Investing apps have become the main way millions of Americans get into the stock market. Whether you’re opening your first retirement account or you’ve been trading for years, picking the right app matters. This guide looks at the top investing apps available in the US, breaking down what they offer, what they cost, and who they’re best for.

What Makes a Good Investing App

A few things matter most when choosing where to put your money.

Security comes first. Your personal information and savings need real protection. Look for SEC regulation and SIPC coverage—this means your money is insured if the company goes under.

Fees are the next big thing. Commission-free trading is now standard after Robinhood changed the game, but watch out for other costs: ETF expense ratios, withdrawal fees, and charges for being inactive. The best apps keep these extras low.

User experience covers a lot of ground—how easy it is to set up an account, how fast you can make a trade, whether the mobile app works well, and if you can get real-time data and custom alerts. Good customer support matters too, especially when the market goes crazy and you need help fast.

Best Overall: Fidelity Investments

Fidelity works well for most people. It’s been around forever and has figured out how to make a solid app without sacrificing the features serious investors want.

You can buy stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and fractional shares—pretty much anything you want to hold. Their research tools are thorough without requiring a separate paid subscription. They also offer their own index funds and ETFs with zero expense ratios, which saves you money over time since fees compound.

The mobile app is clean and easy to use. The desktop version has more advanced charting and screening if you need that.

One thing Fidelity does well is customer support. You can call, chat online, or visit one of their 200+ physical locations if you prefer talking to someone face-to-face. This helps when you’re dealing with taxes or retirement planning.

Best for Beginners: Charles Schwab

Schwab is the go-to for people just starting out. The interface isn’t overwhelming, and they have real educational content that actually teaches you something—not just marketing fluff.

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is a robo-advisor that invests your money automatically in low-cost ETFs based on how much risk you want to take. You answer a few questions, and it handles the rest. There’s also plenty of learning material if you want to understand what you’re doing.

They explain fees clearly and don’t hide things in fine print. New investors can practice with a virtual trading simulator before putting real money in—which is smart when you’re learning the ropes.

Fractional shares are available, so you can buy pieces of expensive stocks like Amazon without needing the full share price. This helps you diversify even with a small amount to start.

Best for Low Fees: Robinhood

Robinhood made commission-free trading mainstream. It’s still the simplest choice if you want to pay as little as possible.

The interface is bare-bones. No confusing menus, no educational modules you won’t read—just a clean screen where you make your trades. Some people love this. Others want more hand-holding.

The platform has gotten better recently. Extended trading hours, crypto trading, and fractional shares are all available now. Robinhood Gold adds margin trading and premium research if you want more features.

That said, Robinhood has fewer tools than the big brokers. Retirement accounts are limited—you can’t do as much tax-advantaged investing as with Fidelity or Schwab. And if you need real research and analysis, you’ll look elsewhere.

For someone who just wants to buy and sell without fuss, Robinhood delivers exactly that.

Best for Advanced Traders: TD Ameritrade

If you trade often and need serious tools, TD Ameritrade is built for you. The thinkorswim platform is the real draw—it’s powerful enough for professionals.

The charting capabilities are extensive, with hundreds of technical indicators and drawing tools. Options traders get specialized calculators, strategy analyzers, and real-time Greeks for managing complex positions. There’s a paperMoney feature to test strategies with fake money before risking real cash.

TD Ameritrade charges $0 on almost all stocks and ETFs. They also let you trade futures, forex, and crypto if you’re into that.

The education goes beyond basics—webinars, live trading sessions, and analysis from professional analysts. Active traders can sharpen their skills while staying on top of market moves.

How We Evaluated These Apps

We looked at security first—SIPC protection, two-factor authentication, encryption. Anything less got cut.

We dug into the full fee picture, not just commission rates. Expense ratios, margin rates, transfer fees—it all adds up.

Features mattered too: trading tools, research quality, account types, mobile experience. We considered how well each platform serves its target user, since beginners and pros need different things.

We also tested how easy each app is to actually use. Setup time, navigation, learning curve, and whether customer support actually helps when you need it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best investing app for beginners?
Schwab is our top pick for beginners. The interface is friendly, the educational content is solid, and Intelligent Portfolios handles the investing for you if you’d rather not think about it.

Which app has the lowest fees?
Most big brokers now offer $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. Robinhood has the simplest fee structure overall—no account minimums, few extra charges. But also check expense ratios on funds and margin rates, since those affect your actual costs.

Are investing apps safe?
Reputable apps with SEC regulation and SIPC coverage are safe in the sense that your money is protected if the company fails. SIPC covers up to $500,000 per account. Enable two-factor authentication and follow basic cybersecurity habits to protect your account from hackers.

Do investing apps actually help build wealth?
The app is just the tool. You make money from your investments, not from the app itself. Historically, consistent investing in diversified assets over many years builds wealth—that’s true whether you use Fidelity, Schwab, or anyone else.

Can I open a retirement account on investing apps?
Yes, most major apps offer traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and rollover options. Fidelity, Schwab, and TD Ameritrade all have full retirement account offerings. Robinhood’s retirement options are more limited.

How much money do I need to start?
Many apps now have fractional shares and $0 minimums, so you can start with almost anything. Just remember that tiny accounts can get hurt by proportionally high fees if the app charges them.

Conclusion

Pick the app that fits your situation. Fidelity is the best all-around—it works for almost anyone. Beginners should look at Schwab for the extra help. Robinhood is fine if you want cheap and simple. Active traders need TD Ameritrade’s tools.

Actually starting to invest matters more than perfecting your platform choice. Waiting costs you compound growth. Figure out what’s important to you, try a few apps, and get your money working.