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The truth is, getting started with investing is no longer confusing or expensive. These days, there are apps that make it easy, even fun, to grow your money — right from your phone.
I personally use a lot of investing apps and each one is for a different reason. Here’s a quick breakdown of my personal list, and then we’ll jump into the best apps for beginners.
- Acorns – This was the app that started everything for me and the one I recommend to everyone to get started. This is my IRA account.
- M1 Finance – I use this for two things, dividend and long-term growth stocks.
- Fidelity – This is for my HSA
- Vanguard – I just started using this app to invest in a total stock market ETF.
- Wealthfront – I use this for my High-Yield Savings account.
- Robinhood – I do a little more high-risk/high-reward investing in here.
- Coinbase – This is my app to invest in cryptocurrency.
For most people, this may be too many apps to use, and they’d probably be right, but this works for me. My suggestion, if you haven’t started investing with any app, just get started. Ok, let’s dive in.
When I first started learning about investing, I was totally overwhelmed. Stocks, ETFs, Roth IRAs, risk tolerance — it felt like another language. But then I downloaded the Acorns app and it started my whole path to financial independence.
What to Look for in a Beginner-Friendly Investing App
When I was just getting started, I wanted a few key things:
Low or no minimum investment
Simple, clean interface
Educational tools built in
The ability to start with small amounts (think $5 or $10)
All of the apps below check those boxes — but each one works a little differently depending on how hands-on (or hands-off) you want to be.
Acorns – Best for Set-It-and-Forget-It Investors
Price: $3/month for Personal plan
Platforms: iOS, Android
Acorns was the first app I tried. I loved how it made investing feel automatic. You link your debit or credit card, and Acorns rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar — investing the spare change for you.
So if you buy coffee for $3.60, Acorns takes $0.40 and drops it into your portfolio. You can also set recurring contributions or one-time deposits.
What I love:
Totally passive — I barely had to think about it
Portfolios are diversified and based on your goals
Helps build the habit of investing regularly
What to know: It’s not the best for stock-picking or active trading. It’s more of a “save and grow slowly in the background” kind of tool.
Robinhood – Best for Learning by Doing
Price: Free (with optional paid Robinhood Gold)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Robinhood is probably the most well-known investing app, and for good reason. It made commission-free trading the norm — and it’s perfect if you want to dip your toes into stocks, ETFs, or even crypto without paying fees.
I started with Robinhood when I wanted to buy a few individual stocks and get a feel for how the market moves.
What I like:
Clean interface with real-time tracking
Fractional shares let you buy parts of expensive stocks
It’s easy to set up and start trading
What to watch out for:
Because it’s so simple, it’s easy to get carried away and start treating investing like a game. I had to remind myself this is real money and real risk — not just colorful graphs.
Fidelity – Best All-Around App with No Minimums
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Once I got more serious about long-term investing, I opened an account with Fidelity. It’s not as flashy as some of the newer apps, but it’s rock solid — and totally beginner-friendly.
You can:
Buy stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds
Open IRAs or brokerage accounts
Use fractional shares with “Stocks by the Slice”
Why I recommend it:
No account minimums
Excellent customer support
Great tools and research if you want to learn more
Fidelity is the app I’d stick with for the long haul. It has everything I need — and none of the gimmicks.
M1 Finance – Best for Automated, Long-Term Investing
Price: Free basic plan, optional Plus plan ($10/month or $95/year)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
I started using M1 Finance when I wanted to get more serious about long-term investing — but without constantly checking the market. What makes M1 different is its “pie-based investing” system. You pick the stocks or ETFs you want (or use one of their expert-built portfolios), and M1 automatically divides your money across those slices.
I love this because it feels like setting up a meal plan for my money — I decide what goes into the pie, then M1 takes care of the rest.
What I love:
You can invest in fractional shares
Great for Roth IRAs and taxable accounts
It auto-rebalances, so I don’t have to think about it
Heads up: There’s no real-time trading. It runs one trading window per day (two if you’re on the paid plan), so it’s best for long-term investors — not day traders.
Wealthfront – Best for Hands-Off Investing with Goal Planning
Price: 0.25% annual fee
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
When I wanted a totally hands-off, set-it-and-forget-it experience, I opened an account with Wealthfront. This app acts like your own personal robo-advisor — you answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and it builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you.
It also has a beautiful dashboard that helps you set goals like:
Saving for retirement
Buying a house
Building an emergency fund
What stands out for me:
It automatically rebalances your investments
Includes tax-loss harvesting (which can help lower your taxes)
Super beginner-friendly, even if you have zero investing experience
This is a great app if you want to invest smarter without having to become an expert.
Coinbase – Best for Beginners Curious About Crypto
Price: Free to sign up (trading fees apply)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
I was hesitant to dip into crypto, but I wanted to understand it — and Coinbase was the most beginner-friendly way to do that.
It’s designed for people like me who are crypto-curious but don’t want to get lost in a sea of jargon. You can buy as little as $1 worth of Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other coins. And the app offers short educational lessons that actually pay you in crypto — a nice bonus while you learn.
What I like:
Easy to use and understand
Offers staking, which is like earning interest on certain crypto
Great for buying small amounts to learn the ropes
What to know: Crypto is very volatile, and I only invest what I’m okay with losing. This is more of a bonus “learning tool” than a core investing platform for me.
Public – Best for Community and Education
Price: Free (with optional premium content)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Public feels like social media meets investing — and I mean that in a good way. It lets you invest in stocks and ETFs, but what sets it apart is the community element.
You can see what others are investing in, follow creators who talk about money, and learn through posts and discussions — all inside the app.
What stood out for me:
Great for beginners who want to learn with others
Very transparent and intuitive
Fractional shares make it accessible
What I like: It’s best for long-term investing. Public removed crypto and margin trading to focus more on education and transparency.
SoFi Invest – Best for All-in-One Financial Tools
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
If you like having everything in one place — banking, credit monitoring, loans, and investing — SoFi is a great app to check out.
My brother signed up for their high-yield savings account, but quickly realized their investing platform was surprisingly robust. You can invest in:
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
Retirement accounts (IRAs)
What I like:
User-friendly and polished design
No fees or account minimums
You can schedule automatic recurring investments
SoFi also has automated investing, which is basically like having a robo-advisor build and manage your portfolio for you.
Bonus: Roth IRAs and Long-Term Investing Apps
As I got deeper into investing, I realized it wasn’t just about apps — it was about using the right accounts.
That’s when I opened an HSA through Fidelity. If you’re eligible, this account lets your investments grow tax-free — and it’s one of the best tools for building wealth long-term.
Apps like M1 Finance also let you automate your investing inside an IRA or taxable brokerage account by building custom “pies” of stocks or funds.
If you want more control with less hands-on work, that’s worth exploring.
You Don’t Have to Be an Expert to Start Investing
I used to think investing was only for people in finance or people with a ton of money. But that’s just not true anymore.
The apps I’ve listed here make it easy to:
Start with just a few bucks
Learn as you go
Grow your money over time without needing to be perfect
Pick one that fits your comfort level and style. Then set a small goal, like investing $25 this month. You’ll be surprised how fast your confidence (and your money) can grow.
What to Do Next
- Download one investing app and start your first investment
- Explore fractional shares if you’re just starting small
- Consider opening a Roth IRA for long-term growth
- Keep showing up — even small amounts add up over time
You don’t have to time the market. You just have to get in.
