Best Investing Apps in 2026: 8 Apps Compared

Fidelity is our pick for most investors because it covers the most ground well. You can open taxable, IRA, and other retirement accounts, buy stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, and use research from many independent providers. Fractional shares let you start with small amounts, and some Fidelity index funds carry no expense ratio.

The app is less minimal than Robinhood, and new investors may need time to find features. That depth becomes an advantage as your goals grow, since you are less likely to outgrow Fidelity and need to move accounts later.

Schwab suits investors who want research and retirement planning in one place, with a professional trading platform available when they need it. The main app handles everyday investing and retirement accounts, while thinkorswim adds advanced charting and options tools for active traders. Banking integration is also useful if you want cash management alongside investing.

The split between the two apps can confuse newcomers, who may not know which one to open. Start with the main Schwab app for long-term investing, and add thinkorswim only when you want deeper charting or options analysis.

Robinhood remains the easiest app for a first-time investor to understand. The interface strips away jargon, fractional shares let you buy small amounts, and you can move from opening an account to placing a first trade quickly. Gold adds features such as a higher IRA match and margin, but the core investing features work without it.

The limits matter for long-term planning. Robinhood does not offer mutual funds or individual bonds, and its research is thinner than Fidelity or Schwab. It works well for learning and for simple stock and ETF investing, but many investors will want a fuller broker for retirement accounts over time.

Webull is built for traders who want data. Its charts, indicators, screeners, and extended-hours sessions give active investors more to work with than Robinhood, without charging commission on stocks, ETFs, and options. Paper trading lets you practice strategies without risking real money, which is a useful feature for newcomers to active trading.

Beginners may find the interface busy, and the focus on trading can encourage more frequent trades than a long-term plan needs. Use Webull when charting and active trading are your priorities, and keep a separate long-term account if that fits your goals better.

SoFi Invest suits people who want investing to sit alongside other money tools in one app. The self-directed option covers stocks and ETFs with no commission, while the automated option builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you. That combination helps beginners who are unsure whether to pick investments themselves.

Active traders and investors who want bonds, mutual funds, or deep research will find SoFi thinner than Fidelity or Schwab. For a simple start, especially if you already use SoFi for banking or loans, it is a convenient and low-cost choice.

Interactive Brokers is the pick for investors who trade across countries or need professional-grade tools. It offers access to stocks, options, futures, forex, and bonds in many markets, with advanced order types and reporting that suit experienced traders. Pricing can be very competitive for high-volume or global trading.

That power comes with complexity. The platform assumes you already understand trading terms and order types, and beginners can feel lost. Choose Interactive Brokers when global access or advanced tools are a real need, not just a nice extra.

eToro is different from the other apps here because social features are central. You can follow other investors, see their portfolios and trades, and copy their strategies, which some beginners find easier than picking investments alone. The app also covers stocks, ETFs, and crypto in one place.

Copy trading needs caution. Following another investor does not remove risk, and their goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance may differ from yours. Treat eToro as a learning and investing tool, not as a shortcut to guaranteed results, and check fees for the assets you trade.

Moomoo appeals to traders who want a lot of market data in the app. It offers detailed quotes, options chains, screeners, and charting, plus paper trading for practice. For options traders in particular, the data and tools are stronger than those in most beginner apps, while stock and ETF trading remains commission-free in many cases.

New investors may find the sheer amount of data distracting, and not every feature is free. Start with the core trading tools and add data subscriptions only when you know which ones you actually use.