These platforms simulate real market conditions, providing an invaluable opportunity to learn, experiment with strategies and gain confidence without the financial risk.
Whether you’re a beginner looking to understand the basics or an experienced trader testing new strategies, our picks of the best paper trading apps will help you compare and find the right paper trading platform for you. And they’re all free to use.
Here’s our list.
Why trust Finder?
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.
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.
Finder’s investments experts review 18 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best brokerage accounts for paper trading.
We analyze each platform based on 147 key metrics we collect directly from brokers and assess 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 score and rank each provider depending on how it performs in each category.
How we weigh the overall rating
| Category | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Investment options | 15% |
| Trading apps and technology | 35% |
| Trading costs | 5% |
| Account fees | 5% |
| Account types and minimums | 5% |
| Customer support | 5% |
| Mobile app ratings and security | 5% |
| Features and amenities | 25% |
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.
Complete the account opening process online in minutes.
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. Completed applications are typically approved instantly, though the broker may take a couple days to verify your information. Then, connect a bank account to fund your account.
Finder’s picks for the best brokerage accounts are meant to provide you with a starting point for finding the right broker to practice trading and investing.
Consider the following factors when comparing your options:
| 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 |
Yes, paper trading is worth it because it lets you learn and test strategies without risking real money, helping you build skills and confidence. It also provides an opportunity to familiarize yourself with trading platforms and understand the psychological aspects of trading.
Yes, most brokerage that offer paper trading offer it for free. However, some brokers may not offer the platform’s full range of features when paper trading.
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