If you’re new to investing, it can feel totally intimidating. The jargon, the ups and downs, the decisions… So many decisions! But you’re taking a great first step by exploring the best investment apps for beginners.
Now, we won’t inundate you with dozens of options. (However, we do have dozens of options for making money online if that’s what you’re after!) Instead, we’ll share some of our favorite investment apps, plus tips for beginners.
As you get started, keep in mind that investing is not the same as saving. With investing, depending on where you put your money, there are varying degrees of risk involved. Investopedia uses a pyramid structure to illustrate your options.
And the good news? Many investment apps for beginners make recommendations based on your risk tolerance, goals, age, income and more.
With that caveat in mind, let’s get started!
Key Takeaways
- The best investment apps for beginners make it easy to start with little money, offer low or zero fees and provide tools that reduce overwhelm while you learn.
- Beginner-friendly investment apps often include automation, educational resources and diversified options like ETFs to support long-term growth.
- Pairing investment apps with rewards platforms like KashKick can help beginners earn extra cash to invest without stretching their budget.
Best Investment Apps for Beginners
How are you feeling so far? Let’s go ahead and jump into some of the best investment apps for beginners.
| App | Best for | Minimum to start | Cost/fees |
| Acorns | Hands-off round-up investing | $5 | Plans start at $4/month |
| Ark7 | Fractional real estate | $20 | One-time sourcing fee + monthly asset management fee |
| Fidelity | A brokerage you won’t outgrow | $0 | $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, option trades |
| Grifin | Investing where you shop | $1 | $9/month |
| Public | A range of asset types | Varies by asset | Varies by asset |
| Robinhood | Several financial goals at once | $1 for stocks, ETFs, crypto | $0 commissions; Gold is $5 a month |
| SoFi Invest | Banking and investing together | $0 | $0 commissions on self-directed |
| Streetbeat | AI-guided, hands-off investing | $0 | Transfer and trading fees |
1. Acorns
Acorns is an excellent investing app for beginners, and as you get the hang of things, you can expand your horizons.
If you’re just getting started, check out Acorns’ Round-Ups feature. It rounds up your everyday purchases to the next dollar and channels that extra bit into a varied investment mix. It’s all automatic, so you don’t have to think about a thing, and it adds up faster than you might think!
Acorns also houses a whole library of educational content to help you learn and build your confidence. As you become more comfortable, explore IRAs (great for retirement planning), checking and savings options, and even money managers.
Cost: Starts at $4/month | Minimum to get started: $5
Best for: Newbies looking to take baby steps; those interested in autopilot
2. Ark7
Real estate has long been a popular way to invest money outside of the stock market. But it takes a good chunk of change to be able to afford a condo, home or even piece of land these days.
Enter Ark7. The real estate investment app, created by an ex-Google engineer, allows you to invest in shares of rental homes. Browse and invest in properties across the U.S. from a single-family home in Dallas to a multi-family home in Seattle.
Shares have a minimum holding period. After that, you can list them on Ark7’s secondary market, though there’s no guarantee a buyer is waiting. Distributions go straight to your account each month.
Ark7 charges a sourcing fee when it acquires a property and takes a percentage of monthly rental income for management.
Cost: One-time sourcing fee + monthly asset management fee | Minimum to get started: $20
Best for: The aspiring real estate mogul; those looking to diversify their portflio
3. Fidelity
Fidelity is the one name on this list your parents probably already know. That’s not a knock. For a beginner, a platform that’s been around for decades and offers 24/7 phone support is worth a lot.
You’ll find commission-free stock and ETF trading, fractional shares so you can buy into expensive stocks with a few dollars, and a deep library of research and education. It’s a bigger platform than a brand-new investor needs. The upside is that you won’t outgrow it.
Cost: $0 commissions for online U.S. stock, ETF and option trades | Minimum to get started: $0
Best for: Beginners who want a full-service brokerage they can stay with for years
4. Grifin
Here’s a fun investment app for beginners: Grifin. The motto? Stock where you shop.
With Grifin, the premise is simple: You’ll automatically invest in the places where you spend money. So next time you swing by Starbucks for your favorite treat, Grifin will invest $1 in Starbucks stock. Place an Amazon order? That’s $1 in Amazon! The goal is to build positive, daily investment habits day by day, swipe by swipe.
You can adjust your settings and personalize how much you want to invest and in what stocks, but otherwise, Grifin makes investing super easy, whether you’re a beginner or seasoned investor.
Cost: $9/month | Minimum to start: $1
Best for: Those looking for a fun twist on investing; frequent card-swipers
5. Public
Public is an investing app that’ll grow with you as you learn more and more. Here, you’ll find opportunities to invest in stocks, bonds, crypto, ETFs and more. Let’s break these down a bit more:
- Stocks: Build a portfolio from a broad range of stocks, and access tools like price alerts, side-by-side stock comparisons and more.
- Bonds: Buy corporate, Treasury and municipal bonds with Public. Not sure what those are? Public, which has tons of resources for beginners, explains.
- Crypto: Want to dabble in crypto? Public offers a selection of major cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and Ethereum.
- ETFs: Think of ETFs as pre-packaged baskets of various investments. Investing in ETFs can be less risky than going all in on one stock.
Unlike some investment apps, you don’t need to have a ton of money to start. You can buy fractional shares with a small amount of money. For newbies, Public also has plenty of tools and resources and even has a community where fellow investors ask questions and share knowledge.
Cost: Varies by asset | Minimum to start: Varies by asset
Best for: Beginner to intermediate investors looking for a range of assets to invest in
6. Robinhood
Even if you’re totally new to investing, you’ve probably heard of Robinhood.
Investors—from beginners to experts—love this app because it’s user-friendly and offers commission-free trading. Like Public, you can also invest in fractional shares and dabble in crypto. It also has a “Prediction Markets” feature now.
If you’re looking to invest in stocks, getting started is easy and you can even get your first stock for free! (With limitations, of course.)
If you’re wanting to save more money and invest for retirement, look into Robinhood Gold. For $5 a month, you can put your uninvested cash into an account that earns interest at a higher rate than most standard savings accounts. Then, when you contribute to an IRA, Robinhood will give you a 3% match.
Cost: $0 commission for stocks and ETFs | Minimum to start: $1 for stocks, ETFs, crypto
Best for: Those looking to accomplish several financial goals
7. SoFi Invest
SoFi Invest is a good pick if you’d rather keep your banking and investing under one roof.
You can trade stocks and ETFs commission-free, buy fractional shares and start with a small amount. SoFi also offers an automated investing option that builds and manages a portfolio for you, which charges an annual percentage of your balance rather than a flat fee. Both tiers open with no minimum.
Cost: No commissions but other fees apply | Minimum to start: $0
Best for: Beginners who want investing, saving and banking in one app
8. Streetbeat
If you’re looking for a hands-off investing approach, you may have found your match with Streetbeat.
Streetbeat’s big selling point is its AI-powered advisor. Interested in investing in the top generative AI companies? Ask the advisor and they’ll get you sorted. You can also have the advisor monitor analyst ratings, news articles, earnings, regulatory and stock prices and ask it to rebalance your portfolio daily, weekly or monthly.
Streetbeat runs on a flat subscription rather than taking a percentage of your balance. Check the current fee schedule in the app before you sign up.
Cost: Check the fee schedule | Minimum to start: $0
Best for: Investors who prefer auto-pilot; those who love a good ChatGPT convo
What to Know About Investing Apps for Beginners
Investing apps aren’t the same as banking or savings apps. A savings app holds your money. An investing app puts it into the market, where it can grow (or drop).
Most investing apps for beginners fall into three buckets.
1. Robo-advisors and round-up apps build a portfolio for you and handle the rebalancing.
2. Commission-free brokerages let you pick your own stocks and ETFs.
3. Niche apps focus on one asset type, like real estate or spend-matched stock.
There’s no wrong bucket to start in. Just know which one you’re picking, because they behave very differently once your money’s in.
How to Know an Investment App Is Safe
Before you put money anywhere, check two things.
First, is the app registered with the SEC? Legitimate investing apps say so, usually in the footer or the fine print. Second, is it a SIPC member? SIPC protects the cash and securities in your brokerage account up to $500,000 if the brokerage itself fails.
Here’s the part people miss: SIPC doesn’t protect you from losing money in the market. If your investments drop in value, that’s not what the coverage is for. It covers the failure of the firm, not the performance of your portfolio.
Turn on two-factor authentication while you’re at it. It takes 2 minutes.
How to Choose the Best Investment App for Beginners
Still not sure where to start? Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Understand your main goal. Before you get started, consider your goals. Is it long-term growth? Passive investing? Learning the ropes of trading? The app you choose should align with your goals, timeline and risk tolerance.
- Check the minimum amount to start. Many beginner investment apps let you start with $0 to $5. These no or low minimums make it easy to start investing without feeling the need to risk large amounts of money.
- Prioritize low fees and zero commissions. High fees can eat into your returns, so look for apps that offer zero-commission trades and low monthly fees if applicable.
- Look for in-app lessons for beginners. Education tools, tutorials and articles are extremely helpful when you’re just getting started.
- Verify regulation and security features. Check to make sure the app you choose is regulated by the SEC and offers protections like SIPC insurance and two-factor authentication. Security is very important when it comes to investing money!
- Check ease of use and reviews. If you open an app and immediately feel overwhelmed (this can happen when it comes to investing apps), then you may want to find a different option. Read online reviews to gauge if the app is the best fit for you.
- Confirm available investment options. Some investment apps only offer opportunities to invest in crypto while others offer stocks and ETFs. Determine what you’re most interested in and go from there.
How To Maximize Earnings on Investment Apps for Beginners
There’s no magic formula to hit it big, but here are a few steps you can take to build a sustainable, long-term investment strategy no matter how green you are.
- Turn on automatic weekly or monthly investing. Even investing a few bucks each week can add up.
- Start with a small, sustainable amount. Here’s the key to investing: Only invest what you can afford to leave untouched for the long term. Don’t be afraid to start small.
- Choose apps with zero-commission trading. If you’re interested in trading, look for the apps that don’t take a commission from trades. These can add up quickly, especially for beginners who might make frequent, small trades.
- Avoid frequent trades. Constantly buying and selling and trying to “time the market” can lead to unnecessary losses. Long-term investing—and riding out the market’s ups and downs—tends to yield better results.
- Focus on broad, low-cost index funds or ETFs. Index funds and ETFs offer diversification and lower risk for new investors. They’re a smart foundation for any beginner investment portfolio!
- Consider automated or robo-advisor portfolios. Robo-advisors can build and manage diversified portfolios based on your goals. They’re hands-off and can reduce overwhelm for beginners.
- Take advantage of sign-up bonuses, cashback and round-ups. Some investment apps offer bonuses, round-ups and even cashback cards (where the cashback is stock). These can be great options if you’re looking to level up.
Multiply Your Money with the Best Investment Apps for Beginners
The key to investing is to have some extra money you can spare. You don’t want to put money into investments just to pull it out a few days later.
If you have a fixed income or you’re looking to add some room in your budget, no need to wait for a windfall.
Instead, head to KashKick. The free app rewards you for playing games, taking surveys, trying new apps and shopping online. As soon as you earn $10, you can cash out through PayPal or Venmo, then invest that money.
For more, head over to our beginner’s guide to investing. To start earning, sign up for KashKick.
FAQs on Best Investment Apps for Beginners
What is the No. 1 investment app?
There’s no single No. 1 investment app because the best one depends on how you want to invest. Beginners who want automation often pick a round-up app or a robo-advisor. Those who’d rather choose their own stocks tend to prefer a commission-free brokerage app.
What investment app is best for beginners?
The best investment apps for beginners are simple to use, charge low or no fees and make it easy to start with little money. Apps like KashKick also help beginners earn extra cash and rewards that can be used to start investing when they sign up for certain investment apps.
Which type of investment is best for beginners?
Low-cost index funds and ETFs are often considered the best investments for beginners because they offer diversification and steady long-term growth. These options are widely available on investment apps for beginners.
How much will I make if I invest $100 a month?
How much you’ll make if you invest $100 a month depends on your returns, your time horizon and the fees you pay, so no app can promise you a number. What compounding does reward is consistency. The SEC’s compound interest calculator lets you model your own scenario.
What are the 7 rules of investing?
The 7 rules of investing most commonly cited are: create a plan based on your goals, start today, diversify based on your tolerance for risk, minimize fees, protect against losses, rebalance regularly and tune out the noise.
What is the best way to invest money?
The best way to invest money is to start small, invest regularly and focus on long-term growth. Using the best investment apps for beginners makes it easier to build good habits and grow wealth over time.
