax lot selection: FIFO, HIFO or specific lot accounting can affect capital gains calculations.
• Short‑term vs long‑term gains: holding period influences tax rates.

Confirm whether your selected broker provides detailed tax lot reporting and integrates with tax software for easier filing.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is zero commission always best?

No. Zero commission eliminates per‑trade cost but you should also compare margin rates, options fees, data/subscription charges and execution quality. Net effective cost matters.

Can I buy fractional shares?

Many retail brokers offer fractional shares; this makes diversification cheaper for small balances. Confirm the broker’s fractional share rules (e.g., tradability, transfers).

Are my stocks insured?

SIPC protection covers missing securities up to limits if a broker fails; it does not protect against market losses. Cash sweep arrangements can be FDIC‑insured subject to limits.

Can I trade crypto on brokerage apps?

Some platforms offer crypto trading or tokenized stocks. If you want both crypto and stocks in one ecosystem, consider platforms that clearly state custody and regulatory scope. For crypto wallet and trading support, Bitget and Bitget Wallet are noted in this guide.

What are typical account minimums?

Account minimums vary from $0 to several thousand dollars. Many modern brokers have no minimum for basic accounts, while margin or advanced products may require higher balances.

Glossary

• ETF: Exchange‑traded fund – a pooled investment tradable like a stock.
• Fractional share: Partial ownership of a single share, enabling diversified purchases with small amounts.
• Market order: An instruction to buy or sell immediately at the best available price.
• Limit order: An instruction to buy or sell at a specified price or better.
• Margin: Borrowing funds from a broker to trade; involves interest and increased risk.
• SIPC: Securities Investor Protection Corporation – provides limited protection if a broker fails.
• 2FA: Two‑factor authentication – an added security layer for account access.

How reviews differ — methodology notes

Major review sources such as NerdWallet, Investopedia, StockBrokers.com, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider and CNBC typically combine hands‑on testing, fee comparison, feature scoring (research, mobile UX, advanced tools), customer service testing, and regulatory/financial strength checks. Some emphasize beginner friendliness while others weigh execution and professional tools more heavily.

References and further reading

Primary review sources used for comparison: NerdWallet, Investopedia, StockBrokers.com, Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, CNBC Select, Apple App Store editorial picks and Investing.com app listings. For the latest terms and pricing, verify directly with brokers’ official disclosures and regulatory filings.

Market context citation

As of 30 December 2025, according to a market summary provided above, analysts noted that attempting to time market bottoms is difficult and that steady, quality additions to a portfolio across market environments tend to be more reliable. The summary highlighted five large‑cap names that investors might consider for diversified exposure: Amazon, Alphabet, Walmart, Eli Lilly, and AbbVie — with quantifiable details on market cap, price ranges, recent revenue highlights and dividend history included in the summary.

Readers should treat the market summary as context for platform selection (i.e., which app makes it easiest to buy and manage similar long‑term positions), not as investment advice. The summary items were reported as of 30 December 2025 and include metrics such as market cap and trading volume as part of the original briefing.

Revision history / updates

This guide reflects product features and market context current as of 30 December 2025. Brokerage features, fees and regulation change often — confirm up‑to‑date terms directly with providers when opening or funding an account.

Notes on scope and limitations

This article focuses on retail investing apps for equities (U.S. stocks and ETFs) and related mainstream products. It does not provide personalized financial, tax or legal advice. Users should evaluate platforms against their individual tax and regulatory circumstances and consult licensed advisors where appropriate.

Next steps — trial checklist

If you’re ready to test which app is best for you, consider this quick checklist:

• Open demo or small live accounts on two finalists.
• Place the same buy order and compare execution speed, fill price and fees.
• Test deposit and withdrawal timing with a small amount.
• Evaluate tax reporting previews (e.g., sample 1099 formats).
• Confirm security settings (2FA, device locks) and read custodial disclosures.

For those who want both crypto and stock access within one ecosystem, explore Bitget offerings and Bitget Wallet (confirm product regulatory details and custody model before use).

Final guidance

Answering what is the best app to invest in stocks depends on your goals: low cost, advanced tools, social discovery, retirement planning, or combined crypto access. Use the evaluation criteria above to weigh tradeoffs. Start small, validate execution and reporting, and choose the app that best aligns with your investing horizon and comfort with platform features.

To explore crypto and hybrid account options, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet as part of your due diligence. For a deeper comparison tailored to your profile (beginner, active trader, long‑term investor or small‑balance saver), request a personalized shortlist and we’ll provide a focused matrix.

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and does not constitute investment, tax or legal advice. Verify current product features and fees on providers’ official disclosures.