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The Best Investing Apps for Beginners

Five mobile-first US investing apps compared on cost to start, ease of use, education and features.

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

For someone placing their first trade, the best app is usually the one that is cheap to start, easy to understand and backed by good education. We compared five popular US investing apps on cost to start, ease of use, education and support, and features and flexibility. This is general information to help you compare providers, not investment advice; even simple apps involve real investments that can lose value, including your principal. Every commercial link on this page is disclosed and never changes the ranking.

  1. 1

    SoFi Invest

    Our pick

    A beginner-friendly app with commission-free trades, fractional shares and no account minimum.

    8.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Commission-free trades and fractional shares with no account minimum
    • + Clean, beginner-focused app within SoFi's broader money ecosystem
    • + Access to educational content and member resources

    Cons

    • − Limited advanced research and screening tools
    • − Narrower asset range than full-service brokers
    • − Best value tied into using other SoFi products
    From $0.00
    Visit SoFi Invest
  2. 2

    Acorns

    Best for beginners

    An automated micro-investing app that rounds up spare change into diversified ETF portfolios.

    8.4
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Automatic round-ups make starting to invest effortless
    • + Diversified ETF portfolios chosen for your risk level
    • + Bundles IRA and banking features in higher tiers

    Cons

    • − Flat monthly fee is a high percentage on small balances
    • − Little ability to choose individual investments
    • − Higher tiers are needed to unlock retirement and banking features
    From $3.00 /month
    Visit Acorns
  3. 3

    Robinhood

    A very simple, commission-free app with fractional shares and fast onboarding for first-time investors.

    8.1
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Commission-free trades and fractional shares with no minimum
    • + Very simple onboarding and a clean, mobile-first interface
    • + Low barrier to placing a first trade

    Cons

    • − Limited research, education and screening tools
    • − History of outages and regulatory scrutiny over gamified design
    • − Fewer account types than established brokers
    From $0.00
    Visit Robinhood
  4. 4

    Stash

    A subscription app that pairs guided investing with education and fractional shares for beginners.

    8.1
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Strong in-app education aimed squarely at new investors
    • + Fractional shares let you start with small amounts
    • + Guided approach helps build simple, diversified habits

    Cons

    • − Flat monthly fee is a high percentage on small balances
    • − Fewer advanced tools than a full brokerage
    • − Higher tiers needed to unlock some features
    From $3.00 /month
    Visit Stash
  5. 5

    Public

    A commission-free social investing app with fractional shares and a beginner-friendly feel.

    7.9
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Commission-free trades and fractional shares with no minimum
    • + Social feed adds context and community for new investors
    • + Clean, approachable mobile-first interface

    Cons

    • − Social feed is not a substitute for independent research
    • − Narrower account-type and asset range than large brokers
    • − Limited advanced tools and screening
    From $0.00
    Visit Public

Side-by-side

The Best Investing Apps for Beginners — score by criterion for each product.
Product Cost to Start Ease of Use Education & Support Features & Flexibility Overall
SoFi Invest 9.4 9.0 8.0 7.4 8.7
Acorns 8.2 9.3 8.4 6.8 8.4
Robinhood 9.2 9.1 6.2 7.0 8.1
Stash 7.8 8.6 8.8 6.6 8.1
Public 8.6 8.2 7.2 7.0 7.9
How we scored this

Each app is scored 0–10 on four weighted criteria: cost to start (weight 3), ease of use (2), education and support (2) and features and flexibility (1), with the overall being the weighted average. Every app listed operates through an SEC-registered broker that is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Ranks are our independent editorial verdict and are not influenced by any affiliate or referral payout. Nothing here is a recommendation to buy a specific product; investing carries risk of loss, so consider your own circumstances before deciding.