Best Stock Apps of May 2024
The best apps to buy stocks offer free trades, powerful mobile trading platforms and high user ratings. Below are our picks for the best stock apps.
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ALSO CONSIDER: Best brokerag promotions || Brokerage accounts with high interest rates || Best brokers for free trading
The mobile stock-trading field exploded after Robinhood's early success: Online brokers have clamored to up their game and improve their stock apps to compete with a rise of newcomers.
All of that is good news for consumers: The best stock apps now nearly mirror powerful desktop and web platforms, with advanced functionality, analysis tools, research and watch lists. They also offer completely free stock trades, low or no account fees and no minimum investment. Some, like Webull and SoFi Active Investing, don't charge options contract fees, either.
If you're looking to place trades on the go, review our list of the best apps to buy stocks below. You'll note that many of these come from established online brokers — that's because these companies tend to offer apps with the most well-rounded capabilities for stock and options traders.
Best apps for stock trading
Schwab already had some of the best educational offerings of any broker we review — and its acquisition of TD Ameritrade puts its above the other stock apps listed here in terms of ways to learn about investing and practice trading. The combined Schwab-thinkorswim platforms offer best-in-class paper trading tools, newsletters, webcasts, articles and more.
Fidelity's brokerage service is one of the best in the business, and regularly scores the highest in several categories. It's beginner-friendly, but also offers a suite of advanced trading products and tools. In addition to its main Fidelity Investments mobile app, it also offers the Fidelity Youth app, designed to acquaint teens with investing, and Fidelity Bloom, which is meant to help users build good money habits. And, for anyone who has a Fidelity workplace 401(k), setting up a separate brokerage account for non-retirement investing can all be done in-app.
Webull offers investors some of the lowest margin rates among these stock apps. While many brokers charge annual interest rates of at least 10% for borrowed investment money, Webull’s margin loans have an interest rate range of just 5.74% to 9.74%, depending on the balance.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's stock app could be a clear choice for existing Chase Bank customers. As the retail investing arm of the largest bank in the U.S., the app seamlessly integrates with Chase credit cards and bank accounts. But non-Chase Bank members still get full access to J.P. Morgan's suite of educational tools, including newsletters, videos and daily market insights. And for anyone looking for in-person customer support, J.P. Morgan has more than 4,000 branches across the country — more than any other brokerage we review.
Interactive Brokers has one of the most advanced trading platforms and apps in the industry, with unique features such as a customizable dashboard, an ESG dashboard, more than 200 news and research services, and support for 9 languages — more than any other broker we review. It is well-suited to more advanced traders.
E*Trade offers longer extended trading hours than any other stock app listed here. In addition to a pre-market session that starts at 7:00 a.m. ET on weekdays, and a post-market session that ends at 8:00 p.m. ET on weekdays, E*Trade offers 24-hour ETF trading Monday through Friday, and 24-hour futures trading Monday through Saturday.
SoFi Active Investing was among the first next-generation stock apps to offer clients access to initial public offerings (IPOs), something that has typically been reserved for institutional investors. And while investing in IPOs is certainly a more advanced trading strategy, SoFi's stock app is very straightforward and simple to use. For existing SoFi customers, the app easily connects to other SoFI products, such as banking, credit cards and loans.
Stash is designed for investors who want an app to walk them through the process of investing in stocks. Stash offers both a DIY investing platform where you can pick and choose your own stocks, and an automated robo-advisor service that will manage a portfolio on your behalf. It makes our list because it has unique educational features that stand out from other apps and position it as a good choice for beginners. The downside is that the app charges a monthly fee that starts at $3. As with other apps on this list, you won't pay commissions to trade stocks or ETFs.
Ally Invest offers some of the best customer support services in the brokerage business, with 24/7 phone, email and chat help available to all users. Among online-only brokers, Ally’s customer service availability is unmatched.
Firstrade's stock app skews more toward experienced investors, and is one of the rare brokers that charges no per-contract fee on options trades nor commissions on over-the-counter trades. The broker is also one of the few that offer access to international investors, accepting clients from nearly 30 countries.
Merrill Edge’s investing app is highly rated among iOS users for its customer support and is integrated with Bank of America for a seamless investing and banking experience. It offers robust research and a library of educational content to help you find the right investment. The broker’s Idea Builder tool helps newer investors find the right investment, including environmental and social investors.
Public is the only stock app we review that actually pays you to trade options. Public users get a rebate of $0.06 per options contract traded. If you refer enough friends to Public, that rebate can go as high as $0.18 per contract traded.
ALSO CONSIDER: Best brokerag promotions || Brokerage accounts with high interest rates || Best brokers for free trading
The mobile stock-trading field exploded after Robinhood's early success: Online brokers have clamored to up their game and improve their stock apps to compete with a rise of newcomers.
All of that is good news for consumers: The best stock apps now nearly mirror powerful desktop and web platforms, with advanced functionality, analysis tools, research and watch lists. They also offer completely free stock trades, low or no account fees and no minimum investment. Some, like Webull and SoFi Active Investing, don't charge options contract fees, either.
If you're looking to place trades on the go, review our list of the best apps to buy stocks below. You'll note that many of these come from established online brokers — that's because these companies tend to offer apps with the most well-rounded capabilities for stock and options traders.
Best apps for stock trading
Schwab already had some of the best educational offerings of any broker we review — and its acquisition of TD Ameritrade puts its above the other stock apps listed here in terms of ways to learn about investing and practice trading. The combined Schwab-thinkorswim platforms offer best-in-class paper trading tools, newsletters, webcasts, articles and more.
Fidelity's brokerage service is one of the best in the business, and regularly scores the highest in several categories. It's beginner-friendly, but also offers a suite of advanced trading products and tools. In addition to its main Fidelity Investments mobile app, it also offers the Fidelity Youth app, designed to acquaint teens with investing, and Fidelity Bloom, which is meant to help users build good money habits. And, for anyone who has a Fidelity workplace 401(k), setting up a separate brokerage account for non-retirement investing can all be done in-app.
Webull offers investors some of the lowest margin rates among these stock apps. While many brokers charge annual interest rates of at least 10% for borrowed investment money, Webull’s margin loans have an interest rate range of just 5.74% to 9.74%, depending on the balance.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's stock app could be a clear choice for existing Chase Bank customers. As the retail investing arm of the largest bank in the U.S., the app seamlessly integrates with Chase credit cards and bank accounts. But non-Chase Bank members still get full access to J.P. Morgan's suite of educational tools, including newsletters, videos and daily market insights. And for anyone looking for in-person customer support, J.P. Morgan has more than 4,000 branches across the country — more than any other brokerage we review.
Interactive Brokers has one of the most advanced trading platforms and apps in the industry, with unique features such as a customizable dashboard, an ESG dashboard, more than 200 news and research services, and support for 9 languages — more than any other broker we review. It is well-suited to more advanced traders.
E*Trade offers longer extended trading hours than any other stock app listed here. In addition to a pre-market session that starts at 7:00 a.m. ET on weekdays, and a post-market session that ends at 8:00 p.m. ET on weekdays, E*Trade offers 24-hour ETF trading Monday through Friday, and 24-hour futures trading Monday through Saturday.
SoFi Active Investing was among the first next-generation stock apps to offer clients access to initial public offerings (IPOs), something that has typically been reserved for institutional investors. And while investing in IPOs is certainly a more advanced trading strategy, SoFi's stock app is very straightforward and simple to use. For existing SoFi customers, the app easily connects to other SoFI products, such as banking, credit cards and loans.
Stash is designed for investors who want an app to walk them through the process of investing in stocks. Stash offers both a DIY investing platform where you can pick and choose your own stocks, and an automated robo-advisor service that will manage a portfolio on your behalf. It makes our list because it has unique educational features that stand out from other apps and position it as a good choice for beginners. The downside is that the app charges a monthly fee that starts at $3. As with other apps on this list, you won't pay commissions to trade stocks or ETFs.
Ally Invest offers some of the best customer support services in the brokerage business, with 24/7 phone, email and chat help available to all users. Among online-only brokers, Ally’s customer service availability is unmatched.
Firstrade's stock app skews more toward experienced investors, and is one of the rare brokers that charges no per-contract fee on options trades nor commissions on over-the-counter trades. The broker is also one of the few that offer access to international investors, accepting clients from nearly 30 countries.
Merrill Edge’s investing app is highly rated among iOS users for its customer support and is integrated with Bank of America for a seamless investing and banking experience. It offers robust research and a library of educational content to help you find the right investment. The broker’s Idea Builder tool helps newer investors find the right investment, including environmental and social investors.
Public is the only stock app we review that actually pays you to trade options. Public users get a rebate of $0.06 per options contract traded. If you refer enough friends to Public, that rebate can go as high as $0.18 per contract traded.
Best Stock Apps
$0
per online equity trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
Four trading platforms with no minimum or fees.
Above-average mobile app.
Extensive research.
Large fund selection.
Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades.
Cons
Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
With no account minimum or annual fee, the Schwab mobile apps are easy to use for investors both new and experienced. Schwab mobile and StreetSmart mobile apps allow commission-free trades across a wide selection of stock, options, and ETFs, and the broker provides access to over 4,000 no-transaction fee mutual funds. Schwab is also highly rated for its research, including Schwab’s own equity ratings and analysis from 14 providers including Morningstar, Credit Suisse and Thompson Reuters.
Best App for Investing 2024
$0
per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
Commission-free stock, ETF and options 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 mobile apps are highly rated by users, and offer real-time quotes, advanced options trading strategies and streamlined access to investment research. Fidelity also offers a customized app experience for its Youth Account, with in-app educational resources.
$0
per trade
$0
Get up to 75 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000)
when you open and fund an account with Webull.
Pros
Low costs.
Easy-to-use platform.
Advanced tools.
Access to cryptocurrency.
High interest rate on uninvested cash.
High order execution quality.
Cons
No mutual funds.
Thin educational support.
Why We Like It
Webull will appeal to the mobile-first generation of casual investors with its slick interface for desktop and mobile apps, but the brokerage also delivers an impressive array of tools for active traders. However, its relatively weak educational content may leave true beginners in the lurch, and it lacks access to a few common asset classes.
$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.
Pros
Easy-to-use platform.
$0 commissions.
App connects all Chase accounts.
No account minimum.
Cons
Limited tools and research.
Portfolio Builder tool requires $2,500 balance.
Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
J.P. Morgan’s mobile app offers a way to begin investing and managing your portfolio. The Self Directed Investing app connects to Chase accounts, creating a seamless and streamlined experience for Chase customers to easily trade stocks, ETFs, options, bonds and mutual funds. However, J.P. Morgan’s additional investment products, such as the Portfolio Builder tool, require a $2,500 minimum that could be prohibitive to some investors. Self-Directed Investing also doesn’t allow investing in futures, forex or cryptocurrencies, nor does it offer fractional shares.
4.5
/5Reviewed in: Oct. 2023
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023
on Stash's website
AD
Paid non-client promotion
$3 or $9
per month, depending on selected plan
$0
Get $25
when you open a personal brokerage account and deposit at least $5. Subject to T&Cs.
Pros
Both DIY and automated investing.
Fractional shares.
Values-based investment offerings.
Cons
Smart Portfolios don't offer tax-loss harvesting.
No automated IRA management.
Why We Like It
Stash aims to make investing approachable for beginners. The service has a $0 account minimum (though managed Smart Portfolios require $5 to get started) and charges $3 or $9 a month, depending on what services and account types you are looking for. If you’re looking for a little hand-holding while you build a portfolio of stocks and ETFs, Stash may be a good fit. If you just want automated management, it may be best to look elsewhere.
$0
per trade. Other fees apply.
$0
Get up to $1,000
when you open and fund an E*TRADE account
Pros
Easy-to-use tools.
Excellent customer support.
Advanced mobile app.
Commission-free stock, options, mutual fund and ETF trades.
Cons
Website can be difficult to navigate.
Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
E*TRADE offers two free mobile apps that allow you to not only manage your account and place trades, but also access real-time quotes, as well as stock and ETF screeners. The broker's Power E*TRADE app can be used for trading complex strategies, including four-legged option spreads. It also offers access to popular technical studies, charts and streaming quotes.
$0
per trade
$0
Up to $1,000
in free stock for users who sign up via mobile app
Pros
Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades.
Fractional shares available.
Free financial counseling.
IPO access.
No account minimum.
Cons
Low interest rate on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
SoFi Active Investing offers two free mobile apps that are both highly rated by iOS and Android users. The apps allow investors to place trades, track the performance of their existing investments and access real-time quotes.
Best Online Broker for Advanced Traders 2024
$0
per trade
$0
None
no promotion available at this time
Pros
Large investment selection.
Strong research and tools.
Over 19,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
High order execution quality.
Cons
High minimum to earn interest on uninvested cash.
Why We Like It
Active and casual traders alike will benefit from Interactive Brokers' advanced execution, strong trading platforms and rock-bottom pricing.
Want to compare more options? Here are our other top picks:
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Charles Schwab Learn more on Charles Schwab's website | $0 per online equity trade | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn more on Charles Schwab's website | |
 Fidelity Learn more on Fidelity's website | $0 per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn more on Fidelity's website | |
 Webull Learn more on Webull's website | $0 per trade | $0 | Get up to 75 free fractional shares (valued up to $3,000) when you open and fund an account with Webull. | Learn more on Webull's website | |
 J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing Learn more on J.P. Morgan's website | $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 more on J.P. Morgan's website | |
Stash Learn more on Stash's website AD Paid non-client promotion | Reviewed in: Oct. 2023 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2023 | $3 or $9 per month, depending on selected plan | $0 | Get $25 when you open a personal brokerage account and deposit at least $5. Subject to T&Cs. | Learn more on Stash's website AD Paid non-client promotion |
Compare top stock apps
How do the best stock apps compare across the most important categories? Fidelity, Ally and Webull ranked particularly well for customer service and fees.
Best overall | ||
Fidelity | Fidelity offers $0 trading commissions, a selection of more than 3,300 no-transaction-fee mutual funds and top-notch research tools and mobile platform. | |
Best for customer service | ||
Fidelity | Phone, email and live chat 24/7; more than 200 local branches. | |
Ally | 24/7 by phone, email and chat. | |
Best for account fees | ||
Fidelity | None. | |
Webull | None. | |
Note: These brokers scored five stars in these specific categories, but their overall score above may be different.
Deciding which stock app is best for you
This Nerdy video discusses the key features you should consider when evaluating stock apps, including your trading style.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best stock app for beginners?
Most of the brokers on our list of the best brokers for beginners also show up here, including SoFi Active Investing, E*TRADE, Fidelity and Charles Schwab. In general, mobile trading apps are a good choice for beginners because they're typically easier to navigate than online or desktop platforms.
What's the best app for free stock trading?
Nearly all of the 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.
How does Robinhood compare to other stock apps?
Robinhood is wildly popular in the stock app world, but did not make our list here. We have a full comparison of Robinhood and its alternatives, where you can dive into more details about how Robinhood stacks up to its biggest competition. In general, Robinhood offers a streamlined, clean interface that makes it easy for even beginners to trade. Traditional online brokers tend to provide more bells and whistles, including advanced tools, stronger customer support and educational resources.
Last updated on May 10, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet’s comprehensive review process evaluates and ranks the largest U.S. brokers. 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 adhere to strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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 providers and our processes, read our full broker ratings methodology.
To recap our selections...
