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12 Best Investing & Stock Trading Apps: Top Picks for 2025

Investing and stock trading apps allow you to manage your portfolio and buy or sell investments via your phone. Here are our testers' top picks for the best investment apps available right now.

Mar 13, 2025
Alana Benson
Written by 
Lead Writer
Chris Davis
Reviewed by 
Managing Editor
Arielle O'Shea
Edited by 
Head of Content, Investing & Taxes
Fact Checked
Alana Benson
Written by 
Lead Writer
Chris Davis
Reviewed by 
Managing Editor
Arielle O'Shea
Edited by 
Head of Content, Investing & Taxes
Fact Checked

Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.


The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.

The best investment apps allow you to invest or trade stocks and other investments quickly and easily, review your portfolio's performance and analyze potential investment opportunities. Some apps also allow you to trade cryptocurrency, or manage your entire portfolio for you so you can be hands-off.

How our team selects the best investing apps

Our full-time investing writers and editors do comprehensive testing of each mobile app we review to decide if they make this list. Our testing includes opening and funding accounts whenever possible. Our reviewers focus on ease of use, available functionality (especially as compared to the company's website and online platform), trading and account fees and customer support. We also note how easy it is to fund an account, how quickly investment transfers settle and any account-linking hiccups. For stock trading apps, we also look for more unique factors like the availability of fractional shares and options trading costs.

The apps that make our list must have high scores from users in mobile app stores, in addition to favorable feedback from our independent testing. Below the table, we've summarized feedback about these investment apps from iOS and Android user reviews.

  • Over 60 investment account providers and apps reviewed and rated by our expert Nerds.

    More than 50 years of combined experience writing about finance and investing.

    Hands-on testing of the account funding process, provider websites and trading platforms.

    Dozens of objective ratings rubrics and strict guidelines to maintain editorial integrity.

    NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest U.S. brokers and robo-advisors by assets under management, along with emerging industry players. Our aim is to provide an independent assessment of providers to help arm you with information to make sound, informed judgements on which ones will best meet your needs.

    We collect data directly from providers through detailed questionnaires, and conduct first-hand testing and observation through provider demonstrations. The questionnaire answers, combined with demonstrations, interviews of personnel at the providers and our specialists’ hands-on research, fuel our proprietary assessment process that scores each provider’s performance across more than 20 factors. The final output produces star ratings from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

    For more details about the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

12 Best Investing & Stock Trading Apps: Top Picks

BrokerNerdWallet rating FeesAccount minimumPromotionLearn more
Robinhood

Robinhood

Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website
4.5/5
Best for beginner stock traders
$0
per trade
$0
1 Free Stock
after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)
Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website
Webull

Webull

Learn moreon partner's site
on Webull's website
5.0/5
Best for unlimited practice trading
$0
per trade
$0
Get 20 free fractional shares ( each valued up to $3,000)
when you open and fund an account with Webull.
Learn moreon partner's site
on Webull's website
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

Learn moreon partner's site
on J.P. Morgan's website
4.5/5
Best for educational investing & stock market content
$0
per trade
$0
Get up to $700
when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money.
Learn moreon partner's site
on J.P. Morgan's website
tastytrade

tastytrade

4.5/5
Best for fast and intuitive trading experience
$0
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite

Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite

Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website
5.0/5
Best for advanced traders
$0
per trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website
View more

Our pick for

beginner stock traders

Robinhood
Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website
NerdWallet rating
4.5/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Robinhood's website

Fees

$0

per trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

1 Free Stock

after linking your bank account (stock value range $5.00-$200)

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Streamlined interface.

  • Cryptocurrency trading.

  • IRA with 1% match (3% for Gold members).

  • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

Cons
  • No mutual funds.

  • Little third-party research.

Why We Like It

Robinhood is well-known for its excellent app. The platform is easy to use and the interface is clean and designed for beginner stock traders. Over the years, Robinhood has added more advanced — but still intuitive — tools, which is making it more attractive to traders as they grow their skills.

Our pick for

unlimited practice trading

Webull
Learn moreon partner's site
on Webull's website
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Webull's website

Fees

$0

per trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Get 20 free fractional shares ( each valued up to $3,000)

when you open and fund an account with Webull.

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Easy-to-use platform.

  • Advanced tools.

  • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

  • High order execution quality.

Cons
  • No mutual funds.

  • Separate app required to trade crypto.

Why We Like It

Within Webull's mobile app users can access advanced features, like charts and indicators, price alerts, a paper trading account and voice command functionality. Webull's paper trading capabilities stood out to our testers for the ability to access unlimited practice money, making the app a good tool to learn how to trade stocks.

Our pick for

educational investing & stock market content

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Learn moreon partner's site
on J.P. Morgan's website
NerdWallet rating
4.5/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on J.P. Morgan's website

Fees

$0

per trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Get up to $700

when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money.

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Easy-to-use platform.

  • App connects all Chase accounts.

  • In-person customer support at Chase branches.

Cons
  • Bare-bones trading platform isn't for advanced traders.

  • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

Why We Like It

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers an ideal app UX for investors or stock traders, especially those who also bank with Chase — the app integrates all accounts, allowing you to view and transfer balances. It's an approachable, easy trading experience with an impressive amount of news and educational content within the app, including videos and economic commentary.

Our pick for

fast and intuitive trading experience

NerdWallet rating
4.5/5

Fees

$0

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

None

no promotion available at this time

Pros
  • Powerful trading platform.

  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Low options contract fees.

  • Strong mobile trading app.

Cons
  • Limited external research providers.

  • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

  • Advanced platform not suitable for beginners.

Why We Like It

Tastytrade offers an excellent experience for advanced traders. With its high-powered interface and speedy platform, Tastytrade is a solid choice for active investors. Our testers found the platform more intuitive and easier to navigate than other stock apps that target advanced stock traders.

Our pick for

advanced traders

Interactive Brokers IBKR Lite
Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Interactive Brokers' website

Fees

$0

per trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

None

no promotion available at this time

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Large investment selection.

  • Strong research and tools.

  • Huge selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds.

  • High order execution quality.

Cons
  • High minimum to earn interest on uninvested cash.

  • Website can be difficult to navigate for beginner investors.

Why We Like It

The IBKR mobile app is available to both Lite and Pro customers. The app features advanced trading shortcuts, over 400 data columns, option exercise and spread templates, news, research, charting and scanners. Users can create order presets, which prefill order tickets for fast entry. Interactive Brokers also offers very high execution quality, important for active stock traders.

Our pick for

cryptocurrency

Coinbase
Learn moreon partner's site
on Coinbase's website
NerdWallet rating
4.6/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Coinbase's website

Fees

0% - 4%

varies by type of transaction; other fees may apply

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Get $200 in crypto

when you sign up. Terms Apply.

Pros
  • Offers access to a large selection of cryptocurrencies.

  • Low minimum to fund account.

  • Quick crypto withdrawals.

Cons
  • Higher fees than other cryptocurrency exchanges.

  • Fees aren't very transparent.

Why We Like It

Coinbase has helped pave the way for cryptocurrency trading and the app is an ideal choice for beginners. Coinbase is consistently one of the most user-friendly crypto apps we review, even when it comes to the platform's more advanced trading features.

Our pick for

retirement investors + best overall app

NerdWallet rating
5.0/5

Fees

$0

per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

None

no promotion available at this time

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Large selection of research providers.

  • Strong customer service.

  • Expense-ratio-free index funds.

  • Highly rated mobile app.

  • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

Cons
  • Relatively high broker-assisted trade fee.

Why We Like It

Fidelity's app is great for beginners and advanced traders alike, and includes real-time quotes, multi-leg options trading, a consolidated version of the company’s research offerings, and a notebook to save ideas and articles from your mobile browser. It's a strong app on its own but it is particularly attractive to investors who use Fidelity's retirement accounts.

Our pick for

options trading

Public
Learn moreon partner's site
on Public's website
NerdWallet rating
4.6/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Public's website

Fees

$0

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Earn up to $10,000

when you transfer your investment portfolio to Public.

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Rebates for trading options.

  • Impressive selection of alternative assets.

  • Easy-to-use signup and trading interface.

  • High interest rate on uninvested cash.

Cons
  • No mutual funds.

  • Lack of tools (e.g. customizable investment screeners).

Why We Like It

Public's app makes it extremely easy to learn how to trade options through their Options Hub. You can ask Alpha (powered by AI) questions about any stock and easily manage your portfolio. And the company offers rebates on options trades, making them not just free but offering the ability for options traders to earn money.

Our pick for

bond investors

Charles Schwab
Learn moreon partner's site
on Charles Schwab's website
NerdWallet rating
4.8/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on Charles Schwab's website

Fees

$0

per online equity trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

None

no promotion available at this time

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.

  • Five trading platforms with no minimums or fees.

  • Access to thinkorswim platforms.

  • Extensive research offerings.

  • Large fund selection.

Cons
  • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

Why We Like It

Charles Schwab is a well-rounded option for nearly every type of investor, but it particularly stands out for its large selection of bonds available at a low cost. There's no commission to trade U.S. Treasurys, and non-Treasury bonds trade for just $1 online (with a $10 minimum). The broker offers over 150,000 individual bonds as well as commission-free bond ETFs.

Our pick for

automated investing

Wealthfront
Learn moreon partner's site
on Wealthfront's website
NerdWallet rating
5.0/5
Reviewed in: Oct. 2024Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2024
Learn moreon partner's site
on Wealthfront's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion

Fees

0.25%

management fee

Account minimum

$500

Promotion

Get a $50 customer bonus

when you fund your first taxable investment account

Pros
  • Get $50 customer bonus when you fund your first taxable investment account (NerdWallet promotion).

  • Low ETF expense ratios.

  • Daily tax-loss harvesting.

  • DIY and automated investing options.

  • Low portfolio management fee.

Cons
  • $500 account minimum.

Why We Like It

Wealthfront is an excellent robo-advisor that gets high marks in almost every category. For investors who want their portfolio managed for them, this app makes it easy. But it also allows you to invest in alternative assets like cryptocurrency and individual stocks along with your managed portfolio, and the app has useful wealth-tracking features and goal-planning tools.

Our pick for

IPO access

SoFi Active Investing
Learn moreon partner's site
on SoFi Invest's website
NerdWallet rating
4.4/5
Learn moreon partner's site
on SoFi Invest's website

Fees

$0

per trade

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Get up to $1,000

in stock when you fund a new account.

Pros
  • No commissions on stock, options and ETF trades

  • IPO access.

  • IRA match.

Cons
  • Low interest rate on uninvested cash.

Why We Like It

SoFi is a strong choice for those looking for a low-key trading experience. SoFi's trading tools may not be as advanced as some of the competitors, but you can invest in stocks and ETFs, access IPOs and experience user-friendly options trading through the app. The IPO access in particular is relatively rare among investing apps.

Our pick for

flat-rate margin trading

NerdWallet rating
4.7/5

Fees

$0

Account minimum

$0

Promotion

Earn 8.1% APY

on your uninvested cash for 3 months + up to 30 Free Stocks with qualified deposits. Terms & Conditions apply.

Pros
  • Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades.

  • No contract fee on equity options.

  • Popular, easy-to-use app.

  • High yield on uninvested cash.

  • Low margin rates.

Cons
  • No mutual funds or bonds.

  • Lower than average execution quality.

Why We Like It

According to one of our testers, Moomoo has one of the smoothest account signup processes out of all the brokers we review. Beginners may feel overwhelmed by it, but advanced traders will enjoy the robust interface with its charts, stats and variety of order types. The flat-rate margin rates make it easy to understand what you'll pay for leveraged trades.

Which investment apps do the Nerds use?

Chris Davis | Managing editor I really appreciate that Webull gives you the option of using an interface designed either for advanced trading, or more hands-off, long-term investing. And whichever you choose, the interface is really good. Toggling back and forth between the two is easy, too. Previously, the biggest drawback of mobile-first investing platforms like Webull was the lack of retirement accounts or any long-term financial planning tools, but that's starting to change.

Alana Benson | Lead investing writer

I use the Fidelity app to keep track of my investments. I like how I can see my workplace retirement plan and my Roth IRA in the same place. I'm a pretty boring long-term investor and Fidelity suits my needs really well. I also like that I can get in touch with an advisor right through the app if I need to.

sam taube

Sam Taube | Lead investing writer

In my experience, Fidelity combines the convenience of a mobile-first investing app with the wide investment selection of a large institution. In the last few years, Fidelity has built a mobile user experience that is almost as smooth as Robinhood or Webull — its app allows you to transact, change your settings and more with just a few taps after logging in. However, it also offers something that those upstart brokers don't: a huge variety of mutual funds, including target-date funds for IRAs.

Summary of reviews from iOS and Android app stores

  • NerdWallet's evaluations focus on data we collect, like account fees, portfolio diversification, features and account minimums, as well as our own testers' experiences. We include two factors that directly address customer service: Support availability and contact methods, and website transparency, which our team assesses by looking for key information on the provider's website, just as a potential customer would. For mobile apps, we also consider the app's overall rating in both iOS and Android stores. But qualitative customer satisfaction is harder for us to directly assess. To offer a more complete evaluation, we've used an AI tool to comb investing and stock app reviews from the iOS and Android app stores. We then evaluate that data for consistent themes, both positive and negative. Due to the anonymous nature, we're unable to confirm these customer experiences as we normally would. The summaries below are based on up to a year's worth of reviews ending February 2025.

Charles Schwab app reviews: Reviews for Schwab's mobile app generally praise the customer service support and functionality of the app. They also frequently call out the educational resources and financial literary tools that could be helpful for beginner investors. On the negative side, some app users are dissatisfied with recent updates to the user interface that they feel made it harder to navigate. And long-time users who were previously on the TD Ameritrade app (TD Ameritrade was acquired by Schwab in 2020) lament some features that didn't make the transition.

Coinbase app reviews: Coinbase user reviews consistently call out how easy the app is to use and its learning rewards program, which allows crypto traders to earn crypto by watching informational videos and completing quizzes. This educational rewards program is wildly popular and helpful in supporting new crypto investors. On the downside, app users sometimes complain about Coinbase's fees, which can be on the high side compared to competitors, and the customer support. (We agree that Coinbase's customer support is difficult to reach and have factored that into our rating.)

Fidelity's app reviews: Fidelity is designed for every type of investor, and generally meets that need well. The app won NerdWallet's award for the best investing app in 2025, and impressed all of our testers. Many users praise the Fidelity app for being easy to use and navigate, with lots of high-quality educational content to help users learn how to invest and manage their money. The app also gets high praise for security features, including biometric login, though some Android users report issues with that feature. Complaints generally center around the interface — users call it cluttered and cite issues with the navigation — and the frequency of updates and changes, which some feel have degraded the quality of the app.

Interactive Brokers' app reviews: In contrast to some of the apps above, Interactive Brokers' IBKR Mobile app is praised by app users not for its simplicity, but its comprehensiveness: They like the robust trading features that are available within the app, as well as the ability to trade worldwide across multiple markets. Several mention that it's a good choice for professional traders, but roughly 25% of reviews are critical of the interface and navigation, calling it cluttered and difficult to transverse. There are also reports about difficulties when logging in. Again, feedback from Android users tends to be more positive.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's app reviews: Like other apps that combine banking and investing products in one, users appreciate that J.P. Morgan's app integrates with bank accounts and offers the ability to view all balances within one platform. It was difficult to assess sentiment around the app's investing features specifically, as the bundled nature of the app and the popularity of Chase's banking services means most reviews are about that product. However, our testers found this to be a user-friendly platform for trading stocks, and one that will be particularly appealing to beginners or existing Chase customers.

Moomoo's app reviews: moomoo does an impressive job of combining an approachable UX and navigation with real-time data, news and more advanced tools. Users cite the educational resources and tutorials. Reviews are especially positive on iOS, where users praise the gamification elements and the developers' continuous improvements and updates. On the negative end, customers often cite a long wait to deposit or withdraw funds, especially with certain banks.

Public's app reviews: Public's intuitive design and interface is called out as a positive by nearly half of app reviewers, as well as the breadth of features — you can invest in stocks, crypto or options, plus earn high interest rates on fixed-income products through the Treasury account. Public is another app that is praised for its educational content. Criticism primarily centers around difficulties withdrawing funds, including long wait times and fees, as well as some technical glitches like slow updates.

Robinhood's app reviews: Let's be real; Robinhood can be polarizing. It's not uncommon for the app to add 500 new reviews in each app store per month, which means this is the only app on our list that required us to limit our analysis to the last month's worth of reviews, rather than the last year's worth. Although Robinhood's overall rating in each store is above 4 stars, user reviews did mention issues with the app freezing or crashing, as well as some issues with the process of verifying their identity. Positive themes include the app's simplicity, ease of use and educational tools and resources, calling it an ideal option specifically for beginner traders and investors.

SoFI's app reviews: SoFi also gets high marks from app users for its user-friendly interface — here, reviews repeatedly call out the all-in-one platform which can be used to invest in addition to managing bank accounts, loans and other SoFi products. Reviews consistently praise the company's rewards program and customer service. Negative trends center around the app's tendency to push other SoFi products and services, as well as intermittent technical issues like freezes.

Tastytrade's app reviews: tastytrade is designed for advanced traders, so we were surprised to see a number of reviews from beginner investors who were delighted with their experience. That's due to what they found to be a very smooth and intuitive UX. Users also regularly cite the app's data access, customization options and quick execution as high points — something our testers noted as well. Some reviews mentioned technical glitches, including crashes, and some users took issue with the mobile charting functionality.

Webull's app reviews: Webull is another app that has a sleek, streamlined interface that's much appreciated by users — in fact, 55% of reviews mention this, according to our analysis. Users also love the real-time data, technical analysis tools and paper-trading functionality. Criticism typically centers around some of the limitations with that functionality, as well as longer-than-expected wait times to deposit or withdraw funds. Here, too, there are a small number of complaints about the app crashing, freezing or loading slowly. That feedback is most common from iOS users.

Wealthfront's app reviews: Wealthfront app users call out the ability to link external accounts, so you can see your Wealthfront investment portfolio and other assets in one place. They also appreciate the automation and high interest rates on savings products, and they find the interface easy to use. Downsides cited include slow load times and difficulties or delays with ACH transfers. Users are especially positive about the Android version of the app, which gets overwhelmingly high marks.


Which features are most important when choosing the best investing app?

The most important thing to consider when choosing an investing app is how you're going to use it — if you're a frequent stock trader, you might prioritize an app with strong trading capabilities or stock analysis tools like the ones from Interactive Brokers or tastytrade. If you want to invest but don't want to actively manage a portfolio, an app from a robo-advisor like Wealthfront might make the most sense.

How much money do you need to start trading stocks or investing through an app?

At this point, many apps allow you to open an account with as little as $1. But the amount of money you’ll need to begin investing after you open your account depends on the assets you intend to buy. In most cases, you'll be able to find options you can afford now matter how much you can invest. Many of the apps on this list allow you to trade fractional shares, which means you can purchase a dollar amount of a stock (say, $5 or $10) instead of a full share.

What investments can you trade through an investing app?

The investments available to you will vary by broker. Typically, an app from a traditional online broker will offer the largest range of investment options, while smaller apps, start-ups or robo-advisors tend to limit their selection. Investments that are commonly available through investing apps include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, index funds, exchange-traded funds and options. Some apps will also offer access to trade cryptocurrencies, futures, forex or commodities.

What is the best investment app for beginners?

For new investors, working with a larger, established brokerage like Fidelity is often a good fit — their apps rate highly, and they also offer higher levels of educational support and strong customer service. You might also consider an investing app from a robo-advisor. Robo-advisors build and manage portfolios for you, often using ETFs, so you don't have to choose any investments yourself. On the list above, Wealthfront is a robo-advisor that is a good choice for beginners.

What is the best stock app for beginners?

Many of the brokers on our list of the best brokers for beginners also show up here. In general, mobile trading apps are a good choice for beginners because they're typically easier to navigate than online or desktop platforms. However, we've chosen Robinhood as the best overall stock app for beginners because of how approachable and initiative the app is. Robinhood's features were designed with beginners in mind and it shows.

What's the best app for free stock trading?

All of the stock apps above offer commission-free trades of U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds. The best one for you depends largely on your trading needs — for example, active traders often index heavily on the available investment options, and what type of functionality is possible on the go. If you'd prefer more education or a more advanced mobile trading platform, you may want to opt for an app from an online broker.

Are investing apps safe?

Just as FDIC insurance insures bank accounts, SIPC insurance insures the money you have in your brokerage account (or robo-advisor account) up to $500,000. This includes investing apps. $250,000 of that total can be applied to protect cash that you haven’t yet invested. All of NerdWallet’s picks for best apps are members of the SIPC. (Here’s more on SIPC insurance and what it does and doesn’t protect.)

Some of the investment apps listed here also offer bank or savings accounts, which are FDIC insured against loss.

Investment apps typically also use industry-standard security measures, including two-factor authentication, hashing of passwords and encryption of personal information.

What happens if an investment app goes out of business?

If your brokerage (app or brick-and-mortar institution) goes out of business, it's highly unlikely that you will lose money. In most scenarios, another institution will agree to buy the investing app or take over its accounts, and your assets will be transferred to the new brokerage.

Can you lose money with an investing app?

Yes, it is possible to lose money through an investment app, but that largely depends on how you invest your money within the app, rather than the app itself. Like traditional brokers, your investment and trading decisions can determine how much money you gain or lose and how "safe" your money is overall. Some investments carry more risk than others — for example, individual stocks or cryptocurrencies are known to be riskier than funds, bonds or Treasurys.

The bottom line: No matter what app or investment company you're using, it's important to align your investment selections with your risk tolerance and time horizon. Generally speaking, many financial advisors suggest not investing money you need within the next five years — most investments should be considered long-term.

Last updated on March 13, 2025

Methodology

For detailed information about the categories considered when rating brokers and investing apps, read our full methodology.

To recap our selections...

NerdWallet's 12 Best Investing & Stock Trading Apps: Top Picks for 2025