Best Investment Apps for Beginners in 2025

The barrier to investing has essentially been removed. Five years ago, you needed a minimum deposit, paid a commission per trade, and navigated an interface built for professionals. Today, you can start with $1, pay zero commissions, and use an app that’s designed for someone who’s never invested before.

That’s genuinely good news. The problem is now there are too many options. Here’s what each major app does well and who it’s actually suited for.

What to Look For in an Investment App

Before comparing apps: low or no fees on trades, no minimum deposit (or a very low one), a clean interface that doesn’t require a finance degree, strong account security, and access to the account types you need (standard brokerage, Roth IRA, 401(k) rollover).

For beginners specifically: educational resources, fractional shares so you can invest any dollar amount, and automatic investing features so you can set it and not have to think about it every week.

Robinhood — Best for Simplicity and Commission-Free Trading

Robinhood pioneered commission-free stock and ETF trading and forced the rest of the industry to follow. The app is clean, intuitive, and genuinely easy to use for a first-time investor.

Best for: Beginners who want to start with individual stocks and ETFs without paying commissions. Also good for crypto exposure if that’s relevant to you.

Strengths: No commissions, fractional shares available, clean interface, instant deposit access, cash management account with decent yield.

Weaknesses: Limited investment types (no mutual funds, limited bond options). The gamified interface has been criticized for encouraging overtrading. Customer support is below average.

Minimum deposit: $0 (fractional shares available from $1)

Fidelity — Best Overall for Long-Term Investors

If you’re serious about long-term investing, Fidelity is the most complete platform for beginners who want to grow into more advanced investing over time. It’s not as slick as Robinhood, but it offers significantly more depth.

Best for: Anyone who wants a full-service brokerage with zero-fee index funds, strong retirement account options, and excellent research tools.

Strengths: No account minimums, commission-free ETF trading, access to Fidelity’s own zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX, FZILX), excellent IRA options, strong educational content, responsive customer service.

Weaknesses: Interface is more complex than apps built specifically for beginners. Not as beginner-friendly visually, though the substance is excellent.

Minimum deposit: $0

Acorns — Best for People Who Want Fully Automated Investing

Acorns automatically rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference. It also has a “Earn” feature where partner brands invest a small amount when you shop with them.

Best for: People who struggle to invest consistently, or who want investing to happen automatically without any active decisions.

Strengths: Fully automated, round-up investing, simple portfolio construction (you pick a risk level, they allocate), IRA and custodial accounts available.

Weaknesses: Monthly fee ($3/month for personal) is disproportionately expensive if your balance is small. On a $500 account, $3/month is a 7.2% annual fee. Only makes financial sense once your balance is above $3,000 to $5,000.

Minimum deposit: $5

M1 Finance — Best for Building a Custom, Automated Portfolio

M1 Finance lets you build a portfolio of stocks and ETFs in custom percentages, then invest automatically. It automatically rebalances to your target allocation. No trading commissions, no management fees.

Best for: Hands-on investors who want to set a custom allocation and have it managed automatically.

Strengths: Free for basic accounts, automatic rebalancing, fractional shares, ability to invest in “expert pies” (pre-built portfolios) or build your own.

Weaknesses: Trades execute only once per day in the morning window (or twice for paid accounts). No access to mutual funds. Less intuitive for absolute beginners than Robinhood or Acorns.

Minimum deposit: $100 for taxable accounts, $500 for retirement accounts

Betterment — Best Robo-Advisor for Beginners

Betterment manages your investments automatically based on your goals and risk tolerance. You don’t pick individual stocks or ETFs. You tell Betterment what you’re saving for (retirement, emergency fund, house down payment), and it builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you.

Best for: True beginners who don’t want to make any investment decisions and are willing to pay a small management fee for that convenience.

Strengths: Tax-loss harvesting, automatic rebalancing, excellent goal-based planning tools, easy to understand interface, socially responsible investing options.

Weaknesses: Annual management fee of 0.25% (or 0.40% for premium). Over decades and large balances, this adds up. More cost-conscious investors would do better managing their own index fund portfolio on Fidelity or Vanguard.

Minimum deposit: $0 (but recommended to start with at least $100)

Public — Best for Beginners Who Want Community and Education

Public combines investing with a social component where you can see what others are investing in and share your portfolio. It’s genuinely educational because you’re seeing real investment decisions with real explanations.

Best for: Beginners who want to learn from other investors and like a community-based approach.

Strengths: Commission-free trading, fractional shares, social and educational content built in, alternative assets (crypto, collectibles) available.

Weaknesses: Social features can encourage following trends rather than disciplined long-term investing. Limited retirement account options.

Which App Should You Actually Use?

If you want maximum control and the best long-term features: Fidelity. This is what most experienced investors would recommend to their younger self.

If you want the simplest possible start: Robinhood or Acorns. Acorns if you struggle with consistency. Robinhood if you want to pick your own investments without friction.

If you want your investments managed for you: Betterment.

If you want to build a custom automated portfolio: M1 Finance.

The Most Important Thing Isn’t Which App You Pick

The difference between Fidelity and Robinhood for a beginner is minor compared to the difference between investing something regularly and not investing at all. Pick any reputable app from this list, start with whatever amount you can afford, and keep adding consistently.

Compound growth does its best work over 10, 20, and 30 years. The $100 you invest today is worth more than the $300 you invest three years from now. Start now, improve as you learn.