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Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners of April 2026

Top pick for the biggest stock bonus

9 Excellent

verified_user SIPC and FDIC Insured
Signup Bonus

Get up to $1,000 in stock

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

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

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.

Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longerqualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Probability percentage is subject to decrease.

Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link See full terms and For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here for the 1% Match terms and conditions.

Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers
Top pick for copying top investors

8.2 Great

verified_user SIPC and FDIC Insured
Signup Bonus

N/A

eToro securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. (‘the BD”), member of FINRA and SIPC. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. Finder is not an affiliate and may be compensated if you access certain products or services offered by the BD.
Best for user experience

9.4 Excellent

verified_user SIPC and FDIC Insured
Signup Bonus

Get a free stock

Best for high cash sweep APY

9 Excellent

verified_user SIPC and FDIC Insured
Signup Bonus

Earn a 1% match

8 Great

verified_user SIPC Insured
Signup Bonus

Get a $20 bonus

Our top picks for trading apps for beginners

At the most basic level, beginner-friendly brokers offer a straightforward way to invest.

We analyzed 19 brokers with a methodology focused on trading costs, user-friendliness and customer support availability and responsiveness, among other factors, and put together a list of the best trading platforms for beginners.

4 best trading platforms for beginners

SoFi Active Invest

9 Excellent

Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open and fund a new account. T&Cs apply.
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SoFi Invest offers a user-friendly trading experience with low-cost, straightforward market access. It's one of the few brokers in the industry that offers access to financial planners, banking services and alternative assets, providing clients with a comprehensive approach to wealth management and investment diversification.

Alongside no-fee commission trading on a beginner-friendly interface, SoFi® members benefit from a robo-advisor and a suite of financial services, allowing them to invest, bank and borrow all within a single, integrated platform. This combination of features makes SoFi an attractive option for those seeking simplicity and comprehensive financial management.

Best for: No-fee commission trading; beginner investors; all-in-one financial services.

Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to $1,000 in stock
Robinhood

9.4 Excellent

Get a free stock when you successfully sign up and link your bank account. T&Cs apply.
Read review

Don't let this user-friendly broker fool you. Blending low commissions and its notoriously intuitive design, Robinhood provides several distinctive features within the brokerage industry. Its commissions are low: none for stocks, ETFs, crypto and options; crypto spreads are among the lowest at 0.65%; and upgrading to Gold for $5/month gets you discounted futures and index options commissions.

That Gold membership also gets you Level 2 market data, Morningstar research, a 3% IRA contribution match, up to 3.35% APY on uninvested cash and more. Full control of your crypto and managed portfolios with Robinhood Strategies are just some of the additional features you can expect.

Best for: Commission-free trading; user experience; cryptocurrency investing; IRA match.

Annual fee $0 per year
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get a free stock
Public.com

9 Excellent

Earn a 1% match when you transfer your portfolio to Public T&Cs apply.
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If you care about fee transparency and want to create a balanced strategy for growth and stability, you can go ahead and stop looking for your next broker. Public's commission-free stock, ETF and options trades and high-yield accounts means you can focus on growing your investments, not paying unnecessary fees.

Lock in a 5.5% yield as of October 1, 2025, with a its bond account, earn 3.8% APY with a high-yield cash account and access Treasuries and individual bonds. Rebates on options trades and no per-contract fees keep costs even lower, and Public's avoidance of payment for order flow on equities adds a level of transparency you just don't see with many brokers.

Best for: High yields; user experience; commission-free trading.

Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Earn a 1% match
Webull

9.4 Excellent

Deposit or transfer $100,000+ to earn a 4% Match Bonus, or $2,000+ to earn a 3% Match Bonus. Plus: Get a $100 transfer fee reimbursement on your first brokerage transfer of $2,000 or more. T&Cs apply.
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Webull stands out as a beginner-friendly trading platform with commission-free access to stocks, ETFs and options, alongside robust educational resources and a robo-advisor for hands-off investors. Its features include a paper trading account for practice with virtual money, an in-app social community for learning from other investors and over 500 courses in its learning center.

For those looking for high-yields and an IRA match, Webull's cash management account pays 3.85% APY for Webull Premium subscribers and a 3.5% IRA contribution match. For crypto investors, Webull Pay, a dedicated app, provides a straightforward trading process for popular cryptocurrencies, making Webull a well-rounded platform for new investors.

Best for: Commission-free trading; mobile trading; research and analysis; automated investing.

Annual fee $0 per month
Minimum deposit $0
Signup bonus Get up to 4% match bonus

What makes a trading platform good 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.

Methodology: How we choose the best trading platforms for beginners

Finder’s investments experts reviewed 19 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best trading apps for beginners.

We analyzed each platform based on 147 key metrics we collected directly from brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts for beginners.

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.

How we weigh the overall rating

CategoryWeighting
Investment options10%
Trading platforms and technology15%
Trading costs20%
Account fees10%
Account types and minimums5%
Customer support10%
Mobile app ratings and security5%
Features and amenities25%

What we assess in each category

  • Investment options. This category evaluates the total number of available investment options and the breadth and diversity of available assets.
  • Trading platforms and technology. This category examines the user experience and various research and analysis tools across a platform’s browser-based, mobile and desktop trading platforms. It assesses the quantity and quality of things like research tools, charts and technical analysis features.
  • Trading costs. This category evaluates the broker’s trading fee structure, including commissions, options contract fees and any additional charges to buy or sell securities.
  • Account fees. This category assesses minimum deposits, annual fees, wire transfer fees and outgoing, full account transfer fees. We also evaluate inactivity fees, IRA closing fees, margin base rates and monthly subscription fees to get access to the brokers’s top features.
  • Account types. This category examines available account types and includes everything from individual brokerage accounts to 529 plans to IRAs for individuals and businesses.
  • Customer support. This category rates the broker’s customer support accessibility and evaluates available support channels, such as live chat, phone and email. We also consider the level of transparency for finding important information on the platform’s website.
  • Mobile app ratings and security. This category analyzes a mobile app’s user reviews and ratings across the major app stores. We also consider the brokers’s security measures, like whether it offers two-factor authentication and biometrics capabilities.
  • Features and amenities. This category evaluates the availability of instant buying power, virtual money for practicing trading, cash sweep rates for uninvested cash, fractional share trading and educational resources. We also consider access to a robo-advisor and human advisor and assign an editor’s opinion on whether the platform is generally good for beginners.

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