Stock trading apps have revolutionized how people engage with the market, making investing more readily accessible and affordable. Today's mobile stock trading platforms provide everything from beginner-friendly interfaces to advanced charting and sophisticated trading solutions geared toward more seasoned investors.
The best stock trading apps let you manage and customize your portfolio, access real-time market data, and discover investment opportunities from the convenience of your smartphone or tablet.
We analyzed and compared dozens of stock trading platforms to find industry leaders based on trading features, low fees, investment options, resources, and navigability. All the best apps to buy stocks also have high levels of trustworthiness and security.
Check out the best stock trading apps with low fees, as picked by Business Insider's personal finance editors in 2025.
Best Stock Trading Apps of 2025
| Best for | Stock Trading App | Minimums |
| Best overall | Charles Schwab | $0 ($5,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios; $25,000 Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium) |
| Best for free trades | E*TRADE | $0 ($500 Core Portfolios) |
| Best for beginners | SoFi Active Invest® | $0 ($1 to start investing); $5 fractional shares; $2,000 for margin trading |
| Best for long-term traders | Fidelity Investments | $0 ($25,000 Fidelity Personalized Planning & Advice) |
| Best for newbie active traders | Robinhood Investing | $0 ($1 for fractional shares; $2,000 for margin trading) |
| Best for banking and stock trading | Ally Invest | $0 ($100 for Robo Portfolios; $100,000 for Ally Invest Personal Advice) |
| Best for options traders | Webull | $0 ($100 for robo-advisor) |
Why You Should Trust Us: Our Investing Experts & Methodology
The best apps to buy stocks come from brokerages that offer low-fee accounts and feature-filled mobile trading platforms. When compiling the best investment platforms for stock trading, we considered pricing, available investments, account types, and investment research resources. We reviewed more than a dozen platforms.
Business Insider's rating methodology for investment products considers pricing and fees, investment options, account types, investment platforms, investment research, and educational resources.
We consulted financial planners, investing experts, and our own wealth-building reporter to inform our picks for the best stock trading apps.
We interviewed the following three investing experts to see what they had to say about stock trading apps:
- Brian Fry, CFP, founder at Safe Landing Financial
- Charlotte Geletka, CFP, CRPC, managing partner at Silver Penny Financial Planning
- Kaysian Gordon, MBA, CFP, CDFA, CPA, and wealth manager.
What are the advantages of using an investing app to trade stocks?
Brian Fry, CFP:
Of course, there are going to be different levels of what's offered through these different apps. Some of them may offer light financial planning, or low-cost or transparent investment options.
[It's about] drilling down and finding the app that's going to provide that transparency best and best provide the confidence that one's looking for in planning one's financial future.
Charlotte Geletka, CFP, CRPC:
Investing apps make it easier than it has ever been for the individuals to trade stocks right on your phone.
Kaysian Gordon, MBA, CFP, CDFA, CPA:
[The advantage] is being able to have the research you need to make that decision. Look for the app that's going to give you enough of the information that you need to be able to make a wise decision when you're trading stocks.
What are the disadvantages of using an investing app to trade stocks?
Fry:
When you have free trades, you have to realize that these investment companies are making their money one way or another. So just because it's free doesn't mean it's better.
Cost is definitely something, but when you're looking at free trades versus $5 trades or $10 trades, to me it's all irrelevant. It's really about what's going to be the best user experience? What's going to empower an investor to feel confident?
Geletka:
The disadvantage is that [mobile trading access] encourages impulse investing. Numerous studies show that when the retail investor engages in impulse investing and frequent trading he or she ends up with lower than average returns.
Gordon:
You want to make sure you [don't have] all of your eggs in one basket. I can't stress that enough no matter how good you think a company is.
Is there any other advice you'd offer someone who's considering using a stock trading app?
Fry:
Most investment platforms offer similar benefits. Choose the platform that best helps you stay on track and identify progress towards your financial goals.
Geletka:
Make sure that you have an emergency fund and that you are adequately funding your savings goals. Use your extra money for trading apps.
Gordon:
Don't put too much money in one stock that, if you lose the money, you're going to be hurting.
Best Stock Trading App Overall
For no minimum or fees, Charles Schwab's stock trading app provides account flexibility and goal-building features suitable for all kinds of investors. Schwab stock trading is our pick for the best overall stock trading app for its ease of use, trustworthiness, low fees, and collection of in-depth trading resources and advanced tools.
The mobile stock trading app makes viewing your accounts, positions, and balances easy. Track the market with real-time news, stock reports, and trade types. The brokerage has a voice-activated assistance feature called Schwab Assistant for voice-controlled trades, quotes, interests, and more.
Schwab is also a standout stock platform, particularly for its access to the popular, industry-leading thinkorswim platform, which is geared toward investors of all levels (no additional cost). Thinkorswim is a customizable trading platform featuring some of the most robust, detailed charting, custom sharing, scripts, analytics, and other advanced trading strategies.
While experienced investors get the most out of thinkorswim, less experienced and intermediate traders can also use the platform to develop and test different stock trading strategies with a simulated PaperMoney trading account, access support from the Schwab's Trade Desk, or grow their knowledge with Schwab's educational resources, such as videos, online courses, and articles.
Charles Schwab has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 2.5/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Schwab
- 8,000+ no-transaction-fee mutual funds and low-cost index funds
- Sophisticated trading tools and expert resources
- 24/7 customer service
Cons of Schwab
- High account minimum
- Can't trade individual cryptocurrencies
Best for Free Stock Trading
E*TRADE is the best trading app for free stock trading for its competitive pricing and stock-specific trading tools. Trades of stocks, ETFs, options, Treasuries, and mutual funds are commission-free.
E*TRADE streamlines the trading ideas process for stock traders. It visually presents data alongside clear descriptions so traders don't need to know how to interpret in-depth analysis and data before making their next move.
The standard E*TRADE stock trading app offers fundamental stock trading suitable for beginners and casual investors. Although this platform prioritizes simplicity, traders can still access organized market data, customizable stock watchlists, detailed research on individual stocks, and an easy-to-follow grid-like layout. However, E*TRADE does not offer fractional shares.
If you want access to more sophisticated tools, the Power E*TRADE stock buying platform offers cutting-edge trading tools. For example, the stock screener tool filters potential stock buying or selling opportunities using custom or pre-defined filters, such as P/E ratios, volatility, or revenue expectations. E*TRADE also offers similar screener tools for ETFs and fixed-income investments.
While it isn't our top pick for options trading, E*TRADE is still a great trading app for options. With E*TRADE's Snapsnot Analysis, you can weigh the risk and reward of an options trade with Snapshot, scan for unusual activity with Present Scans, or visualize portfolio risk with Risk Slide. E*TRADE also offers support from Options Specialists. This is one area E*TRADE isn't free: Options charge a $0.65 per contract fee ($0.50 per contract fee if you execute 30+ trades per quarter).
Additional perks of E*TRADE include various research providers (including 100+ technical studies), customizable options chains, and streamlined trade tickets.
E*TRADE has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and a 4.7/5 on Google Play.
Pros of E*TRADE
- No minimum to open an account
- Robust options trading market screeners and technical indicators
- Commission-free stocks, ETFs, options, Treasuries, and mutual funds
- Competitive $0.50 per options contract when executing 30+ trades per quarter
Cons of E*TRADE
- $500 investment minimum for automated advice
- Additional fees for infrequent options contracts
- No fractional shares
Best for Beginners
While the SoFi Active Invest® app is less robust than some larger competitors, that very feature makes it easy to navigate and understand if you don't have as much market experience.
SoFi's stock trading app caters to a broad audience of investors by offering taxable and retirement brokerage accounts. While SoFi's investment options are somewhat limited, a large pool of stocks and ETFs exists.
The stock app also includes educational articles accessible from stock account pages. If you are brand new to the markets, SoFi offers a way to get started with a small investment and no fees. That's a good combination for learning how to trade stocks.
SoFi charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee based on account balance.
SoFi has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 3.9/5 on Google Play.
Pros of SoFi Invest
- Financial planning assistance
- Commission-free trading
- $1 to start investing
Cons of SoFi Invest
- Currently only available to US residents
Best for Long-Term Investors
Fidelity Investments' stock trading platform is particularly attractive for long-term and retirement-focused investors because of Fidelity's accessible buy-and-hold strategy and goal-building focus.
You can hand-pick investments that help you toward your goals, like buying a home, affording a wedding, or building your nest egg.
Fidelity offers commission-free fractional shares, options ($0.65 per contract), stocks, and ETFs. Index mutual funds have no expense ratio, and US treasuries traded online are fee-free.
In addition to common tools for researching and trading stocks, Fidelity offers apps and tools to help you reach your retirement goals and other long-term plans. For example, Fidelity Spire is a goal-oriented app that encourages good saving and investing habits to achieve your goals.
Fidelity has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 4.6/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Fidelity
- Commission-free stocks, fractional shares, ETFs, and options
- Fidelity basket portfolios
- Fee-free mutual funds
Cons of Fidelity
- High minimum for CFP access through Fidelity Go
Best for Newbie Active Traders
Robinhood Investing is a trend-setting stock app responsible for creating some of the most noteworthy investment perks, such as IRA-match contributions and commission-free trading of stocks and ETFs. It is designed for newbie traders who want to build experience executing and managing complex trades like options, futures, and cryptocurrency.
Robinhood is a mobile-first platform, prioritizing the functionality and ease of use of mobile stock trading through an app rather than a desktop or web-based exchange. Investors get access to the same powerful charting capabilities, advanced market data, Morningstar research, and fast order execution typically found on more heavy-duty exchanges.
Robinhood is the only stock trading app on this list to offer commission-free cryptocurrency trades.
This stock app also has a new free browser trading platform, Legend, which provides growing room for investors who want to eventually take stock trading to the next level. Robinhood Legend provides professional-grade technology and more powerful charting capabilities and tools for investors seeking a more professional trading setup.
However, many of Robinhood's best features — including lower trading fees and a 3% IRA match — require a Gold membership ($5 a month or $50 annually).
Pros of Robinhood
- Commission-free stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency trades
- $0 minimum to start investing
- 24/5 extended stock trading hours
- Morningstar research and Nasdaq Level 11 data
Cons of Robinhood
- Limited selection of cryptocurrencies compared to larger exchanges
- Must be a Gold member to unlock certain advanced features
Best for Combined Banking and Stock Trading
If you're interested in a straightforward investment platform that goes hand-in-hand with some of the best checking and savings accounts today, Ally Invest is a good fit.
Ally Invest has no minimum or recurring fees and shares the same login for accounts with Ally Bank. With Ally Mobile, you can view your investments and enter stock trades with just a few taps.
The app includes basic research and charting, recent news, and the ability to enter a trade quickly. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as other stock trading apps, but it covers the basics and makes it easy to trade for a very low cost.
There are two portfolio options:
- Cash-enhanced: Ally invests 70% of your funds in a diversified portfolio of ETFs. The remaining 30% is held as cash to mitigate volatility. There are no advisory fees.
- Market-focused: Ally invests 98% of your funds in a diversified portfolio of ETFs, with only 2% allocated to cash. There is a 0.30% annual advisory fee.
Ally Invest has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and 4.2/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Ally
- Tax-optimized accounts focused on cash flow growth
- A suite of advanced, automated trading tools
- Commission-free options, and US stocks and ETFs
- Financial planning tools
Cons of Ally
- No-tax loss harvesting
- High minimum for advisor-assisted trades
Best for Options Trading
Webull is a discount stock trading platform offering free options trading, expert market data, crypto trading, and much more through its user-friendly mobile app. It also has a comprehensive web and desktop stock trading platform featuring in-depth stock market quotes and greater analysis.
Catering especially to options and futures traders, the Webull stock trading app boasts many advanced tools and resources, including paper trading, drawing tools, 63 on-chart technical signals, 50+ technical indicators, and extended trading hours. Beyond advanced trading functions, Webull also promotes investor education through Webull Learn, which offers an extensive library of over 500 courses and training materials.
Webull's stock trading app is best for intermediate and seasoned investors interested in hand-picking commission-free US-listed stocks, ETFs, and options. Other advanced trades include low-cost futures, index options, ADRs, crypto, fractional shares, and money-market options.
Webull has built a strong reputation for prioritizing its mobile experience for customers. The app is easy to use, low-cost, and offers a decent interest rate on uninvested cash.
Webull has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and 4.5/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Webull
- Commission-free trades of US stocks, ETFs, and options
- Paper trading, market indicators and screeners, and customizable tick charts
- High order execution quality
Cons of Webull
- No mutual funds
- Cryptocurrency trades require a separate app called Webull Pay
Introduction to Free Stock Trading
Commission-free stock trading apps have made investing more accessible to beginners and cost-conscious investors. These platforms allow users to buy, sell, and trade company shares without unnecessary transaction fees. While stock trades are the most common investment offered commission-free, many apps provide access to other securities like ETFs and mutual funds.
The Rise of Commission-Free Trading
The emergence of commission-free trading changed the game of investing, making buying and selling certain inevitable securities easier and less expensive. Charles Schwab, one of the largest and most well-trusted financial firms, began eliminating trading fees in the 1970s, paving the way for other brokerages to do the same. But it wasn't until Robinhood launched its commission-free stock and ETF trades that no-fee investing became normalized for online brokerage platforms.
Since brokerage firms now make most of their revenue from interest on cash balances, advisory services, and loan programs, the need for trading fees has lessened. Moreover, technological advancements such as automatic trading have made commission fees less relevant.
FAQs
Which stock trading platforms are best for options traders?
Webull is the best stock trading platform for options traders because of its commission-free trades, user-friendly charting tools, and customizable technical indicators. Beginners exploring options may appreciate Robinhood's straightforward trading interface. In contrast, E*TRADE can be a better fit for seasoned or high-volume active options traders seeking potentially lower per-contract fees based on volume and access to specialized options resources.
Which stock buying apps are best for free stock trading?
E*TRADE is the best stock buying app for free stock trading. Active traders can buy commission-free stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options on the E*TRADE platform. Active traders who execute 30 or more stock, ETF, or options trades per quarter benefit from reduced options contract fees, potentially leading to greater savings over time.
What is the best trading app for someone new to active trading?
Robinhood is the best trading app for someone new to active trading, who has limited to no experience hand-picking investments and actively managing their portfolio. Robinhood is a mobile-first discount brokerage that prioritizes affordability and accessibility for stocks, ETFs, and more complex strategies like futures, options, and cryptocurrency.
Sofi Active Invest: Investments are not FDIC-insured - Are not bank-guaranteed - May lose value - Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).
Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers.
SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth's advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth's current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions. https://www.sofi.com/invest/clawpromotion/rules.
