8 Best Stock Trading Apps of October 2026
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💸 Limited time! Get up to $3,000 in stock when you open & fund a new Active Invest account. 9/28-10/187
- Get a 1% IRA Match on contributions & rollovers. Terms apply.8
- Unlimited 1% match on eligible deposits into non-retirement SoFi Invest® accounts with a SoFi Plus membership10
- Ranks #1 in JD Power 2026 U.S. Investor Satisfaction Study for DIY Investors
- Buy & sell stocks with no commissions2
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BACK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
1. Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.
2. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).
3. There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.
4. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options
5. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information.
6. SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov
7. The probability of a member receiving $3,000 is 0.028%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Members must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. The probability percentage is subject to decrease. Members are only eligible for the Stock Award promotion upon opening their first brokerage account; subsequent cash brokerage accounts are ineligible for the promo, including for members with multiple accounts.
8. Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.
9. Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers
The Plynk® app helps you confidently grow into the investor you want to be
- Trade over 5,000 stocks and over 3,400 ETFs with no fees or commissions.*
- Earn 3.48% APY on your uninvested cash.
- A simulated trading environment where you can learn the basics without risking real money.**
- Customer support provided by knowledgeable professionals and resources.
Rate as of 8/31/26. The performance data features represents past performance, which is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the performance quoted.
Cash rate: Performance data shown represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than quoted. Your cash awaiting investments will be held in a free credit balance ("GCASH"), which is payable to you on demand by Green Pier FinTech LLC (Green Pier). Green Pier may use this free credit balance in connection with its business, subject to applicable law.
Max dividend bonus is $250 per year, payouts made monthly. Other terms apply. www.plynkinvest.com/
Commission-free applies to U.S. equity trades and funds for Digital Brokerage Services LLC (DBS) retail clients. Expenses charged by investments, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions still apply. See brokerage fee schedule for details. www.plynkinvest.com/
The Simulated Trading tool is for informational purposes only. Please note that past performance in the simulation does not indicate future results in actual trading. Investing involves risk, including risk of loss.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk, including risk of loss. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time, and you may gain or lose money. The information provided is general in nature. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, legal or tax advice. Plynk/DBS does not provide legal or tax advice. Laws of a specific state or laws relevant to a particular situation may affect the applicability, accuracy, or completeness of this information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific legal or tax situation.
The Plynk® app provides access to different types of accounts and related services. Brokerage services are provided by Digital Brokerage Services LLC (DBS), member FINRA, SIPC, 499 Washington Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ 07310. Brokerage custody and clearing services are provided by Green Pier Fintech LLC, both members FINRA and SIPC.
Plynk marks are the property of FMR LLC; third-party marks are the property of their respective owners.
© 2026 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
Invest your way with a Vanguard brokerage account
- Choose from a wide range of options like stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds to help grow your savings.
- Options to meet your strategy with access to thousands of non‑Vanguard mutual funds and ETFs.
- Withdraw your money anytime with no penalties.
- No account minimums and $0 commissions on most online trades.
All investments are subject to risk, including the possible loss of money you invest.
Vanguard Digital Advisor's services are offered through Vanguard Advisers, Inc. (VAI), a federally registered investment advisor. 2020 Vanguard Group Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information about Vanguard funds, visit vanguard.com to obtain a prospectus or, if available, a summary prospectus. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information about a fund are contained in the prospectus; read and consider it carefully before investing. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor of the Vanguard Funds.
Bond funds are subject to the risk that an issuer will fail to make payments on time, and that bond prices will decline because of rising interest rates or negative perceptions of an issuer's ability to make payments.
Investments in target-date funds are subject to the risks of their underlying funds. The year in the fund name refers to the approximate year (the target date) when an investor in the fund would retire and leave the workforce. The fund will gradually shift its emphasis from more aggressive investments to more conservative ones based on its target date. An investment in target date funds is not guaranteed at any time, including on or after the target date.
You must buy and sell Vanguard ETF Shares through Vanguard Brokerage Services (we offer them commission-free) or through another broker (who may charge commissions). See the Vanguard Brokerage Services Commission and Fee Schedules on Vanguard.com for limits. Vanguard ETF Shares are not redeemable directly with the issuing Fund other than in very large aggregations worth millions of dollars. ETFs are subject to market volatility. When buying or selling an ETF, you will pay or receive the current market price, which may be more or less than net asset value.
💸 Earn 3.3%* APY on your cash
- Invest in stocks, bonds, options, crypto and more
- Earn rebates on your options trades, including with our free active trading API
- Turn any idea into an investable index. Just enter a prompt, and put our AI to work
- Invest for retirement with a matching 1% bonus on your annual IRA contributions
*Rate as of 1/21/26. APY is variable and subject to change.
**Paid endorsement. Brokerage services provided by Open to the Public Investing Inc, member FINRA & SIPC. Investing involves risk. Not investment advice. Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Review Options Disclosure Document here. Review Options Rebate Terms here. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool by Public Advisors. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice. See disclosures at public.com/disclosures/GA. See terms of match program at https://public.com/
Invest Beyond Today
- Invest for your kids, not just yourself — build wealth for education, a first home, retirement, and more.
- Unlock tax-advantaged investing with options like the exclusive Junior Roth IRAâ„¢.
- Put investing on autopilot with personalized, diversified portfolios and automated contributions.
- Build wealth together — invite family and loved ones to contribute toward shared financial goals.
Banking, Investing & Advice All In One App
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Get a $25 bonus when you invest your first $5
- Invest in stocks and ETFs with no add-on commission fees*
- Retirement Account options (Roth + Traditional IRA)
- Set up automatic investing with any amount you choose
- Invest as you spend with the Stock-Back® Visa Card
*Ancillary fees charged by Stash and/or its custodian are not included in the subscription fee.
Invest in over 11,000 stocks and ETFs – commission-free* through Kraken Pro
- You can transfer stocks and ETF balances to Kraken. We won’t charge any fees*.
- With our Fully Paid Securities Lending (FPSL) program, you can put your portfolio to work and may be eligible to earn passive yield.
- Trade beyond big-name US stocks and ETFs across NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, and more.
*Other fees may apply.
Securities and brokerage services offered by Kraken Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC.
Easy and automated investing, starting at $3 a month
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Online banking that automatically saves and invests with no hidden fees
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Earn bonus investments from thousands of top brands
- Expert-led, bite-sized courses to increase your financial knowledge
Key Takeaways
- Fidelity Investments is the best overall stock trading app thanks to its low fees, variety of order types, comprehensive research tools and intuitive interface. Robinhood is an excellent alternative for beginners, while TradeStation is ideal for experienced traders.
- Most stock trading apps operate as brokerage platforms, meaning they execute trades on behalf of users rather than acting as marketplaces themselves.
- Automation and AI features are an increasingly common sight in trading apps, from recurring investments and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) to portfolio rebalancing tools and robo-advisors.
- Stock apps vary widely in terms of what products, fees, data, service and abilities they offer. It’s important to compare options and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
- We evaluated 20 stock trading apps based on 24 data points grouped under three factors: cost, features and user experience.
Our top picks for the best stock trading apps
- Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
- Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
- TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
- Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
- SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
- Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
- Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
- eToro: Best App for Social Trading
Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products: Fidelity Investments
- Commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs and options
- Industry-leading research from 20+ independent providers
- No expense ratios on select Fidelity index funds
- Highly-rated mobile apps
- Above-average DIY investor satisfaction
- High broker-assisted trade fees
- 65 cents per options contract
- 0% expense ratio funds are limited to Fidelity’s offerings
Why we chose it: Fidelity does more things exceptionally well than any other platform on our list. It charges no trading commissions, offers proprietary index funds with a 0% expense ratio, provides research from more than 20 independent data providers, and its app has over 4 stars for both iPhone and Android. All this with no account minimum and no pressure to upgrade to a paid tier to unlock basic features.
What makes Fidelity especially compelling for a wide range of investors is how well it scales. A first-time investor can open an account for as little as $1 with fractional shares available for around 7,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), follow structured educational content and get started with a Fidelity Zero fund at no cost. Meanwhile, more experienced investors have access to Trader+, which offers sophisticated screeners and one of the deepest libraries of third-party research in retail brokerage. There are also classes and live events to help you learn more about the Trader+ web, mobile and desktop tools and how to use them to your advantage.
- Fees
- $0 stocks/ETFs; 65 cents per options contract; bonds ~$1
- Promotions
- None as of Sept. 29, 2026
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best Trading App for Beginners: Robinhood
- $0 commissions with no per-contract options fee
- Clean, intuitive mobile-first user interface
- IRA with up to 3% contribution match (requires a paid Robinhood Gold subscription ($5/month); non-Gold customers receive only 1%)
- 24/7 in-app customer support
- Highly rated mobile app
- History of outages during high-volatility market events
- No mutual funds or individual bonds
- $5/mo or $50/yr (single charge) for Robinhood Gold
- Below-average for DIY investor satisfaction
- Nearly 4,200 complaints with the CFPB in the last three years
Why we chose it: Robinhood offers a nearly frictionless experience, with account setup taking just minutes and an uncluttered, easily readable trading screen. Fractional shares starting at just $1 lets you build a portfolio with whatever amount you can spare, even if that’s just a few dollars. That level of accessibility combined with 24/7 customer support directly inside the app makes Robinhood the most forgiving platform for investors who are still learning the basics.
Robinhood includes a wide variety of educational resources, 24-hour stock trading five days a week, IPO access and a Gold membership tier that unlocks reduced management, futures, and index fees, as well as AI insights from Robinhood Cortex and charts and analysis through Robinhood Legend. Robinhood also offers custodial investment accounts, checking and savings accounts, and an individual retirement account (IRA) with up to a 3% contribution match — a meaningful feature that competitors rarely offer.
- Fees
- $0 trades; no options contract fee
- Promotions
- Refer a friend and get up to $15,000 in stock
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best App for Active Traders: TradeStation
- Advanced trading tools in a modern, cross-platform interface
- Commission-free stock and ETF trades
- High complexity futures and options tools
- Extensive backtesting capabilities
- Up to $3,500 in cash rewards
- Highly rated mobile app
- $35 annual IRA fee and $50 IRA termination fee
- Steeper learning curve than competitors
- Inactivity fee of $10 per month
- No fractional shares
Why we chose it: TradeStation comes closest to giving retail investors the same execution environment as professional traders. Its newest Mac and Windows application marks a significant quality-of-life improvement by packaging TradeStation's multi-asset charting, complex options spread grouping, real-time Matrix price ladder and FuturesPlus platform into an interface that is much easier to navigate. There are also trading simulators and backtesting tools to help investors head off mistakes before they happen.
TradeStation’s integration with Claude, Anthropic's AI model, allows traders to connect their brokerage account directly to the AI to fetch live quotes, preview orders and analyze portfolio risk using plain-language prompts. Moreover, the platform is virtually unrivaled when it comes to backtesting and systematic strategy thanks to its extensive historical data library and EasyLanguage scripting environment.
- Fees
- $0 for new accounts; 0.80 cents per options contract ($0 at the highest trading volume tier);
- Promotions
- $0 per leg trade options for three months
- Minimum Deposit
- $0 (margin trading requires $2,000)
Best Low-Cost Trading App: SoFi®
- $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
- No account minimum or annual fee
- Fractional shares starting at $5
- No options contract fees
- No. 1 for DIY investor satisfaction (JD Power)
- Highly rated mobile app
- 1% cash match and IRA match for Plus members
- Limited third-party ETF variety
- $100 account transfer-out fee
- $25 inactivity fee
Why we chose it: While other platforms charge 65 cents per options contract and many discount brokers still collect a per-contract fee, SoFi InvestⓇ applies zero commission and zero contract fee across the board. For investors who trade options with any regularity, that difference adds up quickly and meaningfully over time.
Beyond its pricing structure, SoFi's broader advantage is integration. Users who already bank with SoFi can move money between checking, savings and investing accounts without friction. That helps provide a full picture of your finances in a single app, which also gives you access to IPO investing and automated portfolios alongside self-directed trading.
If you become a SoFi Plus member, you can earn an unlimited 1% match on recurring deposits to a SoFi Invest account, paid in rewards points.
- Fees
- $0 trades; no options contract fee
- Promotions
- Up to $1,000 in free stock for new SoFi Active Invest accounts
- Minimum Deposit
- $5
Best for International Trading: Interactive Brokers
- Unmatched reach in global market and currency access
- Commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trading on IBKR lite
- Among the lowest currency conversion fees in the industry
- Exceptionally low margin rates
- Highly rated mobile app
- Uninvested cash earns high interest rate
- High minimum balance required for reaping interest
- Steep learning curve for its flagship platform
- Limited crypto offering
Why we chose it: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) provides access to 170 markets, 40 trading countries and 29 currencies for funding, all in a single account. Where most U.S. brokers limit international exposure to a handful of American Depositary Receipts or a curated set of foreign ETFs, IBKR offers direct access to tens of thousands of listings across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. There’s also overnight trading.
IBKR Pro’s currency conversion fee of a flat 0.003% is significantly cheaper than the 0.50% to 1.50% markup charged by competitors — a difference that compounds meaningfully for any investor regularly moving between currencies to buy foreign-listed securities. Moreover, the platform’s research library spans more than 140 domestic and international providers; it boasts AI integrations with ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and Claude; and its SMART Routing technology routinely scans for best execution across exchanges globally.
One last perk: Uninvested cash earns up to 3.38% interest — automatically.
- Fees
- $0 (Lite); ~25 to 65 cents per options contract
- Promotions
- $10 instant cash when opening a new Prediction Markets account
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best Trading App for Options: Moomoo
- No equity options commissions and no per-contract fee
- Advanced multi-chart layout and AI-powered assistant
- Paper trading with up to $1 million in virtual funds
- Access to new Nasdaq weekly expirations
- Highly rated mobile app
- Uninvested cash earns very high interest
- 24/7 support
- $20 fee for domestic bank wire withdrawals; $25 for international
- No mutual funds or IRAs
Why we chose it: Moomoo doesn’t charge commissions or per-contract fee on equity options, putting it on a very short list of platforms that offer options trading for free. For traders who run high-frequency strategies or manage sizable positions across multiple names, the savings relative to the 65 cents-per-contract standard charged by most full-service brokers are substantial.
The Moomoo desktop and mobile apps support up to six simultaneous charts, a customizable layout, over 100 technical indicators and Moomoo AI — an integrated trading assistant that processes real-time market data. The platform's partnership with Nasdaq adds nine major U.S. underlyings — the main investment an option is based on — that expire twice a week for even greater flexibility in short-term strategies. Cash sweeps at Moomoo earn a hefty 3.60% APY.
- Fees
- $0 stocks/options (reg fees apply)
- Promotions
- Up to $1,000 in NVDA shares plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash; $200 in traditing coupons for depositing $100
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best Trading App for Retirement Investing: Charles Schwab
- Widest selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds among major brokers
- Over 400 branch locations nationwide for in-person guidance
- Automated IRA management with no advisory fee
- 24/7 phone and chat support
- Thinkorswim tools offer charting, analysis and simulation trading
- Low interest rate on uninvested cash
- Limited crypto trading
- Below average DIY and advised investor satisfaction (JD Power)
Why we chose it: Schwab offers nearly 4,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, giving IRA holders a broader selection from which they can build a passive, low-cost portfolio without worrying about trading fees eroding contributions. Its IRAs carry no annual fees and no closing fees, removing two of the most common hidden costs in retirement accounts.
The platform also leads on the advisory side. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios provides fully automated IRA management with no management fee — unusual in an industry where robo-advisory services typically cost 0.25% annually. Its 24/7 phone and chat support remains among the most consistently praised customer service teams in retail brokerage.
Schwab also gives its investment customers access to thinkorswim, trading platforms that offer charting, analysis and simulation tools. It’s available via desktop, mobile or web app. Schwab Crypto is in the works and will give investors access to both Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- Fees
- $0 stocks; 65 cents per options contract
- Promotions
- $100 to $1,000 via referral from an existing Schwab client; 500 commission-free trades with a qualifying deposit of $100,000 or more
- Minimum Deposit
- $0 ($5,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios)
Best App for Social Trading: eToro
- 40 million+ user community
- Commission-free stock and ETF trading
- Automatic replication of vetted investors' portfolios
- Social feed, live market commentary and sentiment data
- $0 withdrawal fee and a $30 minimum withdrawal amount
- Highly rated mobile app
- Invest as little as $50
- Narrower asset selection than full-service competitors
- Fractional shares carry a $10 minimum
- $50 minimum for options trading
- 1% fee on crypto
Why we chose it: eToro’s CopyTrader feature lets you automatically mirror the real-time trades of verified investors with publicly audited performance histories. Performance data going back multiple years, risk scores and monthly return breakdowns make it easy to evaluate who you’re copying. Plus, there are no management fees for copy trading; the only cost is the same spread you'd pay on any trade executed manually.
You can start investing with as little as $10, and there’s even a virtual portfolio feature to help you practice your trades.
Every asset page on eToro is integrated with live community discussion, sentiment indicators and real-time commentary from other investors. In 2025, eToro expanded that feed by incorporating data from Stocktwits' over 10 million users, giving the platform one of the most robust market-sentiment signals available to retail investors.
The company is working on a new product that will allow customers to direct funds straight from their paychecks into investments.
- Fees
- Spread-based
- Promotions
- Up to $300 crypto bonus with first deposit
- Minimum Deposit
- $10
Other stock trading apps we considered
E*TRADE
E*TRADE is a well-rounded broker and an excellent option for investors who want to dive into educational resources. In addition to commission-free stock, ETF and options trades, the platform also enjoys backing from Morgan Stanley, which adds a layer of institutional research most discount brokers can't match. However, it struggles to carve a niche for itself in a field where competitors offer comparable or superior tools at similar prices. It was also rated well-below average on JD Power’s Satisfaction Study.
Plynk
Purpose-built for first-time investors, Plynk removes several barriers that typically discourage beginners. It has no account minimum, fractional trades starting at $1 and plain-language guidance throughout the app. The platform’s learning hub offers structured lessons on investing basics, and a simulated trading environment with $100,000 in virtual funds lets new investors hone their skills before risking real money. It also offers a 25% cash match on dividends earned — up to $250 per year (or 50% and $500 if you join Plynk Premium).
Because Plynk offers no automated trading, rebalancing or tax optimization, and has no IRA support, investors may need to graduate to a fuller platform as their goals grow. But as an on-ramp for the genuinely uninitiated, it does its job better than almost any competitor in this category.
Public
Public offers stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, crypto and a high-yield cash account in one app, with a built-in social feed for community discussion. The platform stands out for its options rebate model, which pays traders back a portion of the spread rather than routing orders to market makers for profit. It also has a 1% cash match on both its Roth and Traditional IRAs. While Public doesn't match the versatility or depth of eToro's copy-trading, it’s still worth a look for investors who want an honest cost structure and a community-driven experience.
What you need to know about stock trading apps
Stock trading apps allow investors to buy and sell stocks online, be it on desktop or on your mobile device. Most trading apps also allow you to trade other types of securities, such as ETFs, bonds, options, futures and even crypto.
To use one of these platforms, you must first create an account and deposit funds into it. Once the account is set up, you can research different stocks, track their performance and decide which ones to buy or sell. The app will calculate the total cost of trading and show it to you trade on a confirmation screen.
After the user confirms the transaction, the app will send the order directly to the broker. Then, once it has been completed — often within seconds — the user will receive a trade confirmation, and the stock will be added to their portfolio. The app will also provide real-time updates on the stock's performance so the user can monitor their investments.
What are stock trading app orders?
An order in a trading app is a set of instructions given to a broker that determine how and when a trade is executed. Stock trading apps typically support a set of standard order types that includes market orders, limit orders and stop orders. More advanced apps may offer conditional orders such as bracket orders or one-cancels-the-other (OCO) orders, where executing one order.
How to start investing with stock trading apps
Getting started with stock trading apps is a relatively simple process.
- Choose a brokerage app that matches your goal — such as retirement, saving for a major purchase or learning how markets work — and your style of investing. Compare fees, investment options, user interface, educational tools and customer support.
- Download the app and create a brokerage account. You’ll usually need to provide your personal information so the platform can verify your identity. Don’t forget to enable two-factor authentication, use a strong password and turn on biometric login if available.
- Connect your checking or savings account so you can transfer funds into the trading app.
- Choose a security, enter the dollar amount or number of shares, review the order and confirm the purchase.
- Check your investments periodically. As your goals, income and risk tolerance change, revisit your portfolio. You may need to rebalance, increase contributions or shift toward more conservative investments over time.
Best Stock Trading Apps FAQs
Are stock trading apps safe?
That protection has limits. SIPC does not reimburse you for investment losses, and it generally does not protect cryptocurrencies or other digital assets that don't qualify as securities.
Do you still need $25,000 to day trade?
You still need at least $2,000 in equity to use a margin account, and individual brokerages can set stricter requirements of their own. So while the $25,000 threshold is gone, frequent trading with borrowed money still comes with capital and margin requirements.
How do free trading apps make money?
There can also be smaller fees that aren't obvious from the "commission-free" label, such as options contract fees, wire transfer charges, inactivity fees or account transfer fees. That's why it's worth looking beyond the advertised trading commission when comparing platforms.
Can you lose more money than you invest?
Margin trading is different because you're investing with money borrowed from your brokerage. If your investments fall sharply, you can lose more than your original cash deposit. Your broker may also sell investments in your account without getting your approval first if your equity falls below its maintenance requirements. Certain options strategies can carry substantial losses as well.
How much money is needed to start trading?
Minimum balances aren't the only fees to watch, though. Some platforms charge inactivity fees if you leave an account unused for too long, which can matter more than the amount required to open the account.
How do taxes work with stock trading apps?
How much tax you owe depends in part on how long you held the investment. Gains on investments held for one year or less are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates, while investments held for more than a year may qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates. You also need to watch the wash sale rule, which can prevent you from immediately claiming certain losses if you sell an investment and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days.
What's the difference between a market order and a limit order?
A limit order gives you more control over price. You choose the highest price you're willing to pay when buying, or the lowest price you're willing to accept when selling. The trade will only go through if the market reaches that price, so there's no guarantee the order will be filled. Limit orders can be especially useful with volatile or lightly traded stocks, where prices can move quickly.
Methodology
To identify the best stock trading apps, we evaluated platforms across three categories: cost, features and user experience. Each category reflects several data points that directly affect how investors interact with a trading app, from affordability to functionality and ease of use.
Cost
We evaluated cost by looking at the direct and indirect expenses associated with each platform. That includes trading commissions for stocks, ETFs and options; margin rates; account minimums; and any subscription or premium feature fees. We also considered additional charges, such as transfer fees, inactivity fees and costs tied to advanced data or tools.
Features
For features, our focus was on the breadth and quality of investment tools offered by each app. We considered access to different asset classes such as stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, as well as the availability of fractional shares. Research tools, charting capabilities, educational resources, automation features and advanced trading functionalities were also taken into account.
User Experience
We assessed the overall usability and design of each app to evaluate user experience. This includes account setup, navigation, trade execution and portfolio management. Factors such as mobile app performance, interface clarity, customization options and reliability factored into the equation. Customer support availability and responsiveness also played a role.
Summary of our top picks
- Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
- Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
- TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
- Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
- SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
- Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
- Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
- eToro: Best App for Social Trading