You don't need thousands of dollars or a finance degree to start investing. In 2026, the best investment apps let you begin with as little as $1, offer commission-free trades, and provide built-in education to help you learn as you grow. The hardest part isn't picking the right app — it's just getting started.
I've tested every major investment app over the past year, comparing fees, features, ease of use, and educational resources. Whether you want a hands-off robo-advisor that does everything automatically or a trading app where you pick your own stocks, this guide ranks the 8 best options for beginners and helps you choose the right one for your goals.
Why Use an Investment App? (vs. Traditional Brokerage)
Investment apps have democratized access to the stock market. Just 10 years ago, opening a brokerage account required $500–$2,500 minimum deposits and $7–$10 per trade commissions. Today, apps like SoFi and Public.com let you invest $1 with zero commissions.
What Makes an App "Beginner-Friendly"?
Not all investment platforms are created equal for newcomers. The best beginner apps share these traits:
- Low or no minimums: Start with $1–$10, not $500+
- Fractional shares: Buy a slice of Amazon or Tesla instead of paying $3,000+ for a full share
- Built-in education: In-app lessons, articles, and community features that teach as you invest
- Simple interface: Clean design that doesn't overwhelm with charts and jargon
- Automatic investing: Set-and-forget options that invest on your schedule
How Much Money Do You Need to Start?
Less than you think. Here's what each app requires:
- $0: Webull, Public.com, Fidelity — open an account and deposit any amount
- $1: SoFi Invest — buy fractional shares of stocks and ETFs
- $5: Acorns — start micro-investing with round-ups
- $10: Betterment, Stash — robo-advisor and guided investing
- $100: M1 Finance — build custom portfolio "pies"
If you've already got an emergency fund of at least $500–$1,000, you're ready to start investing. If not, focus on building that safety net first with a high-yield savings account.
How We Ranked These Investment Apps
Evaluation Criteria
We scored each app across six categories on a 10-point scale:
- Fees & costs (25%): Monthly fees, trading commissions, expense ratios, and hidden charges
- Minimum balance (15%): How little you need to get started
- Educational resources (20%): Quality and depth of learning materials
- Ease of use (15%): App design, onboarding experience, and navigation
- Investment options (15%): Stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, IRAs, fractional shares
- Automation features (10%): Auto-investing, round-ups, rebalancing, and recurring deposits
Best Investment Apps — Quick Comparison
| App | Min. Investment | Monthly Fee | Fractional Shares | Crypto | IRA Available | Auto-Investing | Education | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acorns | $5 | $3–$12 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Set & forget |
| SoFi Invest | $1 | $0 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | All-in-one |
| Betterment | $10 | 0.25%/yr | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Robo-advisor |
| M1 Finance | $100 | $0 | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐ | Custom pies |
| Webull | $0 | $0 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Trading |
| Public.com | $1 | $0 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Social |
| Stash | $5 | $3–$9 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Guided picks |
| Fidelity | $0 | $0 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Full brokerage |
The 8 Best Investment Apps — In-Depth Reviews
1. Acorns — Best for Hands-Off Micro-Investing
Minimum: $5 | Fee: $3–$12/month | SIPC insured: ✅
Acorns is the ultimate "set it and forget it" investment app. It connects to your debit and credit cards, rounds up every purchase to the nearest dollar, and invests the spare change into a diversified portfolio of ETFs. A $4.75 latte becomes $5.00, and the extra $0.25 is invested automatically.
What we like:
- Round-ups make investing effortless — you barely notice the money leaving
- "Found Money" feature earns bonus investments when you shop at partner brands (Nike, Walmart, Expedia)
- IRA options (Traditional, Roth, SEP) on the $5/month plan
- Family plan ($12/month) includes custodial accounts for kids
- Checking account with no fees and automatic round-ups
What to watch out for:
- $3/month fee is expensive on small balances (7.2%/year on a $500 balance)
- Limited to Acorns-selected ETF portfolios — you can't pick individual stocks
- No tax-loss harvesting
Who it's best for: People who struggle to save or invest consistently. If you've tried and failed to invest manually, Acorns removes all friction. It's also great for young adults just starting their financial journey who want to build the habit before scaling up.
2. SoFi Invest — Best for Free Financial Planning + Investing
Minimum: $1 | Fee: $0 | SIPC insured: ✅
SoFi Invest is the best free all-in-one investment platform for beginners. You get commission-free stock and ETF trading, automated investing (robo-advisor), crypto trading, and — uniquely — complimentary sessions with certified financial planners (CFPs). No other free app matches this combination.
What we like:
- $0 commissions and no account fees — truly free
- Free access to certified financial planners (included with any SoFi account)
- Active investing and automated investing in one app
- Fractional shares starting at $1 (called "Stock Bits")
- IPO access for SoFi members (early access to new stock offerings)
- Integrates seamlessly with SoFi's banking products (checking/savings at 4.50% APY)
What to watch out for:
- No tax-loss harvesting on the automated portfolio
- Smaller crypto selection compared to dedicated exchanges
- Auto-invest portfolio has limited customization options
Who it's best for: Beginners who want one app for everything — banking, investing, and financial guidance. If you already use SoFi for banking, adding Invest is a no-brainer.
3. Betterment — Best Robo-Advisor for Beginners
Minimum: $10 | Fee: 0.25%/year | SIPC insured: ✅
Betterment pioneered the robo-advisor space and remains the gold standard for automated investing. Tell it your goals (retirement, house down payment, emergency fund), your timeline, and your risk tolerance — and Betterment builds and manages a globally diversified ETF portfolio tailored to you. It handles rebalancing, dividend reinvestment, and tax-loss harvesting automatically.
What we like:
- Goal-based investing — set multiple goals with different timelines and risk levels
- Automatic tax-loss harvesting (saves most investors 0.50–0.77% annually)
- Auto-rebalancing keeps your portfolio on track without any effort
- Socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolio option
- High-yield cash reserve account (4.50% APY) for your uninvested cash
- Excellent retirement planning tools and projections
What to watch out for:
- 0.25% annual fee adds up on larger balances ($25/year on $10K, $250/year on $100K)
- No individual stock picking — ETF portfolios only
- Premium plan ($100K+ balance required) costs 0.40%/year
Who it's best for: People who want to invest for retirement or long-term goals without managing their own portfolio. If you want the benefit of tax-loss harvesting and automatic rebalancing, Betterment is worth the 0.25% fee. Also great if you're comparing robo-advisors and want the most established option.
4. M1 Finance — Best for Custom Portfolios (Pie Investing)
Minimum: $100 | Fee: $0 | SIPC insured: ✅
M1 Finance uses a unique "pie" system that blends DIY investing with automation. You create a custom portfolio by selecting stocks and ETFs, set your target allocation (e.g., 60% S&P 500, 20% bonds, 20% international), and M1 automatically invests and rebalances to maintain those targets. It's the best of both worlds.
What we like:
- Completely free — no commissions, no management fees, no monthly subscription
- 80+ pre-built "Expert Pies" for beginners who want professional-quality allocations
- Fractional shares enable perfect portfolio balance regardless of share prices
- Automatic rebalancing with every new deposit
- M1 Borrow lets you borrow against your portfolio at low rates
- Retirement accounts (Traditional, Roth, SEP IRA) included free
What to watch out for:
- $100 minimum to start investing ($500 for IRAs)
- Single daily trading window (10am ET) — can't time trades
- No crypto trading
- Learning curve for the pie system (though Expert Pies help)
Who it's best for: Beginners with $100+ who want to build a custom, diversified portfolio without paying any fees. M1 Finance bridges the gap between robo-advisors (fully automated) and trading apps (fully manual). If you have $100 to invest and want to learn portfolio construction, start here.
5. Webull — Best for Learning to Trade
Minimum: $0 | Fee: $0 | SIPC insured: ✅
Webull is the most feature-rich free trading app available. It offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto with advanced charting tools, real-time market data, and a paper trading simulator that lets you practice with fake money before risking real cash. It's the best learning platform for aspiring traders.
What we like:
- Paper trading simulator — practice with $1,000,000 in virtual money
- Advanced charting with 50+ technical indicators (more than any free app)
- Extended-hours trading (4am–8pm ET) for early-bird and after-hours access
- Real-time quotes and Level 2 market data (Nasdaq TotalView)
- Commission-free options and crypto trading
- Free stock bonus for new accounts (deposit-based promotions)
What to watch out for:
- Advanced interface can be overwhelming for total beginners
- No automatic investing or round-up features
- No fractional shares for all stocks (only some are eligible)
- Active trading temptation — most beginners should invest passively, not trade actively
Who it's best for: Beginners who want to learn about markets, charts, and trading before committing real money. The paper trading feature alone makes Webull invaluable for education. Just remember: most beginners earn better long-term returns with passive index investing than active trading.
6. Public.com — Best for Social/Community Investing
Minimum: $1 | Fee: $0 | SIPC insured: ✅
Public.com combines commission-free investing with a social feed where investors share ideas, analysis, and portfolios. It's like having a community of mentors built into your brokerage. You can follow experienced investors, see what they're buying, and learn from their reasoning — all while making your own decisions.
What we like:
- Social feed with community insights and portfolio transparency
- Treasury accounts earning 4.35%+ APY on uninvested cash
- Alternative investments: fine art, collectibles, and music royalties
- No payment for order flow (PFOF) — better price execution for trades
- Stocks, ETFs, crypto, and bonds in one place
- Live audio events with financial experts and company CEOs
What to watch out for:
- No IRA accounts (taxable accounts only)
- No automatic recurring investments
- Social features can amplify hype — don't follow the crowd blindly
Who it's best for: Social learners who benefit from community discussion. If you're the type who learns by seeing what others do and asking questions, Public's community features accelerate the learning curve. Just maintain your own investment thesis.
7. Stash — Best for Guided Stock Picks
Minimum: $5 | Fee: $3–$9/month | SIPC insured: ✅
Stash takes a unique approach: instead of overwhelming you with 5,000+ stocks, it curates investments into themed categories like "Clean & Green" (renewable energy), "American Innovators" (tech), and "Defending America" (defense). This makes it easier for beginners to invest in themes they understand and believe in.
What we like:
- Curated investment themes make choosing investments less intimidating
- "Smart Portfolio" auto-investing option for total hands-off management
- Stock-Back debit card earns stock rewards on everyday purchases
- Excellent educational content built into the app experience
- Custodial accounts for kids on the Growth plan
What to watch out for:
- $3–$9/month fee is expensive on small balances
- Limited ETF and stock selection compared to full brokerages
- No tax-loss harvesting
Who it's best for: Complete beginners who feel paralyzed by choice. Stash's themed categories and guidance remove analysis paralysis and help you start investing in minutes.
8. Fidelity — Best Traditional Brokerage with Modern App
Minimum: $0 | Fee: $0 | SIPC insured: ✅
Fidelity is the 800-pound gorilla of investing — managing over $11 trillion in assets. Their mobile app has evolved dramatically in recent years, now offering a clean, modern interface alongside their industry-leading investment options. You get commission-free trades, fractional shares ($1 minimum), zero-expense-ratio index funds, and the security of the world's largest brokerage.
What we like:
- Zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX, FZILX) — literally free to hold
- Fractional shares starting at $1 for over 7,000 stocks and ETFs
- "Fidelity Youth Account" for teens 13–17 to learn investing
- Full suite of retirement accounts (401k rollovers, IRAs, HSAs)
- 24/7 customer support with physical branch offices
- No account fees, no minimums, no commissions
- Research tools and screeners rival anything on Wall Street
What to watch out for:
- App interface, while improved, still feels more "traditional" than Acorns or Public
- Crypto available but through a separate Fidelity Crypto platform
- Can feel overwhelming with the sheer number of options available
Who it's best for: Beginners who want one brokerage for life. Start with Fidelity's zero-fee index funds, and as your knowledge and wealth grow, you'll never need to switch. It's the best long-term choice for serious investors.
Investment Apps by Goal
Best for Retirement (IRA)
If your primary goal is retirement savings, prioritize apps offering IRA accounts with low fees and automatic features:
- Betterment — Best robo-advisor for retirement with automatic rebalancing and tax optimization
- Fidelity — Zero-fee index funds in a Roth or Traditional IRA
- SoFi Invest — Free automated IRA with financial planner access
Best for Passive Investing
If you want to invest without thinking about it:
- Acorns — Automatic round-ups invest spare change
- Betterment — Set your goals and let the robo-advisor handle everything
- M1 Finance — Build once, auto-invest forever (free)
Best for Active Trading
If you want to learn trading and pick individual stocks:
- Webull — Best paper trading simulator and advanced tools
- Public.com — Community insights and social learning
- Fidelity — Professional-grade research and screeners
Best for Kids / Custodial Accounts
If you want to start investing for your children:
- Acorns Family — Custodial accounts included in the $12/month family plan
- Fidelity Youth Account — Teens 13–17 manage their own account (parent supervised)
- Stash — Custodial accounts on the Growth plan ($9/month)
How to Choose the Right Investment App
Decide Your Investing Style (Passive vs. Active)
This is the most important decision. Passive investors (90% of beginners should start here) want to invest in diversified funds and let compound growth do the work over decades. Choose Betterment, Acorns, or M1 Finance. Active investors want to research and pick individual stocks. Choose Webull, Public, or Fidelity. You can always start passive and add active investing later.
Compare Fees (They Matter More Than You Think)
A seemingly small 1% fee can cost you over $100,000 in lost returns over 30 years on a $500/month investment. Here's how fees compare:
- Free ($0): SoFi, M1 Finance, Webull, Public, Fidelity
- Low (0.25%/year): Betterment ($25/year on $10K)
- Flat fee ($3–$12/month): Acorns, Stash — reasonable once your balance exceeds $5,000+
Check for Fractional Shares
Fractional shares let you invest in expensive stocks like Amazon ($180+), Google ($170+), or Berkshire Hathaway ($600,000+) with as little as $1. All 8 apps on our list support fractional shares, but coverage varies. SoFi, Public, and Fidelity offer the broadest fractional share access.
Look at Educational Resources
The best investment is in your financial education. Apps with strong learning resources:
- SoFi: Free certified financial planner access + in-app articles
- Webull: Paper trading simulator + market analysis tools
- Public: Community discussions + live expert events
- Fidelity: Learning Center with courses, webinars, and articles
Common Beginner Investing Mistakes to Avoid
- Trying to time the market: Even professional fund managers can't do this consistently. Invest regularly regardless of market conditions (dollar-cost averaging).
- Investing before building an emergency fund: Keep 3–6 months of expenses in a high-yield savings account before investing. You don't want to sell investments at a loss because of an unexpected car repair.
- Checking your portfolio daily: Markets fluctuate. Checking daily leads to panic selling. Set a monthly or quarterly review schedule.
- Investing money you'll need within 5 years: If you need the money for a down payment in 2 years, keep it in savings. The stock market is for money you won't touch for 5+ years.
- Putting all your money in one stock: Diversification is the only "free lunch" in investing. Use ETFs or diversified portfolios to spread risk.
- Ignoring fees on small balances: A $3/month fee on a $500 balance is 7.2% annually — more than your expected returns. Use free apps until your balance grows.
- Following social media stock tips: By the time you hear about a "hot stock" on TikTok, the opportunity has passed. Stick to your plan.
FAQs About Investment Apps
What is the best investment app for beginners with little money?
Acorns is the best investment app for beginners with very little money. It lets you start investing with just $5 and automatically rounds up your everyday purchases to invest the spare change. SoFi Invest is the best free option, letting you buy fractional shares starting at $1 with zero fees.
Are investment apps safe?
Yes, reputable investment apps are safe. All the apps on our list are registered with FINRA and are SIPC-insured, which protects your securities up to $500,000 and cash up to $250,000 if the brokerage fails. They also use bank-level encryption and two-factor authentication. However, SIPC protects against brokerage failure — not investment losses due to market fluctuations.
Can I lose money on investment apps?
Yes, all investing involves risk. The stock market can and does go down. However, diversified index funds spread risk across hundreds of companies. Historically, the S&P 500 has returned about 10% annually over the long term, despite short-term dips. The key is to invest consistently and think long-term (5+ years).
What's the difference between a robo-advisor and a trading app?
Robo-advisors like Betterment automatically build and manage a diversified portfolio based on your goals. Trading apps like Webull give you control to buy and sell individual stocks yourself. Robo-advisors are better for hands-off beginners; trading apps are for those who want to learn market analysis and make their own picks.
How much should a beginner invest?
Start with whatever you can afford consistently — even $25/month builds the habit. A good target is 10–15% of your income for retirement. If that's not feasible, start with $50–$100/month and increase over time. The most important factor is consistency, not amount.
Do investment apps charge fees?
Fee structures vary widely. Webull, Public, M1 Finance, and Fidelity charge $0. Betterment charges 0.25% annually. Acorns and Stash charge $3–$12/month. On small balances, flat monthly fees can be very expensive as a percentage. Use free apps if your balance is under $5,000.
Should I use an investment app or a traditional brokerage?
Apps are great for beginners due to low minimums, simple interfaces, and mobile-first design. As your portfolio grows past $50,000+, consider adding a full-service brokerage like Fidelity or Schwab for broader options and advanced tools. Many investors use both.
Start Investing Today — Our Top Pick
The best investment app is the one you'll actually use. Here's our recommendation based on your situation:
- Want zero effort? → Acorns invests your spare change automatically
- Want zero fees? → SoFi Invest offers free investing + free financial planning
- Want a robo-advisor? → Betterment manages your portfolio with tax-loss harvesting
- Want custom portfolios for free? → M1 Finance lets you build and auto-invest custom pies
- Want to learn trading? → Webull has the best paper trading simulator
- Want one brokerage for life? → Fidelity is the most complete option
Every day you delay investing costs you money. Even investing $50/month starting today, with an average 8% annual return, grows to over $90,000 in 30 years. The earlier you start, the more time compound interest works in your favor.
Related guides:
- Start with $100: How to Start Investing with Just $100
- Compare robo-advisors: Best Robo-Advisors for Beginners in 2026
- Grow your savings first: Best High-Yield Savings Accounts 2026
- Bank smarter: Best Online Banks in 2026
- Earn more to invest: 15 Side Hustles That Actually Pay Well in 2026