In 2026, investing is no longer just for Wall Street professionals. Your smartphone is now a powerful financial hub. Whether you want to buy a fraction of a Tesla share, invest in Bitcoin, or let an AI “Robo-advisor” manage your money, there is an app for you.
In this guide, we compare the top investment apps based on fees, security, and ease of use.
Top Investment Apps Comparison (2026)
| App Name | Best For | Fees | Key Feature |
| Robinhood | Beginners | $0 Commission | Fractional Shares & 24/7 Trading |
| Fidelity | Long-term Investing | $0 Commission | Massive Research Tools |
| Public.com | Social Investing | $0 Commission | Invest in Music Royalties & Fine Art |
| Acorns | Passive Saving | Small Monthly Fee | Round-ups (Invest your spare change) |
| Coinbase | Crypto Beginners | Variable | Highest Security for Digital Assets |
Key Features To Look for in an Investment App
The following are the various features that are highly important for considering crypto investment apps.
- You must search for the investment apps that follow the security protocols, including cold storage security and two-factor authentication.
- The apps that possess staking, saving, and other special features should be considered.
- The investment app should comply with the regulatory authorities of the specific area.
- It should offer a user-friendly experience and a responsive mobile interface.
- The trading fees must be reasonable.
- It should be completely integrated with the banks or cryptocurrency.
Best Investment Apps for Beginners
In today’s modern world, investing is no longer limited to wealthy people. So, with the availability of numerous investment applications, beginners can also enhance their wealth building. The investment apps for beginners are designed to provide them an easy way to access the investing process and get a good profit in return. Moreover, you can get to know about various investment apps that are perfect for beginners.
Robinhood
Robinhood is one of the popular investing applications. It is particularly designed for beginners. This application was founded in 2013, and it gained much popularity in the stock trading world. It was founded by Robinhood Markets Inc. This application can easily be accessed by individuals who are beginners and want to start their investing journey with a small amount of money. It provides you with a user-friendly interface along with good responsiveness.
It provides you with the purchasing of fractional shares. You can get commission-free stock trading through this application as well. Moreover, a user-friendly interface is there, which helps in easy understanding for beginners. Also, this Robinhood application provides users with easy buying and selling opportunities related to cryptocurrencies.
Acorns
The Acorns application was launched in 2012 by Acorns Grow Inc. It provides an easy way for the beginner investors. Its interface is very simple, in which the beginners can easily understand and use it for investing a small amount of money. This application offers you a low-risk investment, which makes it suitable for beginner investors.
Additionally, it provides an easy rewards programmed and cash management as well. Moreover, this app also has an automated round-up feature, which helps in good earnings. So, it is considered perfect for beginner investors.
SoFi Invest
Sofi Invest is one of the best investment apps for beginners who want to get a finance platform along with integrated investment tools. It was launched in 2011 and is now much more popular among beginners.
The people who want to invest a small amount can easily consider this application for their financial planning. No fees are required for stock trading in this app. Its interface is very user-friendly with no minimum account requirement. Moreover, it also provides you with cryptocurrency trading opportunities.
Best Investment Apps for Intermediate Investors
The intermediate investors are those people who have finished the first level of investing and are now available with more funds. They are the ones who look for more features in the investment apps for controlling their finances.
They have a complete understanding of the stock market and search for the tools and applications with more profitable results and automated investing. Here are some of the investment apps for intermediate investors.
Etrade
Etrade is one of the most popular investing platforms for intermediate investors. It was founded in 1982 and comprises advanced research tools. It also comprises an opportunity to do mutual funding. You can find a wide range of investing options in this application. Moreover, it is commission-free and provides trading of various cryptocurrencies as well.
Charles Schwab
Charles Schwab is a mobile application that is known for providing low-cost trading. It has a good reputation among intermediate investors. You can get a variety of investment services in this application.
Moreover, commission-free trading, along with the extensive research tool availability, can be found in this application. In addition to this, you can experience very smooth trading with a variety of tools and platforms in this application.
M1 Finance
M1 Finance is also a unique investment application for intermediate investors. It was launched in 2015. It was launched by M1 Finance LLC. This application provides you with commission-free trading, which is very beneficial for investors. Along with this, you can also get fractional shares.
Additionally, there are no trading fees, so it is considered a very affordable option for investors. Along with this, you can also create your customised portfolios with the help of fractional shares. Hence, it is considered a great platform for investors who want to make a small investment.
Best Investment Apps for Advanced Investors
Considering the investment apps for advanced investors, there are various applications with powerful and more advanced trading options. These applications help in engaging the complex tools and provide ease to the advanced investors. You can get to know about various investment apps for advanced investors with some of their benefits below.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers, IBKR, was founded in 1978 by Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. It is an application that comprises advanced tools. So, it is considered best for the advanced traders. You can get advanced trading tools in their application.
Along with this, it also provides you with merchant trading, which helps the investors to get money from other people as well. Moreover, you can get API access as well for algorithm trading. So, it is considered a powerful application for investors who want advanced analytics as well.
Trade Station
Trade Station is another trading platform that provides advanced traders with an amazing opportunity. This application was launched in 1982. It provides a variety of advanced services to all investors. Furthermore, this application is mainly known for comprising automated tools, advanced trading options, and other research options as well.
The Trade Station is considered one of the ideal investment apps for investors who want high customisation. Along with this, the app has a powerful backtesting feature, so it is considered best for active traders as well.
Ninja Trader
Considering the investing apps for advanced traders, NinjaTrader plays an important role. It is mainly designed for professional traders. It comprises automated trading and also provides ease for forex trading. You can also get advanced analytics tools with customisable options. This application integrates with numerous brokers. So, it provides a very low-cost commission and a good speed for all users.
Top Picks Based on Your Goals
1. Best for Active Traders: Robinhood
Robinhood remains the king of simplicity in 2026. It allows you to trade stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one place. Their new AI-powered “Portfolio Insights” help beginners understand their risk levels.
2. Best for Automated Growth: Betterment
If you don’t want to pick stocks yourself, Betterment is the best “Robo-advisor.” It uses algorithms to automatically rebalance your portfolio and minimize taxes (Tax-loss harvesting).
3. Best for “Micro-Investing”: Acorns
Acorns is perfect for people who find it hard to save. Every time you buy a coffee for $3.50, the app rounds it up to $4.00 and invests the $0.50 into a diversified portfolio. You won’t even notice the money leaving your account!
4. Best for Alternative Assets: Public.com
Want to invest in things other than stocks? Public.com allows you to buy shares in luxury watches, fine art, and even Treasury bills, all within one app.
What to Look for in an Investment App?
- Security: Ensure the app has Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and is SIPC/FDIC insured.
- Fees: Look for “Zero Commission” apps. Avoid apps that charge high “Inactivity Fees.”
- User Interface: The app should be easy to navigate, especially during high market volatility.
FAQs:
Q. Are crypto Investing applications safe?
Ans: The well-known and reputable crypto investing applications are safe. You should always search for the apps that are providing you two two-factor authentication and compliance with the regulatory standards of your specific area.
Moreover, the users must also remember not to connect to the public Wi-Fi and enable all the security settings on their smartphones.
Q: Can I earn interest on the crypto investing apps?
Ans: Yes, there are several investing applications that provide you with lending and staking features. It helps you earn passive income as well.
Q: What is the difference between investment apps as compared to wallets or exchanges?
Ans: The investment apps combine the features of exchanges and wallets. They are all on one platform that provides you with purchasing, selling, and tracking of all your assets. Meanwhile, this wallet is only specific to the transferring of crypto, and the exchange is specific to the trading. So, investment apps are user-friendly and provide all the benefits.
Q. Can I withdraw money from investment apps anytime?
Ans: Yes, there are various investment apps from which you can easily withdraw the funds anytime. But the process can differ depending on the type of investment and the type of application you are using.
Q: Can I start investing with only $1?
Ans: Yes! Most modern apps like Robinhood and Fidelity offer Fractional Shares, meaning you can buy $1 worth of a $3,000 stock.
Q: Are these apps safe if the company goes bust?
Ans: Most reputable apps are members of SIPC, which protects your securities (stocks/bonds) up to $500,000 if the brokerage fails.
Conclusion
The best investment app is the one you actually use. Whether you prefer the social features of Public or the simplicity of Robinhood, the key is to start consistent contributions.
Confused about how much to invest? Read our guide on How to Invest 10k for Passive Income to create a solid financial plan.
Professional Financial Disclosure
The information provided on How To Invest Inn is for educational and informational purposes only. Hassan (the author) is a financial researcher, not a licensed financial advisor, broker, or tax professional. Investment in real estate, stocks, or any other asset involves significant risk, and past performance is not indicative of future results. We strongly recommend that you conduct your own thorough research and consult with a certified financial professional before making any investment decisions. How To Invest Inn shall not be held liable for any financial losses or damages resulting from the use of this information.
