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Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners of May 2025

Get up to $1,000 in stock bonuses: SoFi Invest®

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FINDER'S PICK

8.6 Great

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&C apply.
  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, alternative asset funds
  • $0 commission on stocks, ETFs and options with no options contract fees
  • Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account within 30 days
  • Access to a financial planner
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INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE

Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees.

Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage and Active investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org).

There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event.

Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options

Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.

Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information

Up to $1,000 in stock. Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $50 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.

SoFi Plus members can schedule an unlimited number of appointments with a financial planner during periods in which the SoFi Plus member meets the eligibility criteria set forth in section 10(a) of the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions. SoFi members who are not members of SoFi Plus can schedule one (1) appointment with a financial planner. The ability to schedule appointments is subject to financial planner availability. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this benefit at any time with or without notice. Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Information about SoFi Wealth’s advisory operations, services, and fees is set forth in SoFi Wealth’s current Form ADV Part 2 (Brochure), a copy of which is available upon request and at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.

Robo Advisor:
Automated investing is offered through SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
0.25% fee is based on your account value. The wrap program fee may cost more or less than purchasing brokerage, custodial, and record keeping services separately.

Top pick for best mobile experience: Robinhood

9.2 Excellent

Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account.
  • Trade $0 commission stocks, ETFs, futures and options with as little as $1
  • After-hours trading available
  • Earn 4% interest on uninvested cash with Gold
  • 24/7 customer support
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Top pick for simple, worldwide trading: Interactive Brokers GlobalTrader

9.2 Excellent

  • Trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options and cryptocurrency
  • Worldwide stock and options trading
  • Commission-free stocks, ETFs and no transaction fee mutual funds
  • Invest with as little as $1
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Top pick for beginners: OPTO

7.4 Great

Earn up to $300 when you deposit between $2,000–$25,000+
  • Trade $0 commission stocks & ETFs with as little as $1
  • Get 4% annual equivalent rate on your cash
  • Earn up to $300 with qualifying deposits
  • Discover new opportunities with Opto's AI-driven thematic investing system
  • Theme and ETF screener
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Best for social investing: eToro

8.2 Great

Copy crypto picks from top traders
  • Trade stocks, options and ETFs without commissions and no options contract fees
  • Earn 3.9% annual interest on options balances
  • Copy top crypto investors with eToro's innovative CopyTrader
  • Trade leading cryptocurrencies including BTC and ETH
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Top pick for low-cost options trading: Public.com

9 Excellent

Get up to $10,000 and transfer fees covered when you move your portfolio to Public.
  • $0 commission on stocks, ETFs and options, with no options contract fees
  • Earn a rebate on every contract traded
  • Get 4.1% APY on your cash
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What makes a trading platform good for beginners?

Not all trading platforms are best for beginners. A good trading platform for beginners prioritizes simplicity and user-friendliness, offering intuitive navigation, educational resources and quality, responsive customer support. It provides educational materials, maybe even demo accounts and easy-to-understand charts and features to help beginners learn the basics of trading without feeling overwhelmed.

Additionally, it should offer low fees and a variety of investment options.

Trading for beginners: How to get started

Now that you’ve found the right trading app for your goals, it’s time to put it to work. Open the app, sign up for an account and get comfortable with its features. You’ll need to deposit money into your new trading account via bank transfer to start investing, unless you choose to transfer assets from another broker.

Having accounts with multiple stock apps is an option if you aren’t completely satisfied with a single platform. Maybe it offers the tools and resources you need to research stocks, but not the assets you want to build out your portfolio.

Define your investment goals, develop a strategy that suits your style and stay informed about market trends. Use any educational resources the app offers to learn how to invest and sharpen your skills. Regularly review your portfolio and adjust your strategy as needed.

The right trading app makes investing easier. But you also need a solid plan and the discipline to invest regularly and consistently to give you the best chance at building your wealth.

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
Beginner investor
Trade and invest with as few fees as possible
Beginner investor
Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost
Beginner investor
Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund
Experienced investor
Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for
Experienced investor
Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets
Retirement saver of any experience level
Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits
Retirement saver of any experience level
Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals
Investor of any experience level
Diversify with low-cost index funds

Frequently asked questions

Which trading platform is best for beginners?

The best trading platform for beginners is SoFi Invest, according to Finder’s analysis.

Which is the simplest trading platform?

SoFi Invest is among the simplest trading platforms. SoFi Invest doesn’t overwhelm in terms of research and analytical tools but instead offers a straightforward way to invest.

Is Robinhood good for beginners?

Robinhood is great for beginners. With its beginner-friendly trading platforms, uncomplicated trading experience and commission-free trades, Robinhood is among the best brokers for those just getting started in investing.

Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.

Finder is not an advisor 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.

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