5 Best Mobile Stockbrokers for Beginners 2025 – Top Apps Reviewed • Benzinga

Navigating the stock market can be daunting for beginners, but a new generation of mobile-first brokers has made investing more accessible than ever. With intuitive app designs, commission-free trading and features tailored for those just starting out, mobile-first platforms put the power of investing right in your hand. 

This guide will take a look at five of the best mobile stockbrokers for beginners that combine user-friendliness with essential tools and support, so you can choose the right app to begin your investment journey.

5 Best Mobile Brokers

How We Chose the Best Mobile Stockbrokers For Beginners 

To choose the best mobile stockbrokers for beginners, we prioritized user-friendly mobile apps, low costs and minimums, and educational resources. Accessible customer support and a range of investment options also were key.

Best Mobile Stockbrokers For Beginners

Robinhood — Best for Ease of Use

Robinhood’s intuitive mobile app provides an easy entry point for beginners to start investing in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and cryptocurrencies from their smartphones, with an emphasis on ease of use over complex features. 

Key Features: 

• Fees: Robinhood offers commission-free trading for U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs and options contracts. There are generally no account minimums, inactivity fees or deposit fees. Some regulatory fees and optional service fees may apply. 

• Investment Access: Beginners can access a range of U.S.-listed stocks, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies through the app. They can also buy fractional shares, allowing them to invest in expensive stocks with as little as $1. Robinhood also offers retirement accounts with a match feature.

• Platform Experience: The mobile app offers a streamlined experience for buying and selling, making it accessible for users new to investing. Robinhood has a web platform as well, but the mobile app shines for simplicity. 

• Tools/Education Highlights: The platform’s Robinhood Learn includes articles and guides that cover investment fundamentals, market insights, and options and futures essentials. In-app education helps users understand the basics. 

• Drawbacks: The platform lacks in-depth research tools, advanced charting capabilities and comprehensive analysis features found on more traditional brokerage apps. The focus on simplicity can lead some users to make less informed decisions.   

Who It’s Best For: Beginners, mobile-first investors and users who want an intuitive, low-cost platform to invest in stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies with fractional shares.

Fidelity — Best for Long-Term Growth

Fidelity’s robust and user-friendly mobile app is an excellent choice for beginners. It combines commission-free trading with a wealth of educational resources, top-tier research and exceptional customer service, providing a secure and supportive environment for new investors who want to build a diversified portfolio and grow their wealth over the long term.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Fidelity offers commission-free trading for online U.S. stock, ETF and options. Options incur a $0.65 per contract fee. There are no account minimums to open an account, and Fidelity’s own index funds often have a zero expense ratio. Most non-trading fees, like account maintenance or electronic transfers, also are free.

• Investment Access: Investors can access a variety of investments, including U.S. and international stocks, more than 3,700 no-transaction fee mutual funds, a wide selection of ETFs, options, bonds and CDs. Fidelity also offers fractional shares on most U.S. stocks and ETFs, enabling beginners to invest with as little as $1 and build diversified portfolios.
• Platform Experience: The intuitive interface balances simplicity with powerful functionality. Beginners can easily navigate to buy and sell securities, track portfolio performance and access research. The app supports mobile check deposit, bill pay and customizable watchlists.   

• Tools/Education Highlights: Fidelity provides comprehensive educational content through its Learn section, articles, videos and webinars covering everything from investing for beginners to advanced trading strategies. It offers interactive tools like financial planners and screeners as well as a paper trading feature to practice investing without real money. Its customer support is available 24/7. 

• Drawbacks: The breadth of Fidelity’s offerings and research may be overwhelming for someone seeking the absolute simplest interface. The platform may not cater to extremely niche or highly specialized trading needs.  

Who It’s Best For: Beginners and growing investors who want a reputable, full-service broker with a user-friendly mobile app, educational resources, commission-free trading and excellent customer support.

Charles Schwab — Best for Customer Support

Charles Schwab has blended its full-service offerings with a user-friendly mobile experience. It provides 24/7 customer support via phone, email and chat to help new investors learn, practice and grow in the market. It also has 400 branches across the country that allows clients to speak with someone in person for more personalized assistance. Schwab offers commission-free trading, access to a range of investment products, educational content, and a paper trading platform that enables investors to practice their strategies without risking real money.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Charles Schwab offers commission-free trading online for U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs. Options incur a $0.65 per contract fee. There are no minimums to open a brokerage account, and most maintenance fees are waived. A $25 service charge applies for broker-assisted trades.

• Investment Access: Schwab provides access to many investment vehicles, including U.S. and international stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds and options. It also offers fractional shares for S&P 500 companies, allowing beginners to invest with as little as $5.

• Platform Experience: The Schwab mobile app is accessible for beginners, allowing for easy account monitoring, mobile check deposits, fund transfers, and intuitive trading. The visual interface is a bit less modern than some new, mobile-only apps, but its functionality is strong. If you run into obstacles, Schwab’s 24/7 customer support is there to help.

• Tools/Education Highlights: The Schwab MoneyWise and Schwab Coaching programs provide articles, videos, webinars and interactive courses covering basic investing concepts, market insights and trading strategies. Paper money accounts allow beginners to practice trading with virtual money in a simulated live market environment. 

• Drawbacks: The app’s visual design is less sleek compared to some mobile-first competitors. The fractional share offering is limited to S&P 500 stocks, which is less expansive than some other brokers offer.  

Who It’s Best For: Investors who want personalized customer support and beginners who value extensive educational resources, the ability to practice trading with a paper account, comprehensive investment options and a reputable broker that can support them as they grow. 

SoFi Active Investing — Best for Integrated Financial Services

SoFi Active Investing’s intuitive mobile app is particularly appealing for beginning investors looking to consolidate their financial life because SoFi integrates banking, lending and other financial services in one, user-friendly app complemented by access to financial planners and customer support via phone and chat.

Key Features: 

• Fees: SoFi offers commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs and options contracts with no account minimums to open an investment account. There is a $100 IRA closing fee. A $25 inactivity fee applies if you don’t log in at least once every six months.

• Investment Access: Beginners can invest in a range of U.S. stocks and ETFs and can invest as little as $5 in fractional shares. SoFi also offers commission-free options trading and access to IPOs for its members. Rather than offering direct crypto trading, it offers exposure through Bitcoin exchange-traded products (ETPs). It also offers mutual funds. 

• Platform Experience: The SoFi mobile app’s user-friendly interface is designed for ease of navigation, allowing beginners to easily manage their investments, track spending and access various financial services all in one place.  

• Tools/Education Highlights: SoFi Learn covers stock market basics, investing strategies and financial planning topics. A perk for members is complimentary access to credentialed financial planners.. 

• Drawbacks: SoFi’s research tools are not as extensive as platforms like Fidelity or Charles Schwab, making it less ideal for investors who want to conduct detailed fundamental analysis in the app. 

Who It’s Best For: Beginners who appreciate the convenience of integrated financial services and access to financial planning advice on a simple, mobile-centric platform for commission-free stock and ETF investing.

eToro — Best for Social Trading

EToro’s user-friendly social trading feature allows new investors to copy the portfolios and trades of successful, more experienced investors within the app’s user network. With its intuitive interface and focus on community, eToro simplifies access to a range of assets, including stocks and ETFs, while offering customer support through its online help center and ticketing system.

Key Features: 

• Fees: Trading for real stocks and ETFs is commission-free, which is a major draw for beginners. For many other assets, such as forex, commodities and indices, it operates on a spread-only model, and overnight financing fees apply for CFD positions. There’s also a $5 withdrawal fee and currency conversion fees if your deposits or withdrawals are not in U.S. dollars. An inactivity fee of $10 per month applies after 12 months of no login activity.

• Investment Access: Investors get access to a range of instruments, including real stocks and ETFs from major global exchanges. The app offers a wide selection of CFDs on commodities, forex, indices and cryptocurrencies. Its Smart Portfolios and CopyTrader features are excellent for beginners, allowing them to invest in pre-built diversified portfolios or automatically replicate the trades of popular investors in eToro’s user network.

• Platform Experience: eToro’s intuitive mobile app has a social media-like interface, and its easy navigation makes it accessible for new users. The social feed encourages interaction and learning from other traders, while the CopyTrader functionality is simple to use even for investors with no trading experience.

• Tools/Education Highlights: eToro’s Trading Academy provides educational articles, videos and guides on market basics and different products. Its most significant educational aspect is its social community. Beginners can observe, interact with and learn directly from more experienced traders by viewing their portfolios and discussing strategies. A free $100,000 demo account is available for practicing trades without real money.

• Drawbacks: While eToro offers real stocks, a significant portion of its offerings are CFDs, which involve leverage and carry a high risk of losing more than your initial investment. The platform lacks advanced charting and in-depth analytical tools that more experienced traders may require. The withdrawal fee and potential currency conversion fees can also add to the overall cost.  

Who It’s Best For: Beginners and social investors who want a user-friendly mobile-first platform, are interested in learning by observing and copying experienced traders, and seek a simplified approach to investing in a variety of assets. 

Choosing the Best Mobile Stockbroker for Beginners

Embarking on your investment journey can be exciting, and choosing the right mobile stockbroker is a crucial first step. The platforms highlighted in this guide offer advantages for beginners. 

Robinhood provides simplicity, while Fidelity stands out for comprehensive support, extensive research and long-term growth potential. Charles Schwab excels with robust educational tools and strong customer service. For those who want integrated financial management along with investing, SoFi Active Investing is a great choice. EToro offers a social trading experience that allows beginners to learn by observing and copying seasoned traders. 

The best mobile broker for you will align with your investing style, whether you prioritize simplicity, extensive research, peer-to-peer learning or a holistic financial platform. Consider your goals, comfort level with technology and desired level of support to make an informed decision. 

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