You don’t need a stockbroker or thousands of dollars to start investing in stocks. Today’s beginner trading apps let you buy fractional shares of any company with as little as $1 — and most charge zero commissions. Here are the best options for first-time investors.
What to Look for in a Beginner Stock Trading App
The best beginner trading apps share four qualities: zero commission trades, fractional share investing so you can start small, educational content to help you learn as you go, and a clean interface that doesn’t overwhelm you with data you don’t understand yet.
Our Top 5 Stock Trading Apps for Beginners
1. Fidelity
The best overall beginner investing app — zero commissions, no account minimum, fractional shares, and outstanding educational resources. Backed by one of the most trusted names in finance.
✓ Pros: Zero fees, great education, fractional shares, excellent customer support ✗ Cons: Interface less flashy than newer apps 👉
2. Robinhood
The app that introduced commission-free trading to mainstream investors. Simple, clean interface with no account minimum and instant access to stocks, ETFs, and crypto.
✓ Pros: Extremely simple interface, fractional shares, crypto available ✗ Cons: Limited research tools, controversial payment for order flow 👉
3. Public
A social investing platform where you can see what other investors are buying and follow experienced investors. Ideal for beginners who learn by watching others.
✓ Pros: Social features, fractional shares, no payment for order flow ✗ Cons: Smaller community than established platforms 👉
4. SoFi Invest
Combines investing with banking, loans, and financial planning in one app. Includes access to a free certified financial planner — unique among beginner apps.
✓ Pros: Free financial advisor access, all-in-one app, fractional shares ✗ Cons: Smaller investment selection than dedicated brokerages 👉
5. Webull
More advanced than Robinhood but still beginner-friendly. Offers extended trading hours, detailed charts, and paper trading so you can practice without real money.
✓ Pros: Paper trading for practice, extended hours, detailed analytics ✗ Cons: Steeper learning curve than other beginner apps 👉
How to Start Investing as a Beginner
Step 1 — Open an account. Pick one app from this list and create an account. It takes about 10 minutes and requires your Social Security number for tax purposes.
Step 2 — Start small. Deposit $50-100 to start. You don’t need more than this to begin building the investing habit.
Step 3 — Buy an index fund first. Before picking individual stocks, buy a total market index fund like VTI or SPY. This instantly diversifies you across hundreds of companies.
Step 4 — Set up automatic contributions. Automate a monthly deposit — even $50/month — so investing happens without you having to think about it.
Step 5 — Learn as you go. Use the educational resources in your chosen app. Fidelity’s learning center is the best in the industry for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much money do I need to start investing in stocks? A: With fractional shares available on most platforms you can start with as little as $1. Realistically $50-100 gives you enough to diversify across a few positions and start building the habit.
Q: Is stock trading safe for beginners? A: Investing in diversified index funds is relatively safe long-term. Picking individual stocks carries more risk. As a beginner stick to broad index funds and avoid trying to time the market.
Q: Do I pay taxes on stock profits? A: Yes — profits from selling stocks are subject to capital gains tax. Stocks held longer than one year qualify for lower long-term capital gains rates. A tax app like TurboTax Self-Employed handles this automatically.
Final Thoughts
The best stock trading app for beginners is the one that gets you started today. Every day you wait is a day of potential compound growth you miss out on.
Our top recommendation for most beginners is Fidelity — zero fees, fractional shares, outstanding education, and the trust of one of the world’s largest financial institutions.
Open your account today and make your first investment this week.
👉 Open a Free Fidelity Account
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