Best App for Buying Stocks in 2026: 9 Apps Compared

Fidelity is our pick for most people buying stocks for the first time or for the long term. You get $0 commissions, fractional shares from $1, retirement accounts such as IRAs, and research from Fidelity and third-party providers, all in one app. That combination means a beginner and a long-term investor can both use the same account without outgrowing it quickly.

The app is less minimal than Robinhood, and new users may need time to find everything. Customer support and educational content help close that gap. This is not financial advice, and trading carries risk, but for a low-cost, full-service starting point, Fidelity is hard to beat.

Charles Schwab is a close alternative to Fidelity, especially for retirement savers who want a full-service broker at DIY prices. You get $0 commissions, fractional shares on many stocks, retirement accounts, and thinkorswim for charting and paper trading. Banking integration also suits people who want investing and everyday money in one place.

The range of products can feel overwhelming at first, and cash left idle in the default sweep has earned a low yield in recent checks, so check where uninvested cash sits. If you value support, education and a long track record, Schwab is an excellent choice.

Robinhood remains the most mobile-first stock app, and for a beginner who wants to buy a first stock in minutes, that simplicity matters. Fractional shares from $1, recurring investments and $0 commissions remove the old barriers of high share prices and trading fees. Options and crypto are also available in the same app, though both carry extra risk.

The downside is depth. Research is lighter than Fidelity or Schwab, there are no mutual funds, and the simple interface can make frequent trading feel too easy. This is not financial advice, and frequent trading can lose money. Use Robinhood for simple, planned investing, not for impulse trades.

Webull suits an active trader who wants professional-level charts, technical indicators and paper trading without paying for a data platform. You can practise with fake money before risking real funds, which is a genuine advantage for learning. Commissions are $0 on US stocks, ETFs and many options, with extended hours available.

It is less focused on simple, long-term retirement investing than Fidelity or Schwab, and its interface rewards users who already know what they are looking at. For a beginner who wants to learn active trading carefully, paper trading first is the sensible route. Remember that trading carries risk, and borrowed money and options can lose money fast.

Public is a good middle ground between Robinhood simplicity and a full broker. You can buy stocks, ETFs, bonds and Treasuries, set up recurring plans, and follow other investors to learn how they think. The app does not use payment for order flow in the way some rivals do, which it presents as a benefit for execution quality.

Social investing has a risk of its own: following the crowd is not a strategy, and popular trades can move fast in either direction. Check fees for any premium plans or asset types before you use them. For a simple multi-asset app with a learning community, Public is a solid choice.

SoFi Invest suits someone who wants investing alongside banking and loans, rather than a standalone broker. Active investing starts from $5 for fractional shares, automated investing starts from $50, and the app is clean and easy to follow. That simplicity helps people who would rather not pick stocks at all and prefer an automated portfolio.

Trading tools and research are lighter than Fidelity, Schwab or Webull, so active traders will feel the limits quickly. For a beginner who wants one app for money and investing, with a hands-off option, SoFi is a practical pick. This is not financial advice, and automated investing still carries market risk.

Interactive Brokers is the choice for serious and international traders. IBKR Lite gives eligible US clients $0 commissions on US stock and ETF trades, while the wider platform covers far more global markets than most rivals here. Tools for options, futures and global trading are deeper than any beginner app.

That power comes with complexity. A first-time investor will find the platform dense, and some advanced features carry separate fees. If you trade internationally or need professional tools, Interactive Brokers is the benchmark. If you are buying your first stocks, start with Fidelity or Schwab instead.

eToro is best known for social and copy trading, where you can follow and copy the trades of other investors. A virtual portfolio lets you practise without risking money, which is useful before you commit real funds. US stock commissions are $0 in recent checks, and fractional shares are available from $10.

Copy trading is not a guarantee. Past performance does not predict future results, and the person you copy can lose money, which means you can too. Currency conversion and CFD fees can also add costs outside US stock trades. This is not financial advice. Use eToro for learning and small, planned positions, not as a shortcut to returns.

M1 Finance suits an investor who wants to set a portfolio once and keep adding to it automatically. You build a pie of stocks and ETFs, set a recurring deposit, and M1 keeps allocations in balance as you invest. Self-directed accounts carry no commissions, which keeps costs low for a long-term plan.

It is not built for frequent active trading, and research is lighter than Fidelity or Schwab. For a hands-off investor who wants automation without a managed-account fee, M1 is a clean, low-cost option. As with every app here, market risk applies, and a diversified portfolio can still fall in value.