Best Investment Apps for First-Time Investors

If you’re new to investing, the hardest part isn’t always picking the right stock or fund—it’s choosing the right platform to get started. The good news? Technology has made investing more accessible than ever. Today’s top investment apps are built with beginners in mind, offering low (or no) fees, sleek interfaces, and features that educate while you grow your money.

Whether you have $5 or $5,000, these apps can help you open your first brokerage account, automate your investing strategy, and build wealth without feeling overwhelmed. This guide highlights the best investment apps for first-time investors, explains their strengths, and helps you match the right app to your goals and learning style.

Why the Right App Matters When You’re Just Starting Out

As a beginner, the right investment app should make things easier—not more complicated. Ideally, it should:

• Let you start with a small amount of money

• Offer commission-free trades

• Provide educational tools and resources

• Have an intuitive user experience

• Include features like fractional shares, auto-investing, and portfolio tracking

• Support diversified investing (ETFs, index funds)

When you’re just starting out, avoiding high fees and confusion can make the difference between taking action and giving up. Choosing the right platform sets the tone for your entire investing journey.

1. Fidelity: Best All-Around App for Beginners

Fidelity is one of the most trusted names in investing and offers a powerful yet beginner-friendly app.

Why It’s Great:

• $0 minimum to open an account

• $0 commissions on stock, ETF, and options trades

• Offers Fidelity ZERO index funds with no expense ratios

• Extensive educational tools and calculators

• Supports retirement accounts, including Roth IRAs

Best For:

• New investors who want to grow with a long-term platform

• Those interested in retirement investing

• Investors looking for low-cost index fund access

Fidelity is perfect if you want something you can stick with for decades. It combines modern features with legacy-level trust and security.

2. Robinhood: Best for Simplicity and Active Trading

Robinhood revolutionized investing with its commission-free, no-frills app interface. It’s popular among younger investors and those who want full control of buying and selling.

Why It’s Great:

• No account minimums

• Commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and options

• Easy-to-navigate mobile interface

• Supports fractional shares

• Real-time market data and price alerts

Best For:

• Investors who want a clean interface with instant trade execution

• Users interested in learning by doing

• Beginners focused on individual stocks and ETFs

Robinhood is not as feature-rich for education or long-term planning, but it’s a smooth gateway for active beginners who want to experiment.

3. M1 Finance: Best for Automated Portfolio Building

M1 Finance blends the automation of a robo-advisor with the flexibility of a DIY portfolio. It uses “Pies” to let you build a diversified investment plan or choose from pre-made templates.

Why It’s Great:

• $0 commissions and no platform fees

• Automated rebalancing and dividend reinvestment

• Pre-built investment portfolios for different strategies

• Supports Roth IRAs and other retirement accounts

• Fractional shares down to $1

Best For:

• Beginners who want passive investing with a custom twist

• Investors who don’t want to manage trades manually

• Long-term savers looking for simplicity and structure

M1 is ideal for people who want to “set it and forget it,” while still having the option to personalize their portfolio.

4. Acorns: Best for Totally Passive, Round-Up Investing

Acorns is designed to make investing feel invisible. It rounds up your daily purchases and invests the spare change into a diversified ETF portfolio.

Why It’s Great:

• Starts investing with as little as $5

• Automatic round-ups from linked credit or debit cards

• Offers pre-built, diversified portfolios

• Includes banking and retirement options

• Educational content built into the app

Best For:

• Total beginners who want to invest without thinking about it

• People who struggle to save or invest consistently

• Passive investors focused on long-term growth

Acorns is especially powerful if you’ve never saved or invested before. It builds wealth slowly, painlessly, and passively.

5. SoFi Invest: Best for Beginners Who Want Extras

SoFi offers investing, banking, personal loans, and financial planning all in one platform. Its Invest app is a great starting point for new investors looking for low-cost tools plus access to advisors.

Why It’s Great:

• No commissions or account minimums

• Access to financial planners at no extra cost

• Fractional shares and pre-built ETF portfolios

• Includes career coaching and budgeting tools

• Integrates with other SoFi financial products

Best For:

• Investors who want everything in one app (banking, loans, investing)

• Beginners who want expert advice without high fees

• Long-term savers who also want budgeting tools

SoFi is more than an investing app—it’s a financial lifestyle platform. It’s great if you want guided support while growing your finances.

6. Charles Schwab: Best for Learning and Long-Term Growth

Schwab’s app is robust and ideal for those who want more control as they grow more experienced.

Why It’s Great:

• $0 commissions on trades

• Access to Schwab’s Intelligent Portfolios (robo-advisor)

• In-depth research tools and investor education

• Fractional shares through Schwab Stock Slices

• Supports retirement accounts

Best For:

• Beginners who want to grow into advanced investors

• Those who want strong support and educational content

• Investors planning for retirement or large goals

Schwab gives you flexibility, education, and room to grow. It’s ideal for investors who want the best of both beginner simplicity and pro-level power.

7. Public: Best for Social Investing and Transparency

Public is a commission-free investing app that adds a social layer, letting users follow other investors and share insights.

Why It’s Great:

• Fractional investing with no minimums

• Community-based investing with commentary and transparency

• No hidden fees or payment for order flow

• Emphasis on long-term investing and education

Best For:

• New investors who want to learn from others

• Social learners who enjoy community-based apps

• Those who value transparency and simplicity

Public helps you understand the “why” behind other investors’ decisions. It’s a great educational tool wrapped in a trading platform.

What to Look For in a Beginner-Friendly Investment App

When evaluating apps, focus on features that support beginner success:

• No (or low) minimums so you can start with what you have

• Fractional shares so you can buy pieces of expensive stocks

• Commission-free trades to keep costs low

• User-friendly design to reduce overwhelm

• Automation features for deposits, investing, and rebalancing

• Educational resources to help you grow smarter over time

• Access to diversified assets like ETFs and index funds

Also consider customer service, ease of withdrawals, and whether the app fits your investing goals (active trading vs. long-term growth).

FAQs: First-Time Investor App Questions Answered

What’s the best investment app for complete beginners?

Acorns or M1 Finance are great for set-it-and-forget-it investing. Fidelity and SoFi are strong if you want more features and education.

Can I start investing with $10?

Yes. Many apps support fractional shares, allowing you to invest even a few dollars. Public, Robinhood, and Fidelity are good for this.

Are these apps safe?

Yes. All listed apps are regulated by the SEC and insured by SIPC, which protects up to $500,000 in securities (including $250,000 in cash).

Can I open a Roth IRA with these apps?

Yes. Fidelity, Schwab, M1 Finance, and SoFi all support Roth IRAs with no minimums.

Should I use more than one app?

You can, but it’s best to start with one until you’re comfortable. Use additional apps later for diversification or specialty accounts.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Think Big

You don’t need a lot of money, market knowledge, or financial confidence to begin investing. What you do need is the right tool—and one of these beginner-friendly apps can help you take that crucial first step.

The best investment app is the one that feels intuitive, fits your goals, and makes it easy for you to stay consistent. Because the real key to investing success isn’t picking the perfect stock—it’s showing up regularly, letting your money grow, and staying the course.

Start where you are. Use what you have. Build something great.