Best Investing Apps for Teens

Whether you’re a parent or guardian investing on behalf of a minor or you have a working kid saving for retirement, the first step is opening an account, and choosing the right brokerage can make all the difference.

The following is a list of brokers that offer teen brokerage accounts, UGMA/UTMA accounts and custodial IRAs. We’ve included both self-direct and automated account options. As a baseline, none of the providers listed charge commissions for trading stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

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Finder Score	Available asset types	Stock trade fee	Minimum deposit	Cash sweep APY
Finder score Not scored yet Greenlight Max	Finder score Not scored yet	Stocks, ETFs	N/A	$0		Go to site View details	loading	Why we like it Greenlight's easy-to-use platform simplifies investing for both parents and kids, offering access to the stock market with fractional shares of over 4,000 stocks and ETFs, starting with as little as $1. The platform also includes educational resources like blogs and financial literacy games, all with zero trading fees. Investment accounts are held in the parent's name, allowing kids to research stocks and request buy or sell orders using their Cash to Invest balances, with parents maintaining full control by approving every trade. Pros & cons Pros Beginner-friendly platform Educational resources No trading fees Cons Requires a Greenlight Max ($9.98/mo) or Greenlight Infinity ($14.98/mo) plan No custodial UGMA/UTMA accounts No 529 plans
Finder score 8 Great Acorns	Finder score 8 Great	Stocks, ETFs	$0	$0	N/A	Get a $20 bonus when you set up an account and make your first recurring investment (min. $5). T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading	Why we like it Acorns' beginner-friendly, subscription-based robo-advisor stands out for its predictable flat-rate fees and no minimum deposit requirements. Start investing with as little as $5 in a UGMA/UTMA account, with automatic paycheck deposits, automatic recurring investments and kid-focused educational resources. Acorns also offers its Acorns Early debit card as a separate product, providing families with an additional tool for supervised spending and money management education. Best for: Automated investing; Commission-free stocks and ETFs; Beginning investors. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks and ETFs Automated investing Automatically deposit a portion of your paycheck Cons No custodial IRAs No portfolio customization in UGMA/UTMA accounts Kids investing accounts only available in Acorns Gold
Finder score 9.4 Excellent Interactive Brokers	Finder score 9.4 Excellent	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures, Forex, Treasury Bills, Precious metals	$0	$0	2.14%	View details	loading	Why we like it Interactive Brokers caters to investors of all experience levels with a broad range of investment options and versatile trading platforms for its UGMA/UTMA accounts. For beginners, the IBKR GlobalTrader and IMPACT mobile platforms offer a straightforward investing experience. In contrast, advanced traders benefit from the powerful tools available in IBKR and Trader Workstation, including interactive charts with over 90 indicators, analyst ratings, price targets and detailed company financials. Trade commission-free stocks, options and ETFs, with additional access to precious metals, futures and more. Best for: Active trading; global market access; wide range of investment options; robust trading platforms; alternative investments. Pros & cons Pros Beginner and advanced trading platforms; Wide range of tradable assets $0 commission stocks and ETFs Global market access Cons No custodial IRAs Cash sweep only available to Pro accounts No instant buying power
Finder score 8.2 Great M1 Finance	Finder score 8.2 Great	Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrency	$0	$100	4.00%	Important information M1 Finance, LLC does not charge commission, trading, or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. You may still be charged other fees such as M1’s platform fee, regulatory fees, account closure fees, or ADR fees. For a complete list of fees M1 may charge visit M1 Fee Schedule. M1 is not a bank. M1 Spend is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of M1 Holdings Inc.. M1 High –Yield Savings Accounts are furnished by B2 Bank, NA, Member FDIC. Obtaining stated APY (annual percentage yield) with the M1 High-Yield Savings Account does not require a minimum account balance. Stated APY is accrued on account balance. APY is solely determined by M1 Spend LLC and its partner banks, and will include account fees that will reduce earnings. Rates are subject to change without notice. M1 High-Yield Savings Account is a separate offering from, and not linked to, the M1 High-Yield Cash Account offered by M1 Finance, LLC. M1 is not a bank.	View details	loading	Why we like it M1 Finance's intuitive platform, zero trading fees and automated investing features make it an excellent option for beginners looking for a UGMA/UTMA account. Build customized portfolios with fractional shares, using M1's 'pie' investing feature to allocate funds across commission-free stocks and ETFs according to your goals. Best for: Commission-free trading; beginning investors; automated investing. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks and ETFs Automated investing Cons No custodial IRAs $3 monthly platform fee if assets are under $10,000; $50 inactivity fee
Finder score 7.4 Great Stash	Finder score 7.4 Great	Stocks, ETFs	$0	$0	0.1%	Get $5 when you sign up and deposit $5. T&Cs apply.	Important information Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investment LLC, a SEC registered investment advisor. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. *Offer is subject to T&Cs	Go to site View details	loading	Why we like it Stash stands out for its low-cost entry, educational resources and easy-to-use platform. With the ability to start investing for yourself and your children with just $5, Stash makes the market accessible to beginners. Invest in commission-free stocks and ETFs in a Stash UGMA/UTMA account, with fractional shares, curated investment options, automated investing and individual stock trading. Best for: Beginning investors; commission-free stocks and ETFs; automated investing. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks and ETFs Robo-advisor Self-directed trading Cons Custodial accounts available on the $9/month Stash+ plan No custodial IRAs No tax-loss harvesting No human advisor access
Finder score 8.2 Great TradeStation	Finder score 8.2 Great	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Futures	$0	$0	N/A	Get a $150 bonus when you open an account with promo code TSTVAGLK, fund it and maintain a minimum balance of $5,000 for 60 days. T&Cs apply.	Go to site View details	loading	Why we like it TradeStation caters to advanced traders by offering UGMA/UTMA accounts that allow you to trade stocks, options, ETFs, futures and futures options. Trade stocks and ETFs commission-free and benefit from a range of powerful trading tools and platforms. Best for: Commission-free stocks and ETFs; advanced trading. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks and ETFs Advanced trading platforms and tools Cons No custodial IRAs No-robo-advisor; No human advisor access
Finder score 9 Excellent Fidelity Investments	Finder score 9 Excellent	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Cryptocurrency, Gold/Commodities, CDs, Treasury Bills	$0	$0	4.95%	View details	loading	Why we like it Fidelity's kid-focused investing accounts include UGMA/UTMA accounts, custodial IRAs, college savings plans and a teen-owned brokerage account. Unlike adult-controlled UGMA/UTMA accounts, the Fidelity Youth Account is owned and managed by teens aged 13 to 17. The account lets teens save and invest in stocks, ETFs and Fidelity mutual funds with as little as $1 and no minimum deposit requirements. Additionally, users get access to top-tier research, trading and planning tools, low fees, educational resources, 24/7 customer support and financial advisors. Best for: Teen-owned accounts; range of investment options; low costs; research and planning tools. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks, options, ETFs and Fidelity funds Range of account types, including a teen-owned brokerage account 24/7 customer support Access to financial advisors Cons Robo-advisor unavailable with custodial accounts Antiquated desktop trading platform
Finder score 8.8 Great Charles Schwab	Finder score 8.8 Great	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, Futures, Treasury Bills	$0	$0	0.45%	View details	loading	Why we like it Trade commission-free stocks, options, ETFs and Schwab mutual funds while accessing an extensive lineup of investment options and account types, global markets and top-tier research and analysis tools. Schwab offers custodial IRAs, UGMA/UTMA accounts and 529 plans. Beginner investors will find comprehensive educational content, financial planning and advisory resources, including a robo-advisor and 24/7 customer support. Meanwhile, Schwab's renowned thinkorswim platform empowers advanced traders with elite tools and resources for a sophisticated trading experience. Best for: Active trading; robust trading platforms; range of investment options and account types; research and planning tools; automated investing; mutual funds. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks, option, ETFs and Schwab mutual funds Top-tier research and analysis tools No-advisory-fee robo-advisor Cons Low interest on uninvested cash
Finder score 8.6 Great E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley	Finder score 8.6 Great	Stocks, Bonds, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs, CDs, Futures	$0	$0	0.01% to 0.15%	View details	loading	Why we like it A pioneer of online trading, E*TRADE offers a wide range of investment options and account types, including UGMA/UTMA accounts, custodial IRAs and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts. Trade commission-free stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options, along with futures, bonds and CDs. E*TRADE also offers a robo-advisor for a straightforward, automated portfolio option, making it an ideal platform for both novice and experienced investors seeking a diverse range of investing tools and services. Best for: Active trading; automated investing; robust trading platforms; research and analysis. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks, options, ETFs and mutual funds UGMA/UTMA, custodial IRAs and Coverdell ESAs Robo-advisor Cons No fractional share trading No instant buying power Low cash sweep rates
Finder score 8.2 Great Vanguard Brokerage	Finder score 8.2 Great	Stocks, Options, Mutual funds, ETFs	$0	$50,000		View details	loading	Why we like it Vanguard offers UGMA/UTMA accounts with no enrollment fees, as well as custodial IRAs and 529 college savings plans. Self-directed investors can access a wide range of investment options, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, CDs and money market accounts. Additionally, Vanguard provides advisory services for professional portfolio management. Best for: Commission-free stocks and ETFs; mutual fund investing. Pros & cons Pros Commission-free stocks and ETFs UGMA/UTMA accounts, custodial IRAs and 529 plans Human financial advisors Cons No fractional shares No live chat Basic trading platform

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How do I open an investing account for a teen?

Choose a broker or robo-advisor and complete a brief application by providing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. You will also need the minor’s personal information.

Completed applications are typically approved instantly, although the broker may take a few days to verify your information. Then, connect a bank account to fund your brokerage account.

What to look for when choosing the best investing app for teens

Finder’s picks on this page are intended to provide a starting point for finding the right custodial accounts that align with your investing style and goals.

Consider the following factors when comparing your options:

• Fees. From trading fees to miscellaneous fees, it’s important to understand the cost of trading and investing. Consider which investment products you plan to trade and the fees that apply, but also be mindful of back-end fees, such as inactivity or transfer fees, which can also eat into your profit.
• Tradable assets. Not every broker offers the same investment options. Stocks, options and ETFs are standard, but some brokers also offer mutual funds, bonds, futures, forex, crypto and more.
• Account types. Custodial IRAs and Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA)/Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) accounts are common investment accounts for kids. Education savings plans are another option if you want to save for future education expenses.
• Research and data tools. In-house research and tools simplify investing, as you don’t have to venture elsewhere to make an informed decision about an investment. If you’re a passive index investor, extensive research and analysis tools may be as crucial. Active stock pickers may feel otherwise.
• Mobile app reviews. Mobile trading is more popular than ever, allowing you to trade and invest from anywhere. Check out what current and former customers say about the platform’s functionality.
• Signup bonus. While choosing a broker solely for its signup bonus isn’t the best strategy, a new customer incentive such as a free stock could sway your decision if all other factors are equal.

How old do you have to be to invest in stocks?

To invest in stocks, you typically need to be at least 18 years old, as this is the legal age to open a brokerage account in most states.

However, teens under 18 can invest in stocks through custodial accounts, which a parent or guardian opens and manages on behalf of the minor. These accounts, such as UGMA or UTMA, allow teens to start investing early, with the account eventually transferring ownership to the teen once they reach the age of majority — usually 18 or 21, depending on the state.

Additionally, some investment apps offer teen-specific accounts, which give young investors a chance to learn about stocks and manage their own portfolios under adult supervision. The Fidelity Youth is a teen-owned brokerage account that lets teens ages 13–17 invest on their own.

Compare and find the broker that's right for you

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to open a brokerage account?

Most platforms don’t charge fees to open an account. However, you’ll need to fund your account before you can begin investing.

Who owns the assets in a custodial account?

The parent, guardian or adult controls the account and manages its assets until the minor legally becomes an adult, which is 18 years old in most states.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Matt Miczulski

Investments editor and market analyst

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor and market analyst 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 Yahoo Finance, CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise

Matt has written 217 Finder guides across topics including:

• Trading and investing
• Broker and trading platform reviews
• Money management