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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →The best investment app depends on what you want to do with your money. Fidelity and Charles Schwab are strong all-purpose brokerages, Webull is better suited to active traders, and Betterment, Wealthfront, and Acorns are designed to automate portfolio management. Robinhood, Public, and SoFi focus more heavily on mobile convenience and simplified investing, while Interactive Brokers caters to investors who need global markets and advanced tools.
This ranking is for U.S. investors and was checked August 9, 2026. It separates self-directed trading apps from robo-advisors because a $0 stock-trading commission is not the same product as a managed portfolio with an advisory fee.
10 best investment apps in 2026
| Rank | App | Best for | Key cost or feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fidelity | Best overall | $0 account minimum; fractional investing from $1 |
| 2 | Charles Schwab | Broad choices and customer service | $0 account minimum; $0 online stock and ETF trades |
| 3 | Robinhood | Simple mobile investing | Eligible fractional orders from $1; Gold costs $5 monthly or $50 annually |
| 4 | Webull | Active traders | Paper trading and technical tools; fractional shares from $5 |
| 5 | Public | Social investing and baskets | $0 regular-hours stock and ETF trades for all members |
| 6 | SoFi Invest | Banking and investing in one app | $5 minimum for self-directed investing; robo fee of 0.25% |
| 7 | Acorns | Round-ups and automatic investing | Plans from $3 per month; portfolios start at $5 |
| 8 | Betterment | Goal-based robo-advice | $5 monthly below $24,000 unless recurring-deposit conditions are met |
| 9 | Wealthfront | Automated portfolios and tax tools | 0.25% annual advisory fee |
| 10 | Interactive Brokers | Global markets and advanced investors | IBKR Lite offers $0 U.S. stock and ETF commissions |
1. Fidelity: best overall investment app
Fidelity is the strongest default choice for many long-term investors because it combines a straightforward brokerage account with a wide selection of investments and research. Retail brokerage accounts have no account minimum and no opening fee. Online U.S. stock and most ETF trades carry a $0 commission.
Its fractional-share program is particularly useful for investors making small, recurring purchases: eligible orders can start at $1 and cover more than 7,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs. Fidelity also supports mutual funds, bonds, certificates of deposit, IRAs, HSAs, and extensive research tools.
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Options trades have no base commission but do charge a contract fee. Other possible costs include fund expenses, margin interest, and transaction fees for certain mutual funds. Fidelity is a good fit if you want one account that can remain useful as you move from basic ETF investing to retirement planning or more advanced research.
2. Charles Schwab: best for broad investing choices and service
Charles Schwab offers $0 account minimums and $0 opening and maintenance fees for individual brokerage accounts. Online listed-stock and ETF trades are $0 commission, and most U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs can be purchased fractionally, generally from $1.
Schwab stands out for its broad investment menu, educational resources, branch access, and customer support. Options cost $0 base commission plus $0.65 per contract. The $0 headline does not apply to every transaction: OTC equities, broker-assisted trades, some mutual funds, and other products may have separate charges.
Choose Schwab over a simpler app if you value service, a full-service brokerage relationship, and access to products beyond stocks and ETFs.
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3. Robinhood: best for a simple mobile-first experience
Robinhood is built around a clean mobile interface and quick access to stocks, ETFs, and options. Investing accounts have no commission on those trades, and eligible fractional-share orders can start at $1. Fractional eligibility is limited, however, and OTC stocks cannot be bought fractionally.
Robinhood Gold costs $5 per month or $50 per year. Its benefits can include a higher advertised cash yield and a 3% IRA contribution match for eligible contributions, subject to the plan’s conditions. Benefits and rates can change, so compare the subscription cost with what you will actually use.
Robinhood works well for someone who prioritizes ease of use and regular small purchases. It is less compelling if you need the broad research, mutual-fund selection, fixed-income tools, or service model available at a traditional brokerage. Morningstar research reports are scheduled to stop being available on August 10, 2026.
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4. Webull: best for active traders and technical tools
Webull offers $0-commission stock, ETF, and options trading with no account minimum. Its app provides paper trading, stock screeners, analyst ratings, company fundamentals, charting, and extended-hours trading.
Those tools make Webull more suitable than a basic investing app for users who study price movements or want to practice with simulated trades before risking money. Fractional stocks and ETFs have a $5 minimum, higher than the $1 minimum commonly offered by Fidelity, Schwab, and Robinhood.
Webull’s features can be useful, but more tools can also encourage unnecessary trading. It is best for investors who already understand order types, spreads, volatility, and the risks of frequent trading—not for someone looking for a hands-off retirement portfolio.
5. Public: best for social investing and customizable baskets
Public combines a social investing interface with individual stocks, ETFs, and customizable baskets. Regular-hours U.S.-listed stock and ETF trades are $0 for all members.
Its pricing changes outside regular market hours. Non-Premium members pay $2.99 per trade for extended-hours stock and ETF trades and for OTC stocks. Investment Plans charge $0.49 for one to three symbols, $0.99 for four to 10, and $1.99 for 11 to 20 symbols; Premium members are exempt from those plan fees.
Public is a reasonable choice if you like seeing investing ideas from other users or want to build basket-style strategies. Treat the social feed as a source of ideas rather than investment advice, and check the fee schedule before placing extended-hours or basket transactions.
6. SoFi Invest: best all-in-one financial-app experience
SoFi is designed for people who want banking, borrowing, and investing features under one login. Self-directed U.S. stock, ETF, and options trades have a $0 commission, and self-directed investing can start with $5.
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SoFi also offers automated investing, but that is a separate product. Its automated service charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee and has a $50 minimum. The difference matters: $0 self-directed trading does not mean a managed portfolio is free.
SoFi charges a $100 outgoing ACAT transfer fee and may charge fees for certain IPO and mutual-fund transactions. It fits investors who value convenience across a broader financial relationship more than the deepest brokerage research or international-market access.
7. Acorns: best for round-ups and automatic investing
Acorns is designed to make investing automatic. Its round-up feature can direct the spare change from linked purchases into an investment account, while recurring deposits and a recommended diversified portfolio reduce the need to choose individual securities.
Acorns uses a subscription model rather than a percentage-based advisory fee. In 2026, its plans are:
- Bronze: $3 per month
- Silver: $6 per month
- Gold: $12 per month
Users can start investing with $5. The fixed monthly charge is relatively significant for a very small balance. For example, $36 per year on a $500 balance equals 7.2% before investment performance, so compare the subscription with the amount you expect to keep invested.
Acorns is intended for long-term, automated investing, not short-term stock trading or sophisticated portfolio construction.
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Betterment is built around automated portfolios and goals such as retirement, an emergency reserve, or a major purchase. It can be useful for investors who want help selecting a diversified portfolio, setting a target, and maintaining an allocation without placing each trade themselves.
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Its pricing is more complicated than the often-repeated “0.25%” description. Betterment charges $5 per month for balances below $24,000 unless the customer establishes at least $200 in qualifying monthly recurring deposits. The fee becomes 0.25% annually at $24,000 or more, or with qualifying recurring deposits. Premium costs 0.65% annually and requires at least $100,000 in eligible investments.
Check which pricing rule applies to your account before comparing Betterment with percentage-based robo-advisors.
9. Wealthfront: best for automated portfolios and tax tools
Wealthfront charges 0.25% annually for its Automated Investing Account. The service automatically invests and rebalances a portfolio and offers tax-management features, including tax-loss harvesting for eligible accounts.
Tax-loss harvesting can be valuable in the right taxable account, but it is not a guarantee of lower taxes and does not make sense in the same way for every investor or account type. The advisory fee is also separate from the expense ratios charged by the underlying funds.
Wealthfront is a strong fit for someone who wants more automation than a traditional brokerage provides and places a high value on tax-aware portfolio management. It is not the right tool if your main goal is choosing individual stocks or trading actively.
10. Interactive Brokers: best for global markets and advanced investors
Interactive Brokers offers unusually broad access to global markets, fixed income, options, currencies, and professional-style trading tools. U.S. residents using IBKR Lite can trade U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs at $0 commission with no account minimum or inactivity fee.
IBKR Pro uses per-share commissions. Tiered rates range from $0.0005 to $0.0035 per share, with minimum order charges. The platform’s pricing, order choices, and interface are more complex than those of a beginner-focused app.
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Interactive Brokers is best for experienced investors who need international access, advanced order tools, or a broader range of tradable markets. Beginners may find Fidelity or Schwab easier to navigate while still getting a substantial investment selection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right investment app
- Decide whether you want to choose investments. Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, Webull, Public, SoFi, and Interactive Brokers offer self-directed investing. Acorns, Betterment, and Wealthfront primarily automate portfolio management.
- Check the account types. If you need an IRA, HSA, taxable brokerage account, or access to bonds and CDs, confirm that the app supports the exact account and investment you want.
- Compare the real cost. Look beyond stock commissions. Include advisory fees, subscriptions, fund expense ratios, options contract charges, margin interest, transfer fees, spreads, and regulatory fees.
- Verify fractional-share rules. A $1 minimum does not mean every security is eligible. Also check whether fractional positions can be transferred to another brokerage.
- Match the tools to your behavior. Research and charting can help disciplined investors, but constant alerts and social feeds may encourage overtrading. Automation may be more useful if you are likely to delay investing.
- Review cash protections separately. SIPC protection generally covers eligible securities and cash if a member brokerage fails, up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit. It does not protect against losses caused by falling investments. Qualifying bank-sweep cash may instead receive FDIC coverage, subject to program terms and FDIC limits.
Best investment app by investor type
| If you want… | Start by comparing… |
|---|---|
| Your first brokerage account | Fidelity or Charles Schwab |
| Small recurring stock or ETF purchases | Fidelity, Schwab, or Robinhood |
| Active charting and paper trading | Webull |
| Social features and basket investing | Public |
| Banking and investing in one app | SoFi Invest |
| Round-ups and automatic deposits | Acorns |
| Goal-based automated portfolios | Betterment |
| Tax-aware automated investing | Wealthfront |
| Global markets, bonds, and advanced orders | Interactive Brokers |
Costs that “commission-free” does not eliminate
A $0 commission generally applies only to a defined type of online transaction. You may still encounter:
- ETF and mutual-fund expense ratios
- Options contract fees
- Margin interest
- Bid-ask spreads
- Regulatory fees
- OTC and extended-hours charges
- Transaction fees on certain mutual funds
- Outgoing account-transfer and wire fees
Fractional shares also deserve special attention. They often cannot be transferred in kind. Robinhood says fractional positions may be liquidated during a full account transfer, and Schwab similarly notes that non-transferable fractional positions may be sold. If you may move accounts later, understand how the app handles those holdings.
FAQ
What is the best investment app for beginners in 2026?
Fidelity and Charles Schwab are the strongest general choices for beginners because they have no account minimums, $0 online commissions for listed stocks and ETFs, broad investment choices, and resources that remain useful as your needs grow. A robo-advisor such as Betterment or Wealthfront may be easier if you do not want to select or rebalance investments yourself.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhich investment app has the lowest fees?
There is no single lowest-cost app for every use. Fidelity and Schwab have no account minimum and $0 online stock and ETF commissions, while some automated services charge advisory fees. Betterment can charge $5 per month on smaller balances, Wealthfront and SoFi Automated Investing charge 0.25% annually, and Acorns charges $3, $6, or $12 per month depending on the plan. Fund expenses and other transaction costs still apply.
Are investment apps safe?
A brokerage’s SIPC membership may protect eligible securities and cash if the brokerage fails, generally up to $500,000 including a $250,000 cash limit. SIPC does not protect you from investment losses. Review the app’s account protections, security practices, cash-sweep terms, and fees before depositing money.
Can I transfer fractional shares from one investment app to another?
Often, no. Fractional positions commonly cannot be transferred in kind. The brokerage may liquidate the fractional position during a full account transfer, which can create cash proceeds and potentially tax consequences in a taxable account. Check both firms’ transfer rules before moving an account.
The Bottom Line
For most U.S. long-term investors, Fidelity is the best all-around starting point, with Charles Schwab a close alternative for investors who value service and broad choices. Choose Robinhood for a streamlined mobile experience, Webull for active-trading tools, and Public for social or basket-style investing. SoFi is convenient for an all-in-one financial app, while Acorns, Betterment, and Wealthfront are better when automation matters more than picking individual investments. Interactive Brokers is the specialist choice for global markets and advanced trading.
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Before opening an account, compare the specific account type, investment availability, fractional-share rules, advisory or subscription fee, and transfer costs—not just the advertised trading commission.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
