Best Investment Apps [November 2024]

We recommend Public³, Stash, Acorns, and Robinhood as four of the best investment apps to use in November 2024. These apps offer a straightforward approach to investment that enables new investors to join the market with ease.

If you're an advanced investor, we recommend SoFi Invest® for accessing initial public offerings (IPOs) and Charles Schwab for its comprehensive set of available assets, tools, and account types. 

Remember that every investment comes with risk. This is not investment advice, be sure to do your own research if you're going to invest.

Best 14 investment apps of November 2024

If you're looking for the best investing app to achieve your financial goals, here are 14 excellent options and who they're right for.

Beginners and newcomers:

1. Best for learning about investing: Public
2. Best for long-term wealth: Stash
3. Best for micro-investing: Acorns
4. Best for free stock trading: Robinhood
5. Best for beginners: Wealthfront
6. Best for automated investing: M1 Finance
7. Best for 401(k) rollovers: Betterment

Advanced and active traders:

8. Best for versatile trading: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley⁴
9. Best for experienced and active traders: TD Ameritrade
10. Best for IPO investing: SoFi Invest®
11. Best for investment planning: Charles Schwab
12. Best for well-rounded offerings: Fidelity

Real estate investors:

13. Best for beginner real estate investors: Fundrise
14. Best for experienced real estate investors: Crowdstreet

Compare the best investment apps

	Description	Account minimum	Account fees
Public	Commission-free trading with fractional shares and educational resources	$0	$0 for Public, $8 per month for Public Premium
Stash	Personalized investment portfolios for long-term goals	$1	$3 or $9 per month, depending on your plan
Acorns	Automated investment portfolios with spare change investing	$0	$3 per month for Acorns Bronze, $6 per month for Acorns Silver, $12 per month for Acorns Gold
Robinhood	Commission-free trading with access to cryptocurrencies and options trading	$0	$0 for Robinhood, $5 per month for Robinhood Gold
Wealthfront	Automated investment portfolios with tax optimization	$500	0.25% annual management fee
M1 Finance	Automated investment portfolios with fractional shares5	$100	$3 per month for users with less than $10,000 across their various M1 accounts
Betterment	Automated investment portfolios and simple 401(k) rollover process	$0	0.25% annual management fee with a minimum monthly fee of $4
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley	Versatile platform with diverse investment options and educational resources	$0	$0 for standard accounts, $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, ETF, and options trades
TD Ameritrade	Wide range of investment options with powerful research tools	$0	$0
SoFi Invest®	Active and automated investment options with access to IPOs and cryptocurrencies	$1	$0
Charles Schwab	Robust research tools with commission-free trading	$0	$0
Fidelity	Comprehensive investment options with research tools	$0	$0
Fundrise	Real estate investment options with low minimums	$10	0.85% annual management fee 0.15% annual advisory fee
Crowdstreet	Real estate investment options for accredited investors	$25,000	$0 account fee Varying deal sponsor fees

Beginners and newcomers

1. Best for learning about investing: Public

Account fees: $0 for Public, $8 per month for Public Premium.

Account minimum: $0.

Why we like Public: Public has an array of resources available for beginner investors, and we like its focus on making investing more accessible. Public emphasizes community building, enabling you to get insights and learn about investing opportunities from an active community of investors. We also like that the Public app is easy for beginners to use and offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, popular cryptocurrencies, and fractional shares of alternative investments.

What we don’t like about Public: While Public offers a range of services and investment options, expert investors may need to subscribe to Public Premium to access advanced investing analyses and data. Additionally, Public doesn’t offer tax-advantaged accounts, such as IRAs or 529 plans. Your only available choice is a taxable brokerage account.

Sign up for Public...

... Or read our Public review.

2. Best for long-term wealth: Stash

Account fees: $3 or $9 per month, depending on your plan.

Account minimum: $1.

Why we like Stash: Stash offers a simple approach to investing with its automated recurring investments and dividend reinvestment. As a Stash user, you can let Stash determine your investments based on goals you define⁶, or you can choose your own investments. We also like that Stash offers access to stocks, ETFs, and bonds and has socially responsible investing options.

In addition to a taxable brokerage account, you can open a custodial account⁷ for your child or a tax-advantaged retirement account⁸. Stash also offers a debit card⁹ and life insurance¹⁰ with its monthly plan. The higher-cost plan helps you earn Stock-Back® rewards¹¹ for your debit card purchases.

What we don’t like about Stash: Despite its many advantages, there are a few aspects of Stash that we’re not too keen on. The monthly subscription fee, which is $3 or $9, can add up over time. We also noticed that the banking product doesn’t pay interest on cash balances, limiting its benefits to receiving stock as a reward when we use the debit card.

Sign up for Stash...

... Or read our Stash review.

3. Best for micro-investing: Acorns

Acorns is a micro-investing platform that allows you to invest your spare change. It offers an automated approach to investing, automatic portfolio rebalancing, and a unique round-up feature.

With an Acorns Bronze account, you can get started for as little as $3 a month and a minimum investment of $5. Acorns users can choose to link up their Acorns debit card or another debit card or credit card to take advantage of the platform’s round-up feature. Acorns will review purchases from your linked account and automatically round them up to the nearest dollar. You’ll then have the option to invest the spare change. Higher-plan accounts also offer features like custodial accounts for your children if you'd like to start investing on their behalf.

If you’re interested in micro-investing and prefer to take a hands-off approach, Acorns may be the ideal platform for you.

Sign up for Acorns...

... Or read our Acorns review.

4. Best for free stock trading: Robinhood

Account fees: $0 for Robinhood, $5 per month for Robinhood Gold.

Account minimum: $0.

Why we like Robinhood: Robinhood is one of the pioneers of commission-free trading. It allows us to invest in stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies without worrying about commission costs¹². We enjoy accessing these unlimited commission-free trades with $0 account fees and a $0 account minimum for the standard Robinhood account.

We also like the traditional and Roth individual retirement account (IRA) options that Robinhood offers. These accounts come with a 1% match on qualifying contributions with a Robinhood account or a 3% match on qualifying contributions with a Robinhood Gold account¹³. With Robinhood Gold, we also get bigger instant deposits, earn an annual percentage yield (APY) on uninvested cash, and receive real-time market data. The cost for Robinhood Gold is $5 per month.

What we don’t like about Robinhood: While the Robinhood mobile app’s interface is easy to use, Robinhood has been criticized for not providing enough support for beginners who might not fully understand the trades they’re executing. However, it does provide educational resources that can help them get the hang of things. Additionally, Robinhood doesn’t offer access to mutual funds.

Sign up for Robinhood...

... Or read our Robinhood review.

5. Best for beginners: Wealthfront

Account fees: 0.25% annual management fee.

Account minimum: $500.

Why we like Wealthfront: We enjoy the straightforward portfolio management that Wealthfront offers¹⁴. For a low 0.25% annual management fee, we can have Wealthfront automatically customize and adjust our portfolio based on our risk tolerance and financial objectives. The platform also provides tax-loss harvesting, which could enhance the efficiency of our portfolio.

Wealthfront offers access to stocks, bonds, and ETFs. Furthermore, Wealthfront provides a range of financial planning tools, such as a retirement planning calculator and a college savings planner. It also offers 529 college savings accounts, which can assist families in planning for the future.

What we don’t like about Wealthfront: Wealthfront doesn’t provide access to fractional shares, which some investors may find limiting. Additionally, there is a $500 account minimum, which might be a barrier for some.

Sign up for Wealthfront...

... Or read our Wealthfront review.

6. Best for automated investing: M1 Finance

M1 Finance¹⁵ is designed to allow you to “set it and forget it.” You can set up automatic investments, choose from automated portfolios, and invest in individual stocks.¹⁶

M1 Finance calls itself “The Finance Super App” because it also offers banking products. For example, you can get access to a high-yield savings product. M1 also offers personal loans and the ability to borrow against your stock portfolio.¹⁷ Keep in mind that M1 is not a robo-advisor and only offers self-directed brokerage services.

It’s possible to open different types of IRAs and set up trust accounts with M1 Finance. M1 also offers custodial accounts that allow you to save on a minor’s behalf. ¹⁸

There is a $3 monthly fee, but it is waived for users with an active M1 personal loan or $10,000 in assets across their various M1 accounts. This includes Individual Accounts, Joint Accounts, Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, Trust Accounts, Custodial Accounts, Crypto Accounts, High-Yield Savings Accounts, and High-Yield Cash Accounts.

M1 can be a little difficult for beginners to understand, however. The interface isn’t as easy to navigate as other investing or trading apps. Additionally, there is a minimum deposit of $100 for a brokerage account and $500 for an IRA.

Sign up for M1 Finance...

... Or read our M1 Finance review.

7. Best for 401(k) rollovers: Betterment

Betterment has made it easy for investors to roll over an existing 401(k) into an IRA account. With just a few clicks, you’ll receive simple, step-by-step instructions via email on how to complete your rollover.

While other investment platforms may require you to submit paperwork or undergo a complicated process to move money, Betterment gives you all the information you need to complete your rollover easily and in as little as 60 seconds.

And unlike some of its competitors, Betterment offers personalized investment recommendations based on your needs and priorities, plus automatic investment portfolio rebalancing. You'll also have the option to speak with certified financial planners if you have questions about your portfolio. However, these conversations cost $299 or more unless you have the premium plan, which requires a $100,000 minimum investment.

If you’re looking for a hassle-free way to roll over a 401(k) to an IRA, Betterment is an excellent option.

Visit Betterment...

... Or read our Betterment review.

Another option to consider: 

Advanced and active traders

8. Best for versatile trading: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Account fees: $0 for standard accounts. $0 commissions for online US-listed stock, ETF, and options trades.

Account minimum: $0 for brokerage accounts.

Why we like E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley: E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley is a versatile platform that caters to both novice and experienced investors. The user-friendly interface made it easy for us to navigate and execute trades. We particularly appreciate the $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options - it's allowed us to experiment with different investment strategies without worrying about fees eating into returns.

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley has extensive educational resources that can help you learn through its extensive library of articles, videos, and webinars. The platform's robust research tools can also be quite handy when you want to compare different investment products.

What we don't like about E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley: While the platform excels in many areas, it's not without its drawbacks. The fees for broker-assisted trades are on the higher side. This hasn't been an issue for us, as we prefer placing trades online, but it could be a concern if you prefer or require frequent broker assistance. Additionally, if you're looking to dive deep into cryptocurrency trading, you might find E*TRADE's offerings somewhat limited compared to some specialized crypto platforms.

Sign up for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley...

... Or read our E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley review.

9. Best for experienced and active traders: TD Ameritrade

With its beginnings as a more traditional broker, TD Ameritrade offers a range of investment products and services. It’s important to note that the Charles Schwab Corporation completed its acquisition of TD Ameritrade in 2020 and plans to transition all TD Ameritrade accounts to Schwab by the end of 2023, with one small group of client accounts transitioning in the first part of 2024.

TD Ameritrade offers a powerful platform for experienced traders. You can trade stocks, options, and ETFs without paying a trading commission. Additionally, many mutual funds are available for trading without fees. TD Ameritrade offers other asset classes, including bonds and CDs, futures, and forex. Users can’t trade cryptocurrencies, however.

You can open a retirement account in addition to a taxable brokerage account, and TD Ameritrade also offers education and custodial accounts and margin trading.

Though it offers a wide variety of products and services, learning to trade using TD Ameritrade’s platform can be challenging. The platform's functionality isn’t as intuitive as those of more recent investing apps.

Additionally, the trading fees can be quite steep for some investments (like certain mutual funds). And, while there’s no trading commission for options, TD Ameritrade still charges a per-contract fee.

Sign up for TD Ameritrade...

... Or read our TD Ameritrade review.

10. Best for IPO investing: SoFi Invest

SoFi Invest offers automated and active investing, as well as access to unique investment opportunities (like initial public offerings, or IPOs).¹⁹ It’s also possible to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with SoFi Invest, as well as execute stocks, options, and ETF trades. The ability to invest at IPO prices is one way SoFi Invest tries to set itself apart, as few apps provide this ability.

SoFi Invest offers retirement accounts in addition to taxable brokerage accounts. Like many other investment apps, SoFi® doesn’t charge trading fees for stocks and ETFs. It’s possible to start fractional investing with as little as $5.

SoFi account holders are called “members” and can take advantage of free financial counseling and other perks, including access to SoFi’s bank account and lending products. SoFi also offers events and access to rewards.

However, SoFi Invest doesn’t offer the ability to directly invest in mutual funds or bonds. You can only get exposure to these investments through ETFs. Mutual funds and bonds are often included in retirement portfolios, so this leaves out a key part of retirement planning and investing.

SoFi has an easy-to-use app and strong customer support. It offers online chat and a weekday call center.

Sign up for SoFi Invest...

... Or read our SoFi Invest review.

11. Best for investment planning: Charles Schwab

Charles Schwab offers a wide range of accounts and asset classes for beginner to advanced investors. In addition to taxable brokerage accounts, Schwab offers various accounts designed to help with your long-term investment planning. This includes trust and estate accounts, education savings and 529 college savings accounts, and charitable investment accounts. If you need help integrating investing into your long-term financial planning, Schwab likely has an account that will work for you.

Additionally, you can access a range of assets, including fee-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options, as well as a limited number of mutual funds. Schwab offers Canadian securities, futures, Treasuries, preferred stocks, and other bonds. However, Schwab doesn’t offer access to cryptocurrency trading.

With Schwab, you can manage your own portfolio or choose from robo-assisted automated investing with Intelligent Portfolio. Schwab also offers access to human advisors (though it might come with an additional fee). You will also pay a contract fee for options, though regular stock options don’t come with trading fees.

You have access to various customer service options, including the ability to speak with someone on the phone. However, the app charges a broker-assisted trade fee if you need help placing a trade.

Read our Charles Schwab review.

12. Best for well-rounded offerings: Fidelity

Fidelity is a traditional full-service broker that has added various online offerings in recent years. With Fidelity, you’ll have access to self-directed brokerage accounts and robo-assisted portfolios.

In addition to offering stocks and ETFs for no trading fees, Fidelity also has a selection of no-fee mutual funds — including funds with no expense ratios. Fidelity also offers access to options, bonds, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, Fidelity offers a few crypto ETFs.

Fidelity has a wide variety of accounts, including retirement accounts, custodial accounts, education accounts, and taxable investment accounts. You can also access different financial products, such as banking and insurance products, and Fidelity offers a margin account.

Fidelity also offers access to a wide variety of research and trading tools, human advisors, and personalized wealth management.

It’s important to note that some products and services, like wealth management, human advisors, and broker-assisted trades, might come with additional costs. Some of these costs can be hefty, so it’s important to pay attention before using some of the more customized services.

Read our Fidelity review.

Real estate investors

13. Best for beginner real estate investors: Fundrise

If you’re just getting started with real estate investment, Fundrise may be a valuable platform for you. The company was founded with one goal: to use technology to make high-quality real estate investments available to everyone at a low cost.

Fundrise allows users to invest in several different property types, including single-family, multifamily, retail, apartment, commercial, and new construction. The Fundrise platform is easy to navigate, and you don’t need to be an accredited investor to get started. Users can sign up in a matter of minutes and start investing with as little as $10.

While you can expect to pay a 0.15% annual advisory fee and a 0.85% to 1.85% annual management fee when you invest with Fundrise, the company is dedicated to keeping those fees low. 

If you’re a novice real estate investor seeking an easy-to-understand platform with low buy-in and relatively low fees, Fundrise could be an excellent option for you.

Sign up for Fundrise...

... Or read our Fundrise review.

14. Best for experienced real estate investors: Crowdstreet

If you have some real estate investing experience, Crowdstreet may be an excellent platform to explore. Crowdstreet lets accredited investors invest in various property types for a $25,000 minimum investment.

To become an accredited investor with Crowdstreet, you need to meet one of the qualifying conditions. The most common two are having a net worth of at least $1 million, excluding the value of your primary residence, or having a net income as an individual of $200,000 or as a married couple of $300,000 or more in the last two years.

Crowdstreet offers the option to invest in multiple property types, including multifamily, retail, hospitality, office, industrial, self-storage, and more.

While the Crowdstreet website provides a wealth of data about each available property as well as helpful investing advice, it may be difficult for a novice real estate investor to navigate and understand. This complexity, the fact that you need to be an accredited investor, and the high minimum investment requirement make this platform a better option for more experienced investors.

Sign up for Crowdstreet...

... Or read our Crowdstreet review.

How to choose the best investment app for you

As you consider your options, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. Your investment budget

First, it’s important to understand your investment budget. Your budget should consider how much it will cost to invest as well as required account minimums. Realize, too, that passive investing is a long-term financial commitment. Avoid investing any amount of money that you think you’ll need in the near future.

The good news is that you can invest no matter how little you have. For example, some platforms like Stash require no account minimums and allow you to invest for as little as $1 per month. Other platforms, however, require a larger initial investment. If you have some money to get started with, it can make sense to use a platform with a higher minimum so you get access to the passive income tools you prefer.

2. Available asset classes

Next, when evaluating the best investment apps, consider what types of assets you want to invest in. Different apps offer different investment options. For example, some make it easy to build a portfolio out of stocks, ETFs, and bonds. Others may offer options trading and cryptocurrencies.

Some platforms also offer you access to different opportunities, such as Fundrise and Crowdstreet which focus on real estate investing. 

Remember, though, that a diversified portfolio might help you manage some of your investment risks. Consider one or more platforms that allow you to invest in different asset classes, so you aren’t overly exposed in one area.

3. Account types

Figure out what types of accounts you want access to. For example, some investment platforms offer a wide variety of accounts, including individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and trust accounts, in addition to personal taxable investment accounts.

If you’re trying to increase the tax efficiency of some of your passive income, it can make sense to look for a platform that offers you the ability to open an IRA account. For example, if you’re interested in real estate opportunities, certain platforms offer you the option to hold some of your portfolio in traditional, Roth, or simplified employee pension (SEP) IRAs. You can also open a taxable investment account as well.

Look at your portfolio holistically to determine which assets should be kept in tax-advantaged accounts and which should be kept in taxable accounts. This approach can save you money over time.

4. Investment management fees and pricing

Many investment platforms charge fees, so it’s important to be aware of this when you’re deciding where to invest. Some platforms charge a monthly account fee based on the features you want to access. Others charge an annual fee based on the assets in the account.

Your deposit might also determine what extra services you have access to. For instance, if you deposit less than $100,000 with a certain platform, you’ll get access to a personalized portfolio and investment advice, but you might pay a 0.5% annual fee. With an account balance of more than $100,000, though, you could pay a lower annual fee and get access to financial planning sessions.

Consider your needs and expectations, and the types of services you expect as you compare investment platforms to determine which will work best for you.

5. Security features

Don’t forget to look into security. You want to make sure your transactions are encrypted. Check to see whether the platform is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and see what clearinghouse it uses. For example, some platforms use Apex Clearing for their transactions, which means they have Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) insurance and are a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Check to see which memberships the platform has as a way to determine whether it’s properly regulated. If you plan to download and use a mobile app for iOS or Android, ensure that it offers security features like two-factor authentication, TouchID, and more.

FAQ about the best investment apps

Best investment apps: bottom line

An investment app truly shines when it offers minimal to no fees, boasts an intuitive user interface, provides access to a diverse range of assets, and enriches our knowledge with valuable educational resources.

Public stands out as a great option for people who are new to investing with its easy-to-use app, daily market analysis, and access to stocks, ETFs, bonds, and crypto. We also recommend Stash since it provides a simple hands-off approach that makes it easy to automate your investment portfolio.

Investment apps are one of several ways to join the market. You can also explore more options in our list of the best online brokerage accounts. 

Methodology

In compiling this list of the best investment apps, we first determined areas that may be essential to new and experienced investors. These areas include minimum investment requirements, available asset classes, ease of use, account types, fees, and security features.

Then, we considered what each app delivers in these areas to help investors get a good understanding before making their decisions. Lastly, we assembled a list of investment apps that stood out that we regularly revise to ensure that it stays up to date with shifting investing needs and the latest financial technology trends.

Keep in mind that we did not rank these investment apps in a certain order and did not review all available investment apps. This list is not comprehensive and is designed to be a starting point for a person who is researching the subject. Make sure to have an investment strategy or consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions. Note that some investment apps on our list may be current or past FinanceBuzz partners.