This article was expert reviewed by Jovan Johnson, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS, and founder of Piece of Wealth Planning LLC.
You can buy and sell stocks on the go with top stock trading apps like Charles Schwab, SoFi, and E*TRADE. Stock trading apps provide the convenience of mobile trading with the same customization, market access, and low-cost trades as online trading platforms.
Free stock trading apps are the way to go if you want commission-free trades on assets like stocks or ETFs.
Check out the best stock trading apps with low fees, as picked by Business Insider’s personal finance editors in 2025.
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.
$0 ($1 to start investing); $5 fractional shares; $2,000 for margin trading
0% for active trading and automated investing
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account.
SoFi Invest is a great platform for US investors who are looking for an intuitive online trading experience, an open active or automated investing account.
Gold members earn 4.00% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on uninvested cash. Other members earn .01% APY.
$0 ($1 for fractional shares; $2,000 for margin trading)
0% ($5/month for Robinhood Gold)
Fund your first taxable investment account with at least $500 in the first 30 days of account opening and earn a $50 bonus.
$1 ($500 for automated investing)
$0 for stock trades. 0.25% for automated investing (0.06% to 0.13% for fund fees)
Wealthfront is one of the best robo-advisor options if you’re in search of low-cost automated portfolio management, and one of the best socially responsible investing apps for features like tax-loss harvesting, US direct indexing, and crypto trusts.
Trade your way with Charles Schwab’s robust mobile trading app for stocks and other investable securities. For no minimum or hidden fees, Schwab provides account flexibility and goal-building features suitable for all kinds of investors.
The mobile stock trading app makes viewing your accounts, positions, and balances easy. Track the market with real-time news, stock reports, and trade types. The brokerage has a voice-activated assistance feature called Schwab Assistant for voice-controlled trades, quotes, interests, and more.
You’ll also have access to the more advanced StreetSmart Mobile. It works well but isn’t among the best for the most active traders. But Schwab now owns TD Ameritrade and thinkorswim, an industry leader for active traders. More on that in the next section.
Charles Schwab has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 2.5/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Schwab
Cons of Schwab
Charles Schwab review
E*TRADE is a comprehensive trading app offering commission-free trades for US-listed stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and options trades. Fee-conscious investors can save by investing in E*TRADE’s thousands of no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
The platform offers automated accounts and managed portfolios. Its Core Portfolios automated account has a $500 minimum requirement and a 0.30% annual fee.
Its managed portfolios — Blend Portfolios and Fixed Income Portfolios — give you access to human advisors who help manage your investments.
E*TRADE’s options — which are also commission-free — cost $0.65 per contract if you make less than 30 trades per quarter. But if you make more than 30 trades per quarter, E*TRADE charges $0.50 per contract.
E*TRADE has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and a 4.7/5 on Google Play.
Pros of E*TRADE
Cons of E*TRADE
E*TRADE review
Open an account with E*TRADE.
SoFi Active Invest® is one of the best stock market brokerages for new traders. SoFi’s app is less robust than some larger competitors, which makes it easy to navigate and understand if you don’t have as much market experience.
SoFi’s stock trading app caters to a broad audience of investors by offering taxable and retirement brokerage accounts. While SoFi’s investment options are somewhat limited, a large pool of stocks and ETFs exist.
The app also includes educational articles accessible from stock account pages. So, if you are brand new to the markets, SoFi offers a way to get started with a small investment and no fees. That’s a good combination for learning how to trade stocks.
SoFi charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee based on account balance.
SoFi has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 3.9/5 on Google Play.
Pros of SoFi Active Invest
Cons of SoFi Active Invest
SoFi Active Invest review
Open an account with SoFi Active Invest®.
Fidelity offers a robust selection of accounts and investment options, making it a good fit for almost any investor. It is particularly attractive for long-term and retirement-focused investors because of
Fidelity’s accessible buy-and-hold strategy and goal-building focus. This stock trading app lets you trade fractional shares and much more.
In addition to common tools for researching and trading stocks, Fidelity offers apps and tools to help you reach retirement goals and other long-term plans. For example, Fidelity Spire is a goal-oriented app that encourages good saving and investing habits to achieve your goals.
Fidelity Investments is best for beginners but also suits active traders, passive investors, and teens.
Fidelity has a rating of 4.8/5 on the Apple Store and 4.6/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Fidelity
Cons of Fidelity
Fidelity review
If you’re interested in a straightforward investment platform that goes hand-in-hand with some of the best checking and savings accounts today, Ally could be the right fit.
Ally Invest has no minimum or recurring fees and shares the same login for accounts with Ally Bank. With Ally Mobile, you can view your investments and enter stock trades with just a few taps.
The app includes basic research and charting, recent news, and the ability to enter a trade quickly. It doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as some stock trading apps, but it covers the basics and makes it easy to trade for a very low cost.
There are two portfolio options:
Ally Invest has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and 4.2/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Ally
Cons of Ally
Ally Invest review
Webull is a discount stock trading platform offering free options trading, expert market data, crypto trading, and much more through its user-friendly mobile app.
Webull is best for beginners interested in hand-picking commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options. It also supports a handful of cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin and ether.
Although Webull isn’t the most robust trading platform, it’s built a strong reputation for prioritizing its mobile experience for customers. The app is easy to use, low-cost, and offers a decent interest rate on uninvested cash.
Webull has a rating of 4.7/5 on the Apple Store and 4.5/5 on Google Play.
Pros of Webull
Cons of Webull
Webull review
Commission-free stock trading apps have made investing more accessible to beginners and cost-conscious investors. These platforms allow users to buy, sell, and trade company shares without unnecessary transaction fees. While stock trades are the most common investment offered commission-free, many apps provide access to other securities like ETFs and mutual funds.
The emergence of commission-free trading changed the game of investing, making buying and selling certain inevitable securities easier and less expensive. Charles Schwab, one of the largest and most well-trusted financial firms, began eliminating trading fees in the 1970s, paving the way for other brokerages to do the same.
Since brokerage firms now make most of their revenue from interest on cash balances, advisory services, and loan programs, the need for trading fees has lessened. Moreover, technological advancements such as automatic trading have made commission fees less relevant.
We consulted financial planners, investing experts, and our own wealth-building reporter to inform our picks for the best stock trading apps.
We’re focusing on what makes a stock trading app and brokerage account most useful. When weighing different apps, it’s best to consider pricing, investment choices, account types, and investment research resources.
We interviewed the following three investing experts to see what they had to say about stock trading apps:
What are the advantages of using an investing app to trade stocks?
Brian Fry, CFP:
Of course, there are going to be different levels of what’s offered through these different apps. Some of them may offer light financial planning, or low-cost or transparent investment options.
[It’s about] drilling down and finding the app that’s going to provide that transparency best and best provide the confidence that one’s looking for in planning one’s financial future.
Charlotte Geletka, CFP, CRPC:
Investing apps make it easier than it has ever been for the individuals to trade stocks right on your phone.
Kaysian Gordon, MBA, CFP, CDFA, CPA:
[The advantage] is being able to have the research you need to make that decision. Look for the app that’s going to give you enough of the information that you need to be able to make a wise decision when you’re trading stocks.
What are the disadvantages of using an investing app to trade stocks?
Fry:
When you have free trades, you have to realize that these investment companies are making their money one way or another. So just because it’s free doesn’t mean it’s better.
Cost is definitely something, but when you’re looking at free trades versus $5 trades or $10 trades, to me it’s all irrelevant. It’s really about what’s going to be the best user experience? What’s going to empower an investor to feel confident?
Geletka:
The disadvantage is that [mobile trading access] encourages impulse investing. Numerous studies show that when the retail investor engages in impulse investing and frequent trading he or she ends up with lower than average returns.
Gordon:
You want to make sure you [don’t have] all of your eggs in one basket. I can’t stress that enough no matter how good you think a company is.
Is there any other advice you’d offer someone who’s considering using a stock trading app?
Fry:
Most investment platforms offer similar benefits. Choose the platform that best helps you stay on track and identify progress towards your financial goals.
Geletka:
Make sure that you have an emergency fund and that you are adequately funding your savings goals. Use your extra money for trading apps.
Gordon:
Don’t put too much money in one stock that, if you lose the money, you’re going to be hurting.
SoFi Invest is the best stock trading platform for beginners to access low-cost trades, educational resources, and CFP access. SoFi’s streamlined platform and straightforward trading process make it accessible for less experienced investors.
Interactive Brokers is one of the best stock apps for day trading. Day trading is a high-risk trading strategy for sophisticated investors. NinjaTrader and tastytrade are other top day trading platforms
You can start trading through a brokerage account with any online broker or traditional broker firm. Online brokerage accounts and stock trading apps offer low fees, trading tools, commission-free trades, and more.
Stock trading apps are generally safe to use. Reputable apps implement advanced security protocols, such as encryption and two-factor authentication, to protect users’ personal and financial information.
Several stock trading apps have expanded their offerings to include cryptocurrency trading alongside traditional stocks, ETFs, and options. However, the availability of cryptocurrencies varies by platform.
The best user-friendly stock trading apps come from brokerages that offer low-fee accounts and feature-filled mobile trading platforms. When compiling the best investment platforms for stock trading, we considered pricing, available investments, account types, and investment research resources. We reviewed more than a dozen platforms.
Business Insider’s rating methodology for investment products considers pricing and fees, investment options, account types, investment platforms, investment research, and educational resources.
Sofi Active Invest: Investments are not FDIC-insured – Are not bank-guaranteed – May lose value – Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, member FINRA(www.finra.org)/SIPC(www.sipc.org).
Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers.
SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions. https://www.sofi.com/invest/clawpromotion/rules.
Jump to
