Last updated: October 2026
Written by Emma for Savvy Cash Flow.
The best investment apps for beginners are Fidelity, Robinhood, SoFi Invest, Acorns, Betterment, Webull, and Wealthfront, because each app lets a beginner open an account with $0 or a low minimum, trade stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with $0 commission in most cases, and buy fractional shares from $1 to $5. This guide defines an investment app, shows how to pick one, compares the 7 apps on fees and minimums, explains the choice between a do-it-yourself (DIY) app and a robo-advisor, lists the fees to check, gives a 7-step setup plan, names the mistakes to avoid, and closes with answers to common questions and a short checklist for your first month.
Key Takeaways
- An investment app is a phone app that lets you buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and funds through a brokerage account.
- You can start with $1 at apps that offer fractional shares, and most apps in this guide charge $0 commission on stocks and ETFs.
- Pick a robo-advisor if you want a portfolio built for you, and pick a DIY app if you want to choose each stock or fund.
- Check 4 costs before you open an account: the commission, the robo-advisor fee, the fund expense ratio, and any monthly subscription fee.
- Automate a monthly amount you can keep paying in a bad month, and review the plan once or twice a year.
Table of Contents
- What Is an Investment App?
- How Do You Pick the Best Investment App for Beginners?
- The 7 Best Investment Apps for Beginners
- DIY App vs Robo-Advisor: Which Fits You?
- What Fees Should You Check Before You Open an Account?
- How Do You Open an Investment App Account in 7 Steps?
- What Mistakes Do Beginners Make With Investment Apps?
- When Should You Not Use an Investment App?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
What Is an Investment App?
An investment app is a mobile app that gives you access to a brokerage account, and the brokerage account holds the stocks, ETFs, and funds you buy. To use an investment app, you open an account, link a bank account, move money into the account, and place a buy order in the app. The app shows your balance, your holdings, and your gains and losses in one place.
Most beginner apps cover 3 account types: a taxable brokerage account for any goal, a Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) for after-tax retirement money with tax-free qualified withdrawals, and a traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account) for pre-tax retirement money taxed on withdrawal. For 2026, the total IRA (Individual Retirement Account) contribution limit is $7,500 per year, or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older (Source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (2026)).
How Do You Pick the Best Investment App for Beginners?
To pick the best investment app for beginners, answer 3 questions first: do you want to pick investments yourself or have a portfolio built for you, how much will you invest each month, and which account type do you need first. The answers point to one app type, and the app type narrows the list from dozens of apps to 2 or 3 strong options.
Start with the investing style. A DIY app suits a beginner who wants to buy one broad ETF and hold it for years. A robo-advisor suits a beginner who wants software to build and rebalance a portfolio. A spare-change app suits a beginner who struggles to save a set amount each month.
Next, check the monthly cost on your real balance. A $4 monthly fee costs $48 per year, or 4.8% of a $1,000 balance, while a 0.25% annual fee costs $2.50 per year on the same balance. Then check 4 fit points: the account minimum, the fractional share minimum, the account types, and the learning tools. The Investing & Wealth guides on this site cover index funds, ETFs, and retirement accounts in plain steps.
The 7 Best Investment Apps for Beginners
The 7 best investment apps for beginners are Fidelity for the strongest all-round account, Robinhood for the simplest mobile experience, SoFi Invest for an all-in-one finance app, Acorns for spare-change investing, Betterment for goal-based robo-advisor portfolios, Webull for learning to trade with practice tools, and Wealthfront for one low robo-advisor fee. Each app below lists the best fit, the commission, the minimum, and the main limit to know before you sign up.
1. Fidelity: Best Overall
Fidelity is the best overall investment app for beginners because Fidelity charges $0 commission on United States stocks and ETFs, sets a $0 account minimum, and offers fractional shares from $1. Fidelity Go, the Fidelity robo-advisor, charges $0 in advisory fees until your balance hits $25,000, and 0.35% per year after that point (Source: Financer (2026)). Fidelity covers a brokerage account, a Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account), a traditional IRA (Individual Retirement Account), and a health savings account (HSA). The trade-off is screen density.
2. Robinhood: Best Mobile Experience
Robinhood is the best investment app for beginners who want the simplest mobile experience, because Robinhood charges $0 commission on stocks, ETFs, and options, sets a $0 account minimum, and offers fractional shares from $1. Opening an account takes about 5 minutes. Robinhood adds a 1% match on IRA (Individual Retirement Account) contributions with no subscription. The limit is depth, since Robinhood offers no mutual funds.
3. SoFi Invest: Best All-in-One Finance App
SoFi Invest is the best investment app for beginners who want investing inside one finance app, because SoFi Invest charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, sets a $0 account minimum, and offers fractional shares from $5. SoFi members can book a free session with a Certified Financial Planner, a service that costs $200 to $400 per hour from many planners (Source: Financer (2026)).
4. Acorns: Best for Spare-Change Investing
Acorns is the best investment app for beginners who struggle to save a set amount, because Acorns rounds up card purchases to the next dollar and invests the spare change into a portfolio of ETFs. A $4.50 coffee purchase rounds up by $0.50, and Acorns invests that $0.50. A recurring investment from $5 per month adds to the round-ups. Acorns charges a monthly subscription, with plans starting at $3 per month (Source: Financer (2026)). A $3 monthly fee costs $36 per year, so Acorns fits better once your balance passes $1,000.
5. Betterment: Best Robo-Advisor
Betterment is the best investment app for beginners who want a portfolio built for them, because Betterment builds a portfolio of ETFs from your goal and risk answers, then handles rebalancing, dividend reinvestment, and tax-loss harvesting for you. Betterment charges $4 per month with no minimum balance, or 0.25% per year once you set up $200 or more in monthly deposits or reach the higher balance tier (Source: Financer (2026)). The limit is choice, since Betterment offers no individual stock trading.
6. Webull: Best for Learning Active Trading
Webull is the best investment app for beginners who want to learn how trading works, because Webull charges $0 commission on stocks and ETFs, sets a $0 account minimum, and offers paper trading with virtual money before you risk real cash. Paper trading lets you test a buy and sell plan with fake money, and the lesson costs nothing when the plan fails. The limit is focus, since Webull packs charts onto each screen, and fractional shares cover some stocks only.
7. Wealthfront: Best Low-Fee Robo-Advisor
Wealthfront is the best investment app for beginners who want one low robo-advisor fee, because Wealthfront charges 0.25% per year on an automated account, with no monthly charge, and builds a portfolio of low-cost index funds. The automated account needs a $500 minimum to open, while the separate stock account starts from $1 with no commission (Source: MyMillennialGuide (2026)). The limit is the $500 automated minimum, the highest minimum among the robo-advisors in this guide.
Comparison table:
| App | Best for | Commission on stocks and ETFs | Minimum to start | Robo-advisor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | Best overall | $0 | $0, fractional shares from $1 | Fidelity Go |
| Robinhood | Simplest mobile app | $0 | $0, fractional shares from $1 | No |
| SoFi Invest | All-in-one finance | $0 | $0, fractional shares from $5 | Yes |
| Acorns | Spare-change investing | Included in subscription | $0, round-ups plus $5 recurring | Automatic ETF portfolios |
| Betterment | Goal-based robo-advisor | 0.25% annual fee tier | $0 | Yes |
| Webull | Learning to trade | $0 | $0, fractional shares from $1 on some stocks | No |
| Wealthfront | Low-fee robo-advisor | 0.25% annual fee | $500 automated account | Yes |
DIY App vs Robo-Advisor: Which Fits You?
A DIY investment app fits you if you want to choose each stock or fund and pay $0 commission per trade, while a robo-advisor fits you if you want software to build, rebalance, and maintain a portfolio for a 0.25% annual fee or a small monthly fee. The choice is about control and time, not about skill level. A beginner can use either type well.
A robo-advisor is software that builds and manages a portfolio from your goal, time horizon, and risk answers, with little human input. A robo-advisor guide describes robo-advisors as online services that use algorithms to allocate money across ETFs and rebalance the portfolio over time.
Decision table:
| Question | Pick a DIY app if | Pick a robo-advisor if |
|---|---|---|
| Who picks the investments? | You pick each stock or ETF | Software picks a portfolio for you |
| What do you pay? | $0 commission per stock or ETF trade in most cases | 0.25% per year, or $4 to $5 per month |
| How much time each month? | 30 to 60 minutes to review holdings | 5 minutes to check contributions |
| Best first buy | One broad ETF | One goal-based portfolio |
Readers who want a first-buy plan for one broad fund can read our guide on how to start investing in index funds for a step-by-step fund plan that works inside any DIY app in this guide.
What Fees Should You Check Before You Open an Account?
Before you open an account, check 4 costs: the stock and ETF commission, the robo-advisor fee, the fund expense ratio, and any monthly subscription fee, because a low commission means little if a monthly fee eats a small balance. A fee page in the app is the source to trust, and a review page from last year is not a fee page.
First, check the commission: most apps here charge $0 on United States stocks and ETFs, while options may add a per-contract fee and crypto may add a markup. Second, check the robo-advisor fee: 0.25% per year costs $25 per year on $10,000, while $4 per month costs $48 per year on any balance. Third, check the fund expense ratio: a 0.03% ETF costs $3 per year on $10,000, while a 1.00% fund costs $100 per year. Fourth, check transfer fees, since some apps charge $75 to move stocks out.
How Do You Open an Investment App Account in 7 Steps?
To open an investment app account in 7 steps, pick one app, pick the account type, complete the application, link a bank account, fund the account, place your first buy, and turn on automatic investing. The application takes 10 to 15 minutes, and a bank transfer takes 1 to 3 business days to clear.
- Pick one app from the 7 in this guide. Pick the type first, then pick the app.
- Pick the account type. Pick a workplace match first, a Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) next, and a taxable brokerage account for pre-retirement money.
- Complete the application. Enter your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and employment details.
- Link a bank account. Link a checking account, and test the link with a small transfer.
- Fund the account. Start with an amount you can repeat monthly, even if that amount is $25 or $50.
- Place your first buy. Buy one broad ETF or one robo-advisor portfolio, not 5 single stocks.
- Turn on automatic investing. Set a recurring transfer for the day after payday.
From my own routine, I check my investment app on the first Saturday of each month, and I leave the automatic transfer running between checks.
What Mistakes Do Beginners Make With Investment Apps?
The 5 costliest beginner mistakes with investment apps are buying single stocks with rent money, paying a monthly fee on a tiny balance, copying trades from a social feed, checking prices daily, and stopping contributions during a market drop. Each mistake has a plain fix, and the fix is a written rule you set before you fund the account.
- Buying single stocks with short-term money. Money you need within 3 to 5 years belongs in savings, since a 20% market drop right before you need the money turns a plan into a problem.
- Paying a monthly fee on a tiny balance. A $4 monthly fee on a $200 balance costs 24% per year, so a $0 commission DIY app or a percentage-fee robo-advisor fits a tiny balance better.
- Copying trades from a social feed. A social feed shows wins and hides losses, and a trade that fits another investor may not fit your goal or time horizon.
- Checking prices daily. Daily moves are noise for a 20-year plan, and daily checks push many beginners toward panic sales.
- Stopping contributions during a market drop. A drop lets automatic contributions buy more shares for the same dollars, and a pause during a drop breaks the habit at the worst point.
Readers who want a monthly amount rule can read our guide on how much you should invest per month for a budget-based amount that survives a bad month.
When Should You Not Use an Investment App?
Do not use an investment app with money you need within 3 to 5 years, with money you have not yet set aside as an emergency fund, or while high-interest debt grows faster than investments can grow. Investment apps suit long-term goals, and short-term money needs safety and quick access. Build a starter emergency fund first, and keep that fund in a savings account, not in the stock market. Readers who want a small-start plan can read our guide on how to start investing with just $100 for a first-buy plan built around a $100 budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money do you need to start investing with an app?
You need $1 to start investing with an app that offers fractional shares, and you need $0 to open an account at most apps in this guide. Wealthfront needs $500 for an automated account.
Which investment app is best for a complete beginner?
Fidelity is the best investment app for a complete beginner who wants one account for decades, while Robinhood is the best pick for a beginner who wants the simplest first buy. Pick the type first, then pick the app inside that type.
Are investment apps safe?
Investment apps from regulated brokerages are safe as accounts, but the investments inside the apps still carry market risk and can fall in value. No app guarantees a return.
What is a robo-advisor?
A robo-advisor is an online service that builds and manages a portfolio for you, using your goal, time horizon, and risk answers to pick ETFs and rebalance them over time.
Can you lose money with an investment app?
Yes, you can lose money with an investment app, because stocks, ETFs, and funds can fall in value, and a single stock can fall far more than a broad fund.
Should you use one investment app or two?
Use one investment app at the start, because one app keeps your plan, your fees, and your tax records in one place. Two apps with the same goal add paperwork without adding diversification.
The Bottom Line
The best investment app for beginners is the app you will fund every month for years, so pick Fidelity for an all-round account, Robinhood for simple first buys, or Betterment for a hands-off portfolio, then automate a monthly amount and leave the plan alone between checks. Start with $1 to $50, buy one broad ETF or one robo-advisor portfolio, check the 4 fees before you fund the account, and review the plan once or twice a year. Savvy Cash Flow publishes beginner investing guides for readers who want a plain plan, and the Savvy Cash Flow homepage lists the latest guides in one place.
This guide gives general information only, not personal financial advice. Check the fee page inside the app before you fund an account, since fees and minimums change.