Best Investment Apps and Brokerages for Beginners

Opening your first investment account is easier and cheaper than it used to be. Most big investment apps now charge $0 commissions on US stock and ETF trades.

The real differences are in minimums, fractional shares, extra fees and how much help you get. We compared five popular platforms on those points.

Key takeaways

• All five list $0 commissions on online US stock and ETF trades. Other fees can still apply.
• Fractional shares let you start with $1 at Fidelity, Schwab and Robinhood, and $5 at SoFi.
• A robo-advisor picks and rebalances funds for you for a yearly fee, here 0.25% at SoFi and Wealthfront.
• Fund expense ratios are charged on top of any platform fee.

Best investment apps for beginners at a glance

Fees as of September 2026, from each provider’s official page.

1. Fidelity

A large broker that keeps the basics simple and cheap, with good tools for learning.

At a glance

• Trading cost: $0 commissions for online US stock, ETF and option trades; option contract fees apply.
• Minimum: $0 to open an account.
• Fractional shares: orders from $1 on NYSE and Nasdaq stocks and ETFs.
• Funds: $0 to buy Fidelity funds; some non-Fidelity funds charge $49.95 per purchase, and certain funds up to $100.

Pros and cons

• Everything in one place: brokerage, IRA and cash management.
• A Youth Account for teens 13 to 17.
• So many menus and tools that beginners can feel lost.
• Transaction fees on some outside mutual funds.

How to apply

Open an account online with your Social Security number and a bank account to fund it. Parents can later add a teen account; see our guide to Trump Accounts and Roth IRAs for kids.

2. Charles Schwab

A close match to Fidelity on price, with branch offices if you like talking to a person.

At a glance

• Trading cost: $0 online stock and ETF commissions; options cost $0.65 per contract.
• Minimum: $0 account and trade minimums.
• Fractional shares: most US-listed stocks and ETFs from $1.
• Help: broker-assisted trades cost $25; automated phone trades cost $5.

Pros and cons

• Branches plus phone and chat support.
• Satisfaction guarantee that refunds a fee or commission.
• Per-contract options fee.
• Several apps and platforms to choose between.

How to apply

Apply online in a few minutes, then link a bank account to fund it.

3. Robinhood

A clean mobile app that made $0 commissions mainstream. It now adds paid extras through a subscription.

At a glance

• Trading cost: $0 commissions on US-listed stocks and ETFs in self-directed accounts.
• Fractional shares: from $1.
• Robinhood Gold: $5 a month after a 30-day free trial.
• IRA match with Gold: 3% on new IRA contributions, up to $225 at the 2026 limit. You must stay subscribed one year and keep the assets in the IRA five years.

Pros and cons

• Very easy to use on a phone.
• The IRA match rewards retirement saving.
• Options, crypto and margin are one tap away, which can tempt beginners into risk.
• The best perks need a paid plan.

How to apply

Download the app, verify your identity and link a bank account.

4. SoFi Invest

A good fit if you already bank with SoFi or want DIY and automated investing in one app.

At a glance

• Trading cost: $0 SoFi commission on stocks and ETFs; other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply.
• Minimum: $0 account minimum for self-directed investing.
• Fractional shares: from $5.
• Robo investing: 0.25% annual advisory fee; $50 to start.

Pros and cons

• Banking, loans and investing in a single app.
• Low $50 entry for the robo portfolio.
• $5 fractional minimum is higher than at the others.
• Frequent promotions change fast; read the current terms.

How to apply

Sign up in the SoFi app and choose Active Invest (DIY) or Robo Investing.

5. Wealthfront

Built for people who want to set a plan once and let software handle the rest.

At a glance

• Automated investing: 0.25% annual advisory fee; start with as little as $500.
• Stock investing account: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs; $1 to get started.
• Extras: tax-loss harvesting in taxable automated accounts.

Pros and cons

• Truly hands-off once set up.
• Tax-loss harvesting may lower taxes in taxable accounts.
• $500 to start the automated account.
• The advisory fee adds up as your balance grows.

How to apply

Answer a short risk questionnaire online, review the suggested portfolio and fund it.

How to choose your first platform

• Choose Fidelity if you want one account for investing, retirement and cash, with no minimum.
• Choose Schwab if you value branches and phone help.
• Choose Robinhood if you invest mostly on your phone and will use the Gold IRA match.
• Choose SoFi Invest if you want DIY and robo investing next to your SoFi bank account.
• Choose Wealthfront if you want a fully automated portfolio and have $500 to start.

If you only have spare change to invest, our guide to micro-investing apps that grow your spare change covers round-up apps.

Check the safety basics first

• SIPC, set up under the Securities Investor Protection Act, protects cash and securities up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash, if a member brokerage fails. It does not protect against market losses, per the SEC’s Investor.gov.
• Look up any firm or adviser on FINRA BrokerCheck before you send money.

Before you open an account

• Build an emergency fund sized to your real expenses first.
• Decide the account type: taxable brokerage, Roth IRA or traditional IRA.
• Check the minimum, fractional shares and any monthly fee.
• Look at fund expense ratios, not just commissions.
• Turn on two-factor login.
• Set up an automatic monthly deposit you can keep up.

Money you need within a year or two is usually better parked in a high-yield savings account than in stocks.

How we compared these platforms

• Checked: every fee and minimum on September 23, 2026, on each provider’s official pricing page.
• Order: not a ranking. Platforms appear from full-service brokers to app-first and automated services; our top pick for most beginners is in the Quick answer.
• Criteria: commissions, account minimum, fractional shares, advisory fees and beginner support.
• Scope: US platforms for US residents.
• Independence: no provider paid for placement.

FAQ

What is the best investment app for a complete beginner?

It depends on how involved you want to be. Fidelity and Schwab suit people who want to pick their own funds. Wealthfront and SoFi’s robo option suit people who want the choices made for them.

Are $0-commission apps really free?

Not entirely. Options contract fees, transfer fees, subscriptions, advisory fees and fund expense ratios can still apply. Check each provider’s fee schedule.

How much money do I need to start investing?

You can start with $1 at brokers that offer fractional shares. Wealthfront’s automated account starts at $500.

Is my money safe in an investment app?

SIPC protects against a member brokerage’s failure, not against market losses. Your investments can go down in value.

Should I use a robo-advisor or pick my own ETFs?

A robo-advisor costs a yearly fee but handles rebalancing for you. Picking a few broad index ETFs yourself avoids that fee; see our list of ETFs for long-term growth.

For the full picture, see our hub How to Start Investing 2026 (US), our guide on how to start investing with just $100 and Roth IRA limits for 2026 and how they compare with a 401(k).

Sources

• Fidelity — Commissions, margin rates and fees
• Fidelity — Fractional shares
• Charles Schwab — Pricing
• Charles Schwab — Fractional shares
• Robinhood — Gold
• Robinhood — Investing
• SoFi — Active Invest
• SoFi — Robo Investing
• Wealthfront — Pricing
• SEC Investor.gov — SIPC
• FINRA BrokerCheck

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