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Mobile trading apps continue to grow in popularity among traders and investors as more people leverage the power and convenience of their smartphones to access the stock market. With access to real-time market data and advanced trading tools, coupled with the falling costs of investing, mobile trading continues to transform the way individuals invest.
While nearly every broker today offers a mobile trading app in some form, not all are created equal. The best online stock trading apps offer an intuitive interface with ample trading tools and features and favorable customer reviews. We analyzed 19 US brokers to find the best overall stock trading apps for traders and investors. Here are the 11 best online stock trading apps of 2023, according to Finder’s analysis.
In addition to receiving high marks from both Apple and Android users, IBKR Mobile offers the powerful trading tools that many brokers reserve for their web and desktop trading platforms — things like advanced charts, analyst ratings and price targets, earnings estimates and company financials. In other words, there's little you can't do or access with IBKR Mobile. Meanwhile, its beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader and IMPACT mobile trading platforms offer a more simplified trading and investing experience for those looking for uncomplicated access to the markets.
IBKR's suite of mobile trading platforms, sweeping lineup of tradable assets, commission-free trading on US-listed stocks and ETFs and access to 150 global markets in 33 countries help make it the best app for stock trading.
Pros
Three mobile trading platforms, including the powerful IBKR Mobile and the beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader
Tools to suit traders of different experience levels
In addition to trading stocks, options, ETFs and crypto on a beginner-friendly mobile platform, SoFi® members get access to a free robo-advisor, no-cost financial advice and a range of other financial services that let you invest, bank and borrow from a single, integrated app.
SoFi Invest® offers one of the simplest trading platforms among the brokers we review, offering uncomplicated market access with a no-cost robo-advisor available if you want to automate your investing. It's also one of the only brokers in the industry that offers unlimited, complimentary access to certified financial planners, a service that can cost you several hundred dollars a session elsewhere. SoFi members can consult a CFP professional ahead of any of life's important financial decisions, and we think this is a standout feature worth recognizing.
Other winning categories: Best all-in-one financial app
Pros
Commission-free stock, ETF and options trading
Free robo-advisor
Complimentary access to SoFi's certified financial planners
Access banking and loan products, insurance, brokerage services and other financial products from one platform
Cons
Limited investment options
$25 inactivity fee
Available asset types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Annual fee
0%
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account within 30 days
Stock trade fee
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get up to $1,000 in stock when you fund a new account within 30 days
If you're looking to trade stocks, treasuries, ETFs, crypto and alternative assets from a single, user-friendly platform, you'll find Public's trading app to be both simple and intuitive. Public prioritizes accessibility, making it easy to get up and running, explore assets and invest.
Public's mobile analysis tools include Morningstar research reports, earnings estimates, in-app earnings calls, analyst ratings and price targets, financial fundamentals and more. Its themed investing makes it easy to identify potential investment opportunities, while its social trading feature lets you interact with other Public traders and see which stocks are popular among the Public community. Public is among the only stock apps we review that offer access to a growing list of alternative assets, along with treasuries, making it a well-rounded app for traders and investors.
Pros
Fractional share investing
Access to treasuries and alternative assets, including fine art, collectibles and music royalties
Social trading
Live chat support
Cons
No screeners or advanced charts
Best analysis tools are reserved for Public Premium members for $8 a month
It wasn't just its offering of commission-free trades that led Robinhood to transform the way people buy and sell stocks over the past decade but also its innovative, beginner-friendly mobile app with its intuitive design and agile interface, which simplified investing for the masses. Nothing's changed on that front. Expanded investment options, 24/5 trading and IRAs that pay matching contributions are just some of the upgrades Robinhood's made since first launching.
It's a uniquely engaging mobile platform for trading stocks, ETFs, options and crypto without commission, with fractional share trading and 24/7 live customer support to boot. As the pioneer of mobile-first trading and investing, Robinhood offers an unmatched mobile experience for effortless investing.
Pros
Commission-free stocks, ETFs, options and crypto
24/7 customer support
Intuitive mobile app and web trading platforms
IRA matching contributions
Fractional shares
Cons
Limited advanced tools unless you upgrade to Robinhood Gold
No robo-advisor
Available asset types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Annual fee
0%
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account.
Stock trade fee
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account.
Designed primarily for derivatives trading, tastytrade boasts an impressive collection of trading products and some of the most competitive pricing on options and futures contracts in the industry. Options have no closing commissions, while stocks and ETFs are commission-free. Its trading platforms are powerful, with advanced trading, research and analysis tools. Some of tastytrade's specific options trading tools include profit and loss visualizations and a quick roll feature to roll your option position into the future.
Meanwhile, tastytrade offers a comprehensive learning center with video and live demos to help you level up your options trading skills.
Pros
Highly customizable trading platform
Extensive lineup of tradable derivative assets
Competitive options fee structure
Helpful educational resources and live programming
eToro's app doesn't skimp on features. TipRanks-powered analyst ratings and price targets, hedge fund activity, insider transactions and advanced charts, all on an easy-to-use interface. Stocks and ETFs trade commission-free and options are free of both commissions and contract fees — something we don't see often.
But its eToro's unique blend of cutting-edge technology and social networking that helped it popularize social investing and foster a dynamic community of traders and investors. Specifically, CopyTrader. CopyTrader lets you leverage the expertise of other eToro users by automatically tracking and replicating their crypto trades in your portfolio, and get paid when others copy you. While CopyTrader is currently only available for crypto, it's a defining feature of the platform and one that helps it stand out as the best broker for social investing.
Pros
$0 fees for stock trading and no annual fee
Fractional share trading
Interact with over 25 million social traders
Access 20 cryptocurrencies
CopyTrader feature
Cons
Not available in NY, NV, MN and HI
Limited account types
Available asset types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Annual fee
0%
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
FINDER EXCLUSIVE: Get a guaranteed $25 bonus when you sign up and deposit $100
Stock trade fee
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
FINDER EXCLUSIVE: Get a guaranteed $25 bonus when you sign up and deposit $100
Webull's versatile but user-friendly trading app delivers an impressive collection of powerful tools for on-the-go traders without complicating the trading experience. Its trading tools include customizable filters, at least 10 different order types and advanced charts with drawing tools, more than 50 indicators and over 60 on-chart technical signals. Analyst ratings and price targets, a quant rating to evaluate stocks and technical summary scores provide a quick summary of the stock's activity. While other brokers offer similarly powerful analysis tools, few deliver it through an impressively intuitive mobile app like Webull's.
Meanwhile, Webull's learning center boasts over 500 courses, and its paper trading feature lets you hone your trading skills with virtual money.
Pros
User-friendly interface with in-depth analysis tools
Commission-free stock, options and ETF trades
Fractional share investing
Highly rated mobile app
Robo-advisor
Cons
No live chat support
No analyst reports
Available asset types
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrency
Annual fee
0%
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get up to 12 free stocks valued up to $30,600 when you open an account and make a deposit. T&Cs apply.
Stock trade fee
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get up to 12 free stocks valued up to $30,600 when you open an account and make a deposit. T&Cs apply.
Automated portfolio management with a level of customization unlike many other robo-advisors, Acorns has redefined how people save and invest their spare change. With its innovative 'round-up' feature, Acorns automatically invests spare change from your everyday purchases, effortlessly growing your portfolio. Its user-friendly app simplifies investing for beginners, while also offering a degree of freedom through its Custom Portfolios to investors who want to retain control over their portfolio. And Acorns' flat-fee subscription structure means the cost for portfolio management never changes, with minimal back-end fees and no account minimums.
Whether you're new to investing or simply want to automate portfolio management, Acorns is the go-to platform for turning small change into substantial savings.
Pros
Invest your spare change automatically
Automated stock and ETF investing
Customize your portfolio with individual stocks with Acorns Premium
Beginner-friendly app with educational resources
Cons
No tax-loss harvesting
Limited investment options
Available asset types
Stocks, ETFs
Annual fee
$36 per year
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5)
Stock trade fee
$0
Minimum deposit
$0
Signup bonus
Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5)
Pioneer of online trading, E-Trade offers its E-Trade Mobile app for on-the-go investing and the Power E-Trade app for serious traders who need a convenient but powerful mobile trading platform. Watchlists and alerts, advanced charts, earnings estimates and high-quality research reports are just some of the features E-Trade delivers to mobile users.
E-Trade's dedicated 'Markets' section in its app highlights market performance, market movers, upcoming earnings, futures quotes, today's news and live BloombergTV.
Pros
Comprehensive market news
Research reports from Argus, Morgan Stanley, Reuters Global and other top-tier research providers
Two mobile trading platforms
Live BloombergTV
Cons
No company financials, analyst ratings or price targets
Few brokers come close to Fidelity in terms of overall cost. No minimums to open an account, no commissions for online US stock, ETF and options trades and no inactivity fees. Plus, an avoidance of miscellaneous account fees that we just don't see anywhere else.
With Fidelity, you'll find:
No IRA closing fee
No statement or confirmation fees
No wire fees
No mandatory reorganization fees
Should you decide to take your business elsewhere, no account transfer fees. Need an overnight check delivery? It's free. Hit with a returned check or need to stop a payment? No fees. Its robo-advisor has no advisory fees on balances under $25,000 and there's no minimum to use the service. Fidelity says it delivers on value, and we've got to agree.
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks, options and ETFs
Industry low fees
Earnings estimates, analyst ratings and other valuation metrics
Fractional share investing
Robo-advisor
24/7 customer support
Cons
No analyst reports, price targets or in-depth company financials
Charles Schwab's mobile trading app offers the same look and feel as its web-based platform — sophisticated and easy to navigate, with many modern trading features. Its 40+ thematic stock lists — everything from artificial intelligence to caffeinated drinks to water sustainability — provide a convenient way to identify new investing ideas, while its educational resources offer mobile traders quick access to timely market commentary, podcasts and articles.
Charles Schwab also offers no shortage of big broker research for its mobile traders and investors, with access to Schwab Equity Ratings Report, Morningstar Equity Analyst Report, CFRA Stock Report and research reports from Argus.
Pros
Access to top-tier research reports and Schwab Equity Rating reports
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Finder is not an adviser or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.
Methodology: How we choose the best stock trading apps
Finder’s investments experts review 19 brokers available on the market to find the best stock apps for specific types of traders and investors and different investing strategies, while also granting special recognition to brokers who offer exclusive standout features that none of their competitors have.
We analyze each platform based on 147 key metrics we collect directly from brokers and assess each provider’s performance across eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then score and rank each provider depending on how it performs within each category.
We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.
Stock trading apps are a dime a dozen these days, but a few apps stand out above the rest. Even so, a strong rating doesn't necessarily mean a trading app will be the best pick for you.
For example, if a stock trading app has complex charts and metrics you don't understand, it probably won't work well for you. Finding an app that serves your purposes is just as important as finding one that's highly rated.
— Bob Haegele, Personal finance writer and expert
What investment platform has the lowest fees?
Trading comes with certain costs and fees that can eat into your investable funds and portfolio gains. We’ve listed a variety of fees you may expect to pay when investing, transferring funds or even switching providers. This isn’t an exhaustive list and won’t include all the charges.
Compare some of the most popular brokers and their fees, as of December 2023. Find the lowest fees for your investment needs.
Provider
Stock trading fee
Annual fee
Premium subscription fee (monthly)
Inactivity fee (monthly)
Wire transfer fee
Crypto trade fee
Account transfer fee
Interactive Brokers
$0
$0
$0
$0
$10
0.18%
$0
SoFi Invest®
$0
$0
$0
$25
$25
1.25%
$75
Public.com
$0
$0
$10
$10
$25
1.25%
$75
Robinhood
$0
$0
$5
$0
$0
0%
$100
Tastytrade
$0
$0
$0
$0
$25
1%
$75
eToro
$0
$0
$0
$10
$25
1%
$75
Webull
$0
$0
$0
$0
$25
1%
$75
eTrade
$0
$0
$0
$0
$25
N/A
$75
Fidelity
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
1%
$0
Charles Schwab
$0
$0
$0
$0
$15
N/A
$50
How to choose a trading app or platform
According to Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index, 56% of Americans plan to buy stocks in 2023. We love to see this at Finder, because stocks offer investors some of the greatest potential for growth.
The first step? Choosing a broker.
Choosing the best stock trading app isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Along with your individual style of investing, you’ll also want to know what an app looks like and how it performs on your device. There can be subtle differences between the Android and iOS versions of trading apps. But it’s not all about good looks.
There are lot of different things that you should consider when choosing the best trading app, such as:
Fees. There are a few different fee structures on investing platforms. Some are commission-free (but not fee-free), some platforms charge a flat fee, while others charge based on how much you invest. It’s not all about commission, either — look at withdrawal fees, deposit fees, foreign exchange fees and inactivity fees.
What you can trade. You might want to buy individual shares, ETFs and funds; or you might prefer a ready-made portfolio. Make sure you can invest in all the stock exchanges and markets you want to.
How easy the platform is to use. Some platforms are designed for more experienced investors, while others are perfect for beginners looking for a simple click-to-invest approach. For instance, Cash App Investing is one of the best stock apps for Android and iPhone users because it offers a stripped down investing experience that prioritizes simplicity.
Market research and tools. The tools available on the platform can be helpful in understanding your investments, but be careful not to pay more for a platform that has tools you won’t use.
Demo account. If there’s a demo account available, you can try out the platform without risking any real money. This is a nice touch if you’re a newbie to investing.
Compare trading app reviews and ratings
Comparing user reviews is a great way to make an informed choice about a new product. In the digital age, the latest reviews can be the most important — since recent updates to an app can completely change the user's experience. Here, we've compiled a helpful chart to compare top trading apps through up to date Android and iOS app reviews and ratings. See how these apps stack up against competitors according to their users and find the right choice for you.
*App store reviews and ratings are updated daily.
Provider
App store reviews
App store ratings
Google Play reviews
Google Play ratings
Acorns
4.70
879,790
4.64
291,080
Charles Schwab
4.80
756,068
2.54
24,892
Chase
4.80
5,235,929
4.37
1,797,209
eToro
4.20
5,911
4.04
134,869
Fidelity
4.80
2,199,435
4.35
124,699
Moomoo
4.60
19,113
4.32
16,503
Public.com
4.70
66,652
4
46,764.00
Robinhood
4.20
4,223,159
4.11
478,837
SoFi
4.80
306,093
4.05
31,938
tastytrade
4.80
10,389
3.96
1,704
Wealthfront
4.80
16,509
4.84
6,412
Webull
4.50
551
4.33
186,898
Are stock trading apps safe?
Yes, provided you deal with a reputable broker. US brokers are highly regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) to ensure that they follow best practices when managing client money. Your investments are also protected by the Security Investors Protection Corporation (SIPC) in case your brokerage firm fails.
Apps from licensed, established brokers also feature high-level security features to help protect your privacy and your money. They use encryption and strong firewalls to protect your data and features like biometric logins and two-factor authentication to help keep your account safe.
Of course, you can also take measures to maximize your funds’ safety. Choose a strong password and don’t share it with anyone, and remember to take advantage of protective measures like biometric login before you start trading. Finally, be careful to only download apps from the official app store for your smartphone operating system — Google Play for Android and Apple’s App Store for iOS — not from a third-party app store.
Which stock trading app offers zero commissions?
Lots of them. While Robinhood might have made a name for itself by offering zero-fee trading, a host of other brokers have since followed suit.
Many of the most popular stock trading apps offer zero commissions on stocks and ETFs, so you’re spoiled for choice if you want to keep brokerage fees to a minimum. Compare a range of options to find the best stock trading app for your needs.
However, it’s worth remembering that trades often won’t be completely free of fees. For example, while a broker may offer $0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs, it may charge brokerage and currency conversion fees when you trade on foreign exchanges. Management fees also apply if you’re investing in ETFs or mutual funds, while an account fee may apply if you want to access certain app features (like real-time market data or market analysis).
Compare and find the broker that's right for you
Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a
And want to
Consider this
Beginner investor
Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device
Frequently asked questions about the best stock trading apps
According to Finder's analysis, the best stock trading app is Interactive Brokers. Interactive Brokers offers multiple mobile trading platforms for traders and investors of different experience levels, low costs and a wide range of investment options, including foreign equities.
Professional stock traders, as in those who work for investment banks or other asset management companies, most likely use in-house trading platforms. For active retail traders, it comes down to personal preference. TD Ameritrade's Thinkorswim, TradeStation's Lightspeed Trader or Interactive Brokers's Trader Workstation are all professional-grade trading platforms.
Robinhood is good for beginners. It makes it incredibly easy to start trading stocks, ETFs, options and crypto with an engaging and user-friendly platform. Meanwhile, Robinhood has some of the lowest fees in the industry.
Many trading apps are designed specifically to suit novice investors, so it's important to compare a range of options to find an app that suits you.
Yes. Most stock trading apps are free to download, while many also offer $0 commissions on US stock and ETF trades. However, be aware that brokerage fees may apply to some tradable assets, while you may also need to pay account fees to access some features.
Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions.
Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University.
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