13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (2024)

The below investment apps have been researched, reviewed, confirmed, vetted, re-vetted, and then ranked based on eight categories: account minimum, trading costs, account fees, selection, ease of use, sign-on bonus, education, and customer service. These are the investment apps that made the grade.

Best investment apps at a glance

  • eToro—Best for stocks and crypto.

  • Wealthfront—Best for simple/robo investing.

  • Acorns—Best for micro-investing.

  • Crowdstreet—Best for real estate investing.

  • M1 Finance—Best for automatic investing.

  • Coinbase—Best for crypto investing.

  • Robinhood—Best for beginners.

  • Empower—Best for investment tracking.

  • Charles Schwab—Best overall.

  • Vanguard—Best ETF app.

  • E*Trade—Best for stock investing.

  • Fidelity—Best for mutual funds.

  • Interactive Brokers—Best for dividend investing.

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NameScoreVisit Disclaimer

1Plus500

Read Expert Review

9.8Visitplus500.com

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 81% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Availability subject to regulations. FCA (FRN 509909).

2eToro

8.7Visitetoro.com

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. Your capital is at risk. 76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

3Wealthfront

6.9Visitwealthfront.com

4Acorns

8.8Visit

5Crowdstreet

8.2Visit

6M1

9.0Visit

7Coinbase

8.4Visitcoinbase.com

8Robinhood

6.0Visitrobinhood.com

9Empower

9.0Visit

10Charles Schwab

8.0Visitschwab.com

11Vanguard

6.0Visitinvestor.vanguard.com

12E*Trade

6.5Visitetrade.com

13Fidelity Investment

7.5Visitfidelity.com

14Interactive Brokers

Read Expert Review

9.1Visitinteractivebrokers.com
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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (15)

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (16)

13 Best Investment Apps of 2024 Reviewed

13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (17)

eToro

  • Fee-free investing.
  • $10 account minimum.
  • 3,000+ assets, including 25 types of crypto.
  • $5 withdrawal fee.
  • $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months of no login activity.

Why we picked it

eToro is a trading platform that's been around for nearly two decades and they operate in over 100 countries around the world.

From the beginning, their mission was to make trading accessible to anyone, anywhere, and reduce dependency on traditional financial institutions. They've kept this as their core mission, but they've also added capabilities as a social platform, crypto, options, and 0% commission stocks.

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (18)

Wealthfront

  • No fee investing.
  • $1 account minimum.
  • Intro offer of $50 for funding your account.
  • 0.25% management fee for automated investing.
  • Limited selection of crypto.

Why we picked it

Wealthfront was founded in 2008, originally as a mutual fund analysis company, but quickly pivoted into wealth management.

They understood that people often don't know if they're making the right decisions with their investments. But, if they hand their money over to an advisor, they also don't really know if that advisor is working in their best interest.

Wealthfront solves both of these problems as an automated investment medium—a robot advisor of sorts. Its model is easy to understand and has your best interest at heart, always.

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Acorns

  • Simple interface.
  • $10 sign-up bonus.
  • No account minimum.
  • Cashback for 250+ retailers.
  • Easy to understand ETF investing.
  • Steep monthly cost for low account balances.

Why we picked it

If you’re looking for a hands-off approach to investing, Acorns has you covered.

Acorns will round up your purchases and invest little bits at a time into various investments of your choice. The app is simple to use, and the investment options are also easy to understand.

Instead of choosing individual stocks (which can be daunting), you can choose from five investment portfolios—conservative, moderately conservative, moderate, moderately aggressive, or aggressive. And, if you’re interested in crypto, you can invest in BITO (a Bitcoin ETF).

The cost of Acorns is between $3 and $5 a month. If you have thousands of dollars invested, this fee is nominal. However, the charge is ludicrous if you’ve only got $20 in your account. If you can’t see yourself using Acorns for the long term, it’s probably not worth it. But if you stick with it and leave your investments alone, Acorns makes a ton of sense.

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Crowdstreet

  • All real estate opportunities go through extensive research and analysis before you can invest.
  • Wide selection of real estate investments and asset classes to choose from.
  • Easy to use app with many features.
  • The choice to go solo or receive more help and customization from experts.
  • High minimum investment of $25,000—large investments always carry risk.
  • Real estate investments are illiquid, with an average hold time of 3–5 years, so you could be waiting a while to see returns.
  • Only accredited investors can invest using Crowdstreet.

Why we picked it

If you’re interested in commercial real estate investing, chances are you’ve heard of CrowdStreet. With $4 billion invested, over 750 deals, and an eyebrow-raising 19.2% return rate, the platform certainly stands out from the crowd.

CrowdStreet is an award-winning online commercial real estate investment platform that connects investors with real estate opportunities across the US.

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M1

  • No trading costs.
  • Over 6,000 stocks to choose from, plus REITs, ETFs, crypto, and socially responsible investments.
  • Sign-up bonuses.
  • High rewards possible when credit card, savings account, and investment brokerage are all utilized.
  • Excellent customer service.
  • $100 account minimum.
  • $100 termination fee if you move funds to another brokerage.

Why we picked it

M1 Finance was founded in 2015. To be completely honest, I just heard of it recently. Based on what I’ve heard, researched, and recently found out first-hand (because I signed up and created an account), this is one of the top investment apps out there. More specifically, though, it’s the best automatic investing app.

So why is it so highly regarded? Because it’s different from anything else out there. First off, it’s an investment brokerage account. (Not so different there.)

But, there’s also:

  • a high-yield savings option at 4.5% interest,

  • a checking account element that earns 3% interest,

  • a credit card option that can earn you 10% rewards at select retailers,

  • and you can set up your rewards earnings to auto-invest into your M1 investment account.

That’s quite the circle of life there. Watch out Simba, I think your theme song just found a new home with M1 Finance.

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (19)

Coinbase

  • No account fees.
  • No account minimums.
  • Excellent selection of crypto.
  • Great video resources on crypto and trading in general.
  • Minimum 0.5% trading fee. More likely 1% or more per transaction.

Why we picked it

Crypto was once a cheap speculative investment. Then it nearly went mainstream and turned pimply teenagers into millionaires.

Recently, though, crypto has taken a dive in value. This is mainly due to security fears and threats of government regulation.

There are hundreds of apps that claim to be a crypto exchange. Don’t believe the hype. Some are scams. Others are just a shell of a website with little backing or security.

So we stuck with the tried-and-true app for crypto investing—Coinbase.

Coinbase offers over 170 types of cryptocurrencies, they have no account minimum, and their platform is quite user-friendly. And, if you set up an account with them, they’ll give you $5 of Bitcoin to get you started. That’s pretty cool!

The only downside? The trading fee is 1%. It’s not the highest fee among their competitors, but it’s not the lowest either.

However, remember the security feature of crypto trading. It may be worth paying a little extra for trades on a more seasoned, secure platform vs. the potentially unsecure, cheaper alternative.

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Robinhood

  • No fee investing.
  • No account minimums.
  • Wide selection of investible assets.
  • Free stock when you get started.
  • $100 full transfer cost if you want to move all your funds to another brokerage.
  • Limited selection of crypto.
  • Low customer service rankings and regulatory issues.

Why we picked it

Years ago, Robinhood shook up the brokerage industry by offering free trades on stocks. Today, they continue to innovate and make investing as simple as possible for the beginner investor.

With Robinhood, you can trade stocks, ETFs (exchange traded funds), options, crypto, and fractional shares. And there’s quite a lot of help if you’re not sure what you’re doing or where to invest your money (including investing 101 articles, options trading essentials, and effective trading information on each stock that you may be looking to buy).

Robinhood has seen its share of issues with low customer reviews and regulatory fines for misleading customers (in 2020 and 2021), but they stated that were “investing heavily in improving platform stability, enhancing educational resources, and building out customer support and legal and compliance teams.”

And, from my perspective, the app has improved as they promised it would. Based on our review across this space, other brokerages may be more seasoned and offer a better variety of investments, but Robinhood is still the simplest way to trade.

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Empower

  • Free digital analysis.
  • Many educational materials.
  • Excellent customer service.
  • $100,000 account minimum to qualify for a personal advisor.
  • Annual advisory fee if you sign-up for the wealth management service.

Why we picked it

I’ve been using the Empower site for nearly a decade now. It came onto the scene in 2009 as a digital wealth management company, and that’s always been its strength.

I remember linking all my investment accounts within their platform and getting my first visual of where my money was actually invested. And I’m not talking about brokerages or ticker symbols, but rather classifications like growth, small-cap, large-cap, cash, bonds, or perhaps even currency investments.

Honestly, I was a bit astonished when I got that first look. I was young, and my intent was to be aggressive with my investments. But when I used the Empower tool, I discovered that over 15% of my holdings were in traditional bonds that were way too safe and earning very little.

I immediately restructured my portfolio. And I’ve been an Empower user ever since.

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Charles Schwab

  • No fee investing.
  • $10 account minimum.
  • 3,000+ assets, including 25 types of crypto.
  • $5 withdrawal fee.
  • $10/month inactivity fee after 12 months of no login activity.

Why we picked it

Never thought a stuffy old investment firm that’s been around forever would wow me (sorry, Charles Schwab!), but it absolutely did!

Charles Schwab won the top spot of all the apps with their user-friendly app, broad selection of investments, expansive list of research guides and helpful posts, and a fantastic promo offer to get started.

You’ll win when you get started (the $101 in free stock), you’ll win while you’re investing (with the large selection of investments and helpful advice), and you’ll win if you get stuck and need help (thanks to their excellent support team).

It’s an amazing investment app, so we gave it a nearly perfect rating of 8.7 out of 10.

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (22)

Vanguard

  • No fee investing.
  • Wide selection of low-cost mutual funds and ETFs.
  • Highly rated for customer service and ease of use.
  • $20 annual account fee.
  • No fractional shares.
  • Many funds have a $1,000 minimum to invest.

Why we picked it

Vanguard began on the premise of low-cost investing, and that's still where it holds its value today. With an offering of 160+ Vanguard low-cost mutual funds and 3,000 non-Vanguard funds with no transaction fees, they're still a great go-to platform for a simple low-cost diversified investment.

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (23)

E*Trade

  • Free trades.
  • No account minimums.
  • Easy to use app with many features.
  • Earn $100 cash credit with a $5,000 deposit.
  • Low customer service scores.
  • $75 charge for a full transfer to another brokerage.

Why we picked it

I started investing with E*Trade over a decade ago. They were one of the top investment brokerages then, and they continue to grow and evolve today, which is how it secured the top spot as the best stock app.

E*Trade earns high marks on nearly every front.

They offer free stock trades, no account minimums, a great assortment of research tools and reports, and their app is straightforward and easy to navigate. Also, for a limited time, they have a bonus offer where you can earn cash credits. Just use promo code BONUS22 when you set up your account.

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13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (24)

Fidelity

  • No trading fees.
  • No account minimums.
  • Cash promo when you deposit $50 into a new Fidelity account.
  • Fees still present on competitor funds offered through Fidelity.

Why we picked it

Fidelity is another one of those brokerages that has been around for decades. While some businesses may become more dated and irrelevant with age, Fidelity still appears to be at the top of its game.

Their investment app is super user-friendly and helpful. They eliminated nearly all fees. They have a selection of 4,300 different mutual funds. And they have a special $150 promo offer when you deposit just $50 into a new Fidelity account.

For these reasons, Fidelity has earned the top spot for the best mutual funds app.

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Interactive Brokers

  • No account minimums.
  • No trading costs or account fees.
  • Huge selection of mutual funds.
  • No sign-on bonus.
  • App isn't as user-friendly as other major brokerages.

Why we picked it

If you’re interested in dividend investing and don’t want to be limited in your selection, then Interactive Brokers is the right investment brokerage for you.

Interactive Brokers offers over 4,000 no-fee U.S. mutual funds, and (get this) over 14,000 offshore no-fee mutual funds. Given the magnitude of this selection, you’re almost certain to find the type of dividend investment you’re looking for.

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More About Investment Apps

It’s a great time to be an investor. There’s a seemingly endless sea of investments for stocks, bonds, mutual funds, dividends, forex, futures, crypto, and real estate. There are countless platforms to invest with, and each has its own spin on investing. While all these options can be beneficial, they can also make the investment world extra confusing! So what do you do if you’re a beginner investor?

Similar investment articles:

Other great "how to invest" posts:

And even some helpful free calculators:

Investing money for beginners

What would I do if I was just getting started in the investing game? What would be my advice on how to invest money for a beginner? First, keep things as simple as possible. And one of the most straightforward, simple investments on this entire list is Acorns.

  • Sign up,

  • link your account,

  • choose your investment risk,

  • and then move on with your life while your investments grow.

Then what? Here’s what’s going to happen.

You likely won’t look at your Acorns account for a while. You’ll assume it’s doing practically nothing. Then, months down the road, you’ll take a peek and have $200 sitting there. Whoa!

At this point, you’re going to be inspired. You’ll want to do more. You’ll search, read, and research. You’ll learn so much more about investing that you’ll be ready to move up to the next level. That’s how it usually starts—with a simple act. And the simplest act is Acorns.

What investment app should I use?

We already covered the most straightforward app—our top pick for micro-investing—but what if you’re looking to invest at a higher level than that? What if you’d like to get more involved with your investments?

From beginner to intermediate

If you’d like to invest beyond Acorns (which basically does everything for you), Robinhood and Fundrise are great next-level options. With these apps, you can invest in individual stocks, real estate, and even crypto. So, you’ve got more of a selection and greater freedom to invest in precisely what you want, and the platforms are still simple enough that it’s not overwhelming.

Intermediate and advanced

Want to open your world to all the investments, including bonds, forex, options, and crypto? Then these are the apps for you:

  • eToro

  • M1 Finance

  • Robinhood

  • Coinbase

  • Charles Schwab

  • E*Trade

  • Fidelity

  • Interactive Brokers

What apps are giving away free stock or free money today?

These investment apps give free stock or money:

  • eToro: $250 when you deposit $5,000 or more.

  • Wealthfront: $50 when you fund your new account.

  • Coinbase: $5 in Bitcoin after your first trade.

  • Robinhood: $5–$200 in free stock.

  • Acorns: $10 bonus.

  • Charles Schwab: $101 when you fund your account.

  • Fidelity: $150 when you deposit $50.

  • E*Trade: $50 with a $5,000 deposit.

  • M1 Finance: $100 when you invest $50,000.

Can you lose money with investment apps?

Stock prices rise and fall based on their value. By purchasing shares, you’re essentially a part-owner of the company. Therefore, if the company goes down in value, so does your investment.

The same is true for real estate and cryptocurrency. If the values go down, your investment goes down as well.

So can you lose money with investment apps? Of course! That’s the name of the game. Without risk, there’s no reward.

Are investment apps worth it?

What if we take a step back and look at these investment apps as a whole? Are they really worth putting money into?

Let’s pretend for a minute that you invest nothing.

You earn money, put it in savings, and gain absolutely nothing from those savings.

However, at the same time, inflation happens each and every day. That $5 cheeseburger will become a $10 cheeseburger a decade from now. The patty isn’t any bigger. The bun isn’t any better. It’s just inflation at work.

If you invest nothing and earn no interest on your money, the metaphorical money pile will actually shrink (by half in ten years).

So are these investment apps worth it? Absolutely! Without investing, there is very little chance of a long-term retirement.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much money should you have to start investing?

What are the best robo investment apps?

What is the best app for long term investments?

What is self-investment?

Disclaimer

US Crypto Trading is offered via eToro USA. US Securities trading is offered via eToro USA Securities, Inc.("The BD"), a broker dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The US Broker Dealer is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). eToro USA (NMLS ID: 1769299 ) is not a registered brokerdealer or FINRA member and your cryptocurrency holdings are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Life And My Finances is not an affiliate of eToro USA Securities, Inc. or eToro USA LLC. Life And My Finances is compensated if you access certain of the products or services offered by eToro USA LLC and/or eToro USA Securities Inc. Any testimonials contained in this communication may not be representative of the experience of other eToro customers and such testimonials are not guarantees of future performance or success.

13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More) (2024)

FAQs

13 Best Investing Apps of 2024 (Stocks, Micro, REIT, +More)? ›

The most appealing aspect of micro-investing is that the apps are user-friendly and make saving easy. You don't need to learn about volatile market trends or break down complicated acronyms. Most features are automated, meaning you can go about your day-to-day life building noticeable savings with minimal effort.

Which app is best for REIT investment? ›

Best Real Estate Investing Apps
  • Roofstock: Best Overall.
  • Arrived Homes: Best for Rental Properties.
  • Fundrise: Best for Beginners.
  • RealtyMogul: Best for REITs.
  • CrowdStreet: Best for Commercial Real Estate.
  • Acretrader: Best for Farmland.
  • Groundfloor: Best for High Liquidity.
  • Yieldstreet: Best for Alternative investments.
Mar 7, 2024

What's the best investment app for beginners? ›

Here are seven investment apps tailored for people starting their investment journey:
  • SoFi Invest.
  • Investr.
  • Betterment.
  • Robinhood.
  • Acorns.
  • Ellevest.
  • Suma Wealth.
Mar 25, 2024

Would you recommend using a micro-investing app? ›

The most appealing aspect of micro-investing is that the apps are user-friendly and make saving easy. You don't need to learn about volatile market trends or break down complicated acronyms. Most features are automated, meaning you can go about your day-to-day life building noticeable savings with minimal effort.

Does M1 finance have fees? ›

M1 is a commission-free platform. Beginning May 15, 2024, clients without an active M1 Personal Loan or clients with M1 assets that do not reach a minimum value of $10,000 at least one day during each billing cycle will incur a monthly $3 platform fee.

What is better than REITs? ›

Direct real estate offers more tax breaks than REIT investments, and gives investors more control over decision making. Many REITs are publicly traded on exchanges, so they're easier to buy and sell than traditional real estate.

Why not to invest in REITs? ›

The value of a REIT is based on the real estate market, so if interest rates increase and the demand for properties goes down as a result, it could lead to lower property values, negatively impacting the value of your investment.

What is the best stocks and shares app for beginners? ›

Best for beginners: SoFi Invest

SoFi stock trading app offers taxable accounts, retirement accounts, and limited investment choices. But stocks and ETFs are well represented. SoFi also offers a no-fee automated investing platform, and it lets you invest in fractional shares through a product it calls Stock Bits.

Is Robinhood or Acorn better? ›

Robinhood and Acorns each have a unique target audience, but the biggest difference between the two is that Robinhood may be better for beginners looking to choose their own individual stock and ETF investments, while Acorns may be a good choice for hands-off investors who want help building a diversified, long-term ...

What is the best stock trading app for small investors? ›

Acorns is one of the best investment apps for beginners and hand-off investors who want to start investing but are overwhelmed by the choices with other investing apps. This simple and easy-to-use platform offers a low investment minimum, portfolio diversification, and beginner-friendly charting tools.

What are the downfalls of micro-investing apps? ›

Pros include low investment amounts, ease of use, and potential educational resources. Cons encompass fees, limited diversification, lack of personalized advice, and potential for losses.

What is a disadvantage of using a micro-investing app? ›

Disadvantages of micro-investing

Need to save more than spare change: Most experts recommend saving between 10 and 20 percent of your income for retirement planning and an emergency fund, so if you're able to save only a few dollars each month, you might need to revisit your budget.

Is microinvesting worth it? ›

Better returns than a savings account

No matter your savings goals, micro-investment is more profitable than squirrelling your money away in a bank account. Whether you're saving for retirement planning or paying off student loans, micro-investments allow even a tiny amount of money to ensure significant returns.

Why not to use M1 Finance? ›

M1 has limited investment options. The platform lacks individual bonds, mutual funds, and options trading. There are 8,000 stocks on the NYSE and over 3,000 ETFs and M1 offers access to 6,000 stocks and ETFs. If you're an advanced or sophisticated investor, M1 might not work for you.

Who is M1 Finance best for? ›

The bottom line: M1 Finance stands out for its unique investment approach, as "Slices" made up of different securities are part of a whole "Pie." But its few educational resources and limited trading windows may be more attractive to hands-off investors who want a long-term investment strategy.

Which is better Robinhood or M1 Finance? ›

Finding the best online stock broker for you largely depends on what you value as an investor: Robinhood is a strong contender for an active investor who wants to trade options or cryptocurrencies. M1 Finance stands out for a passive investor who seeks to invest, borrow, and bank all under one roof.

What is the best account to hold a REIT in? ›

Benefits of Investing in REITs Through Your Roth IRA

First, you benefit from tax-advantaged growth — the dividends you receive will not be taxed since they are in a Roth IRA, which you fund with money you already paid taxes on. You can withdraw funds from your Roth IRA without paying taxes.

How do I start investing in REITs? ›

As referenced earlier, you can purchase shares in a REIT that's listed on major stock exchanges. You can also buy shares in a REIT mutual fund or exchange-traded fund (ETF). To do so, you must open a brokerage account. Or, if your workplace retirement plan offers REIT investments, you might invest with that option.

Where is the best place to hold a REIT? ›

Is a Roth or traditional IRA the best choice? To be clear, retirement accounts are ideal places to hold REIT investments, as the benefits of tax-deferred investing can magnify the already tax-advantaged nature of these companies.

How do I start buying REIT? ›

Investors can choose publicly traded REITs, REIT mutual funds, and REIT exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Shares of a non-traded REIT can be purchased through a broker or financial advisor who participates in the non-traded REIT's offering. REITs may be included in defined-benefit and defined-contribution investment plans.

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