Best Apps to Buy Stocks in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

Fidelity is the app we recommend first to most new investors, and the reasons stack up. There is no account minimum, no commission on US stocks and ETFs, and fractional shares start at $1, so you can begin with a few dollars. Its research library draws on in-house analysts and third-party providers, and its education content covers everything from first trades to options strategies.

Fidelity also runs strong retirement accounts, including traditional and Roth IRAs, and its zero-expense-ratio index funds are among the cheapest broad-market funds available. The mobile app packs in a lot, which can feel busy next to Robinhood's minimal design, and direct crypto trading is limited to spot ETFs. For long-term investors who want one app that does nearly everything well, Fidelity is the safest pick.

Schwab combines a full-service broker with a DIY price tag. Online US stock and ETF trades are free, there is no minimum to open an account, and fractional shares let you start small. Active traders get thinkorswim, one of the most respected trading platforms available, with advanced charting, paper trading and strategy tools.

The human side matters too. Schwab has branch offices across the United States and phone support around the clock, which is reassuring when something goes wrong with a transfer or a trade. Options contracts cost $0.65 each, unlike the free options trades at Robinhood and Webull, and uninvested cash earns less than at some rivals. For investors who want serious tools plus a real person to call, Schwab is the best balance.

Robinhood made commission-free trading the industry standard, and its app remains the easiest way to buy a first stock. You can trade stocks, ETFs, options and crypto from one clean interface, buy fractional shares from $1, and open an IRA that earns a match on contributions. For a beginner who wants to place a trade in under a minute, nothing beats it for simplicity.

The simplicity has costs. Research tools and education are lighter than at Fidelity or Schwab, and there are no mutual funds or bonds on the platform. Transferring your whole account elsewhere costs $100, the highest in this list. If you plan to buy and hold index funds for decades, start with Fidelity instead. If you want the gentlest possible first step into stocks, Robinhood is it.

ETRADE, now part of Morgan Stanley, is the education-first broker in this list. Its webinars, articles and paper trading tools make it a good classroom for investors who want to learn options or technical analysis before risking real money. The Power ETRADE platform gives active traders advanced charting and strategy tools, and $0 stock and ETF trades keep costs down.

Options contracts cost $0.65 each, with a lower rate for very active traders, and the mobile app, while capable, is not as polished as Robinhood's or Webull's. E*TRADE suits intermediate investors who value learning resources and a solid options platform over the absolute simplest interface.

Webull is the favorite of active retail traders who want professional tools without paying for them. Stock, ETF and options trades are all free, charting is deep and customizable, and paper trading lets you test strategies with virtual money. Fractional shares and extended-hours trading are included, and a premium tier at $3.99 per month adds extra data for those who want it.

The gaps are mutual funds, which Webull does not offer, and a $75 full transfer-out fee. Customer support is also less extensive than at the full-service brokers. If you trade often, study charts and want $0 options trades, Webull gives you more for free than any rival. If you mainly buy index funds and hold them, Fidelity or Vanguard will serve you better.

Interactive Brokers, known as IBKR, is the professional's choice. The Lite plan offers $0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs with no account minimum, while the Pro plan suits high-volume traders with per-share pricing and volume discounts. Global market access spans more than 100 currencies and thousands of funds, and margin rates are among the lowest in the industry.

The platform is powerful and, for a beginner, intimidating. Menus are dense, the learning curve is real, and Pro pricing takes study to understand. Traders who outgrow simpler apps, or who invest internationally, will find IBKR unmatched. New investors should start with Fidelity or Schwab and graduate to IBKR when they need its depth.

SoFi Invest suits people who want their money life in one place. Active investing starts at $5 with $0 stock and ETF commissions, and automated investing builds a managed portfolio for a 0.25 percent annual advisory fee. The same app covers checking, savings, loans and credit cards, which makes SoFi appealing if you already bank there.

Research and trading tools are lighter than at Fidelity, Schwab or Webull, and there is no dedicated investing phone line in some listings. For a beginner who values simplicity and an all-in-one financial app over advanced charting, SoFi Invest is a convenient, low-cost start.

Public stands out for range. Alongside stocks and ETFs, it offers bonds, Treasury bills, crypto and alternative assets in one app, with $0 commissions on US-listed stocks, ETFs and options. Fractional shares start at $5, and the app includes research context and community discussion around investments.

The gaps are mutual funds, which Public does not offer, and phone support, which it lacks. A premium tier at $8 per month adds features, though it is free with a balance of $50,000 or more. For investors who want to mix traditional stocks with bonds and crypto in one place, Public is the most versatile free app here.

Vanguard is the investor-owned pioneer of low-cost index funds, and it remains the best home for a buy-and-hold portfolio. Stock and ETF trades are free, its own index funds carry some of the lowest expense ratios in the industry, and its retirement accounts are a natural fit for long-term savers.

The trading experience is the trade-off. The app and website feel dated next to Fidelity or Schwab, and active trading tools are limited. Some mutual funds require a $1,000 minimum. If your plan is to buy broad index funds regularly and leave them alone for decades, Vanguard's low costs matter more than a slick app. If you trade often, pick Fidelity or Schwab instead.