In just a few years, mobile technology has made investing easier than ever. Today, you can invest right from your phone! Many new fintech companies have created simple solutions for investors. Apps like Acorns and Stash now compete with well-known names like E-Trade and TD Ameritrade.
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ToggleWith so many options available, it can be hard to know which investment app is best for you. To help, I’ve put together a list of the best investment apps for 2025. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trader, there’s an app for you!
Best Investment Apps for 2025
Before we get started, remember that this list isn’t a ranking. I’ve selected the best apps based on different needs – like stock trading, no-fee investing, and more. The app that works best for you depends on your personal goals.
Best Overall Investment App: Acorns
Acorns is my top pick for investing. It’s not perfect, but it does what it’s meant to do – and it does it really well. Acorns is made for new investors. It offers simple, automatic investing with low fees and no minimum balance.
Acorns has a unique feature called roundup savings. Here’s how it works: when you buy something with your debit or credit card, Acorns rounds up the amount to the nearest dollar. The extra change is automatically saved and invested. For example, if you spend $1.48 on coffee, Acorns will round up to $2.00 and invest the extra 52 cents.
Features:
- Great for beginners
- Easy-to-use app
- Roundup savings
- No minimum balance
- Low fees: $1/month for accounts under $5000
- IRA account available
- No stock trading
Best for Automated Investing: Acorns & M1 Finance
Acorns is a top choice for automated investing. You can save money without even thinking about it, thanks to roundups and features like Acorns Found Money, where you earn cashback from partner stores like Walmart and Sephora.
M1 Finance also offers automated investing, where you can set up regular investments into ETF portfolios, free of charge. However, M1 Finance requires a $100 minimum balance and lacks some of Acorns’ extra features.
Best for Beginners: Acorns & Stash
Acorns is great for beginners because it has tons of helpful educational content. You can learn everything from what stocks and bonds are, to how dollar-cost averaging works.
Stash also helps new investors by offering simple, creative ETF portfolios like Retail Therapy and Delicious Dividends, making investing more fun and easier to understand.
Best for Financial Management: Personal Capital
If you want an investment app that helps you track your finances, Personal Capital is a great choice. They offer free tools to help you manage your budget and track your net worth. They also provide financial advice and investment portfolios, including individual stocks and low-cost ETFs.
However, they charge an annual fee of 0.89% on assets up to $1 million.
Features:
- Free budgeting tools
- 0.89% fee on assets up to $1 million
- $100,000 minimum investment
- Dedicated financial advice
Best for Stock Trading: TD Ameritrade & E-Trade
If you want to trade stocks, TD Ameritrade is a great option. They have an easy-to-use app with powerful research tools and educational videos. TD Ameritrade also offers over 100 commission-free ETFs.
E-Trade is another strong option, although it requires a $500 minimum balance and doesn’t offer commission-free ETFs.
TD Ameritrade Features:
- Powerful research tools
- No account minimum
- $6.95 per trade (standard)
- Free trades for the first 60 days
Best for Free Stock Trades: Robinhood
Robinhood is the best choice for free stock and ETF trades. It’s perfect for low-fee investors. However, it doesn’t offer many advanced features. Research tools cost $5/month, and margin trading is only available with Robinhood Gold, which also costs extra.
Features:
- Free stock and ETF trades
- No account fees
- Easy-to-use mobile app
- $5/month for advanced research tools
Best for Free ETF Investing: Vanguard
Vanguard is a leader in low-cost investing. With the Vanguard app, you can trade thousands of ETFs for free. There are no account fees or minimum balances. However, their platform is better for long-term investors and not ideal for frequent stock trading.
Features:
- No commission fees on ETFs
- No account fees or minimum balance
- $7 trade fee for stocks (up to $20 after 25 trades)
Best for Socially Responsible Investing: Wealthsimple
Wealthsimple offers low-cost ETFs and focuses on socially responsible investing (SRI). You can invest in things like clean energy and affordable housing. They also offer a Halal portfolio, which follows Islamic investing principles.
Features:
- Socially responsible ETFs
- Halal portfolio available
- 0.50% annual fee up to $100,000
- No minimum investment
Best for Real-Estate Investing: Fundrise
If you’re interested in real estate, Fundrise allows you to invest in private real estate portfolios. With just a $500 minimum investment, Fundrise makes real estate investing accessible to more people. They offer portfolios tailored for income, balance, or long-term growth.
Features:
- Real estate investment portfolios
- $500 minimum investment
- Annual fees up to 1%
Best for Micro-Investing: Stash
Stash is great for micro-investing, allowing you to start with just $5. They’ll even match your first deposit with $5. With fractional shares, you can invest small amounts in stocks and ETFs that match your values.
Features:
- Invest small amounts
- Creative ETF portfolios
- $1/month fee
- $5 welcome bonus (with a $5 deposit)
Which Investment App is Right for You?
Choosing the right investment app depends on your needs. If you want simple, automated savings, Acorns is a good choice. For serious stock trading, TD Ameritrade or E-Trade might be better. If you’re looking for free ETF trading, Vanguard is a solid option.
Once you know what you need, picking the right app will be much easier!
Author
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Cleveland de Seignon is a finance-passionate writer, simplifying investing, personal finance, and wealth management to empower smarter financial decisions. Disclaimer: The content provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. Always consult a professional before making financial decisions.
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