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You don't need a full-service stockbroker or financial advisor to help manage your investments these days. In fact, you don't even need a computer. These excellent mobile apps allow customers to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and other investments. There are apps that create and automate investment portfolios for customers. And there are apps that provide additional services. For example, you can track accounts from several financial institutions all in one place. Here's our list of the best investment apps for April 2021:
The Ascent's best investment apps:
- $0 commissions: Robinhood
- Robo-advisor investing app: Betterment
- Managing your money needs with one app: SoFi Active Investing
- Mobile app trading platform: Webull
- Mobile app trading platform: TD Ameritrade
- Cryptocurrency investing app: Gemini Exchange
- Full-featured broker: Fidelity
- Tracking all your finances in one app: Personal Capital
- Combined investment and banking needs: Ally Invest
- Robo-advisor app: Wealthfront
- Beginning investors: Acorns
- Investing app for IRAs: Charles Schwab
- Options investing app: Tastyworks
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.
Bottom Line
Robinhood's user-friendly mobile app allows trading in stocks, ETF's, options, cryptocurrencies, and fractional shares, all with $0 commissions.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies
Account Minimum:
$0
Special Offer
Get a free stock with a new account
Open Account
On Robinhood's Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
Betterment helped pioneer the robo-advisors business, and remains one of the best options.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 per trade, management fee 0.25%
Account Minimum:
$0
Open Account
On Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
SoFi is a great lending, investing, saving, and personal finance app all rolled into one, making it a good fit for handling your money needs under one roof.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 for stocks, 1.25% for cryptocurrencies
Account Minimum:
$1
Open Account
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
Webull offers a user-friendly stock investing platform with more features than some of its rivals, including cheap margin rates.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 per trade
Account Minimum:
$0
Open Account
On Webull's Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
TD Ameritrade's mobile platforms -- the standard app and the thinkorswim trading platform -- are among the most feature-packed in the industry.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 per options trade, $0.65 per contract
Account Minimum:
$0
Special Offer
Trade commission-free and get up to $2,500 when you open and fund an account
Open Account
On TD Ameritrade's Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
Gemini Exchange's cryptocurrency investing app ease of use is among the best. What makes it stand out further is the trading platform capabilities and access to trade 25 cryptocurrencies on your phone.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0.99-$2.99 for orders under $200, 1.49% for orders greater than $200
Account Minimum:
$0
Open Account
On Gemini Exchange's Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
A highly customizable and user-friendly mobile app, connected to one of the best brokerages in the U.S. The versatility of Fidelity's offerings makes it a good fit for an array of investing needs.
Fees:
$0 stock trades
Account Minimum:
$0
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.
Bottom Line
A great budgeting, net worth tracking, and financial advisor platform in one. Users can link all their financial accounts, including banks, brokerages, and even an employer's 401(k). It offers excellent retirement planning tools and other analytical features, all for free.
Fees:
Free for the app, 0.49% to 0.89% advisory fee, based on balance
Account Minimum:
$0 for the app, $100,000 for advisor services
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.
Bottom Line
Ally combines investment and personal financial accounts in one easy-to-use app.
Fees:
$0 stock and ETF trades
Account Minimum:
$0
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.
Bottom Line
One of the best robo-advisors for low costs and diverse investing needs, with an excellent mobile app to boot.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$0 per trade, management fee 0.25%, expense ratio 0.06%-0.13%
Account Minimum:
$500
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.
Bottom Line
A solid pick for investors that want to put their savings and investments on cruise control. Acorns' approach to automatically rounding up purchases is a simple way to start investing.
Read Full ReviewFees:
$1-$5 monthly
Account Minimum:
$0
Open Account
On Acorns' Secure Website.
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.
Bottom Line
Few stock brokers have a mobile app that closely resembles the robust features and capabilities of their online experiences. Schwab bucks that trend. Importantly, accountholders can manage all of their standard accounts via the app, including IRAs, taxable brokerage, and bank accounts.
Fees:
$0 stock and ETF trades
Account Minimum:
$0
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.
Bottom Line
Tastyworks is laser-focused on options investing and its app is well-suited to options traders. Its feature-rich order entry platform helps is versatile enough on mobile for actions you'd otherwise want to take through its other trading platforms.
Fees:
$0 for stocks, $1 per option contract (opening trades only)
Account Minimum:
$0
TIP
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Best investment apps overview
1. Robinhood
Best for: Stocks, ETF's, options, cryptocurrency, and fractional shares investing
Robinhood has a user-friendly app that can be used to invest in common investment vehicles. The cash management feature pays interest on cash balances. And the $5 per month Robinhood Gold premium version of the platform gives access to Morningstar stock research reports and $1,000 of interest-free margin. That said, it has few educational tools, no advanced trading tools, no mutual funds, and no IRAs. While at face value, the low Android rating could be concerning, but it appears Robinhood's app rating has been hit hard in recent months more related to its handling of the Gamestock frenzy than the quality of the app.
- iOS rating: 4.1/5 stars
- Android rating: 2/5 stars
Pros
- $0 commissions
- User-friendly platform
- Allows fractional share investing
- Includes options and cryptocurrencies as well as stocks
Cons
- Few educational resources
- No access to stock research with basic account
- No mutual funds
2. Betterment
Best for: Hands-off investors putting their investing on cruise control with a robo-advisor
Betterment was one of the pioneers in the robo-advisory space, and it's still one of the best options in the business. Betterment will craft an age and risk-appropriate portfolio to help meet your long-term goals. It charges a low management fee and has no minimum balance. Features like tax-loss harvesting are rare for smaller-balance accounts. Investors' idle cash also earns interest in a high-yield cash management account. The bottom line is that Betterment is a fantastic choice, and its user-friendly app is one of the highest-rated in the business.
- iOS rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.6/5 stars
Pros
- Low management fee
- High-yield cash management account
- No minimum balance (but $10 to start investing)
- Tax-loss harvesting with no minimum balance
Cons
- Real-life financial advisors only available to premium members or through paid package
- Some account types aren't available
- No self-directed investing capabilities
3. SoFi Active Investing
Best for: Managing your money needs within one app
SoFi, short for Social Finance, sets out to be an all-in-one financial community. The company is best known for its lending business, which includes mortgages, personal loans, and credit cards. But it also has a high-yield savings platform, as well as an investment app. SoFi Active Invest offers both active investing (stock trading) and automated investing (robo-advisory) services. Users can also trade cryptocurrencies. And unlike several other tech-focused investment apps, SoFi has traditional and Roth IRAs. The best part? All these features are available through a single, highly-rated app.
- iOS rating: 4.4/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.8/5 stars
Pros
- Diverse product offerings
- Stock investing, automated investing, and cryptocurrency trading
- Fractional shares
- Retirement accounts
- Community-based structure
- Members get discounts on loans
Cons
- No options or mutual fund trading
- Doesn't offer stock research or an advanced trading platform
4. Webull
Best for: Mobile app trading platform
Webull is a mobile-based trading platform with considerably more functionality than most of its rivals. There are no account minimums and customers can trade stocks and options commission free. For investors who use margin, Webull has some of the lowest rates in the industry. New investors can take advantage of Webull's virtual trading "play money" feature as they learn. This makes it one of the best mobile investing apps for beginners.
- iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pros
- Commission-free stock and options trading
- More features than most other mobile trading platforms
- Traditional IRAs as well as standard brokerage accounts
- Allows investors to trade cryptocurrencies
Cons
- Does not support fractional share investing
- Investors cannot trade mutual funds or OTC stocks
- Few educational resources
- Subscriptions required for most market data and research
5. TD Ameritrade
Best for: Investors who want a feature-packed brokerage and an excellent mobile trading app.
TD Ameritrade actually offers two different mobile apps, and customers can connect their accounts to one or both of them. TD Ameritrade's standard app is the simpler of the two. It has a user-friendly platform for checking accounts and buying and selling stocks. It's the best app to start investing for TD Ameritrade clients. Designed for active traders, thinkorswim has nearly as much functionality as the award-winning desktop platform of the same name.
TD Ameritrade's packed feature set rivals the best stock brokers in the market. Customers can open virtually any type of account and access a vast library of educational resources and stock research. For passive investors, TD Ameritrade has one of the best robo-advisor platforms. It also has nearly 2,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds. Plus, the thinkorswim platform has an excellent practice "paper money" function.
Standard TD Ameritrade mobile app
- iOS rating: 4.6/5 stars
- Android rating: 3/5 stars
thinkorswim mobile app
- iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Android rating: 3/5 stars
Pros
- Thinkorswim is perhaps the best active trading app on the market
- Supports most account types, including joint accounts, IRAs, solo 401(k)s, and custodial brokerage accounts
- Trading in stocks, options, bonds, mutual funds, and more
- Plenty of educational resources and stock research available
Cons
- No fractional shares
- Higher margin rates than most competitors
- Options commissions on the high end
6. Fidelity
Best for: Investors who want a great mobile experience with all the features Fidelity has to offer.
Fidelity offers one of the best mobile investing apps available from any brokerage. The 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. Plus, it's one of only a few brokerage apps to allow trading on international markets.
- iOS rating: 4.8/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.2/5 stars
Pros
- Fractional shares of S&P 500 stocks
- Highest-rated mobile app among traditional (not app-based) brokers
- Extensive branch network available for face-to-face help
- Allows trading on international markets
Cons
- Higher-than-average margin rates
- Options commissions are on the higher end, compared with app-based competitors
- Cannot trade cryptocurrencies
7. Personal Capital
Best for: Budgeting app for investors
Personal Capital is somewhat different than the other apps in this guide. It doesn't offer a brokerage account, nor is it a robo-advisor. Personal Capital is a budgeting, net worth tracking, and financial advisor platform in one. Users can link all their financial accounts, including banks, brokerages, and even an employer's 401(k). The app gives a single-screen view of their entire financial life. It offers excellent retirement planning tools and other analytical features, all for free. The company makes its money by selling the services of its human financial advisors. But the free side of the business (including the app) is fantastic.
- iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.5/5 stars
Pros
- Great account tracking tools
- Easy to view all your financial accounts at once
- Free to use
- Excellent free retirement planning tools
Cons
- Have to pay for human financial advisors
8. Ally Invest
Best for: Investors who want their bank and investment accounts in the same place.
Ally Invest's mobile app combines a few different financial services in one easy-to-use app. You can buy and sell stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds through this investment app. You can also access Ally's Managed Portfolios robo-advisory service, a high-yield savings account, checking accounts, CDs, mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and more. In short, Ally is a great financial app that also has impressive investing functionality. It's one of the best personal investment apps for people who want to keep their banking and investing in one user-friendly place.
- iOS rating: 4.7/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.3/5 stars
Pros
- Banking and investment accounts in one app
- Educational tools and research
- One of the lowest standard mutual fund commissions in the industry
- Supports retirement accounts
Cons
- Annual fee to attach debit card to account
- Trading platform is not as sophisticated as some other brokerages
- No no-transaction-fee (NTF) mutual funds
9. Wealthfront
Best for: People who want to automate their investments.
Wealthfront is a robo-advisor platform with one of the highest-rated investment apps. It provides automated investment portfolios with low management fees. It has some excellent features, like Path which analyzes the impact of investment decisions on your long-term financial health. Customers can also contribute to a high-yield savings account with debit card access. It can also be a great choice for college saving, as few robo-advisors offer 529 college savings plan accounts. Plus, there's a unique feature. Customers with $25,000 or more in their accounts can access a low-interest line of credit, using their account as collateral.
- iOS rating: 4.9/5 stars
- Android rating: 4.6/5 stars
Pros
- Low costs,
- High-interest savings account with debit card
- Tax-loss harvesting
- Lots of account types
- Line of credit for some customers
Cons
- $500 account minimum
- No human financial advisors
10. Tastyworks
Best for: Experienced investors interested in mobile options trading
Tastyworks is one of the brokers that made options trading accessible to retail investors. While it has other types of investments available, including cryptocurrencies, options are still its forte. The Tastyworks app puts all the most popular options trading strategies at your fingertips, with strangles, straddles, and iron condors being just a few notable examples. It also lets you view a trading activity feed and follow traders you like to see what moves they're making.
There is a learning curve to Tastyworks, and it doesn't have as many features as more all-purpose investing apps. For those reasons, new investors will likely want something different. But if your focus is options trading, then Tastyworks is hard to beat.
- iOS rating: 2.7/5 stars
- Android rating: 2.7/5 stars
Pros
- Powerful options trading platform
- Also offers stock, ETF, future, and cryptocurrency trading
- No minimum account balance
- Trader feed adds a social element
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
- Doesn't offer fractional shares
- No educational content
Are investment apps worth it?
It depends on which app you're talking about and what your needs are. Some investment apps are completely free and don't actually facilitate investment services, like Personal Capital. Others make their money in different ways. Paying a management fee for a robo-advisor can certainly be worth it if you want to put your investments on autopilot. And free trading apps typically offer commission-free stock trades, but might have other costs (like options commissions) that might be worth paying.
Pros and cons of investing apps
Pros
There are some great reasons why you should consider using an investment app (or several). For example, investment apps can help you determine a proper retirement savings strategy. They can allow you to track and manage your investments on the go. And they can provide ways to improve your financial life with as much or as little effort as you desire. Here are some of the things to look for in an investment app:
- User-friendliness. You won't have a great experience if an investment app is clunky or difficult to use.
- Feature-rich. Look for apps with features that matter most to you. For example, some of the best stock brokers for beginners have apps that include educational resources. If you're an active trader, you might want to look for investment apps with active trading platforms.
Cons
There are two major downsides to watch out for when choosing an investment app:
- Scope of services. The most important question to ask is "does this app meet my needs." For example, if you want to be able to invest in stocks and cryptocurrencies, you'll need an investment app that offers both. Similarly, if you want a high-yield savings account and an investment account in the same place, you'll want to look for apps that provide them.
- Costs. Once you've found the best investment apps with the services you want, the next thing to consider is costs. If you want to trade options, for example, the best options stock brokers have apps with commission-free options trading. Others charge for each contract you buy or sell.
What investments are offered with investment apps?
No investment app offers all of these (at least, we haven't found one yet) like some of the best stock brokers do. But here are some of the different investments you can buy and sell with investment apps:
- Individual stocks
- Bonds
- Mutual funds
- ETFs (exchange-traded funds)
- Futures
- Cryptocurrencies
- Automated portfolios
- Foreign currencies
- Precious metals
| Broker/Advisor | Best For | Commissions | Next Steps | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Robinhood
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
$0 commissions |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies |
|
Betterment
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Robo-advisor investing app |
Commission:
$0 per trade, management fee 0.25% |
|
SoFi Active Investing
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Managing your money needs with one app |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, 1.25% for cryptocurrencies |
|
Webull
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Mobile app trading platform |
Commission:
$0 per trade |
|
TD Ameritrade
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Mobile app trading platform |
Commission:
$0 per options trade, $0.65 per contract |
|
Gemini Exchange
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Cryptocurrency investing app |
Commission:
$0.99-$2.99 for orders under $200, 1.49% for orders greater than $200 |
|
Fidelity
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Full-featured broker |
Commission:
$0 stock trades |
|
Personal Capital
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Tracking all your finances in one app |
Commission:
Free for the app, 0.49% to 0.89% advisory fee, based on balance |
|
Ally Invest
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Combined investment and banking needs |
Commission:
$0 stock and ETF trades |
|
Wealthfront
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Robo-advisor app |
Commission:
$0 per trade, management fee 0.25%, expense ratio 0.06%-0.13% |
|
Acorns
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Beginning investors |
Commission:
$1-$5 monthly |
|
Charles Schwab
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Investing app for IRAs |
Commission:
$0 stock and ETF trades |
|
Tastyworks
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
|
Best For:
Options investing app |
Commission:
$0 for stocks, $1 per option contract (opening trades only) |
About the Author
Matt is a Certified Financial Planner® and investment advisor based in Columbia, South Carolina. He writes personal finance and investment advice for The Ascent and its parent company The Motley Fool, with more than 4,500 published articles and a 2017 SABEW Best in Business award. Matt writes a weekly investment column ("Ask a Fool") that is syndicated in USA Today, and his work has been regularly featured on CNBC, Fox Business, MSN Money, and many other major outlets. He’s a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Nova Southeastern University, and holds a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University.
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We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The Motley Fool has a Disclosure Policy. The Author and/or The Motley Fool may have an interest in companies mentioned.
