We have chosen the best apps for investors and traders. These apps offer the most useful features to maintain your investment goals and easily manage your portfolio.
Top Apps for Mobile Trading 2024
These mobile trading apps have been selected based on their ease of use, helpful features, trading efficiency, and management tools. If you will be joining the prosperous world of online trading, then be sure to consider any of the options listed below.
This is our selection…
- eToro
- AvaTrade
- IQ Option
- tastyworks
- Ally Invest
- Trading 212
- Acorns
- TD Ameritrade
- Fidelity
- Webull
- Robinhood
- e*Trade
- Merrill Edge
eToro
eToro is generally considered the leading social trading and investment app. eToro has become such a popular app thanks to its many attractive features.
You can trade multiple assets from this platform, and users pay 0% commission on stocks and competitive trading fees.
There is also free insurance and excellent fund protection. eToro is particularly well-loved for its social trading features. The app allows you to copy the moves of other successful investors for those wanting to learn from experts.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| The app offers a really large trading community | Customer support could be improved |
| A multi-asset platform | Some fees are quite high |
| You pay 0% commission fees on stocks and competitive trading | |
| You can set your account to copy top traders | |
| Offers a diverse and easily accessible investment experience |
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. {etoroCFDrisk}% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply. For more information, visit etoro.com/trading/fees.
eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs, only real Crypto assets available.
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is one of the best due to its attractive bonus system. The more money you invest, the greater your trading bonus is.
The app offers a wide selection of financial instruments and plenty of helpful trader insights. You can trade forex, CFD, cryptocurrencies, and trade over various platforms.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| AvaTrade offers lucrative bonus options for more money being invested | High fees for inactivity |
| Offers various trading platforms | The platform only offers CFDs, forex, and cryptocurrency |
| You get access to many helpful insights and tools | |
| Excellent live support is offered | |
| Easy to open an account and start trading |
IQ Option
This is one of the best apps for anyone wanting to trade forex, stocks, cryptocurrency, ETFs, and digital options trading.
IQ Option is easy to get started on. You can use the platform to join a huge network of global traders and choose between multiple systems to withdraw and deposit funds. The minimum deposit amount on IQ Option is $10.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Offers an exclusive product called digital options trading | Trading competitions are only available for traders outside of the EU |
| Has a massive user base | |
| Regulated by CySec | |
| Relatively low minimum deposit amount |
tastyworks
Tastyworks offers an innovative trading software solution that can be utilized by beginners through to experienced investors.
You can follow other successful traders for inspiration, and enjoy low rates and commissions. Tastyworks offers numerous special offers and unique products.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Low trading fees | The product selection is limited |
| Access to great information on trading | Deposit and withdrawal options |
| Useful research tools | |
| Straightforward to get started |
Ally Invest
Ally makes automated investing an easy process. You can enjoy commission-free trading with Ally Invest self-directed trading.
This platform offers automated, managed portfolios. Ally also offers a wider range of financial services, including home loans, personal loans, checking and savings, auto loans, and savings tools.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| No monthly fees | Ally is more of a bank and less a dedicated trading app |
| Offers great savings tools | |
| A versatile online bank |
Trading 212
Trading 212 is great for beginners due to its easy virtual trading mode for practicing. All you need is $1 to start investing with Trading 212, so it really is easy for new investors.
You can trade in global stocks and ETFs while enjoying $0 commissions and fees, as well as no foreign exchange fees. You also get access to great data and investing tools – including an AutoInvest option.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Low trading fees | Limited trading options are available |
| Quick and easy account opening | |
| User-friendly for beginner traders |
Acorns
Acorns specializes in micro-investing and robo-investing. This is an all-in-one tool for retirement, investment checking, and more.
Acorns is easy to use, and the platform offers smart portfolios designed by experts to match your needs. Acorns has low monthly fees and insightful savings tools.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Monthly fees start at $1 | Limited account options available |
| You can automatically invest spare change | |
| Great savings tools and money tips | |
| Access smart, expert-designed portfolios |
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade is a versatile online trading platform that is great for long-term investing and retirement planning.
You can trade in common stocks, preferred stocks, futures contracts, exchange-traded funds, forex, options, cryptocurrency, mutual funds, fixed income investments, margin lending, and cash management services.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Commission-free stock, ETF, and options trades | Trading is only available on the US markets |
| Great customer support | Most accounts are limited to US residents |
| No minimum deposit |
Fidelity
Fidelity is a multinational financial services corporation. Their trading and brokerage services allow you to trade virtually anywhere and anytime.
You can invest in stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, and more. You can enjoy commission-free trades, fractional share trading, and use smart trading technology to help you to make better decisions.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Low commissions and fees | Not the easiest trading platform to navigate |
| Offers fractional share trading | Better suited for more experienced traders |
| Useful decision-making technology for easier trading | |
| Broad choice of investments available |
Webull
This is a mobile-first financial services company that offers commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and options.
Webull offers a customizable platform that supports full extended-hours trading. Webull offers individual brokerage accounts for managing assets, as well as an IRA account to save for retirement.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free stock, ETF, and options trading | Customer support and resources available |
| The app offers excellent, professional trading platforms | Limited trading portfolio |
| Easy and quick to open an account |
SoFi
SoFi is another mobile-first personal finance company that offers a wide range of financial products.
For investing, SoFi is a great app thanks to its free stocks and ETFs. Opening an account is a fully digitized procedure, and quality customer support is available.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free access to financial advisors | No tax-loss harvesting |
| Powerful automated investing | Only suitable for US investors |
| Wide range of low-cost investments available | |
| Automatic rebalancing | |
| Free management |
RobinHood
RobinHood is a commission-free stock trading and investment app that offers a good set of tools to make smart financial decisions. Robinhood offers trading in stocks and funds, options, gold, cash management, and cryptocurrency.
The app is simple to navigate and use, and appeals to beginners due to having no account minimums. Robinhood also comes with a debit card that allows you to access your funds from their fee-free ATMs.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Investing is easy and accessible | Simple trading platform |
| The app offers high-yield savings | |
| No account minimum | |
| No monthly fees |
e*Trade
This electronic trading platform is one of the best for beginners thanks to the easy-to-use tools and insightful guidance available.
You can trade common stocks, preferred stocks, futures contracts, exchange-traded funds, options, mutual funds, and fixed-income investments. e*Trade offers quality research tools and a very user-friendly mobile platform.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Free stock and ETF trading | Only trades on US markets |
| Other trading fees are low | Only bank transfers are available |
| Offers a large investment selection | |
| Good trading resources and guidance |
Merrill Edge
This versatile trading platform lets you take investing into your own hands, or invest under the guidance of an advisor.
Merrill Edge offers a range of investment accounts suitable for all kinds of goals. You get robust research features and attractive free trades. If you are a Bank of America customer, you can also enjoy easy integration.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Low trading fees | High commissions on mutual funds |
| Wide range of trading options available | High margin rates are charged |
| Great portfolio analysis tools available | A short-term redemption fee is charged on mutual funds sold within 90 days |
| Quality support systems |
What Are Trading Apps?
Trading apps offer an easy platform for online trading. The apps offer real-time market prices on stocks, commodities, forex, cryptocurrency, and more.
On top of this, these apps offer many useful features for traders to make use of. You can watch market trends, follow other investors, join investment communities, access support channels, and more.
It allows you to do all forms of investment and trading directly from your mobile device. All payments are made through the app, and a wide array of investment data and prices are presented.
How To Pick One?
Fees & Commissions
Of course, you will need to know how much the app will charge you on its fee and commission structure.
Some have $0 fees but higher commissions, and visa versa. Be sure to choose a system that works with your investment strategy.
This can seriously affect how much money you make over the long run.
Regulation
You should always look for a broker regulated by a trustworthy regulator.
Fully regulated brokers are more transparent, efficient, and secure to use.
Investment Options (Assets)
What are you able to invest in? Different apps offer a different range of investment opportunities. It is important to know how you want to invest, and where you want to put your money. This includes things like stocks, forex, cryptocurrency, mutual funds, and so on. Some apps allow you to have a widely varied portfolio, while others limit the number of assets you can invest in.
Order Execution
This is the process of finishing a trade (buying or selling) on the marketplace. The best apps are fast and efficient when it comes to order execution. You don't want to have to wait around for an order execution to complete.
Demo Accounts (Paper Trading)
Some have a demo feature that allows you to trade virtually in order to get a feel for the platform. This lets you trade with virtual money at real-time market prices.
You won't be able to make any profits doing this, but it allows new users to understand how to trade which makes it less risky compared to diving straight in with real money.
Usability
The platform should be clear, easy to navigate, and concise. Online trading can have many moving parts and considerations, so the usability of the app must offer a seamless trading experience.
Ease of Use
The usability of the platform is a huge deciding factor. This goes beyond just the ease of use, it also includes how effective the platform is. They should be tolerant of errors, easy to learn on, and provide useful tools for investors to utilize and progress. Usability needs to be a strong feature, as this is what the entire user experience is built around. The app should be designed with the user at the core.
Developers should think: how can we make this platform easy, engaging, and informative to use? User-friendly apps tick all of these boxes.
Features
You should look for features like watch lists, alerts, notifications, charting tools, and so on. This keeps you up to date with your portfolio and gives you more tools for making strong investment choices. These features also help to determine how easy the platform is to use.
Security
If you are putting your money into the app and trusting it with your financial moves, then you need to make sure that it is secure. All of the apps listed above offer a high level of security and trust. Just remember that investing always presents a risk. While you have the opportunity to make money, there is also the chance of losing money too.
Account Minimums
Some platforms have no account minimums while others may have a $100 minimum. You need to consider how much you plan on investing when choosing a platform in order to find one that meets your needs.
Customer Service
Customer service is essential, and should offer 24/7 customer service. With trading platforms, you will be doing numerous transactions through the app, so knowing that you have good customer support available can make a big difference.
Education
This is particularly important for beginner traders. Some offer useful resources and data for new traders. This allows you to make smarter investment decisions, and to learn more about how to invest.
Some apps don't offer these kinds of resources and require you to dive in and trade based on your own knowledge.
Research
Does the app allow you to research stocks and analyze different investment assets? The best apps offer some kind of qualitative research to help you make more informed investment decisions.
Trading Tools
The app should be able to provide signals to you when it is best to buy, sell, and understand market patterns and trends. Various helpful trading tools and data exist on different platforms. An example of this would be automated trading or allowing you to copy other successful traders’ moves.
Types of Orders
There are different types of orders available in stock trading. These include market orders, limit orders, stop-loss orders, and stop-limit orders. The best apps give you a wider option on the types of orders available to you.
How To Use a Trading App?
Trading apps offer a platform where you can directly trade at real-time market prices. You can buy and sell assets through the app, and manage your portfolio anytime from the app.
How Much Money Do I Need To Get Started?
This depends on the app you will be using. Some trading apps have an account minimum, where others allow you to get started on just $1.
What are Brokerage Accounts?
Also known as a securities account, this is a common investment account where you can buy and sell securities such as bonds, stocks, or mutual funds. A brokerage account holds these assets on behalf of the investor through a broker or bank.
