Top Self Investing Apps by Features and Fees
Fidelity Investments offers zero commission trades on stocks, ETFs, and options through its mobile app, with no account minimum and fractional shares available since 2019. The platform provides access to research tools, mutual funds, and fixed income, and its extended hours trading runs from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET on weekdays according to Forbes Advisor broker comparisons.
Charles Schwab introduced zero commissions on all online equity and ETF trades in 2019 and expanded fractional share trading in 2020. The app includes a full suite of research, screening, and portfolio tools, and Schwab clients can access no-fee ATMs worldwide through the partnership with Allpoint per the Schwab ATM network page.
Best Apps for Fractional Shares and Low Minimums
Robinhood was founded in 2013 and introduced commission-free trading in 2013, later expanding to fractional shares, options, and cryptocurrency trading. The app generates revenue primarily through payment for order flow and interest on uninvested cash, and it offers a simplified interface designed for first-time investors per SEC investor alerts on payment for order flow.
SoFi Invest provides automated investing with no account minimum and no management fees for its SoFi Invest Automated service, which uses Modern Portfolio Theory to build diversified portfolios. The platform also offers active investing with zero commissions, fractional shares, and access to financial planning through SoFi's licensed advisors on the SoFi Invest overview page.
Best Apps for Advanced Traders and Research
Interactive Brokers offers a professional-grade mobile app with access to global markets, including stocks, options, futures, forex, and bonds across 150+ markets. The platform charges low per-share commissions starting at $0.005 per share with a $1.00 minimum, and it provides advanced order types, paper trading, and detailed risk management tools on the Interactive Brokers fees page.
E*TRADE, owned by Morgan Stanley since 2021, provides commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and options, with fractional shares available on thousands of stocks and ETFs. The app includes screeners, technical indicators, and options analysis tools, and it integrates with Morgan Stanley's wealth management services for clients seeking a combined brokerage and advisory relationship on the E*TRADE homepage.