Financial Education  Best Investing Apps For Beginners 2024
Investing Reviews
Best Investing Apps For Beginners 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Video Summary
Key Takeaways
Acorns
Best Features
Acorns Investments
Pricing
Stash
Best Features
Stash Investments
Pricing
M1 Finance
Best Features
M1 Investments
Pricing
SoFi Invest
Best Features
SoFi Investments
Pricing
Fundrise
Best Features
Fundrise Investments
Pricing
Final Thoughts
Top Trading Apps

Best Investing Apps For Beginners 2024

Ready to start investing but don't know where to begin? Check out our comprehensive guide on the best investing apps for beginners and jumpstart your financial journey today

Erik Machuca Erik Machuca
Feb 2, 2024
Whether you want to invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or real estate, there are user-friendly investing apps for every type of investor.
Unlike traditional brokerages, they’ve been designed from the ground up with educational resources and intuitive interfaces to make investing more accessible for beginners.
We are breaking down the top investing apps that are easy to use, packed with helpful features, and affordable, letting you get started investing in real companies with as little as $1.
Whether you’re more hands-on and want to manage your portfolio or you prefer a more hands-off approach where your investments are managed for you, we are diving into the five best investing apps for beginners.

Video Summary

Video preview

Key Takeaways

  • Investment apps offer a wide range of investment options, from stocks and ETFs to real estate and crypto.
  • Modern investing apps allow investors to diversify their portfolios based on their financial goals and risk tolerance.
  • Robo-Advisors offer features like automated investing and diversified portfolios.

Acorns

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Acorns Review
Imagine tossing your spare change into a piggy bank that not only saves your money but also invests it for you.
With Acorns you have a versatile investing app that’s easy to use, invests your spare change, and offers personalized portfolios to take the guesswork out of picking stocks.
And best of all, anyone can get started investing on Acorns with as little as $5.
Acorns is a user-friendly investing app designed for beginners, simplifying the investment process through automation.
The app focuses on making passive investing in the stock market accessible and affordable.
Acorns
Acorns
★★★★☆ | 4.6 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
✅
Easy-To-Use
✅
Beginner Friendly
✅
Pre-built Portfolios
⛔
Limited Investment Options
 

Best Features

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Acorns offers several features that simplify investing for beginners:
Round-Ups: Acorns' signature feature converts your spare change into investments. It links to your debit or credit card, rounding up each purchase to the nearest dollar and investing the difference. For instance, if you spend $5.50 on a sandwich, Acorns rounds it up to $6 and invests the $0.50. Once your spare change reaches $5, it's transferred into your account.
Recurring Investments: You can set up recurring investments, linking your bank account for automatic investments at your chosen frequency and amount, giving you flexibility in how you invest.
Portfolio Rebalancing: Acorns automates portfolio rebalancing, ensuring your investments stay diversified according to your financial goals, eliminating the need for constant manual adjustments.
Dividend Reinvesting: Acorns' dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP) automatically reinvests your dividend earnings back into your portfolio, leveraging compound interest for long-term growth.
Fractional Shares: Acorns enables you to invest in fractional shares of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), making investing accessible with even small amounts of money. This feature lets you start investing without the need to purchase whole shares, a great advantage for newcomers with limited initial funds.
Acorns Earn: Acorns offers a cashback program called Acorn Earn that partners with numerous retailers and restaurants. What sets it apart is that the cashback you earn is automatically invested in your Acorns portfolio, typically ranging from 1-10% of your purchases.
Try Acorns, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Acorns, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Acorns Investments

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Acorns offers five diversified portfolios catering to various risk preferences: Conservative, Moderately Conservative, Moderate, Moderately Aggressive, and Aggressive.
These portfolios invest in diversified exchange-traded funds (ETFs) consisting of hundreds of stocks from major companies, providing instant diversification.
With these pre-built portfolios, you can avoid the need for active stock trading, research, and constant portfolio management.
Opening an investment account with Acorns is incredibly affordable.
There's no minimum account balance required, making it ideal for beginners looking to start investing with as little as $5, making it one of the most accessible stock market investing apps available.
Acorns offers several types of accounts for different financial goals:
Acorns Invest is their individual investment account with automated portfolios.
Acorns Later provides tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Acorns Early is their custodial account allowing you to kickstart your child's investment journey.
Additionally, Acorns Banking offers a mobile checking account with no hidden fees, overdraft fees, or minimum balance requirements, and it includes a debit card that instantly invests your spare change.
Try Acorns, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Acorns, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pricing

Acorns offers three pricing plans with a flat monthly fee starting from $3 per month, making it affordable for new investors who enjoy passively managed portfolios and a set-it-and-forget-it approach.
If you enjoy Acorns investing automation features but want a bit more control over customizing your portfolio with individual stocks, then you may want to consider Stash.

Stash

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Stash Review
Picture an investing app that turns your everyday purchases into stock rewards. With Stash, you can build a custom portfolio and let automation invest your money into investments tailored just for you.
Stash gives you full control over customizing your portfolio with stocks and ETFs or you can just as easily let their Smart Portfolios passively manage your investments for you.
From automated investing and personalized portfolios to educational resources and stock rewards, Stash takes the guesswork out of selecting investments.
The best part? You can start your investing on Stash with as little as $5.
Stash is a user-friendly investment app that offers access to a wide range of stocks and ETFs, integrated Stock-BackⓇ Rewards, and built-in mobile banking.
Available on iOS, Android, and desktop, Stash provides a user-friendly interface, allowing you to manage your finances and build your portfolio with both automated and DIY investment options.
Stash
Stash
★★★★☆ | 4.3 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
 
✅
Smart Portfolios
✅
Stock Rewards
✅
Beginner Friendly
⛔
Limited Trading Features
 

Best Features

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Stash provides several investing features for beginners:
Smart Portfolio: Stash's robo-advisor provides a personalized portfolio based on your risk level and investment goals, professionally managed by Stash's Investment Team.
Portfolio Rebalancing: The robo-advisor performs quarterly automatic portfolio rebalancing, ensuring your investments align with your risk tolerance.
Fractional Shares: Stash allows you to invest in fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, making it accessible for those with limited funds.
Stock Round-Ups: Invest spare change from qualifying purchases made with your Stash Stock-Back® Debit Card, rounding up purchases to the nearest dollar.
Auto Invest: Set up recurring investments linked to your bank account, offering flexibility in frequency and amount.
Dividend Reinvesting: Automatically reinvest dividends into your Stash portfolio, harnessing compound interest for long-term growth.
You can easily track your investment progress and access personalized educational content within the app to enhance your knowledge and achieve your investment goals.
Stash offers accessibility with no minimum account requirement and allows you to invest with just $5, making it affordable for anyone to start investing.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Stash Investments

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Stash offers a diverse range of investment assets, including stocks, ETFs, and their own Smart Portfolios.
You can explore new investment ideas through their investment themes, where related stocks and ETFs are organized by market sectors.
Whether you’re interested in investing in individual stocks or diversifying with ETFs, Stash's investing themes simplify the process with easy-to-understand terminology.
Stash offers several types of accounts for different financial goals:
Personal Portfolio: A standard individual investment account for customized investing.
Smart Portfolio: Their automated robo-advisor feature for a diversified portfolio based on your risk tolerance and goals.
Retirement Accounts: Tax-advantaged Roth and Traditional IRAs to save for retirement.
Custodial Accounts: An account for kids under 18, managed by adults until the child comes of age.
Banking: An integrated mobile banking account with no hidden fees, including the Stash Stock-Back Rewards Debit Card, which allows you to earn fractional shares of stocks with everyday purchases.
With Stash's Stock-BackⓇ Rewards program, you earn fractional shares of stocks and funds from your everyday purchases at popular retailers like Starbucks, Walmart, Amazon, and more.
Unlike traditional cashback, Stash's rewards are invested back into your portfolio, potentially growing in value over time.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Stash, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pricing

Stash offers two pricing plans with a flat monthly fee starting from $3 per month, making it accessible for new investors who want to take advantage of Stash’s investing automation.
If you enjoy Stash’s features but want a stock portfolio that automatically rebalances itself, then you may want to consider M1 Finance.

M1 Finance

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M1 Finance Review
Picture this– Automated investing that not only simplifies your portfolio but also hands you the wheel to tailor your investment strategy.
M1 Finance is a platform that blends the best of robo-advisors and online trading brokerages.
With their unique 'Pie' investment portfolios, M1 Finance offers the ease of a robo-advisor with the flexibility of personalized investing.
The platform allows you to create customized investment portfolios by mixing and matching over 6,000 stocks and ETFs in a visual "pie" format.
You can choose from pre-built pies or build your own to align with your financial goals.
The platform's intuitive interface is accessible both on desktop and mobile, making it convenient to use.
M1 Finance
M1 Finance
★★★★☆ | 4.6 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
 
✅
Beautiful Interface
✅
Automated Portfolios
✅
Beginner Friendly
⛔
Limited Trading Features
 

Best Features

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M1 Finance's best features include its:
  • User-friendly interface on both desktop and mobile
  • Commission-free stock and ETF trades
  • Fractional share purchases
  • Automatic portfolio rebalancing
  • Convenient smart transfers
Additionally, M1 offers a high-yield savings account with competitive interest rates that integrates with your investment portfolio.
You can also use M1 Borrow to access up to 40% of your portfolio's value at competitive rates.
Try M1 Finance, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try M1 Finance, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

M1 Investments

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M1 Finance offers a wide range of investment options, including over 6,000 stocks and ETFs from NYSE and NASDAQ.
M1 Finance allows you to add select cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin into your portfolio, making it a versatile platform for both traditional and digital asset investments.
You can begin investing on M1 Finance with just $100 for individual brokerage, joint brokerage, custodial, and crypto accounts.
For retirement accounts like Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, the minimum initial investment is $500.
M1 Finance offers a variety of account types to suit different financial goals and needs. These include
  • Individual Brokerage Accounts for general investing
  • Joint Brokerage Accounts for shared financial goals
  • Custodial Accounts to manage investments for minors
  • Retirement Accounts like Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs.
Try M1 Finance, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try M1 Finance, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pricing

While M1 Finance provides commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, they also offer a premium membership called M1 Plus that provides extra benefits to users.
Costing $3 per month, M1 Plus offers a range of benefits like access to a high-yield savings account with a 5.0% APY, extended trading windows, discounted borrowing terms, and higher cashback rewards with the Owner's Rewards Card by M1.
If you enjoy M1’s portfolios but want access to more financial services beyond investing, then you may want to consider SoFi.

SoFi Invest

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SoFi Review
We’re exploring the app where all your finances are just a tap away, from automated investing and active trading to integrated checking and savings accounts.
SoFi Invest combines the convenience of automated portfolios with the tools needed for optimizing your investments.
Whether you’re a beginner, a hands-off investor, or an active trader, SoFi’s user-friendly interface offers something for everyone.
It’s simple, straightforward, and lets anyone get started investing in the stock market with just $1.
SoFi
SoFi
★★★★☆ | 4.5 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
 
✅
Automated Investing
✅
Commission-Free Trading
✅
Fractional Shares
⛔
Limited Trading Features
 

Best Features

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SoFi offers a user-friendly interface with features like automated portfolios and fractional shares that allow you to invest for as little as $1.
The app provides commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and options, along with robo-advisor services that build and manage portfolios based on your goals and risk tolerance.
SoFi Invest also offers access to investing in IPOs, built-in research and data, automatic rebalancing, and allows for automatic contributions, making it a versatile platform for various types of investors.
The SoFi app offers a feature called SoFi Relay for comprehensive financial tracking, budgeting tools, and the integration of checking and savings accounts with competitive interest rates.
Try SoFi, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try SoFi, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

SoFi Investments

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SoFi Invest offers a variety of investment options, including individual stocks, low-cost ETFs, options trading, fractional shares for affordable investing, and automated investing through their robo-advisor service.
You can start investing in SoFi’s Active Investing account with $1 or try their Automated Investing portfolios with a minimum of $10.
SoFi provides various account types, all seamlessly integrated:
1. Investment Accounts: You can have individual or joint investment accounts for buying and selling stocks and ETFs, actively managed or through SoFi's Automated Investing.
2. Checking and Savings Account: The combined SoFi Checking and Savings account offers competitive APYs, no fees, and access to a broad ATM network.
3. Retirement Accounts: SoFi offers Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA retirement accounts, with both active and passive management options, similar to individual investment accounts.
Try SoFi, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try SoFi, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pricing

SoFi's Active and Automated Investing accounts come with no monthly or annual fees.
Their Active Investing platform offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, and options, while their Automated Investing service is also provided without advisory fees.
If you enjoy SoFI’s stock investing features but are interested in adding real estate to your investment portfolio, then you may want to consider Fundrise.

Fundrise

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Fundrise Review
If you are looking to explore an innovative way to diversify your investment portfolio beyond traditional assets like stocks and ETFs, adding some real estate exposure to your investments could make sense.
Fundrise is an investing platform that aims to make real estate investing accessible to everyone.
It offers you access to institutional-quality alternative investments, primarily in the world of real estate.
Available on iOS, Android, and desktop, anyone can get started investing on Fundrise with as little as $10.
The platform operates by pooling money from many small investors to build property portfolios as private Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which it calls "eREITs".
Fundrise
Fundrise
★★★★☆ | 4.2 / 5
Sign-Up Bonus
 
✅
Automated Investing
✅
Start investing with $10
✅
Diversified portfolios
⛔
Less liquidity compared to stocks
 

Best Features

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Diverse Investment Options: Fundrise provides access to a variety of investment options, including eREITs, eFunds, and its Innovation Fund.
Fundrise’s eREITS allows you to earn returns through rental income and property appreciation.
Fundrise’s "eFunds" are funds where investors' pooled money is used to buy land, develop housing, and then sell it for profit.
In addition to real estate, Fundrise has also launched its "Innovation Fund", which focuses on shares of privately held tech companies.
Automatic Investing and Balancing: Fundrise offers automatic investing and balancing, which aligns with the "set it and forget it" approach to investing. This feature allows you to ride out market fluctuations with less stress.
Customizable Portfolio: With Fundrise Pro, more hands-on investors can customize their portfolios to their liking.
Investor Goal-Setting: All levels of investment come with auto-invest options and some investor goal-setting features.
Try Fundrise, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Fundrise, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Fundrise Investments

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To start investing with Fundrise, you simply select an investment plan.
You can choose from a Growth, Income, or Balanced Portfolio. Each portfolio includes dozens of alternative assets, such as commercial, industrial, and residential real estate, along with startup investments.
The platform offers five account tiers with different investment options and minimums but anyone can get started on the starter portfolio with just $10.
Fundrise’s platform is easy to use and simple to navigate. You can track the performance of your investments in the app and automate your investing.
The minimum investment required for a general investing account is $10, while for a retirement account (rollover, transfer, or new IRA), at least $1,000 is required.
Try Fundrise, and get a special sign-up bonus here.
Try Fundrise, and get a special sign-up bonus here.

Pricing

In terms of pricing and fees, Fundrise charges an annual 0.15% advisory fee, which is $1.50 annually for every $1,000 invested.
In addition, Fundrise's real estate funds have an annual 0.85% flat management fee. That's $8.50/year for every $1,000 invested.
For $10 per month, Fundrise also offers Fundrise Pro, which allows you to create a custom portfolio and invest in specific funds.
Fundrise is a unique platform that allows small investors to diversify their portfolios with alternative assets, primarily in real estate.

Final Thoughts

Which investing app is right for you?
Acorns: Acorns is an excellent choice for beginners or individuals who want a hands-off approach to investing. Its round-up feature simplifies saving and investing, making it ideal for those who struggle to save money consistently or want a straightforward way to start investing with small amounts.
Acorns: Acorns is an excellent choice for beginners or individuals who want a hands-off approach to investing. Its round-up feature simplifies saving and investing, making it ideal for those who struggle to save money consistently or want a straightforward way to start investing with small amounts.
Acorns Review
Stash: Stash is suitable for individuals who want to learn more about investing while building a diversified portfolio. It's great for investors looking to invest in specific themes or sectors and offers educational tools to help users make informed decisions.
Stash: Stash is suitable for individuals who want to learn more about investing while building a diversified portfolio. It's great for investors looking to invest in specific themes or sectors and offers educational tools to help users make informed decisions.
Stash Review
M1 Finance: M1 Finance caters to both DIY investors and those seeking automated portfolio management. It's a versatile platform for investors who want to create custom portfolios or use pre-built ones while enjoying commission-free trading and fractional shares.
M1 Finance: M1 Finance caters to both DIY investors and those seeking automated portfolio management. It's a versatile platform for investors who want to create custom portfolios or use pre-built ones while enjoying commission-free trading and fractional shares.
M1 Review
SoFi Invest: SoFi Invest is an all-in-one platform suitable for both active and passive investors. It's an excellent choice for individuals who want to consolidate their financial services, including investing, banking, and saving, all in one place.
SoFi Invest: SoFi Invest is an all-in-one platform suitable for both active and passive investors. It's an excellent choice for individuals who want to consolidate their financial services, including investing, banking, and saving, all in one place.
SoFi Review
Fundrise: Fundrise is designed for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with alternative assets, primarily real estate. It's an ideal platform for those interested in exploring institutional-quality alternative investments beyond traditional stocks and bonds, with a focus on real estate ventures.
Fundrise: Fundrise is designed for investors seeking to diversify their portfolios with alternative assets, primarily real estate. It's an ideal platform for those interested in exploring institutional-quality alternative investments beyond traditional stocks and bonds, with a focus on real estate ventures.
Fundrise Review

Top Trading Apps

If you want to see how these investing apps compare to the top trading apps be sure to check out our top trading apps for beginners.
Similar to the best investing apps, these trading apps also have user-friendly interfaces, investing automation features, and low minimum investments.
Where they differ is in their built-in trading features, research tools, and market insights.
Erik Machuca
Erik Machuca
Erik Machuca is the founder of EverydayInvesting.com. He is passionate about helping everyday investors simplify investing with technology.

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