Key Takeaways
Fidelity Investments is the best overall stock trading app thanks to its low fees, variety of order types, comprehensive research tools and intuitive interface. Robinhood is an excellent alternative for beginners, while TradeStation is ideal for experienced traders.
Most stock trading apps operate as brokerage platforms, meaning they execute trades on behalf of users rather than acting as marketplaces themselves.
Automation and AI features are an increasingly common sight in trading apps, from recurring investments and dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) to portfolio rebalancing tools and robo-advisors.
Stock apps vary widely in terms of what products, fees, data, service and abilities they offer. It’s important to compare options and choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.
We evaluated 20 stock trading apps based on 24 data points grouped under three factors: cost, features and user experience.
Our top picks for the best stock trading apps
Fidelity Investments: Best for a Wide Range of Investment Products
Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
eToro: Best App for Social Trading
Latest news for stock trading app users (as of Oct. 29, 2026)
The Federal Reserve held interest rates on Oct. 28, 2026, on a 10–2 vote. Cash yields at brokers are variable, so the rates quoted below can change.
FINRA’s change to the pattern day trader rule took effect June 4, 2026. It phases in through Oct. 20, 2027. See our FAQ below.
Charles Schwab began rolling out Schwab Crypto in May 2026. It offers bitcoin and ether trading, with solana, avalanche and chainlink announced as next.
Public lists a 3.75% APY on cash with a paid Reserve subscription and 3.30% without one, as of Sept. 17, 2026.
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options (options carry a 65-cent contract fee)
Industry-leading research from 20+ independent providers
No expense ratios on select Fidelity index funds
Highly-rated mobile apps
Above-average DIY investor satisfaction
Cons
High broker-assisted trade fees
65 cents per options contract
0% expense ratio funds are limited to Fidelity’s offerings
Why we chose it: Fidelity does more things exceptionally well than any other platform on our list. It charges no trading commissions, offers proprietary index funds with a 0% expense ratio, provides research from more than 20 independent data providers, and its app has over 4 stars for both iPhone and Android. All this with no account minimum and no pressure to upgrade to a paid tier to unlock basic features.
What makes Fidelity especially compelling for a wide range of investors is how well it scales. A first-time investor can open an account for as little as $1 with fractional shares available for around 7,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), follow structured educational content and get started with a Fidelity Zero fund at no cost. Meanwhile, more experienced investors have access to Trader+, which offers sophisticated screeners and one of the deepest libraries of third-party research in retail brokerage. There are also classes and live events to help you learn more about the Trader+ web, mobile and desktop tools and how to use them to your advantage.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks/ETFs; 65 cents per options contract; bonds ~$1
Promotions
None as of Sept. 29, 2026
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
$0 commissions with no per-contract options fee on equity options (index options carry a contract fee: $0.50, or $0.35 with Gold)
Clean, intuitive mobile-first user interface
IRA with up to 3% contribution match (requires a paid Robinhood Gold subscription ($5/month); non-Gold customers receive only 1%)
24/7 in-app customer support
Highly rated mobile app
Cons
History of outages during high-volatility market events
No mutual funds or individual bonds
$5/mo or $50/yr (single charge) for Robinhood Gold
Below-average for DIY investor satisfaction
Nearly 4,200 complaints with the CFPB in the last three years
Why we chose it: Robinhood offers a nearly frictionless experience, with account setup taking just minutes and an uncluttered, easily readable trading screen. Fractional shares starting at just $1 lets you build a portfolio with whatever amount you can spare, even if that’s just a few dollars. That level of accessibility combined with 24/7 customer support directly inside the app makes Robinhood the most forgiving platform for investors who are still learning the basics.
Robinhood includes a wide variety of educational resources, 24-hour stock trading five days a week, IPO access and a Gold membership tier that unlocks reduced management, futures, and index fees, as well as AI insights from Robinhood Cortex and charts and analysis through Robinhood Legend. Robinhood also offers custodial investment accounts, checking and savings accounts, and an individual retirement account (IRA) with up to a 3% contribution match — a meaningful feature that competitors rarely offer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 trades; no equity options contract fee
Promotions
Refer a friend and get up to $15,000 in stock per year (US residents; for sign-ups on or after Sept. 1, 2026)
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
Advanced trading tools in a modern, cross-platform interface
Commission-free stock and ETF trades
High complexity futures and options tools
Extensive backtesting capabilities
Up to $3,500 in cash rewards
Highly rated mobile app
Cons
$35 annual IRA fee and $50 IRA termination fee
Steeper learning curve than competitors
Inactivity fee of $10 per month
No fractional shares
Why we chose it: TradeStation comes closest to giving retail investors the same execution environment as professional traders. Its newest Mac and Windows application marks a significant quality-of-life improvement by packaging TradeStation’s multi-asset charting, complex options spread grouping, real-time Matrix price ladder and FuturesPlus platform into an interface that is much easier to navigate. There are also trading simulators and backtesting tools to help investors head off mistakes before they happen.
TradeStation’s integration with Claude, Anthropic’s AI model, allows traders to connect their brokerage account directly to the AI to fetch live quotes, preview orders and analyze portfolio risk using plain-language prompts. Moreover, the platform is virtually unrivaled when it comes to backtesting and systematic strategy thanks to its extensive historical data library and EasyLanguage scripting environment.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 for new accounts; $0.80 per options contract ($0 at the highest trading volume tier);
Promotions
$0 per leg trade options for three months
Minimum Deposit
$0 (margin trading requires $2,000)
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
No account minimum or annual fee
Fractional shares starting at $5
No SoFi options contract fees (regulatory and clearing fees apply)
No. 1 for DIY investor satisfaction (JD Power)
Highly rated mobile app
1% cash match and IRA match for Plus members
Cons
Limited third-party ETF variety
$100 account transfer-out fee
$25 inactivity fee
Why we chose it: While Fidelity and Charles Schwab charge 65 cents per options contract, SoFi InvestⓇ charges no commission and no SoFi contract fee on options. Robinhood and Moomoo also waive per-contract fees on equity options. Regulatory and clearing fees still apply on every contract. For investors who trade options with any regularity, that difference adds up quickly and meaningfully over time.
Beyond its pricing structure, SoFi’s broader advantage is integration. Users who already bank with SoFi can move money between checking, savings and investing accounts without friction. That helps provide a full picture of your finances in a single app, which also gives you access to IPO investing and automated portfolios alongside self-directed trading.
If you become a SoFi Plus member, you can earn an unlimited 1% match on recurring deposits to a SoFi Invest account, paid in rewards points.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 trades; no options contract fee
Promotions
Up to $1,000 in free stock for new SoFi Active Invest accounts
Minimum Deposit
$5
Pros
Unmatched reach in global market and currency access
Commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trading on IBKR lite
Among the lowest currency conversion fees in the industry
Exceptionally low margin rates
Highly rated mobile app
Uninvested cash earns high interest rate
Cons
High minimum balance required for reaping interest
Steep learning curve for its flagship platform
Limited crypto offering
Why we chose it: Interactive Brokers (IBKR) provides access to 170 markets, 40 trading countries and 29 currencies for funding, all in a single account. Where most U.S. brokers limit international exposure to a handful of American Depositary Receipts or a curated set of foreign ETFs, IBKR offers direct access to tens of thousands of listings across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. There’s also overnight trading.
IBKR Pro’s currency conversion fee of a flat 0.003% is significantly cheaper than the 0.50% to 1.50% markup charged by competitors — a difference that compounds meaningfully for any investor regularly moving between currencies to buy foreign-listed securities. Moreover, the platform’s research library spans more than 140 domestic and international providers; it boasts AI integrations with ChatGPT, Grok, Perplexity, and Claude; and its SMART Routing technology routinely scans for best execution across exchanges globally.
One last perk: Uninvested cash balances above $10,000 earn up to 3.38% interest — automatically.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 (Lite); $0.15 to $0.65 per options contract on Pro, $0.65 on Lite
Promotions
$10 instant cash when opening a new Prediction Markets account
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
No equity options commissions and no per-contract fee
Advanced multi-chart layout and AI-powered assistant
Paper trading with up to $1 million in virtual funds
Access to new Nasdaq weekly expirations
Highly rated mobile app
Uninvested cash earns very high interest
24/7 support
Cons
$20 fee for domestic bank wire withdrawals; $25 for international
No mutual funds or IRAs
Why we chose it: Moomoo doesn’t charge commissions or per-contract fee on equity options, putting it on a very short list of platforms that offer options trading for free. For traders who run high-frequency strategies or manage sizable positions across multiple names, the savings relative to the 65 cents-per-contract standard charged by most full-service brokers are substantial.
The Moomoo desktop and mobile apps support up to six simultaneous charts, a customizable layout, over 60 technical indicators, and Moomoo AI — an integrated trading assistant that processes real-time market data. The platform’s partnership with Nasdaq adds nine major U.S. underlyings — the main investment an option is based on — that expire twice a week for even greater flexibility in short-term strategies. Cash sweeps at Moomoo earn a hefty 3.60% APY for users who meet a qualifying deposit or transfer requirement (promo rate as of Sept. 18, 2026; rates can change).
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks/options (reg fees apply)
Promotions
Up to $1,000 in NVDA shares plus 8.1% APY on uninvested cash; $200 in traditing coupons for depositing $100
Minimum Deposit
$0
Pros
Widest selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds among major brokers
Over 400 branch locations nationwide for in-person guidance
Automated IRA management with no advisory fee
24/7 phone and chat support
Thinkorswim tools offer charting, analysis and simulation trading
Cons
Low interest rate on uninvested cash
Limited crypto trading
Below average DIY and advised investor satisfaction (JD Power)
Why we chose it: Schwab offers nearly 4,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, giving IRA holders a broader selection from which they can build a passive, low-cost portfolio without worrying about trading fees eroding contributions. Its IRAs carry no annual fees and no closing fees, removing two of the most common hidden costs in retirement accounts.
The platform also leads on the advisory side. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios provides fully automated IRA management with no management fee — unusual in an industry where robo-advisory services typically cost 0.25% annually. Its 24/7 phone and chat support remains among the most consistently praised customer service teams in retail brokerage.
Schwab also gives its investment customers access to thinkorswim, trading platforms that offer charting, analysis and simulation tools. It’s available via desktop, mobile or web app.Schwab Crypto began rolling out to clients in May 2026 and lets investors buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum at 75 basis points per trade, in a separate account through Schwab Premier Bank. Schwab has announced that solana, avalanche and chainlink are coming next.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
$0 stocks; 65 cents per options contract
Promotions
$100 to $1,000 via referral from an existing Schwab client; 500 commission-free trades with a qualifying deposit of $100,000 or more
Minimum Deposit
$0 ($5,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios)
Pros
40 million+ user community
Commission-free stock and ETF trading
Copy the portfolios of vetted US investors (US users can copy only US-based traders; $200 minimum per copy; phased rollout, not available in all states)
Social feed, live market commentary and sentiment data
$0 withdrawal fee and a $30 minimum withdrawal amount
Highly rated mobile app
Invest as little as $50
Cons
Narrower asset selection than full-service competitors
Fractional shares carry a $10 minimum
$50 minimum for options trading
1% fee on crypto
Why we chose it: eToro’s CopyTrader feature lets you automatically mirror the real-time trades of verified investors with publicly audited performance histories. In the US, you can copy only other US-based customers. Performance data going back multiple years, risk scores and monthly return breakdowns make it easy to evaluate who you’re copying. Plus, there are no management fees for copy trading; the only cost is the same spread you’d pay on any trade executed manually.
You can start investing with as little as $50, and there’s even a virtual portfolio feature to help you practice your trades.
Every asset page on eToro is integrated with live community discussion, sentiment indicators and real-time commentary from other investors. In 2025, eToro expanded that feed by incorporating data from Stocktwits’ over 10 million users, giving the platform one of the most robust market-sentiment signals available to retail investors.
The company is working on a new product that will allow customers to direct funds straight from their paychecks into investments.
HIGHLIGHTS
Fees
Spread-based
Promotions
Up to $300 crypto bonus with first deposit
Minimum Deposit
$10
Other stock trading apps we considered
E*TRADE
E*TRADE is a well-rounded broker and an excellent option for investors who want to dive into educational resources. In addition to commission-free stock, ETF and options trades, the platform also enjoys backing from Morgan Stanley, which adds a layer of institutional research most discount brokers can’t match. However, it struggles to carve a niche for itself in a field where competitors offer comparable or superior tools at similar prices. It was also rated well-below average on JD Power’s Satisfaction Study.
Plynk
Purpose-built for first-time investors, Plynk removes several barriers that typically discourage beginners. It has no account minimum, fractional trades starting at $1 and plain-language guidance throughout the app. The platform’s learning hub offers structured lessons on investing basics, and a simulated trading environment with $100,000 in virtual funds lets new investors hone their skills before risking real money. It also offers a 25% cash match on dividends earned — up to $250 per year (or 50% and $500 if you join Plynk Premium).
Because Plynk offers no automated trading, rebalancing or tax optimization, and has no IRA support, investors may need to graduate to a fuller platform as their goals grow. But as an on-ramp for the genuinely uninitiated, it does its job better than almost any competitor in this category.
Public
Public offers stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, crypto and a high-yield cash account in one app, with a built-in social feed for community discussion. The platform stands out for its options rebate model, which pays traders back a portion of the spread rather than routing orders to market makers for profit. It also has a 1% cash match on both its Roth and Traditional IRAs. While Public doesn’t match the versatility or depth of eToro’s copy-trading, it’s still worth a look for investors who want an honest cost structure and a community-driven experience.
Webull
Webull offers commission-free trading on US-listed stocks and ETFs, $0 contract fees on stock and ETF options, and Roth, Traditional and Rollover IRAs with no account minimums. Its pages disagree on its index-option fees and cash yield, so check the current fee schedule in the app before you open an account.
Ally Invest
Ally tied for third place in J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Investor Satisfaction Study for DIY investors, with a score of 707.
What you need to know about stock trading apps
Stock trading apps allow investors to buy and sell stocks online, be it on desktop or on your mobile device. Most trading apps also allow you to trade other types of securities, such as ETFs, bonds, options, futures and even crypto.
To use one of these platforms, you must first create an account and deposit funds into it. Once the account is set up, you can research different stocks, track their performance and decide which ones to buy or sell. The app will calculate the total cost of trading and show it to you trade on a confirmation screen.
After the user confirms the transaction, the app will send the order directly to the broker. Then, once it has been completed — often within seconds — the user will receive a trade confirmation, and the stock will be added to their portfolio. The app will also provide real-time updates on the stock’s performance so the user can monitor their investments.
What are stock trading app orders?
An order in a trading app is a set of instructions given to a broker that determine how and when a trade is executed. Stock trading apps typically support a set of standard order types that includes market orders, limit orders and stop orders. More advanced apps may offer conditional orders such as bracket orders or one-cancels-the-other (OCO) orders, where executing one order.
How to start investing with stock trading apps
Getting started with stock trading apps is a relatively simple process.
Choose a brokerage app that matches your goal — such as retirement, saving for a major purchase or learning how markets work — and your style of investing. Compare fees, investment options, user interface, educational tools and customer support.
Download the app and create a brokerage account. You’ll usually need to provide your personal information so the platform can verify your identity. Don’t forget to enable two-factor authentication, use a strong password and turn on biometric login if available.
Connect your checking or savings account so you can transfer funds into the trading app.
Choose a security, enter the dollar amount or number of shares, review the order and confirm the purchase.
Check your investments periodically. As your goals, income and risk tolerance change, revisit your portfolio. You may need to rebalance, increase contributions or shift toward more conservative investments over time.
Best Stock Trading Apps FAQs
Are stock trading apps safe?
Reputable U.S. trading apps generally use encryption to protect customer data and operate under oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. SEC-registered broker-dealers are also generally members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, which can restore up to $500,000 per customer if a brokerage fails, including up to $250,000 in cash.
That protection has limits. SIPC does not reimburse you for investment losses, and it generally does not protect cryptocurrencies or other digital assets that don’t qualify as securities.
Do you still need $25,000 to day trade?
No. FINRA did away with the pattern day trader designation and its longstanding $25,000 minimum equity requirement in 2026. The previous trade-counting system was replaced with intraday margin requirements that apply throughout the trading day.
You still need at least $2,000 in equity to use a margin account, and individual brokerages can set stricter requirements of their own. So while the $25,000 threshold is gone, frequent trading with borrowed money still comes with capital and margin requirements.
How do free trading apps make money?
A trading app can charge zero commissions and still make money in several other ways. Depending on the platform, revenue may come from payment for order flow, interest earned on customers’ uninvested cash, margin lending, securities lending and paid subscription plans.
There can also be smaller fees that aren’t obvious from the “commission-free” label, such as options contract fees, wire transfer charges, inactivity fees or account transfer fees. That’s why it’s worth looking beyond the advertised trading commission when comparing platforms.
Can you lose more money than you invest?
Not if you’re simply buying stocks in a standard cash account. In that case, the most you can generally lose on a stock investment is the amount you paid for it.
Margin trading is different because you’re investing with money borrowed from your brokerage. If your investments fall sharply, you can lose more than your original cash deposit. Your broker may also sell investments in your account without getting your approval first if your equity falls below its maintenance requirements. Certain options strategies can carry substantial losses as well.
How much money is needed to start trading?
You don’t need much to get started with many of today’s trading apps. Most major platforms have no account minimum, and fractional shares make it possible to invest with only a few dollars. Fidelity and Robinhood, for example, allow fractional-share purchases starting at $1, while SoFi starts at $5 and eToro at $10.
Minimum balances aren’t the only fees to watch, though. Some platforms charge inactivity fees if you leave an account unused for too long, which can matter more than the amount required to open the account.
How do taxes work with stock trading apps?
Your brokerage typically reports taxable investment activity to the IRS and provides you with tax forms, often including a consolidated Form 1099 covering sales, dividends and interest. You’re still responsible for making sure the information is reported correctly on your tax return.
How much tax you owe depends in part on how long you held the investment. Gains on investments held for one year or less are generally taxed at ordinary income tax rates, while investments held for more than a year may qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates. You also need to watch the wash sale rule, which can prevent you from immediately claiming certain losses if you sell an investment and buy the same or a substantially identical security within 30 days.
What’s the difference between a market order and a limit order?
A market order tells your broker to buy or sell as soon as possible at the best price currently available. It’s designed for speed, but the final price may be different from the one you saw when you submitted the order.
A limit order gives you more control over price. You choose the highest price you’re willing to pay when buying, or the lowest price you’re willing to accept when selling. The trade will only go through if the market reaches that price, so there’s no guarantee the order will be filled. Limit orders can be especially useful with volatile or lightly traded stocks, where prices can move quickly.
Methodology
To identify the best stock trading apps, we evaluated platforms across three categories: cost, features and user experience. Each category reflects several data points that directly affect how investors interact with a trading app, from affordability to functionality and ease of use.
Cost
We evaluated cost by looking at the direct and indirect expenses associated with each platform. That includes trading commissions for stocks, ETFs and options; margin rates; account minimums; and any subscription or premium feature fees. We also considered additional charges, such as transfer fees, inactivity fees and costs tied to advanced data or tools.
Features
For features, our focus was on the breadth and quality of investment tools offered by each app. We considered access to different asset classes such as stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, as well as the availability of fractional shares. Research tools, charting capabilities, educational resources, automation features and advanced trading functionalities were also taken into account.
User Experience
We assessed the overall usability and design of each app to evaluate user experience. This includes account setup, navigation, trade execution and portfolio management. Factors such as mobile app performance, interface clarity, customization options and reliability factored into the equation. Customer support availability and responsiveness also played a role.
Summary of our top picks
Fidelity Investments: Best for Wide-Range of Investment Products
Robinhood: Best Trading App for Beginners
TradeStation: Best App for Active Traders
Interactive Brokers: Best Trading App for Global Investing
SoFi Invest: Best Low-Cost Trading App
Moomoo: Best Trading App for Options
Charles Schwab: Best Trading App for Retirement Investing
eToro: Best App for Social Trading