You don't need thousands of dollars or a finance degree to start investing. Today's apps make it easy to begin with as little as $1. This guide compares the best options for new investors.
Best Investment Apps 2025
- Best Overall: Fidelity (no minimums, research tools, no fees)
- Best for Simplicity: Acorns (automatic micro-investing)
- Best for Active Trading: Robinhood (sleek interface, crypto)
- Best for Research: Charles Schwab (educational resources)
- Best for Automation: Betterment (robo-advisor)
Top Investment Apps Compared
| App | Minimum | Fees | Account Types | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | $0 | $0 trades | Individual, IRA, Roth | |
| Charles Schwab | $0 | $0 trades | Individual, IRA, Roth | |
| Robinhood | $0 | $0 trades | Individual, IRA | |
| Acorns | $0 | $3-5/month | Individual, IRA | |
| Betterment | $0 | 0.25%/year | Individual, IRA, Roth | |
| Webull | $0 | $0 trades | Individual, IRA |
Best Apps by Investing Style
HANDS-OFF
Best for Set-It-and-Forget-It
- Acorns: Rounds up purchases, invests spare change
- Betterment: Automated portfolio management
- Wealthfront: Tax-loss harvesting, financial planning
- M1 Finance: Custom "pies" with auto-rebalancing
DIY INVESTOR
Best for Self-Directed Investing
- Fidelity: Best research, zero expense ratio funds
- Charles Schwab: Excellent education, banking integration
- TD Ameritrade: thinkorswim platform for advanced trading
- E*TRADE: Good mobile app, options trading
ACTIVE TRADER
Best for Frequent Trading
- Robinhood: Clean interface, crypto, options
- Webull: Advanced charts, extended hours trading
- Public: Social features, no payment for order flow
Getting Started: Step by Step
- Choose an app: Based on your investing style
- Open account: Provide SSN, bank info, identity verification
- Fund account: Link bank, transfer money ($1+ to start)
- Start investing: Buy index funds, ETFs, or individual stocks
- Set up automatic investing: Consistent contributions build wealth
What to Invest In (Beginners)
Beginner-Friendly Investments
- S&P 500 Index Fund (VOO, SPY): 500 largest US companies
- Total Stock Market (VTI): Entire US stock market
- Target Date Funds: Auto-adjusts based on retirement year
- Bond Index (BND): Lower risk, steady income
- SIMPLE PORTFOLIO: 80% stocks / 20% bonds for young investors
Fees to Watch
| Fee Type | What It Is | What to Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Trading Commission | Per-trade fee | $0 (most apps) |
| Expense Ratio | Annual fund fee | 0.03-0.20% |
| Account Fee | Monthly/annual fee | $0-5/month |
| Advisory Fee | Robo-advisor fee | 0.25-0.50% |
IRA vs Taxable Account
- IRA/Roth IRA: Tax advantages for retirement savings
- Taxable: No restrictions, access money anytime
- Recommendation: Max IRA first ($7,000/year), then taxable
- Roth IRA: Best for most young investors (tax-free growth)
Common Beginner Mistakes
- Trying to time the market: Time IN market beats timing
- Buying individual stocks only: Diversify with index funds
- Panic selling: Market drops are normal, stay the course
- Not starting early: Compound interest needs time
- Investing emergency fund: Keep 3-6 months in savings first