New to the Stock Market? Here's the No. 1 Investing App I Recommend to Everyone
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Want to start investing, but don't have a clue where to start? There's only one brokerage I'm always recommending to beginners: Robinhood.
You've probably heard of Robinhood -- it's a mobile-friendly investing app that's especially popular among younger investors. With its user-friendly tools, it's a great way to ease into your investing journey.
Here's what I like about Robinhood, what could be better, and how to use it the right way.
Why Robinhood is great for beginners
User-friendly interface
Robinhood makes it super easy to open an account and start trading in minutes. Buying and selling takes just a few taps, and the app will guide you through your first transactions.
The interface is sorted into simple tabs like "Investing" and "Retirement." The app also has a ton of educational content, including articles with titles like "Why invest?" and "What's an ETF?"
Years ago, I bought and sold my first stocks on Robinhood. I loved how easy it was to open my account, fund it, and make my first trades. I recommend it to anyone who's looking to learn the ropes of the stock market.
Extremely low cost and fractional shares
With no commission fees on stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or stock and ETF options, Robinhood is one of the most affordable brokerages out there.
It costs nothing to transfer money into or out of your account, except there's a 1.75% fee (max $150) for instant withdrawals and a $25 fee for outgoing wire transfers.
There are no fees to use the basic version of the platform. Robinhood's premium subscription, Robinhood Gold, costs just $5 a month or $50 a year. Members get perks like a 3% IRA match, 4.00% APY on uninvested cash (at time of writing), access to the Robinhood Gold Card, and more.
Robinhood also offers fractional share investing, which lets you invest as little as $1 in most stocks. That means you can easily invest in almost any company on the market, no matter how high its share price.
Put simply, if you're looking for an inexpensive way to start investing, Robinhood is hard to beat.
Ready to begin your investing journey? Check out our full Robinhood review to open an account in minutes.
2026 Award Winner
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= PoorA top pick for beginners, Robinhood combines $0 commission trades, an easy-to-use app, and a rare retirement deposit match.
$0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.
$0
Receive eligible dividend payments up to one month before the official payment date.
On Robinhood's Secure Website.
Reasons to look elsewhere
Past controversies
While its interface is clean and intuitive, Robinhood has faced criticism in the past for making it too easy to make trades.
Some felt that the Robinhood platform "gamified" investing and encouraged users to trade too frequently or recklessly. The company tweaked its platform in response, like removing the digital confetti users saw when they made their first transactions.
Also, in June 2021, Robinhood paid roughly $70 million to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) for "systemwide outages and misleading communication and trading practices."
Earlier that year, Robinhood had limited users' ability to trade certain "meme" stocks like GameStop and AMC, angering both users and lawmakers. The $70 million settlement was the largest in FINRA history.
It's worth keeping these things in mind when starting out with Robinhood. A long-term, buy-and-hold approach is usually a better way to grow your money.
No mutual funds or bonds
Robinhood offers access to stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrency, and more, but not bonds or mutual funds.
Mutual funds are prepackaged groupings of stocks that let you invest in a bunch of different companies at once. ETFs are similar, only they usually track an index (like the S&P 500) instead of being actively managed.
Both can be great, hands-off ways to grow your money. But if you want access to mutual funds specifically -- or bonds -- you'll have to look elsewhere.
How to use Robinhood the right way
Robinhood offers an intuitive, beginner-friendly way to start investing. I also love it for its lack of fees and access to all sorts of investment options (minus mutual funds and bonds).
The best way to use it is also the best way to invest in general: Focus on long-term growth. Build a diversified portfolio -- then stay patient and avoid unnecessary short-term moves.
If you do, Robinhood can be the perfect tool to grow your money steadily over time.
Check out our list of the best stock brokers for beginners for more great options.
Our Research Expert
Ryan Wilcox is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and savings since 2022. Before joining Motley Fool Money, he was a full-time writer at The Points Guy, where he focused on maximizing credit card rewards and travel strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also spent four years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. With a background in both journalism and consumer finance, he brings a clear and thoughtful voice to money topics. Outside of work, Ryan is likely reading, writing, or updating his Letterboxd account.
Motley Fool Stock Disclosures
The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Intuit. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Robinhood disclosure
Margin borrowing increases your level of market risk, as a result it has the potential to magnify both your gains and losses. Before using margin, customers must determine whether this type of strategy is right for them given their investment objectives and risk tolerance. Regardless of the underlying value of the securities you purchased, you must repay your margin loan. Robinhood Financial can change its maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below the minimum maintenance requirements (varies according to the security), you'll have to deposit additional cash or acceptable collateral. If you fail to meet your minimums, Robinhood Financial may be forced to sell some or all of your securities, with or without your prior approval. For more information please see Robinhood Financial's Margin Disclosure Statement, Margin Agreement and FINRA Investor Information.
Margin trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Borrowing on margin increases your level of market risk and can amplify both gains and losses.
Robinhood Financial may change maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below minimum maintenance requirements, you may need to deposit additional cash or collateral. If those requirements are not met, Robinhood Financial may sell securities in your account without prior approval.
The 3% matching on annual contributions requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year from the date of the first eligible deposit to keep the full Gold match. The funds that earned the match must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential Early IRA Match Removal Fee. Match rate subject to change. Non-Gold customers receive a 1% match. Offer only applies to self-directed IRAs. For more information refer to the IRA Match FAQ.
You must have compensation (wage income) in order to contribute to an IRA. Funds being contributed into or distributed from retirement accounts may entail tax consequences. Contributions are limited and withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a penalty tax. Robinhood does not provide tax advice; please consult with a tax adviser if you have questions.
The Robinhood IRA is available to any U.S. customer with a Robinhood brokerage account in good standing.
Robinhood Strategies charges an annual management fee of 0.25% on the net portfolio value of each managed account. Eligible Robinhood Gold subscribers pay no management fees on the portion of their managed account net portfolio value that exceeds $100,000, thereby limiting the annual management fee to $250. Other fees apply.
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, ("RHF") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC) and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, ("RHS") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).
RHF and RHS are not banks. All are separate but affiliated entities. Securities offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.
Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC.
Portfolio management of managed accounts by Robinhood Asset Management, LLC ("Robinhood Strategies"), an SEC-registered investment advisor.
Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before trading options.
Cryptocurrency trading is offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Trading and holding digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
*Trading and owning digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency trading is offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the
New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
** Network fees may apply. Availability may be subject to regulatory approval in certain states.