Investing Apps That Make Building Wealth Easy in 2025

In 2025, you no longer need to be a Wall Street expert to start investing.

Thanks to a new generation of investing apps, everyday people are now building real wealth from their phones — automatically, affordably, and confidently. Whether you’re saving for retirement, growing a nest egg, or just looking to put your money to work, the tools are smarter and more accessible than ever.

This guide breaks down the top investing apps of 2025, how to choose the right one, real-life examples of how people use them, and answers to the most common questions beginners ask.

Let’s dive into how to grow your money — the easy way.

🔍 What Makes a Great Investing App?

Not all investing apps are created equal. A good app in 2025 should do more than just let you buy stocks — it should:

• Be simple and intuitive to use

• Offer fractional shares so you can start with small amounts

• Allow automatic investing (set-it-and-forget-it)

• Include tools for education, goal tracking, and portfolio building

• Support a wide range of asset types like ETFs, stocks, crypto, or even treasuries

• Provide strong security features like two-factor authentication and SIPC insurance

Many apps now also include retirement planning, tax-saving features, or built-in financial advisors.

🏆 The Top Investing Apps of 2025

Here’s a breakdown of the best apps — by category — and why they stand out.

1. SoFi Invest – Best All-Around for Beginners

• ✅ No commissions

• ✅ Combine robo-advisor + DIY

• ✅ Access to certified financial planners

• ✅ Other SoFi perks like banking and loans

You can start investing with as little as $1, set up recurring investments, and choose between prebuilt portfolios or your own mix of stocks and ETFs.

Perfect for: Beginners who want everything in one place.

2. Fidelity – Best for Long-Term DIY Investors

• ✅ Fractional shares

• ✅ Powerful research tools

• ✅ Zero commissions

• ✅ Great for IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401(k) rollovers

Fidelity gives you the full investing toolkit without overwhelming you. It’s ideal if you want full control over your portfolio and are willing to learn as you go.

Perfect for: Intermediate investors building long-term wealth.

3. Betterment – Best Pure Robo-Advisor

• ✅ Goals-based portfolios

• ✅ Automatic rebalancing

• ✅ Tax-loss harvesting

• ✅ Personalized planning tools

Betterment invests your money based on your goals and time horizon. Just answer a few questions, and it does the rest — including managing risk and reallocating as needed.

Perfect for: People who want hands-off investing done smartly.

4. Acorns – Best for Micro-Investing

• ✅ Rounds up spare change from purchases

• ✅ Invests it into ETF portfolios

• ✅ Includes retirement, checking, and even family investing

Great for people who want to start small but stay consistent. You’d be amazed at how fast those round-ups grow.

Perfect for: New investors who struggle to save.

5. M1 Finance – Best for Customizable Auto-Investing

• ✅ “Pie-based” investing system

• ✅ Auto-invest once your balance hits a threshold

• ✅ Great for dividend-focused or FIRE-style portfolios

You choose what goes into your pie, and M1 invests your money accordingly — automatically.

Perfect for: Investors who want to automate their own strategy.

6. Public – Best for Social Investing & Learning

• ✅ Clean UI

• ✅ Transparent investing with social feed

• ✅ Access to treasuries, stocks, ETFs, crypto

• ✅ No payment-for-order-flow model

Public lets you follow creators, learn as you go, and make informed investing choices alongside a community.

Perfect for: Gen Z and Millennial investors who love transparency.

🧪 Real-Life Case Studies

👩‍💻 Sarah — The Busy Freelancer

Sarah uses Acorns to invest $10/week through round-ups. She also has a Betterment Roth IRA for retirement. All of it runs in the background while she focuses on work. After 2 years, she’s accumulated over $4,000 without ever logging in.

🧔 Mark — The FIRE Seeker

Mark uses M1 Finance with a dividend-growth portfolio. He invests $200/month into SCHD, VIG, and VTI. His portfolio rebalances automatically and sends him quarterly updates. He tracks progress on his FIRE goals with M1’s planning tools.

👩 Amina — The Curious Beginner

Amina uses Public to invest in fractional shares of tech companies. She follows investors she trusts and reads their notes before investing. She’s learning more every month and just opened a Roth IRA with Fidelity.

⚙️ Features to Compare Across Apps

Use these criteria to narrow your selection:

• Minimum Investment: Can you start with $1 or does it require $100?

• Assets Supported: ETFs, stocks, crypto, treasuries, mutual funds?

• Automation Options: Can you schedule investments? Rebalancing?

• Educational Content: Are there tutorials or communities?

• Fees/Commissions: Flat monthly fees or percentage-based?

• Fractional Shares: Vital for starting small

• Customer Support: Chat, email, phone? Fast replies?

• Security: Two-factor authentication, SIPC/FDIC protection?

💸 How to Get Started With Just $25

You don’t need thousands to begin.

Here’s a simple plan:

1. Pick one app (e.g., SoFi or Acorns)

2. Link your bank account

3. Set up a recurring transfer ($5/week or $25/month)

4. Choose a portfolio or ETF

5. Turn on auto-invest and forget about it

Small amounts + consistency = wealth over time.

📚 FAQs About Investing Apps

❓ Are investing apps safe?

Yes, most apps are SIPC-insured (up to $500,000 in protection), use 256-bit encryption, and offer two-factor authentication. Always choose apps with verified licenses and strong reviews.

❓ Do I need to know about stocks?

Not at all. Many apps (like Betterment or SoFi) invest your money for you into diversified ETFs based on your goals. You don’t need to choose individual stocks unless you want to.

❓ Are there hidden fees?

Most apps are transparent, but always read the fine print. Look out for:

• Monthly platform fees (e.g., $3–$5 for Acorns)

• Fund expense ratios (charged by the ETFs, not the app)

• Crypto transaction fees (can be higher)

❓ Which app is best for retirement?

Use Fidelity, Vanguard, or Betterment if you want a Roth IRA or traditional IRA with automatic investing. Fidelity offers the most flexibility.

❓ Can I use more than one app?

Absolutely. Many people use one for retirement (Betterment), one for micro-investing (Acorns), and one for DIY (Fidelity or M1). Just make sure you’re not overlapping too much or spreading yourself thin.

📎 Download: Expanded Investing Apps Comparison Guide (PDF)

Use this guide to:

• Compare the best apps side-by-side

• Track fees, automation, and features

• Record your investment goals

• Reflect on your experience month by month

📎 Download the Expanded Investing Apps Guide (PDF)