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Best Investing Apps for Teens

See the fees, features and pros and cons of the best investing apps for minors.

Time is a crucial component of investing, playing a fundamental role in determining the potential for both risk and reward in a portfolio — which highlights the importance of starting investing early.

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).

10 stocks and investing apps for teens

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  • 15+ online brokers reviewed and rated by our team of experts
  • Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering eight categories
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We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

Greenlight Max

Go to site
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

Acorns

4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a $20 bonus

Interactive Brokers

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

M1 Finance

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$100
Signup bonusN/A
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.

Stash

3.7
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet $10 when you sign up and deposit $5

TradeStation

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet $50 - $5,000

Fidelity Investments

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000
terms apply

Charles Schwab

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a $101 bonus

Vanguard Brokerage

3.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$50,000
Signup bonusN/A

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.

Methodology: How we choose the best investing apps for teens

Finder’s investment experts reviewed 18 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best investing apps for minors.

We analyzed each platform based on 147 key metrics collected directly from brokers and assessed each provider’s performance across eight 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 10 best brokerage accounts and the best overall. Only brokers that offer commission-free stocks and ETFs made the list.

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 options15%
Trading platforms and technology15%
Trading costs10%
Account fees15%
Account types and minimums10%
Customer support10%
Mobile app5%
Features and amenities20%

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

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 Best stock trading apps
Beginner investor Trade and invest with as few fees as possible Best discount stock brokers
Beginner investor Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost Best robo-advisors
Beginner investor Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund Best ETF brokers
Experienced investor Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for Best brokerage accounts
Experienced investor Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets Best international stock brokers
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits Best (traditional) IRA
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals Best Roth IRA
Investor of any experience level Diversify with low-cost index funds Best brokerage accounts for index funds 2024

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.

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

Editor, Investments

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. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 213 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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