The stock market has never been quite as accessible as it is today. A system, historically seen as one reserved for use only by experts, has been opened to the masses, thanks to the Internet and subsequent technological innovations surrounding it.

The days of having to pick up the phone and call a financial advisor or registered investment adviser are in the past, with retail investors moving to online brokerage accounts where they’re managing best investing apps 2022 own investments.

Nearly every quality online broker now offers a mobile application designed to give investors and traders a way to access the market on the go.

But with so many choices, how do you decide which app to use?

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Best Investing Apps for On-the-Go Investors

Today, there are mobile apps for just about anything. Want to order food, chat with a friend, send a package, or get a ride to work? There’s an app for that. Investing is no different.

The best investment apps give their users the same experience in the palms of their hands as they enjoy sitting at a desk. Moreover, these apps are offered by companies with some of the best reputations on Wall Street, giving the user peace of mind knowing their money is in safe hands.

Some apps are designed for the active investor who makes multiple trades per week or even per day, while others are designed for passive investors who want to take the set-it-and-forget-it approach.

Regardless of which experience you’re looking for, there’s likely an option below that fits in well with your needs as an investor.

1. Betterment

Betterment isn’t just an investing app — the company is a pioneer in the robo-advisor space.

The platform gives its users the ability to connect a bank account or debit card to their investment account and best investing apps 2022 manual deposits or set up automatic withdrawals for automated investing.

Once what is the best investment firm in canada deposit funds into your account and set your goals and asset allocation levels, the app does the rest of the work for you, allocating your money as you requested and letting you move on with the rest of your day.

Some of the most important features offered through the app include:

• Risk Tolerance Adjustments. The app gives you the ability to set your asset allocation based on best investing apps 2022 risk tolerance. Investors who are less comfortable with risk will allocate more of their investment dollars to safer bonds, while those with higher appetites for risk will be invested more in stocks through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and index funds.
• Tax-Loss Harvesting. Tax-loss harvesting is a process that involves selling a security that has experienced losses. Those losses are reported to the IRS at the end of the year, best investing apps 2022, reducing your overall tax burden. Once the loss is sold off, best investing apps 2022, Betterment uses the money raised to replace it with a similar security, offering you the ability to participate in gains as your tax burden is reduced.
• A Goal-Oriented Platform. One of the first steps to signing up for an account is to set your financial goals. Your goals might include having a certain amount of money for retirement, a down payment on a house, or a college fund, best investing apps 2022. Based on your goals, the platform will offer a roadmap, suggesting the amount of money you should invest on a regular basis and giving you a realistic plan for accomplishing your objective. That’s something few platforms do.
• Automated Investing. Investing with the Betterment app can be completely automated. All you need to do is connect your bank account or debit card and tell the platform how much money you’d like to invest on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis. From there, funds will automatically be transferred from your checking or savings account to the investing platform and invested based on your preset preferences.
• Reasonable Management Fees. Investing should be a low-cost experience, best investing apps 2022. After all, the goal is to make money, not spend it, and fees cut into your long-term profitability significantly if they are too high. The good news is that when you invest with Betterment, you’ll enjoy low fees. Members best investing apps 2022 charged an annual fee of either 0.25% or 0.40%, depending on the services you decide to take advantage of, which compares incredibly well to the average advisory fee of more than 1%, according to U.S. News & World Report. As a personal finance app, best investing apps 2022 platform also offers access to checking best investing apps 2022 savings accounts for free with ATM fee reimbursement.

Founded in 2008, Betterment has become a premier option for new investors and for those who are looking to make meaningful gains without having to commit significant time to research and choosing from one individual stock to the next.

The platform brings simplicity to the world of investing, offering a low-cost alternative to traditional methods of accessing the market.

For more details, read our Betterment review.

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2. Acorns

Acorns is another robo-advisor app that’s designed to give you the ability to invest without having to do significant research.

The app provides a complete personal finance experience, giving you access to digital checking and savings accounts, as well as the ability to invest.

Not only is there no minimum investment requirement when using the app, but it was also designed to teach investors how to take advantage of the power of micro-investing, or best investing apps 2022 process of making several small investments throughout the month that add up to significant value over time.

Here’s what investors love about the Acorns app:

• Automated Investing. Acorns takes investing automation to the next level. Not only best investing apps 2022 you able to set specific amounts of money to be added to your account on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis, the company’s focus on micro-investing makes it possible to round all of your purchases to the nearest dollar, investing your spare change.
• Allocation Control. The platform also gives investors complete control over their asset allocation, allowing you to manage risk within your investment portfolio. To do so, you’ll set the allocation percentages into stocks and bonds, with higher-risk portfolios containing a higher percentage of stocks and lower-risk portfolios having a heavier allocation to bonds.
• Educational Materials. The app was designed to bring financial literacy to the masses, and it does a great job of it. Through the app, you’ll gain access to compelling educational materials that will help turn newbies into pros.
• Low Fees. The fees for the platform are relatively inexpensive, ranging from just $1 per month to $5 per month, depending on the type of account you have.
• Earning Capabilities. Not only does the app give you a way to earn money as an investor, but it also gives you a way to earn as you spend through partnerships with some of the world’s leading retailers.

All told, Acorns is a great option for new investors who want to learn more about the stock market.

It gives you the ability to take advantage of industry-leading education and expertise while learning how to manage your own self-directed investment portfolio.

At the same time, the platform shows the return-generating power of consistent deposits into your investing account, best investing apps 2022, regardless of their size, further adding to the value of how do miners make money on bitcoin platform.

For more details, best investing apps 2022, read our Acorns review.

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3. Robinhood

Founded in 2013, Robinhood is a relatively new discount brokerage, but don’t let the newness fool you.

The platform has quickly taken the market by storm, attracting a vast audience, largely of millennials who want a simplified experience that provides full control over their investments.

Popular among both active traders and buy-and-hold investors, the app provides a compelling user experience in an easy-to-understand layout, making it one of the best investing and trading apps on the market today.

Those who take advantage of the app often rave about:

• Complete Portfolio Control. Robinhood isn’t a robot and won’t help you decide what to invest in. Instead, the platform gives its investors complete control over the individual stocks in their portfolio, making it a great option for those with a moderate-or-higher understanding of the stock market and how to invest.
• No Minimum Requirements. There are no account minimums or minimum deposits required to use the platform, best investing apps 2022 it accessible to everyone.
• Fractional Shares. Some stocks are very expensive. For example, best investing apps 2022, a single share of Amazon.com will set you back more than $3,000. The app was one of the first to offer fractions of shares, best investing apps 2022, giving investors the ability to invest in dollar amounts rather than share counts and making these high-cost stocks best investing apps 2022 to everyone.
• Commission Free. When using the app, you won’t have to pay commissions to make trades. The only fees associated with trades are regulatory fees, which amount to a small fraction of a penny.
• Robinhood Gold. Many users decide to upgrade to the Gold membership, which costs just $5 per month. Gold membership gives access to expert analysis, margins, and Level 2 market data, giving you more information from which to execute successful trades.
• Free Stock. Finally, best investing apps 2022, the app isn’t just encouraging newcomers to invest with a simple layout and commission-free trading; it even offers free stock to new members. Your free share of stock will be given to you once you open and fund your account.

The Robinhood app is a great way for new investors with some knowledge of the stock market to get their feet wet.

The platform provides a simple, intuitive system for buying and selling stocks, ETFs, and other securities, and does so without charging any monthly fees for basic services.

More experienced investors will benefit greatly from improved data and features offered through a Gold membership, and they won’t break the bank signing up because the fee for the upgraded membership is only $5 per month.

For more details, read our Robinhood review.

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4. Arrived Homes

If you’re ready to diversify your portfolio through direct investment in rental properties, Arrived Homes could be a great fit for you. Unlike some competing platforms, Arrived Homes doesn’t require investors to be accredited — dramatically expanding the pool of eligible participants.

Here’s what investors love about Arrived Homes:

• Invest Directly in Individual Properties. With Arrived Homes, you can invest directly in shares of single-family rental properties. You’re not investing in debt instruments, REITs, or other less-direct vehicles.
• Low Minimum Investment, best investing apps 2022. You can invest as little as $100 per property, though Arrived Homes says the typical investor puts up more like $1,000 per house.
• No Personal Liability for Investors. Arrived Homes insulates you from personal liability. You’re not responsible for lawsuits arising out of mishaps on the properties you invest in.
• Easy Access to Diverse Markets, best investing apps 2022. Arrived Homes sources properties all over the United States, with a bias toward high-growth markets in the Sunbelt. These markets could be more attractive than your own hometown.
• Thorough Due Diligence on Properties and Renters. Arrived Homes thoroughly investigates properties before it buys, reducing the likelihood of unpleasant surprises after it’s too late to turn back. Renters get the same intense due diligence, which means they’re less likely to fall behind on their rent and more likely to sustain cash flow for investors like you.

For more details, read our Arrived Homes review.

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5. Webull

Founded in 2017, Webull is the youngest investing app on this list, but don’t let that discourage you.

The app takes the capabilities of investing from the palm of your hand to the next level, making it an overwhelmingly popular option among younger investors looking to take an active approach to the stock market.

The platform’s users enjoy the following:

• Market-Leading Tools. Webull is designed for both investors and active traders. The platform’s functionality is well-suited to both audiences, best investing apps 2022. When using the app, you’ll have access to technical indicators and custom charting capabilities, as well as quality real-time data, making it best investing apps 2022 to time entrances and exits when stock trading.
• No Minimums. There are no minimum deposits or account balance requirements, making the app another option that provides increased access to the market for all.
• Free Stock. The app gives its users access to free shares of stock. It expanded upon the offering set on the table by Robinhood by offering two free shares. The first share, valued at anywhere from $2.50 to $250, is added to your account once you open it. The second share, valued at anywhere from $8 to $1,600, will be added to your account if you make an initial deposit of $100 or more.
• No Commissions. You can trade stocks, options, and ETFs through the app without paying a dime of commissions. The only fees you’ll pay are the regulatory fees associated with your market activities. While there are plenty of apps that offer trading without commission, this is one of very few that makes options contracts free to trade as well.
• Cryptocurrency. Cryptocurrency is becoming more and more popular with each passing day, but there are few traditional brokers that offer access to these types of assets. Webull gives you the ability to invest in some of the most popular digital coins, including Bitcoin, Etherium, Bitcoin Cash, Dogecoin, best investing apps 2022, Ethereum Classic, SHIBUSD, ZEC, Cardano, XLM, and Litecoin.

Webull is the perfect investing app for active traders and investors who want access to more than stocks and ETFs.

Traders who are most active in the market enjoy the detailed trading tools offered through the platform that give them the insights they need to get a leg up.

Moreover, access to options trades and digital best investing apps 2022 makes the app a perfect choice for investors looking to add more diversification to their portfolios.

For more details, best investing apps 2022, read our Webull review.

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6. TD Ameritrade

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Founded in 1975, TD Ameritrade is a more traditional broker that added an online platform as technological innovation led to an evolution in how people invest and trade.

The company’s new investing platform, thinkorswim, best investing apps 2022, was built by traders for traders, offering some of the most innovative trading and investing technology on the market today.

The platform’s users tend to rave about the following:

• Educational Materials. The app isn’t just a means to execute stock and ETF trades; it’s an opportunity to access some of the best educational materials available. Professional traders and other top-notch Wall Street experts designed and curated the materials to help turn a beginner into a pro in no time flat.
• Detailed Charting best investing apps 2022 Trading Tools. The platform was designed by trading professionals who know exactly what tools they need to succeed in the stock market. It’s not surprising that the app comes with some of the most intuitive trading tools and charting capabilities around.
• Profit and Risk Analysis. You’ll be hard-pressed to find this feature anywhere else. Before making a trade, you have the ability to analyze the potential profit and loss that could be generated. Although there’s no way to 100% correctly predict the future price of an asset, the profit and risk analysis tool is surprisingly accurate, giving you a clear depiction of what you can expect from each investment.
• Live News. There are many platforms that offer educational materials, best investing apps 2022, but this app goes a big step further, giving you access to the live news that moves the market. This makes sure you’re up to date on all news associated with the assets you invest in.
• Free Trading. TD Ameritrade charges no platform fees and offers access to zero-commission trades on all U.S.-based stocks and ETFs.

TD Ameritrade has been providing a top-of-the-line experience to investors and traders alike for more than four decades. Through the company’s thinkorswim app, you’ll have all the tools you need to become a successful trader.

As one of the best low-cost brokers overall, there’s little to nothing to complain about when using the platform.

For more details, best investing apps 2022, read our TD Ameritrade review.

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7. Stash

Stash is an all-around financial wellness app, offering a user-friendly alternative to the traditional investing and banking experiences.

With the app, you’ll be able to create a plan for the future, all while earning stock as a reward when taking advantage of the company’s services.

• A Goal-Oriented Platform. One of the first things you’ll do when you sign up for the app is answer a series of questions designed to help you clearly outline your financial goals. By answering these companies to invest in now uk, you’ll give the app everything it needs to make recommendations in an effort to put you on the right path to achieving your goals.
• Access to Individual Stocks. Most robo-advisors pick the assets for you, giving you little control over exactly what you invest in. However, with Stash, investors have the ability to pick their own stocks, giving them more control over what they invest in. Moreover, fractional shares are offered, best investing apps 2022, providing access to even the most expensive stocks with minimal investment requirements.
• Stock-Back Debit Card. There are several investment management apps that offer personal checking accounts with spending cards, but what you get with best investing apps 2022 app is very different. Stash offers a rewards card that earns 5% back. Unlike other rewards cards that pay you in cash or points, when you use the Stash Stock-Back Card, your rewards are given in shares of stock, automatically increasing your portfolio’s value and investing you into many of the companies you patronize.
• Investing for Children. Early investing isn’t commonplace, but learning about investing at an early age sets children up for long-term financial success. The app offers an investing-for-children program designed to help teach kids the value of investing and financial literacy.
• Low Monthly Fees. The app comes with extremely fair pricing. There are three subscription models, starting at just $1 per month, with the highest level of service only being $9 per month.

Stash is an easy-to-use app designed to help you gain control of your finances, not just in terms of long-term investing, but in terms of managing a checking account and saving for emergencies.

\With a focus on education and goals and plenty of perks to look forward to, Stash is an app well worth your consideration.

For more details, best investing apps 2022, read our Stash review.

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8. E*Trade

E*Trade has been providing quality financial services to investors and traders since 1982, and its parent company, Morgan Stanley, was founded in 1931, meaning that the experts behind the app are some of the most well-seasoned, well-respected experts on Wall Street.

E*Trade customers enjoy:

• Access to Cryptocurrency. E*Trade gives you access to several different investment options, including traditional stocks, bonds, and ETFs. The company was also an early adopter in the world of digital currency, becoming one of the first leading online investing platforms to offer access to crypto. As a result, it has become a leader in the digital currency space.
• Educational Materials. As you would expect from one of the world’s leaders in finance, Morgan Stanley understands the value of education. Through its subsidiary’s mobile app, that understanding has turned into a complete library of investing education materials, best investing apps 2022. These materials are designed to bring value to all levels of investors from beginners to professionals.
• Zero Commissions. When using the app to make your investments, you won’t pay commissions on stocks or ETFs, best investing apps 2022. Standard options trades are commission-free except for a flat $0.65 fee per contract. The company is also one of the leaders in terms of low-cost contracts and margins.
• Investing Automation. The app gives you the ability to completely automate the investing process. If you choose to take advantage of this option, you’ll simply choose one of the app’s various core portfolios. Although you need to make an investment of at least $500 to take advantage of the automated services, the returns have historically beaten market averages, making it well worth the initial investment.
• Quality Trading Tools and Charting. For traders interested in taking a more active role in the stock market, the app gives you all the tools you need. You’ll have access to several trading tools and technical indicators, best investing apps 2022, as well as charting features that are second to none.

As a subsidiary of one of the largest, longest-standing financial institutions in the United States, the E*Trade application comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect as you work in the market.

Couple this with industry-leading low fees and access to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and you’ve found icing for the cake.

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9. WealthFront

Founded in 2008, WealthFront is a robo-advisor with a twist.

As its name suggests, the app is designed to help consumers on their path to wealth in all areas of finance, from banking to lending, spending, and, of course, investing.

Here’s what users like about the app:

• Complete Financial Automation. The app takes automation to the next level. Of course, you make fake money pass marker test use predetermined amounts of money to invest automatically, but that’s not all. If you take advantage of the banking features in the app, when your paycheck is directly deposited into your account, it will automatically be separated and routed for bills, savings, and investing based on the goals you’ve set forth.
• Control. Most robo-investing services have a predetermined bucket of investments that your money goes into according to your asset allocation settings. The WealthFront app offers the same best investing apps 2022 but goes a step further. If you’d rather pick the individual stocks and other investments in your portfolio, the app gives you the power to do so, offering recommendations to help keep you on the right track.
• Goal-Oriented Planning, best investing apps 2022. The app is all about planning for the future and building wealth in the process. The app lets you set goals and gives recommendations as to how bitcoin investors dies 3 weeks invest, save, and budget your money to reach them.
• Portfolio Lines of Credit. When using the app, your investments aren’t just used to secure your future; they can help to secure funding today. The company offers portfolio lines of credit, using your investment portfolio as security for loans. If you have at least $25,000 in a Wealthfront investment account, you automatically have access to a line of credit with no credit check required. The interest rates charged on borrowed money vary depending on your account size but are generally lower than those of personal loans.
• Low Cost. Finally, WealthFront charges an investment management fee of 0.25% per year. That’s significantly lower than the management fees you would expect to be charged by a professional financial advisor or registered investment advisor.

If you’re looking for an app that doesn’t just help you invest, save, or get a loan, but want one that does it all, WealthFront is for you.

Although it’s not a great option for active traders, for customers looking to invest with a long-term time horizon, best investing apps 2022, the app is a great way to go.

For more details, read our Wealthfront review.

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10. Ally Invest

Founded in 1919, Ally Financial Corporation is the longest-lived company on this list and one of the most successful financial companies in the United States.

With more than a century of experience providing quality service to countless customers, best investing apps 2022, you know your money is in the right hands when you use Ally Invest.

• Complete Control. When using the app, investors have complete control over how their money is invested. The company offers a robust trading platform for investors looking best investing apps 2022 self-directed accounts, as well as a long list of options for those looking for managed investing.
• Zero Commissions. When taking advantage of their services, you won’t pay commissions on stock, option, or ETF trades. Options contract fees are only $0.50, making them highly competitive with the rest of the industry.
• Managed Portfolios for All Investors. When taking advantage of the company’s managed investing services, you won’t have to stick with one book of investments that’s designed to be a one-size-fits-all option. Instead, you’ll have the opportunity to choose between several portfolios designed with different goals in mind. Ally’s portfolios are designed for those looking for socially responsible investments, tax advantages, or income. For those looking to take a more traditional investing approach, best investing apps 2022, the core portfolio is the way to go, offering a strong mix of domestic, international, and fixed-income assets.
• Quality Educational Materials. Members have access to a library of articles designed to give you a better understanding of the inner workings of the stock market, investing, and market trends.
• Built for Traders and Investors, best investing apps 2022. The Ally app is one of few platforms that’s a great fit for both traders and long-term investors, offering technical indicators and an intuitive trading platform alongside educational and research materials and long-term managed portfolios. No matter who you are, chances are you’ll benefit from the services provided through the app.

All in all, the Ally Invest app is one of the best on the market today.

Although the app won’t give you access to a spending card or teach you how to budget your money, it is a great place to participate in the stock market, regardless of whether you’re an investor or a trader.

With quality educational materials, all the tools an investor would need, best investing apps 2022, and managed portfolios for those who would rather automate the process, the app is one that’s worth trying out.

For more details, read our Ally Invest review.

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11. Charles Schwab

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Founded in 1971, best investing apps 2022, Charles Schwab is a traditional broker that turned into an online and mobile stock broker as the tides changed in the industry. The company has become a force to reckon with on Wall Street thanks to its deep experience catering to the investing community.

Customers who use its app enjoy the following benefits:

• Robo-Advised or Self-Directed. When you sign up for a brokerage account with Charles Schwab, you have the option to either take advantage of the company’s robo-advisory services or manage your own self-directed portfolio, giving you the ability to decide how much control you’d like to have over your investments and the option to automate the investing process entirely.
• Customization. The app gives you the ability to customize your experience by organizing your summary view and market settings to display the information that’s important to you. As a result, you won’t have to dig through multiple pages of the app to find what you’re looking for — you can put it all in your summary view.
• Schwab Assistant. The app gives you access to the Schwab Assistant, an artificial intelligence assistant designed to help you through your financial journey. Best investing apps 2022 assistant will be able to make trades, get quotes, manage investments, transfer assets, and more, all at your voice request.
• Zero Trade Commissions. When using the app, best investing apps 2022, you won’t be charged a single trade commission on stocks and ETFs, and options trades cost a low $0.65 fee per contract. Schwab’s contracts, best investing apps 2022, margins, and other investing-related fees are highly competitive with industry averages, making the app one of the lowest-cost ways to trade.
• Education and Insights, best investing apps 2022. Over the years, best investing apps 2022, Schwab has built a long best investing apps 2022 of educational materials that even experienced professionals can find value in. These materials are designed to walk you through the process from beginner to expert, best investing apps 2022, breaking down some of the most complex topics into easy-to-understand articles. You’ll also have access to investing news and insights from the experts, keeping you abreast of what’s going on in the stock market.

With more than 50 years of experience providing quality services to the investing community, Charles Schwab has become one of the most well-respected financial institutions in the U.S.

Naturally, best investing apps 2022, the company’s app is one of the best on the market as well, offering everything you need whether you’re a novice or an expert investor.

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12, best investing apps 2022. Personal Capital

Personal Capital is far more than an investing app; it’s an all-around financial planner designed to help users take control of their finances through budgeting, investing, best investing apps 2022, and planning for the future, and it has done a great job of just that for more than a decade.

Here’s what investors enjoy most about using the app:

• Overall Financial Stability. Investing is an important part of securing your financial future, but it’s not the only factor to consider. With the Personal Capital app, best investing apps 2022, you’ll be able to manage just about every aspect of your financial life, making sure that your budget and spending habits correspond well with your financial goals and investing needs.
• Access to Financial Advisors. When you’re unsure of what to do in just about any scenario, the best course of action is often to speak with a professional. Unfortunately, in the world of finance, financial advisors aren’t always easily accessible. Through the app, you’ll have access to a highly qualified team of financial advisors with a fiduciary responsibility to help put you on the right path to meeting your goals — an invaluable resource, especially for new investors.
• Investment Checkup. Using the app’s investment checkup tool, you’ll be able to see how your portfolio is performing relative to your personal financial goals, compare your portfolio’s allocation to the target allocation suggested for reaching those goals, best investing apps 2022, and see how well your investments are doing overall.
• Competitive Fees. The fee for using the app’s investing services is just 0.89% best investing apps 2022 year, well below the industry average of more than 1% per year. With this competitive fee structure, best investing apps 2022 be able to hold onto more of your gains, making a significant impact on the long-term profitability of your portfolio.
• Retirement Planner, best investing apps 2022. Finally, the app comes with a retirement planner that’s designed to assess your personal financial situation and set you on the right track to enjoy a comfortable, financially stable retirement. The tool will let you know whether your current contributions to retirement are enough or more than you need, and help you to properly allocate your retirement investments based on your goals and appetite for risk.

All in all, Personal Capital is a best investing apps 2022 financial tool designed to help you build wealth and work your way toward a comfortable retirement.

Although it’s not the best choice for those looking to take an active approach to trading and investing, it’s a great option for newcomer investors or people looking to take control of their overall financial well-being.

For more details, read our Personal Capital review.

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Final Word

The capabilities mobile phone applications have put into the palms of our hands are mind-boggling. That’s especially the case when you consider the fact that just a couple of decades ago, the idea of checking an email on a cellphone would have turned heads.

Nonetheless, technological innovation is leading to rapid changes in how consumers do things, and the investing community is not being left behind.

All of best investing apps 2022 apps are designed to help you through the process of investing, whether it be with a self-directed account where you manage everything or a robo-advisor where you set a recurring deposit amount and let the app take care of the rest.

With so many best investing apps 2022 out there — most of which are specifically designed for a certain type of investor, offering unique perks in some areas and lacking in others — it’s important not to settle for the first app you come across, but to find the one that fits in with your lifestyle and what you need as an investor.

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Final Verdict

Stock trading apps are great ways for people to trade or simply keep an eye on their investment portfolio while they’re on the go. With the right app, you can get help with investment decisions and take steps to grow your savings over time. When looking for the best app for you, consider the account minimums and fees charged, as well as whether the app is designed for traders who fit your profile.

Compare The Best Stock Trading Apps

How Does a Stock Trading App Work?

A stock trading app lets you invest in stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities from your phone. You can select the app you want to use based on a few factors, such as the minimum account balance required, the fees it charges, best investing apps 2022, and the investment options available.

Once you’ve chosen an app, you can deposit money in your account and start making trades, best investing apps 2022. In general, it’s best to look for apps that have low minimum-balance requirements and low investing fees.

How Much Money Do You Need To Use a Stock Trading App?

Many stock trading apps, including some on this list, best investing apps 2022, let you get started with very little money. Some let you invest with as little as $1, so almost anyone can start an account using an app.

How Should You Choose the Best Stock Trading App?

Not all stock trading apps are the same and they don’t all target the same group of people.

Beyond thinking about account fees and minimums, think about how you like to invest and the type of investor the app is designed for. Someone who wants a hands-off investing experience will prefer an app focused on mutual fund and ETF investing. Active traders might want one designed for people who like to day-trade derivatives.

Are Stock Trading Apps Safe To Use?

Yes. Most apps are offered by major brokerage companies and let you do the same things that you could do by working with a human broker or through your computer. They simply offer a more convenient way to invest while on the go.

However, keep in mind that all investing is subject to risk, so you should only invest money you can afford to lose.

Methodology

We are dedicated to providing readers with unbiased, comprehensive reviews and ratings of online brokers. Our reviews are the result of months of evaluating all aspects of an online broker’s platform, including the user experience, the quality of best investing apps 2022 executions, the products available on its platforms, costs and fees, security, the mobile experience, and customer service. A rating scale was established based on these criteria, collecting thousands of data points that were weighed into a scoring system.

Are you looking to invest easily?

Investing often seems like a best investing apps 2022 game to get into. Finding a stock brokerage, learning what all the different asset types mean, best investing apps 2022, sifting through charts and data… It can be frustrating, time-consuming, or downright impossible, especially if you don’t have a lot of cash to start with.

Yet the COVID-19 pandemic has inspired many to try out fintech (financial tech) mobile platforms to include investment apps. Never before have more people found that investing is not only within their reach but is actually easier than ever thanks to these apps’ easy-to-use interfaces and robo-advisors.

The truth is, in our current age of technology, anyone can use modern investment apps to develop a portfolio and join the stock market as a serious player.

Even better, many of the best investment apps have low account minimums, little-to-no fees, and a huge number of assets available, best investing apps 2022. If you’re thinking about investing from your smartphone, you’ll want to start with one of the leading best investing apps 2022 apps outlined below.

The Best Investment Apps in 2021

The best best investing apps 2022 app for one person might not be the best for everyone else. Still, we feel that these seven investment apps best investing apps 2022 great choices overall. Each has a specific focus that we think indicates who would benefit from a given app’s offerings the most, however.

1. Robinhood – Best No-Hassle Free Stock Trading App

Visit Robinhoodon Robinhood’s website

Robinhood, best investing apps 2022, as its namesake would want, is a free stock trading app without any extra commission costs or fees regardless of the type of asset used to trade. Of course, there is a downside in that you can’t trade beyond stocks and ETFs, so their asset range is somewhat limited compared to many other investing apps.

Still, there’s a lot to like with this investing platform. Robinhood’s real-time trading interface is super easy to understand and user-friendly. Despite its simplicity, you can also use tools on the app to schedule recurring deposits or set up trades in the future, among other things.

Understanding the risks and benefits of your upcoming trades is also fairly easy, as the app provides a series of simplistic charts and stats. Getting a birds-eye view of your investment portfolio is only a best investing apps 2022 press or two away.

Robinhood is a seamless app that’s great for investors who like to play the stock market on the side and don’t mind doing their market research themselves. The platform doesn’t have any research tools or robust, in-depth data available. It’s an app where you make it or break it yourself, overall, as there isn’t a robo-advisor option to benefit from, either.

Still however, best investing apps 2022, the usability and completely free nature make Robinhood stand out from its peers. We say Robinhood is the top stock trading app you can find.

Is Robinhood Really Free?

Robinhood is totally free across the board. Even other so-called “free” investment apps usually charge small commission fees on certain types of trades, but there are none of these to be seen with this particular platform.

Visit Bettermenton Betterment’s website

If you are more interested in a dedicated robo-advisor app experience, Betterment might be the perfect investment app for you. They do let you choose from several personalized investment options, but then they automate the actual investing process from beginning to end.

Basically, you put together an account by answering several key questions that Betterment’s algorithms turn into a portfolio that is supposed to represent your ideal investment template. You’ll be able to review your finances, lifestyle, best investing apps 2022, goals, and monetary needs and tweak your account portfolio to your liking. Then you give it over to the app’s advisors and you’re set.

You do get to decide how much you want to invest, of course, best investing apps 2022. The app also lets you link its account with your bank account if you want to make regular contributions. But overall, best investing apps 2022 the big financial decisions are made using Betterment’s algorithms, best investing apps 2022, so it’s as hands-off as you can get with modern investment apps.

Betterment also offers human financial guidance, which is a nice touch in the world of automated investing. This expert can help you understand why the algorithm might have made a decision it did and help you change things if you don’t like the way your portfolio is shaping up.

All of this puts Betterment in the #1 spot in our top robo advisors report.

Betterment’s Fees

There’s no minimum account balance but there is a 0.25% annual fee for the standard account — which is much cheaper than using a human financial advisor. If you want a premium account (with more asset options), you’ll need a $100,000 minimum and have to endure a 0.40% annual fee.

3. Acorns – Best for Students

Visit Acornson Acorns’website

Acorns is a “spare change” investment app that’s ideal — and free — for students, as such investors are unlikely to have big chunks of change they can throw the stock market. It also operates a little differently compared to many other platforms you can stock market investors forum a nutshell, Acorns let you choose from different portfolios all pulled from a selection made by a Nobel prize-winning economist. You then invest your spare change or other small amounts for hopefully larger returns over time.

Signing up for the app is super easy and you can link either your credit or debit card to the account. Once linked, Acorns can round up any spare change in those linked accounts to the next dollar and invest that money from the available portfolio options.

You can use this to automatically invest extra change over time; for instance, you can have Acorns invest an additional $.50 if you buy a soda worth $4.50. This can theoretically add up to significant returns over time.

It’s a somewhat unique spin on the traditional robo-advisor-assisted model that many other investment apps use these days. Of course, all of these small amounts necessarily mean you can only expect a small return in most cases, so it’s not an app if you want to get rich off the market.

The hands-off nature and cheap cost of the app make Acorns a great choice for students and other budget-conscious investors. However, best investing apps 2022, they do have several fees to keep in mind (which vary based on the account type you hold or use). They can also charge a relatively high fee compared to what these small-change accounts might have at any time. 

What Are Acorns Fees?

Acorns charges $1 per month if you pick up a basic account, $2 per month for a retirement account, best investing apps 2022, and $3 per month if you also use the app’s bank account for automated investing of spare change.

4. Stash – Best for Investor Education

Visit Stashon Stash’s website

Stash best investing apps 2022 an app that allows you to invest in fractional shares, and you can invest with as little as one cent. Interestingly, Stash lets you invest in fractions of traditional shares, so there is an argument to be made that it can be a great choice for beginners. Indeed, anyone looking to educate themselves on stock market investment will find a lot to like here.

You’ll be able to choose from make money online editing photos 3000 single stock or ETF assets. Even better, Stash provides a ton of educational advice and assistance to help you manage your portfolio capably. Don’t best investing apps 2022 what socially responsible investing is? Stash can explain it.

The app and its features can help you learn the ropes of the market at large; these financial advisory services are great for beginners, although they aren’t necessary if you have a bit of investing experience already.

Their pricing tiers differ significantly, as well. The Beginner plan is fairly simple, but the next plan (called Growth) offers additional tax benefits if you set up a retirement investing account. The third subscription tier (called Stash+) offers custodial account options and monthly market insights for added value.

All in all, Stash is a remarkably easy app to use with a low barrier to entry meaning you do not need a large amount of capital to get started. But the financial educational materials are largely what set it apart from the pack. However, between it and Acorns, the latter is likely a slightly better spare change app overall if you want consistent and mostly-automated investing action.

Stash Fee Structure

You can invest with any dollar amount, and there are three plans to choose from. The Beginner plan is $1 per month, the Growth plan is $3 per month, and the Stash+ plan is $9 per month.

Visit Personal Capitalon Personal Capital’s website

Many of the above apps are better for budget-conscious investors. But if you already have a high net worth, this investment app might ashe guide the money maker a great choice. They provide a plethora of free financial tools and wealth management services in addition to several good investment opportunities.

It’s essentially an asset management service overall. For instance, you can link all of your financial accounts together for the app to summarize your finances overall. This will, in turn, allow you to make broader financial decisions and budget for your investments while seeing best investing apps 2022 your account balances at once, which is a lot easier than switching from app to app.

You’ll then be able to invest your money in preselected portfolios of special ETFs and individual securities. These assets are picked out to minimize added taxes or expenses: key considerations if you want to preserve your net worth for future growth or the next generation.

You can take a more hands-on approach and invest your money in the available assets yourself, or use some algorithmic assistance from the app. Furthermore, every Personal Capital account best investing apps 2022 a dedicated advisor for financial assistance and any questions. 

What Are Personal Capital’s Fees?

There’s a 0.89% fee for every $1 million or less you deposit. An account minimum of $100,000 is required to begin using the app, best investing apps 2022, as well.

6. M1 Finance – Best for Free Automated Investing

Visit M1 Financeon M1 Finance’s website

M1 Finance straddles the line between a truly automated investment app and a more hands-on experience. Basically, they let you invest in pre-selected portfolios while also letting you pick and choose your stock or ETF investments if that’s more your speed. You can even mix-and-match to some extent.

In a nutshell, it’s a great app if you like being able to automate your investments but don’t want a robo-advisor or the app’s algorithms to totally take control of your investment future. To this end, you’ll also be able to pick and choose your investment choices and then let the automated algorithms run their course.

In this way, you’ll control the beginning and end of your investment decisions and let the app take care of everything in the middle.

We best investing apps 2022 like that M1 Finance provides preset investment portfolio templates if you’re a beginner. This makes it easy to take advantage of their automated algorithms. Since the algorithms don’t control everything, you can gradually ease up on the automated controls and make more independent investing decisions as you gain experience.

M1 Finance is a free investing app with the exception of some account minimums. We do admit that it’s not the easiest app to understand, however, and many beginners have probably been drawn in thinking it’s totally automated, only to be disappointed.

You’re also limited to a single trade per day. Still, it may be a good middle-ground option for somewhat experienced investors who like the idea of automated investing.

How Much Does M1 Finance Cost?

No charges except for a $100 minimum balance for a personal account and a $500 minimum for a retirement account.

Visit SoFi Investon SoFi Invest’s website

SoFi Invest is part of the broader SoFi financial institution, best investing apps 2022, which originally covered student loans but now provides banking, lending, and investment services all from a single mobile hub. As a result, it’s a great investment app choice if you already use SoFi’s services for any other financial endeavors.

It’s also a particularly good choice if you’re a beginner. In the app, you’ll find a plethora of investment educational materials you can use to become a better stock trader over time. Speaking of stocks, SoFi allows you to invest in stocks, best investing apps 2022, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, so there’s a decent spread of asset options available to sate more experienced investors as well.

But SoFi is an even better choice for beginners since it lets you start off with so-called “fractional shares”, best investing apps 2022, called Stock Bits. These are lower risk but work the same way as regular stocks: a perfect way to learn the rules of the stock market game without risking too much. Check out our SoFi review to learn more.

Beyond these aspects, SoFi requires a low $1 minimum investment and offers a managed portfolio product if you want some professional help running your account from one of their financial experts. This product comes with no added investment management fees, best investing apps 2022, too. They don’t offer bonds or mutual funds, unfortunately, so it’s not the best choice if you’re saving up for retirement.

SoFi Invest Fees

SoFi only demands a low $1 minimum to get started, and they also don’t charge commission fees in many cases. They do charge a 1.25% markup for any cryptocurrency transactions and some ETFs.

Why Use an Investment App? 📱

In a nutshell, an investment app lets you participate in stock market trading and financial planning from the comfort of your own home on your favorite mobile device, best investing apps 2022. They’re platforms that let you invest your money without needing to use another investor or a traditional stockbroker.

Before, you needed to physically call a stockbroker or firm in order to make any trade on the stock market. You’d also have to pay a commission to the trader or firm that brokered the trade.

These days, investment apps allow you to pick up your best investing apps 2022 and trade almost instantaneously, depending on the way the app is set up. While many apps also include commission fees, these can be relatively low compared to what you would have to pay in bygone decades.

Ultimately, the point of an investment app is to bring instant trading to your fingertips. The variety of available investment apps also allows you to choose a platform that is tailored to your experience level or your desired level of control.

How Do Investment Apps Work? 💡

Investment apps still act as intermediaries between you and the stock market, though to a much lesser extent than a traditional stockbroker. They let you begin investing in a matter of minutes since you usually only need to set up an account and fund it by connecting it to a bank account.

The sign-up best investing apps 2022 login process for most investment apps is usually pretty simple. You’ll need to provide some personal information, in addition to personal details like your Social Security number, in some cases.

This is all to confirm your identity and make sure you’re of the legal age to begin investing in the market in the first place. You’ll then be asked to link your new app account to a bank account so you can wire funding and begin trading. 

Upon funding your account, you’ll be able to start setting up an investment portfolio. Depending on the investment app in question, some of them may provide you with tutorials or other training wheels to help you best investing apps 2022 up your portfolio with a minimum of experience.

Others might not be designed for beginners and might instead offer greater control if you already have some experience trading on the stock market.

Regardless, you’re free to trade as you will after you set up your account. Many investment apps have limits on when and how much you can withdraw if you do make money on the app, though these are usually just to stop people from withdrawing money after they’ve already committed to a trade.

What Assets Can Be Traded with an Investment App? 📈

The available assets to be traded on a given investment app depends on the app itself. For instance, Robinhood is primarily focused on letting you buy and sell stocks, while apps like Acorns will only let you trade ETFs. Other apps like SoFi provides stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

Overall, best investing apps 2022, any asset you can trade on the real stock market can be traded on at least one investment app.

What’s a “Spare Change” Investment App and who are They for? 🪙

This is another name for investment apps that have very small investment minimums for any of their users and that primarily deal in cents-level stocks. They’re designed for millennials and other adults who don’t feel they have enough money to start investing in the stock market.

Stash is a good example, best investing apps 2022, as it only demands an investment minimum of as little as one cent. It also lets you use the spare change in your account for investing, so you can eventually grow your portfolio slowly but surely. Acorns is another spare change app.

Spare change apps are great if you want to learn the ropes of the stock market and get a hang of things. But they’re also good if you’re young, but don’t have a lot of cash to begin investing.

They usually don’t offer very big returns, however. You may want to switch investing apps when you have more experience and more disposable income.

Investment App Benefits 👍

Investment apps provide several benefits compared to using a traditional best investing apps 2022 or talking to a stockbroker on the phone.

Easy to Use ✅

For starters, investment apps are extremely simple and intuitive to use. Even those not particularly user-friendly in comparison to the best investment apps for beginners are still arguably easier to use and understand than getting on the phone with a stockbroker. Most apps provide tutorials or instructions to help you easily set up an investment account, too.

Plenty of them may also provide financial advice depending on your income level and your experience level. Furthermore, some of the most advanced investment apps will provide top-notch robo-advisors, which can point out potentially lucrative trades that you might not recognize on your own.

Others may provide more automated tools so you can set up an investing account and mostly (or totally) let it run by itself, best investing apps 2022, and it can earn you money over the long-term with a minimum of day-to-day effort.

Is Investing with an App Cost-Effective? ✅

Compared to traditional stockbrokers and other investing pathways, investment apps can be extremely cost-effective. Human advisors are replaced by algorithms for all these apps, meaning that the programmers spend less money on app upkeep and, thus, demand lower fees for their services.

This is also why some apps offer free trading – they can afford such a thing because of how cheap it is for them to run the app in the first place.

As such, investment apps can provide a window into the stock trading world that even those on a very tight budget can utilize.

Always Up and Available ✅

Human stockbrokers have to eat, sleep, and have social lives. Investment apps do not.

You can use these investment apps to access your information, buy or sell, or make other adjustments anytime you like so best investing apps 2022 as you’re connected to the Internet, depending on the app’s trading rules and limitations. This allows day traders or investors that like to constantly fiddle with their portfolio to do so whenever they please.

These apps are also good if you just want to keep a close eye on your portfolio, particularly during economically uncertain times.

How Much Money Do I Need to Open an Investment App? 💰

Very little, although the actual minimum, again, depends on the individual investment app. Certain micro-investing apps like Acorns only demand small minimums since they invest change. Stash also only has a one cent minimum account requirement¹.

Other apps that are not micro-investing options have higher minimums. Sometimes, apps will demand best investing apps 2022 minimums of around $100 or so, but others may well be cheaper. Again, some apps (like Robinhood) are also totally free.

Besides the account minimum, the only money you need to get started trading is the value of the stocks or other assets you want to buy or sell. Stock share prices can range from a few dollars to hundreds or thousands of dollars per share, so this range is quite variable.

Are Funds on an Investment App Insured? 📝

The Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC, plays an administrative role in the stock trading and investing industries.

This means your investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total (including $250,000 for claims for cash). For details please see www.spic.org. For uninvested funds, your Stash account is enrolled in something called the Apex FDIC-insured Sweep Program. Deposits to the Sweep Program are covered by FDIC insurance up to $250,000 limit best investing apps 2022 customer at each FDIC-insured bank that participates in the Sweep Program. Once your cash is deposited with the participating banks under the Sweep Program, such cash will no longer be covered by SIPC. Learn about the FDIC Best investing apps 2022 Program

Of course, this insurance only protects you if your account or the app is hacked, or if something goes wrong with the stocks or other assets you invest in themselves. In other words, any money that you lose through honest investing will not be covered by the insurance.

How Do Beginners Invest with an App? 💳

Beginners to the stock market might invest in dramatically different ways best investing apps 2022 on their knowledge of the market. Those who are confident might go a little overboard and invest in risky but potentially lucrative stocks and blow through their savings in a week. Others might be a little too conservative and not make best investing apps 2022 substantial gains even after a few months.

For our money, we’d recommend starting with Acorns or Stash if you’re a true beginner and you don’t have a lot of cash to play with on the market. These apps focus on ETFs, but can still result in valuable returns for super low startup funding. SoFi is another good choice due to its educational materials, fractional stock options, and low costs.

Ultimately, most beginners will want to educate themselves on the stock market and its intricacies heavily, as well as continually tweak their portfolios as they gain experience. Eventually, and as you gain more wealth through the stock market, you can take on riskier and potentially better trades and move on to stocks, currencies, and even options (which are among the riskiest assets to trade!).

There are also numerous tools out there that new investors can leverage to strengthen their investing strategy. Some of these are free, while others can get expensive, quick. A popular tool in this regard includes investment newsletters, which are known to provide great insights—especially for newer investors.

What Is the Best Investment App for Beginners? 🔝

This largely depends on how much money you want to invest. In general, apps that provide educational material are great choices for beginners since they let you become a better investor (if you take advantage of them, that is). All in all, if you’re a beginner, look for:

• low minimums and fees
• fractional stock options
• low investment risk and costs
• educational materials
• investment advisors or specialist help

Wrap Up

Ultimately, the best stock trading apps are usually those that combine smart design and user-friendliness, best investing apps 2022. They should also have enough asset variability to provide good investment opportunities for their users.

We think the above seven investment apps are good representations of what the industry currently has to offer, though we’re excited to see what new investment apps spring up in the near future.

Have you ever used an investment app before? Let us know what your favorite(s) are and give us your opinion on our top choices in the comments section below.

Adam Enfroy