5 Best Stock Trading Apps of 2025
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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 [HYPERLINK: https://www.theocc.com/getmedia/a151a9ae-d784-4a15-bdeb-23a029f50b70/riskstoc.pdf
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
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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
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7. Probability of member receiving $3,000 is 0.026%. If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to
qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.
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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.
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Earn an uncapped 1% match when you transfer or rollover a brokerage account, IRA or 401(k)*
- 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
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- Earn 3.3% APY** on your cash with no fees.
*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/
Get Up To $1,500 When You Open and Fund a New Brokerage Account With a Qualifying Deposit¹
- No account minimums or maintenance fees²
- Invest in stocks, etfs, bonds, options and more
- Get investing insights from Morgan Stanley
- Available desktop trading platform with customization options
E*TRADE Disclosures:
- Terms Apply
- Transaction fees, fund expenses, brokerage commissions, and service fees may apply.
- Securities products and advisory services offered by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Member SIPC.
Some of the lowest margin rates on average than competitors
- $0 commission on stocks and ETFs (Other fees may apply)
- Easily transfer accounts, including deposits, brokerage, and 401Ks
- Buy, sell and store popular cryptocurrencies
*Terms apply. Rate subject to change.
Money is a non-client promoter (“Promoter”) of Robinhood Strategies. Promoter receives compensation of $35 for each newly opened and funded Robinhood Strategies managed account, creating an incentive to positively promote the product. The Promoter is not affiliated with Robinhood Strategies or its affiliates. No fees or other amounts will be charged to Robinhood Strategies clients in connection with, or as a result of, the Promoter’s activities. All investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Nothing in this review should be construed as a solicitation, offer, or recommendation, to buy or sell any security or pursue any investment strategy. Investment advisory services provided by Robinhood Asset Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
Margin Disclosure: Margin borrowing increases your level of market risk, as a result it has the potential to magnify both your gains and losses. Before using margin, customers must determine whether this type of strategy is right for them given their investment objectives and risk tolerance. Regardless of the underlying value of the securities you purchased, you must repay your margin loan. Robinhood Financial can change its maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below the minimum maintenance requirements (varies according to the security), you’ll have to deposit additional cash or acceptable collateral. If you fail to meet your minimums, Robinhood Financial may be forced to sell some or all of your securities, with or without your prior approval. For more information please see Robinhood Financial’s Margin Disclosure Statement, Margin Agreement and FINRA Investor Information.
Margin Risk: Margin trading involves risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Borrowing on margin increases your level of market risk and can amplify both gains and losses.
Margin Requirements: Robinhood Financial may change maintenance margin requirements at any time without prior notice. If the equity in your account falls below minimum maintenance requirements, you may need to deposit additional cash or collateral. If those requirements are not met, Robinhood Financial may sell securities in your account without prior approval.
IRA Match: The 3% matching on annual contributions requires a subscription with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) and customers must stay subscribed to Gold for 1 year from the date of the first eligible deposit to keep the full Gold match. The funds that earned the match must be kept in the account for at least 5 years to avoid a potential Early IRA Match Removal Fee. Match rate subject to change. Non-Gold customers receive a 1% match. Offer only applies to self-directed IRAs. For more information refer to the IRA Match FAQ.
You must have compensation (wage income) in order to contribute to an IRA. Funds being contributed into or distributed from retirement accounts may entail tax consequences. Contributions are limited and withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may be subject to a penalty tax. Robinhood does not provide tax advice; please consult with a tax adviser if you have questions.
The Robinhood IRA is available to any U.S. customer with a Robinhood brokerage account in good standing.
Robinhood Strategies Managed Portfolios: Robinhood Strategies charges an annual management fee of 0.25% on the net portfolio value of each managed account. Eligible Robinhood Gold subscribers pay no management fees on the portion of their managed account net portfolio value that exceeds $100,000, thereby limiting the annual management fee to $250. Other fees apply.
General Trading Risk: All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, ("RHF") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC) and clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC, ("RHS") a registered broker dealer (member SIPC).
RHF and RHS are not banks. All are separate but affiliated entities. Securities offered by RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.
Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program of premium services offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC.
Portfolio management of managed accounts by Robinhood Asset Management, LLC (“Robinhood Strategies”), an SEC-registered investment advisor.
Investing Risk: Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
Brokerage Services: Brokerage services are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (“RHF”), a registered broker-dealer (member SIPC), with clearing services through Robinhood Securities, LLC (“RHS”) (member SIPC).
Not a Bank / Insurance: RHF and RHS are not banks. Securities offered through RHF are not FDIC insured and involve risk, including possible loss of principal.
Options Risk: Options involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. Please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before trading options.
Robinhood Gold: Robinhood Gold is a subscription-based membership program offered through Robinhood Gold, LLC. Fees and terms apply.
Crypto Risk: Cryptocurrency trading is offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Trading and holding digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
*Trading and owning digital assets involves significant risk, including the risk of substantial loss. Cryptocurrency trading is offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected.
** Network fees may apply. Availability may be subject to regulatory approval in certain states.
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Additional Disclosures: https://about.robinhood.com/legal
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
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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.
The Plynk® app helps you confidently grow into the investor you want to be
- Trade over 5,000 stocks and nearly 2,000 ETFs with no fees or commissions.*
- Traditional and Roth IRAs for an all-in-one investing app.
- A simulated trading environment where you can learn the basics without risking real money.**
- Customer support provided by knowledgeable professionals and resources.
Access to the Plynk app is free. Transactional fees may apply.
Keep in mind that investing involves risk. The value of your investment will fluctuate over time, and you may gain or lose money.
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.
*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.
**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. Plynk marks are the property of FMR LLC; third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. © 2026 FMR LLC. All rights reserved.
*Rates and APYs are subject to change. All information provided here is accurate as of February 21, 2024.
Stock trading is the buying and selling of stocks — or ownership shares of a company — through a brokerage. Trading apps, which allow investors to trade stocks from their mobile phones, play a critical role in helping traders keep track of the market and buy some of the best stocks.
With so many options available, it’s difficult for investors to choose the best stock trading apps that will give them what they need — regular news updates, accurate price forecasts and more. That’s why we compiled a list of the best stock trading apps to help you trade effectively in 2025.
Our Top Picks for the Best Stock Trading Apps
- Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
- Merrill Edge: Best for Research
- SoFi Invest: Best for Beginners
- Interactive Brokers: Best for Advanced Traders
- TD Ameritrade: Best for Customer Support
Best Stock Trading App Reviews
Best for Widescreens-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 app
- High broker-assisted trade fees
- 65 cents per options contract
- 0% expense ratio funds are limited to Fidelity’s offerings
Fidelity offers access to a wide variety of investment products and services for all types of investors, regardless of their level of experience. You can choose anything from stocks, fractional shares, ETFs, options, mutual funds, crypto, fixed-income securities and international trading. In addition, it offers most types of investing accounts, including individual brokerage accounts, retirement accounts and 529 college savings plans.
Like most trading apps, Fidelity features commission-free trades on online U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options. Newly issued fixed-income securities, like CDs and bonds, don’t have transaction fees either. However, secondary issues have a $1 fee per bond, options a $0.65 fee per contract and non-Fidelity funds transaction fees of up to $75.
Fidelity’s mobile app is user-friendly and intuitive, offering a smooth navigation experience. You can easily get stock quotes, check top market performers and research highly rated funds by sectors and particular goals, such as funds for fighting inflation or retirement.
Those looking for a more hands-off experience can opt for Fidelity’s robo-advisor service, FIdelity Go. While you need a minimum balance of $10 to start investing, there is no minimum amount required to open an account and no advisory fees for balances under $24,999. Active traders, on the other hand, can download Fidelity’s Active Trader Pro, which is available for both Mac and PC. This stand-alone platform features advanced charting for real-time analysis and risk estimates.
- Fees
- $0 stocks/ETFs; 65 cents per options contract; bonds ~$1
- Promotions
- $100 bonus for a $50 deposit
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best for Research: Merrill Edge
- Idea Builder turns data into broad themes to help you find new investments
- Automatically move your idle cash to a money market fund for additional profits
- Monitor your account's security from the Bank of America app
- Doesn't offer fractional shares
- Doesn't offer cryptocurrency trading
Merrill Edge is one of the most widely used stock trading platforms in the U.S. It offers guided investing and self-directed accounts with no minimum investment requirements or annual fees. However, guided investing accounts have different minimum and annual fees, depending on whether you choose online managed portfolios or invest with the guidance of an advisor.
In addition to its guided and self-directed accounts, Merrill Edge also offers an Idea Builder tool. This unique feature uses proprietary data from Bank of America and environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria to provide actionable ideas for investing in stocks, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that might work with your portfolio and align with the social issues you care about.
Another key advantage of using Merrill Edge is its seamless integration with Bank of America. If you already have a Bank of America account, you can conveniently manage all your financial information in one place and easily access your portfolio, account balances and other financial information through the Bank of America website or mobile app.
One of the drawbacks of Merrill Edge is that it doesn't offer fractional shares, which makes it difficult to invest in more expensive stocks. Nevertheless, the app does allow users to automatically move their idle cash into a money market fund, which can provide more earnings than having your cash sit uninvested in a brokerage account.
- Fees
- $0
- Promotions
- Earn up to $750 in cash by signing up for an account and depositing at least $5,000.
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best for Beginners: SoFi® Invest
- $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
- No account minimum or annual fee
- Fractional shares starting at $5
- No options contract fees
- Limited third-party ETF variety
- $100 account transfer-out fee
- $25 inactivity fee
SoFi Invest is an all-in-one app that combines banking services and investing. You can open a retirement account with no minimum balance, choose between active or automated investing, and access zero-commission stocks, fractional shares and ETFs, options and mutual funds, as well as alternative investments like private credit, commodities and pre-IPO funds.
SoFi’s straightforward user interface makes it a good option for novice investors. And those who want to avoid the hassle of doing their own research and analysis can opt for automated investing, which offers rebalancing and customizable ETF-only portfolios.
SoFi Invest allows investors to buy fractional shares, which is a great way to start buying equity in leading companies without having to pay full-share prices.
Some drawbacks: SoFi doesn’t feature bonds or offer tax-loss harvesting, a feature that can help you save on taxes by selling investments at a loss. Lastly, its educational resources and charting are also somewhat basic compared to other apps.
- Fees
- $0 trades; no options contract fee
- Promotions
- Up to $1,000 in free stock for new accounts; $150 for first deposit of $1,250+
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
<sub>INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE. Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA / SIPC.</sub>
Best for Advanced Traders: 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
- High minimum balance required for reaping interest
- Steep learning curve for its flagship platform
- Limited crypto offering
Interactive Brokers (IBKR) meets the needs of a wide variety of investors through multiple trading platforms. With features like advanced order types and sophisticated charting, IBKR’s mobile app is one of the more advanced options in our list. Users can make trades with a single tap and customize the information displayed in the app to fit their needs. These features make IBKR's a popular option among experienced traders.
Interactive Brokers allows users to trade in the U.S. as well as 200 countries and 150 global markets. They can also hold assets in 26 currencies, a feature that can be useful for those who regularly trade in foreign markets.
IBKR’s quotes and in-app research also outperform those of other stock apps, with comprehensive data and insights that are easy to interpret, even on a small screen. Casual investors or those just starting out will find IBKR LITE, the company's commission-free plan, sufficient for their needs. Larger investors and active traders looking for advanced charting and other features may opt for IBKR PRO.
Note that while IBKR offers commission-free trades of U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs, its fee schedule for international and global markets is tiered and varies by country and monthly trade values and volume, which can be confusing for inexperienced investors.
- Fees
- $0 (Lite); ~65 cents per options contract
- Promotions
- None currently
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Best for Customer Support: TD Ameritrade
- Access to third-party research from Morningstar and CFRA
- One of the most extensive lists of mutual funds and commission-free ETFs in the industry
- Educational resources and managed account options make it one-stop-shop for investors
- Higher margin rates when compared to other stock trading apps
TD Ameritrade offers access to a wide variety of investment options, including online stocks, options, futures, forex, CDs, bonds and one of the largest selections of mutual funds and ETFs in the industry. Like most trading apps on our list, TD Ameritrade features commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs and options, with a $0.65 fee per option contract.
TD Ameritrade provides 24/7 support via multiple channels, including phone, text, live chat, social media and even fax. If you prefer an even higher-touch experience, it also provides in-person customer support at over 250 branches across the U.S.
Besides round-the-clock customer support, TD Ameritrade offers online webinars and has an extensive online library of educational resources for investors. Users can also access third-party research from well-respected sources like CFRA and Morningstar.
Investors looking for more advanced trading tools to execute complex strategies and trades may want to opt for TD Ameritrade’s online and desktop platform, thinkorswim. Novice investors will also appreciate the platform for its paper trading feature, which allows them to practice trades with electronic money.
A potential drawback of TD Ameritrade is that its margin interest rates are higher than many of its competitors (currently starting at 14.00% for balances below $10,000). Keep that in mind if you’re planning to trade with a margin account.
(Check out our article on how to use thinkorswim for beginners to learn more about setting up your account and how to buy different securities.)
Note: Beginning in May, all TD Ameritrade accounts will be folded into Schwab, though thinkorswim will be unchanged and still accessible.
- Fees
- $0
- Promotions
- Get up to $1,000 for referring a friend and depositing at least $500,000.
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Other stock apps we considered
E*TRADE
- Separate trading platforms for new and advanced traders
- Offers over 6,500 mutual funds with no transaction fees
- Provides investing courses (courtesy of Morningstar) on a wide range of topics
- Website is not as transparent as other top stock trading apps
- Some products, including fractional shares, are only available to users of its robo-advisor
E*TRADE is a versatile stock trading app that seeks to provide investment products and services to a wide range of investors. Whether you’re an active or passive trader looking for either long- or short-term investments, E*TRADE can probably meet your needs.
E*TRADE has helpful educational resources to support new traders, including webinars and tools that allow you to perform technical analyses of more complex scenarios. However, the overall quality of E*TRADE’s app falls short of its peers, with many Android users especially reporting bugs.
- Fees
- $0
- Promotions
- $600 cash welcome bonus when opening a new account with promo code "BONUS23."
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
TradeStation
- Desktop and mobile apps include charts, news and data feeds
- Trade 10+ cryptocurrencies
- Charges high non-trading fees
- No access to free mutual funds
The TradeStation app is a good choice for professional investors. It allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrency and engage in futures trading, which offers high-risk, high-reward opportunities to advanced traders.
With that said, TradeStation is a relatively expensive trading platform, charging hefty fees on occasional events like outgoing account transfers, inactivity, annual IRA account maintenance and account terminations. TradeStation also lacks access to no-transaction-fee mutual funds, which many of its peers provide. It's also an expensive option for new or small investors, who may be charged a $50 inactivity fee if they don't meet TradeStation’s minimum trading volume.
- Fees
- Free trades are limited to 10,000 shares per trade, $35 IRA annual account fee, $50 IRA account termination fee, $125 outgoing account transfer fee, $50 inactivity fee
- Promotions
- Cash bonus of $150 - $5,000 when you deposit $5,000 to $1,000,000.
- Minimum Deposit
- $0
Axos Self-Directed Trading
- Seamless integration with Axos Bank, making it easier for existing clients to make trades
- Clients can apply for personal and auto loans
- Several features usually offered for free are exclusive to premium users ($10/month)
- $1 fee per trade can add up if you're making multiple trades per day
Axos Self-Directed Trading is a zero-fee stock trading app with a $1 minimum deposit. It supports over 10,000 fee-free mutual funds, plus more that cost $9.95 to buy.
Axos Self-Directed Trading charges $10/month for a premium version of its mobile app plus a $1 fee per contract for option trading, both of which will put off some cost-conscious traders. Its educational tools and resources are also subpar relative to other investment apps, with very little in the way of tutorials and third-party research reports, which means it isn’t the best choice for new investors.
- Fees
- $1 fee per trade, $10 monthly subscription for Axos Elite
- Promotions
- Earn $200 by opening an account and depositing $2,000 within the first 60 days of opening an account.
- Minimum Deposit
- $1
- Platform
- Self-directed trading platform
Stock Trading Apps Guide
Read on to learn how stock trading apps work, how to invest with them and what to keep in mind when choosing one.
Main things to know before choosing stock apps
The number of trading apps available has increased over the past few years, largely because of a growing community of retail traders entering the markets for the first time.
There are free and paid stock trading applications that get the job done. Regardless of which you choose, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Consider your trading experience
Take into account your goals and trading experience when making investment decisions, especially when choosing between brokerage accounts. Robo-advisors, for example, may be suitable for new investors with little stock market experience. These automated portfolio managers are a low-cost option that make investment decisions based on the individual’s risk tolerance and goals.
Those wanting personalized advice — and who don’t mind paying more for it — may opt for a human financial advisor instead. A financial advisor will manage the client's portfolio on their behalf and may also help with other aspects of their financial plan.
Lastly, investors with a good understanding of the stock market may go with a self-directed account, which provides greater control over investment decisions. Practically all self-directed brokerage platforms provide educational resources and analysis tools to help investors make more informed decisions. And they generally charge a fee per stock trade or options contract.
Determine which services you need
Knowing whether you're an active or passive trader isn't enough to help you choose the right stock trading app. Depending on your experience as an investor, you may need some tools over others.
Professional traders will likely need advanced tools to track the performance of their positions daily. In contrast, new investors with little knowledge of the stock market would likely benefit from simpler, less cluttered apps with a robust suite of educational resources.
Understand all fees
You may think you’ve found a genuine low-cost app when you come across a "zero-fee broker." However, claims of “zero fees” can be misleading for several reasons. For one, some stock trading apps will pass on hidden charges that only show up after you've invested.
There may also be somewhat hidden fees, like fund management fees. These fees are a percentage of the assets under management and vary depending on whether the fund is actively or passively managed. So while securities such as ETFs and mutual funds are typically commission-free, they often have management fees that can be found in the fund's prospectus.
How do stock trading apps work?
Stock trading apps allow investors to buy and sell stocks online. To use a stock trading app, users must first create an account and deposit funds into it. Once the account is set up, users can research different stocks, track their performance and decide which they want to buy or sell.
When an investor is ready to place a trade, they’ll select the stock they want to buy or sell and enter the number of shares they wish to trade or the amount in dollars (if the app offers fractional shares). The app will calculate the total cost and show users the trade on a confirmation screen. Once the user confirms the transaction, the app will send the order directly to the broker, who will execute the order.
Once the order has been completed — often within a fraction of a second — 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.
How do you invest with stock apps?
- Create an account: Provide your personal information and create a username and password.
- Add funds to your account: Transfer money from your bank account to the stock app.
- Pick a stock to invest in: Research stock options and pick one that fits your investment strategy.
- Place your order: Determine which type of order you want to place (market order, stop order or limit order) and how many shares you want to buy.
- Stick to your plan: Regularly monitor your investments and stay informed. Don’t act hastily based on emotions but keep your goals and risk tolerance in mind when making decisions.
Are stock trading apps reliable?
To make sure a stock trading app is reliable, check whether it's registered and complies with the rules set forth by regulatory entities such as the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
Also verify whether the app is insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), which can reimburse you up to $500,000 in lost assets ($250,000 in cash) in the event of the broker’s insolvency.
Lastly, stock trading apps should also have security measures — such as encryption, two-step verification and biometrics — in place to protect your personal information and financial data against unauthorized access and other threats.
Best Stock Trading Apps FAQs
Are stock trading apps safe?
How much money is needed to start trading?
Do trading apps charge fees?
Are trading apps good for long-term investing?
How do taxes work with stock trading apps?
How we found the best stock trading apps
To create a list of the best stock trading platforms, we looked at a range of factors, including each app's features and pricing.
- Fees – One of the biggest concerns of new investors searching for the right stock app is fees. For many, the best stock trading app is the one that charges the lowest fees and has no hidden costs. With that said, there are many zero-fee brokers in the market, so looking at fees alone is not enough.
- Promotions – Stock trading apps attract new investors through promotions, bonuses, referral programs and similar benefits. While some of these benefits are one-time bonuses, they can still be substantial enough to make one app stand out relative to its peers.
- Minimum deposit – The minimum deposit requirement to open a trading account is another crucial factor when choosing a stock app. Some apps require users to deposit thousands of dollars before starting trading, while others require no minimum deposit at all. Most new and inexperienced investors want to start investing without risking too much capital, so we focused our search on apps with the lowest minimum deposit requirements.
- Trading platform – Some investors want apps that offer convenience and ease of use while others desire functionality and advanced tools. The app's design can affect the user experience, but so can the underlying technology it's built upon.
Summary of the Best Stock Trading Apps of 2025
- Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
- Merrill Edge: Best for Research
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