More than half of American adults now own stocks, and most of them buy through a phone app. Stock apps have replaced the old broker phone call for nearly everyone under 45.
The best stock apps offer commission-free trades, fractional shares, and an easy interface. Some go further with banking, retirement accounts, and built-in education.
This guide ranks the top stock apps for new investors. If you are pairing investing with credit-building goals, a credit builder card can help you grow both sides of your financial life.
Our Top Picks
After testing fees, features, and overall ease of use, these four stock apps stand out for beginners.
- Robinhood: Best for a clean, mobile-first experience with commission-free trading and fractional shares. See our full Robinhood review for the breakdown.
- Public: Best for community features, educational content, and access to bonds and treasuries. Read our Public.com review for details.
- Fidelity: Best for a full-service brokerage with strong retirement tools and zero-expense-ratio funds.
- SoFi: Best for combining investing with banking, loans, and credit tools in one app.
Each has its niche. The right one depends on what you want from your investing app. Younger savers may also want to skim the best investing apps for college students for picks aimed at smaller balances.
Robinhood
Robinhood
Robinhood is a trading platform that brings stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, crypto, and retirement accounts together in one app.
Standout feature
One platform for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, prediction markets, and crypto
Fees
$0 commission on stocks, ETFs, and options.
Pros
Zero-commission trading on stocks, ETFs, and options
Cons
Best perks (high APY, lower margin rates) require Gold subscription ($5/month)
Public
Public
Investing for those who take it seriously. Invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto & more.
Standout feature
A 5%+ yield Bond Account paired with 3.3% APY on cash — Public is one of the only consumer apps where idle and conservative money is treated as seriously as the equity portfolio.
Fees
Free
Pros
• Invest in stocks, bonds, crypto & more• Earn 3.3% APY* on your cash with no fees• 1% match when you transfer your portfolio• Lock in a 5%+ yield with a Bond Account
Cons
Customer support is in-app and email only, no phone
What to Look for in Stock Apps
Not every stock app is built the same. A few features can make the difference between a good experience and a frustrating one.
Zero Commissions
All four apps listed above offer $0 stock and ETF trades. This standard has become the norm. Avoid any app that still charges per trade.
Fractional Shares
Fractional shares let you buy a slice of a stock for as little as $1. This makes expensive stocks like Berkshire Hathaway accessible. Robinhood, Public, Fidelity, and SoFi all support fractional investing.
Account Types
If you want to save for retirement, look for IRAs and Roth IRAs. Fidelity offers the widest range of accounts. Robinhood added IRAs in recent years. Public and SoFi continue to expand their account options.
Education and Research
New investors benefit from in-app learning. Public includes podcasts and live audio. Fidelity offers reports from major research providers. Robinhood has built up Robinhood Snacks and educational guides.
Robinhood: Best for Mobile Simplicity
Robinhood remains the go-to app for first-time investors. The interface is clean and the buying process is fast. If you worry about platform reliability, our deep dive on is Robinhood safe walks through SIPC coverage and security history.
Features include:
- Commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options
- Fractional shares from $1
- Robinhood Gold cash sweep APY of 3.35% (as of February 2026) and advanced research
- IRA accounts with a 1% match (3% with Robinhood Gold)
The downside is that Robinhood started with no retirement accounts. That has been fixed, but Fidelity still leads on retirement tools.
Public: Best for Learning and Diversification
Public took a different approach. It built a social investing app focused on transparency and learning.
Features include:
- Commission-free stocks, ETFs, and crypto
- Treasury bills and bonds available in the same app
- High-yield cash account
- Live audio shows and investor discussions
Public does not offer options for most users, which can be a plus for beginners avoiding complex trades.
Fidelity: Best for Full-Service Investing
Fidelity is one of the oldest and largest brokerages in the U.S. The app has caught up with the mobile-first competitors.
Features include:
- Zero-expense-ratio index funds, including FZROX and FNILX
- Fractional shares for stocks and ETFs
- Cash management account with ATM fee reimbursements worldwide
- Strong customer service and branch access
Fidelity may feel more complex at first. For investors who want one home for both checking and brokerage, it can pay off.
SoFi: Best for All-in-One Finances
SoFi started in student loans and expanded into nearly every part of personal finance. The investing app is part of a larger ecosystem. To see how it stacks up against the leader, check our SoFi vs Robinhood comparison.
Features include:
- Commission-free stocks and ETFs
- Fractional shares
- Banking, loans, and credit cards in one app
- Roth and traditional IRAs
SoFi is a fit for users who want fewer apps. The trade-off is fewer advanced research tools compared to Fidelity.
How to Pick the Right Stock Apps for You
The right app depends on your goals.
If you want speed and simplicity, Robinhood may be the best fit. If you want learning and bond access, Public stands out. If you want a full-service experience with retirement tools, Fidelity tends to lead. If you want one app for everything, SoFi can simplify your financial life.
Many investors use more than one app. You can hold long-term funds at Fidelity and trade individual stocks at Robinhood. There is no rule that says you must pick only one. Active traders often pit Webull vs Robinhood or Moomoo vs Robinhood when comparing chart tools.
Common Mistakes New Stock App Users Make
A mobile app makes investing easier, but easier is not always better.
- Trading too often: Frequent trading can lead to lower returns over time.
- Ignoring tax accounts: Taxable accounts may cost more in capital gains. Use IRAs where you can.
- Chasing meme stocks: Hot stocks tend to swing hard in both directions.
- Forgetting to diversify: Buying only a few stocks can raise your risk.
A simple plan with regular contributions to broad index funds tends to outperform reactive trading.
Pairing Investing with Credit Building
A strong credit score may help you qualify for lower rates on loans, which can free up money to invest. Firstcard offers a secured credit card built to help users improve credit while spending normally.
Free credit monitoring can track your credit score as your investing portfolio grows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best stock app for total beginners?
Robinhood and Public are both popular starting points. Robinhood wins on simplicity. Public wins on educational content and bond access. Either app lets you start with $1 through fractional shares.
Are stock apps safe?
Most major U.S. stock apps are SIPC insured up to $500,000. That covers losses from broker failure but not from market drops. Stick to apps from regulated brokerages to keep risk lower.
Can I have multiple stock apps?
Yes, many investors use two or three apps for different goals. You might use Fidelity for retirement and Robinhood for active trades. Make sure you track all accounts at tax time.
Do stock apps have hidden fees?
Most top stock apps no longer charge trade commissions. Some still charge for options contracts, wire transfers, or paper statements. Read the fee schedule before opening an account.
