App stocks

The best app stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

How to buy app stocks

Sign up with an online broker or platform to invest in one of more of these app stocks.

1. Compare share trading platforms. If you're a beginner, look for a platform with low commissions, expert ratings and investment tools to track your portfolio. Use our comparison table to narrow down top brokers by fees and bonuses.
2. Open and fund your brokerage account. Complete an application with your personal and financial details, like your ID and bank information. Fund your account with a bank transfer, credit card or debit card.
3. Search for the stock you're interested in. Find the stock by name or ticker symbol, like ZNGA or SNAP. Research its history to confirm it's a solid investment against your financial goals.
4. Purchase now or later. Invest in the application software industry today with a market order or use a limit order to delay your purchase until the stock reaches your desired price. To spread out your purchase, look into dollar-cost averaging, which smooths out buying at consistent intervals and amounts.
5. Decide on how many to buy. Weigh your budget against a diversified portfolio that can minimize risk through the market's ups and downs. You may be able to buy fractional shares, depending on your broker.
6. Check in on your investment. Congratulations, you own a part of an app company. Optimize your portfolio by tracking how your stock — and even the application software sector as a whole — performs with an eye on the long term. You may be eligible for dividends and shareholder voting rights on directors and management that can affect your stock.

Compare app stocks

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the application software industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

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1. Zynga (ZNGA)

Zynga Inc. provides social game services in the United States and internationally. The company develops, markets, and operates social games as live services played on mobile platforms, such as Apple iOS and Google's Android operating systems; social networking platforms, such as Facebook and Snapchat; and personal computers consoles, such as Nintendo's Switch game console, and other platforms and consoles.

Zynga stock opened the day at $10.87 after a previous close of $10.56. The latest price was $10.59 (25 minute delay). Zynga is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD2 billion and employs 2,245 staff.

• Market capitalization: $11,642,264,576
• P/E ratio: 138.7143
• PEG ratio: 1.28

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2. Snap (SNAP)

Snap Inc. operates as a camera company in the United States and internationally. The company offers Snapchat, a camera application with functionalities, such as Camera, Communication, Snap Map, Stories, and Spotlight that enable people to communicate through short videos and images.

Snap stock opened the day at $60.47 after a previous close of $61.25. The latest price was $60.44 (25 minute delay). Snap is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2.5 billion and employs 3,863 staff.

• Market capitalization: $91,494,686,720
• PEG ratio: -0.31

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3. Activision Blizzard (ATVI)

Activision Blizzard, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, develops and publishes interactive entertainment content and services in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates through three segments: Activision Publishing, Inc.

Activision Blizzard stock opened the day at $96.93 after a previous close of $96.48. The latest price was $96.00 (25 minute delay). Activision Blizzard is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$8.1 billion and employs 9,500 staff.

• Market capitalization: $75,468,791,808
• P/E ratio: 34.5426
• PEG ratio: 1.8804

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4. Facebook (FB)

Facebook, Inc. develops products that enable people to connect and share with friends and family through mobile devices, personal computers, virtual reality headsets, and in-home devices worldwide. The company's products include Facebook that enables people to connect, share, discover, and communicate with each other on mobile devices and personal computers; Instagram, a community for sharing photos, videos, and private messages; Messenger, a messaging application for people to connect with friends, family, groups, and businesses across platforms and devices; and WhatsApp, a messaging application that is used by people and businesses to communicate in a private way.

Facebook stock opened the day at $305.01 after a previous close of $306.18. The latest price was $302.24 (25 minute delay). Facebook is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$86 billion and employs 58,604 staff.

• Market capitalization: $874,596,663,296
• P/E ratio: 30.5074
• PEG ratio: 1.1956

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5. Match Group (MTCH)

Match Group, Inc. provides dating products worldwide. The company's portfolio of brands includes Tinder, Match, Meetic, OkCupid, Hinge, Pairs, PlentyOfFish, and OurTime, as well as a various other brands.

Match Group stock opened the day at $150.97 after a previous close of $146.85. The latest price was $156.58 (25 minute delay). Match Group is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$2.4 billion and employs 1,880 staff.

• Market capitalization: $39,396,327,424
• P/E ratio: 300.1434
• PEG ratio: 2.5767

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6. Apple (AAPL)

Apple Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets smartphones, personal computers, tablets, wearables, and accessories worldwide. It also sells various related services.

Apple stock opened the day at $133.51 after a previous close of $134.84. The latest price was $134.94 (25 minute delay). Apple is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$294.1 billion and employs 147,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $2,203,267,104,768
• P/E ratio: 36.4605
• PEG ratio: 2.9789

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7. Alphabet (GOOG)

Alphabet Inc. provides online advertising services in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and Latin America. The company offers performance and brand advertising services.

Alphabet stock opened the day at $2,291.98 after a previous close of $2,297.76. The latest price was $2,303.49 (25 minute delay). Alphabet is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$182.5 billion and employs 135,301 staff.

• Market capitalization: $1,543,697,596,416
• P/E ratio: 39.1835
• PEG ratio: 1.6156

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8. Twitter (TWTR)

Twitter, Inc. operates as a platform for public self-expression and conversation in real time United States, Japan, and internationally. The company offers Twitter, a platform that allows users to consume, create, distribute, and discover content.

Twitter stock opened the day at $69.62 after a previous close of $70.12. The latest price was $67.94 (25 minute delay). Twitter is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$3.7 billion and employs 5,500 staff.

• Market capitalization: $55,699,382,272
• P/E ratio: 21.913
• PEG ratio: 3.64

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9. Spotify Technology S-A (SPOT)

Spotify Technology S. A. , together with its subsidiaries, provides audio streaming services worldwide. It operates in two segments, Premium and Ad-Supported.

Spotify Technology S-A stock opened the day at $287.00 after a previous close of $292.02. The latest price was $280.37 (25 minute delay). Spotify Technology S-A is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$7.9 billion and employs 5,584 staff.

• Market capitalization: $52,833,046,528

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Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in app stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — app stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the application software industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.