Zero-commission trades, index fund access, fractional shares, and intuitive UX.
Sam CarterHealth, Fitness & Performance Editor
Winner
Fidelity Investments
Overview
Modern investment apps put Wall Street tools in your pocket. We tested trading apps on zero-commission fees, fractional share purchasing, automated rebalancing, research reports, and app UI speed.
Winner spotlight
№1Fidelity Investments offers the most complete investment platform. Featuring zero-fee index funds (FZROX), zero account minimums, fractional shares, 5%+ interest on uninvested cash (SPAXX), and execution quality.
At a glance
| Pick | #1 Fidelity Investments $0 Trades · SPAXX 5% Cash | #2 Charles Schwab $0 Commission · thinkorswim | #3 Robinhood Gold 3% IRA Match | #4 Interactive Brokers (IBKR) Global Stock Access | #5 Wealthfront 0.25% Advisory Fee | #6 Vanguard Low Cost Index Funds | #7 eToro Social Trading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.9 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.1 |
| Ease of use | Excellent | Excellent | Great | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
| Fees | Free | Low | Low | Medium | Medium | Medium | High |
| Features | Complete | Rich | Rich | Good | Good | Good | Basic |
| Support | 24/7 | 24/7 | Good | Good | Good |
The list
Ordered by overall score across every test. The “best for” note tells you exactly who each pick is for.
1Zero-fee index funds, 5%+ cash yield, fractional shares, and retirement IRAs.
Best overallWhy buy
Keep in mind
2Unmatched customer phone support, thinkorswim trading platform, and checking debit card.
Research & active tradingWhy buy
Keep in mind
3The slickest mobile UI with 3% IRA retirement matching and 24/5 market trading.
Mobile UX & IRA matchWhy buy
Keep in mind
4Lowest margin rates, 150+ global exchanges, and professional algorithmic tools.
Global markets & low margin ratesWhy buy
Keep in mind
5Automated tax-loss harvesting, index fund portfolio rebalancing, and high-yield cash.
Robo-advisor automationWhy buy
Keep in mind
6The pioneer of low-cost index fund investing owned by its fund shareholders.
Buy & hold index fundsWhy buy
Keep in mind
7CopyTrader feature allowing users to automatically mirror top investor portfolios.
Social copy tradingWhy buy
Keep in mind
Deep dive
| Feature | Fidelity Investments | Charles Schwab | Robinhood | Interactive Brokers (IBKR) | Wealthfront | Vanguard | eToro |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No fees | |||||||
| Cashback | |||||||
| Points system | |||||||
| Budgeting tools | |||||||
| Travel perks | |||||||
| Offline mode | |||||||
| Multi-currency | |||||||
| Family plans |
The verdict
Before you buy
Every tool was run on real accounts for three full billing cycles. We track actual fees paid, time saved and whether the product quietly makes you better with money.
Fees compound faster than rewards. A no-fee card with decent perks usually beats a premium card with great perks you'll never use. Read the fees row first.
The winner of our The 7 Best Investment & Trading Apps ranking is the pick that scored highest across every test — but 'best overall' isn't always 'best for you'. Use the 'Best for' note under each of the seven to match a pick to your budget, your space and your habits. Every entry on this list earned its place; the ranking simply tells you where to start.
Questions
Checking your approval odds uses a soft inquiry, which never affects your score. Hard inquiries only happen when you actually apply.
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