How to Start Investing: Top 5 Best Apps for Beginners in 2025
Investing is no longer just for experienced traders or financial advisors. With modern investing apps, even total beginners can start investing quickly and easily. If you’re looking for ways to grow your savings, you can invest in stocks, ETFs, and more.
If you’re wondering which app is the best starting point for your investing journey, I’ve put together a list of the top options available in the U.S. in 2025. Some of these I use myself—and from experience, they’re excellent.
1. Robinhood
Robinhood is a U.S.-based fintech company founded in 2013 by Vlad Tenev and Baiju Bhatt. Its mission is to “democratize finance” by removing fees and making investing accessible to everyone. It became wildly popular for offering commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and crypto.
Why it’s unique:
- First major U.S. broker to offer zero-commission trading.
- Lets you buy fractional shares — like 0.1 shares of Amazon.
- Clean, beginner-friendly interface.
Reputation:
- Extremely popular with Millennials and Gen Z.
- Took a hit after restricting trades during the GameStop saga in 2021, but remains widely used.
Key Facts:
- Publicly traded on NASDAQ (HOOD)
- Over 22 million users in the U.S. (2025)
Pros:
- 0% commission on stocks and ETFs
- Fractional shares from just $1
- Simple and intuitive interface
Cons:
- Limited tools for analysis
- No mutual funds or retirement accounts (IRA)
- Reputation damage during the 2021 GameStop incident
Robinhood is great for getting started, but if you plan to get more advanced later on, you might eventually want a platform with more features.
2. Webull
Webull was launched in 2017 as an alternative for users who wanted more technical tools than Robinhood, without giving up free trading. It’s backed by Fumi Technology (China) and based in New York.
Why it’s unique:
- Free trading for stocks, ETFs, and options
- Advanced charts, technical indicators, and real-time news
- Extended hours trading available
Reputation:
- Considered a level up from Robinhood
- A bit more complex for total beginners, but great for serious DIY investors
Key Facts:
- Popular among “self-directed investors”
- Regulated by the SEC and FINRA
Pros:
- No trading fees for stocks, ETFs, or options
- Level 2 market data and powerful tools
- After-hours trading
Cons:
- Interface can be overwhelming for new users
- No mutual funds or IRA accounts
Webull is ideal for beginners ready to step up and explore technical analysis tools.
3. Fidelity Investments
Fidelity, founded in 1946 in Boston, is one of the “Big Three” traditional investment firms in the U.S., alongside Vanguard and Charles Schwab.
Why it’s unique:
- Offers access to thousands of investments: stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, and retirement accounts (IRAs, 401ks)
- Zero fees for stock and ETF trades since 2019
- Exceptional customer service, including live branches across the U.S.
Reputation:
- One of the most trusted brokers in America
- Great for long-term investors and retirement planning
Key Facts:
- Manages over $4.5 trillion in assets
- Top-rated for customer satisfaction (J.D. Power)
Pros:
- $0 stock and ETF trading fees
- Thousands of mutual funds, including no-load funds
- Supports IRAs and Roth IRAs
- Excellent education and support
Cons:
- More setup steps and admin at the start
- Interface is more complex than Robinhood or Webull
Fidelity is a solid choice for serious long-term investors and those focused on retirement planning.
4. eToro
eToro is a global investing platform founded in 2007 in Israel. It entered the U.S. market in 2019, originally focused on crypto and later expanded to stocks and ETFs. It stands out with its social investing features, letting users copy other traders’ portfolios.
Why it’s unique:
- Copy Trading – automatically copy experienced traders
- One platform for stocks, ETFs, and crypto
- Strong social community: comments, feeds, discussions
Reputation:
- Very popular among younger investors
- In the U.S., still known mainly as a crypto platform, but expanding
Key Facts:
- Active in 100+ countries
- SEC-registered broker for stock trading in the U.S.
Pros:
- Copy Trading for hands-free investing
- Invest in stocks, ETFs, and crypto all in one place
- Clean, modern interface
Cons:
- Higher spreads (hidden costs in buy/sell pricing)
- Lacks deep analysis tools
eToro is great for beginners who prefer passive investing and want to learn by following others.
5. Acorns
Acorns was founded in 2012 and takes a different approach: investing your spare change automatically. It’s perfect for building investment habits passively. The platform uses “round-up investing” — it rounds up your everyday purchases and invests the difference.
Why it’s unique:
- Round-up investing – buy coffee for $2.50, Acorns rounds up to $3 and invests the $0.50
- Expert-managed ETF portfolios based on your risk tolerance
- Offers retirement accounts via Acorns Later
Reputation:
- Popular among beginners who want a “set it and forget it” experience
- Some criticism over the monthly fee for small accounts
Key Facts:
- Millions of U.S. users
- Especially popular with students and young professionals
Pros:
- Fully passive investing
- Automated, diversified ETF portfolios
- Easy setup and management
Cons:
- Monthly fee from $3, which can be high for small balances
- Less control over specific investments
Acorns is great for developing investing habits, but not ideal if you want full control of your portfolio.
| App | Best for | Pros | Cons | Fees |
| Robinhood | Beginners | Easy interface, 0% commission | Limited tools, no IRAs | 0% stock/ETF fees, crypto has spread |
| Webull | Semi-advanced beginners | Great charts, extended trading | Complex for newbies | 0% stock/ETF/options, some Level 2 data fees |
| Fidelity | Long-term investors | Full product suite, IRAs, education | More admin setup | 0% stock/ETF; some mutual fund fees may apply |
| eToro | Social investors | Copy Trading, crypto + stocks + ETFs | Higher spreads, fewer pro tools | 0% on stocks/ETFs; crypto spreads |
| Acorns | Passive saving/investing | Fully automated, round-ups | Less control, monthly fee | Starts at $3/month (Personal plan) |
Every investing app has its strengths, and the best one depends on your goals:
- Robinhood is great for fast and simple investing
- Webull offers advanced tools and data
- Fidelity is ideal for long-term portfolios and retirement
- eToro lets you copy seasoned traders
- Acorns helps you build habits through automation
Before you choose, think about your goals, risk tolerance, and how hands-on you want to be with your money. Think you’re shopping smart? Discover the tricks stores don’t want you to notice. 10 Psychology Tricks Stores Use to Make You Spend (and How to Save Money)
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