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Fortunately for anyone who’s looking to get started in stock trading, it’s easier than ever to begin your investment adventure. In fact, with there being several great apps out there that you can trade on, signing up shouldn’t take too much time or effort at all.

Whether you’re an iPhone or Android user, or are using Mac or Windows, you’re likely to find that there are quite a few stock trading apps available to you. Anyone who wants to make the best selection for their needs should put some time and effort into checking out the best options around. If this is you, we’ve got a list of the top 8 apps on the market to get you started.

Best stock trading apps 

There may be plenty of apps that facilitate virtual trading these days, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all going to be safe and reliable. Here are some of the best picks for those hoping to get into stock investments from their smart devices: 

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1 Provider that match your filters

Payment methods

Features

Customer service

Classification

1or more

Mobile App

1or more

Fixed commissions per operation

1or more

Account Fee

1or more
FEATURED BROKER

Rating

Total Fees (for 12 months)
€ 64.41
What we like
  • 0% commissions on the purchase of shares
  • Friendly and easy-to-use platform
  • Highly regulated brokerage
Fixed commissions per operation
Account Fee
Mobile App
9/10
Features
Bonds Cfds Copy Portfolio Etfs Funds Krypto Robo Advisor Savings Plan Stocks
Payment methods
Credit Card Giropay Neteller Paypal Sepa Transfer Skrill Sofort
Total Fees (for 12 months)
€ 64.41

CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money quickly through leverage. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs from this provider.

Account Info

Account From
$50
Deposit fees
-
ETFS
150
Inactivity fees
21
Leverage
1:30
Operating margin
Yes
Minimum operation
$25
Stocks
2.000+
CFD Position
-
CFDS
-
Trading fees
-
Withdrawal fees
$5

Fees per operation

Bonds
ab 2 Pip
Cryptocurrencies
ab 0,09%
CFDS
-
DAX
0%
Copy Portfolio
-
ETFS
0%
CFD Position
-
Stocks
0%
Savings Plan
0%
Robo Advisor
ab 0,75%
Funds
0%

eToro 

Overall, as you’ll find in many other reviews online, eToro is generally best known for being one of the top stock trading platforms on the market. Whether you’re interested in having a broad range of stocks available to you, low fees, or a user-friendly interface, most of those who use eToro for their everyday trading needs will find that it’s got a lot going for it.

eToro further sets itself apart from the rest of the platforms out there with its Copy Trading feature, which essentially allows you to mimic the actions of a more successful, experienced trader than yourself. This is great news for those who’re new to the trading scene or those who’re not having much luck with their endeavours. If you’re not quite sure how to pick the right stocks and want a little assistance in trading, this is often the perfect solution.

VISIT ETORO

Don’t invest in crypto assets unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

Capital.com

Traders that choose to sign up to Capital.com will find that several things have helped this particular app to become one of the best options out there. Despite it being a fairly new platform compared to some of the others on this list, it has quickly established itself as one of the big players.

Looking a little closer into Capital.com, you’ll find that there are more than 4,000 stock CFDs (as well as many more assets), and some excellent trading tools to help make your life easier. For example, there’s the ability to utilise the platform’s AI-based trading suggestions, market analysis and much more to improve your chances of making the right investments.

There are a whole host of other attractive features that make Capital.com a worthy selection for both new and experienced users.   

Charles Schwab

If you’re looking for a trading platform with a considerable amount of trustworthy and accurate data available on hand for you to use, Charles Schwab could prove to be a great choice. Thanks to their incredible level of research and unique consultancy services, users of this app will have all the info they need to be able to make strong investment choices, whether they opt for traditional stocks or cryptocurrency.

Charles Schwab has two different apps; Schwab Mobile and StreetSmart Mobile. Defining your trading needs and doing a little research on each could help you to decide which will be the best one for you.

Fidelity

Dating back to 1995, Fidelity is a trading platform that has remained a profitable place for a wide range of investors, whether it’s thanks to their helpful educational resources, advanced trading tools, or simply the range of assets that are available for an attractive portfolio. From nearly 3,000 stocks, to fractional shares and ETFs; there’s a lot of variety on Fidelity.

They’re also known for being a cost-effective tool, offering low fees that won’t make too much of a dent in your investment endeavours.  

Vanguard

A wide range of investors opts to sign up to Vanguard because it’s incredibly affordable for those interested in index funds. In fact, the low fees have become such a prominent feature of this platform that they’ve risen quite a bit in popularity over the last few years. While good in many ways, its performance may leave a little to be desired – and it’s worth considering that the app isn’t quite as smooth and efficient as some of the others on this list.

Interactive Brokers  

While known for being a little more advanced (and often complex to use as a result), Interactive Brokers is a platform that you can’t skip when looking for an app that you can rely on. You’ll be able to make use of a variety of investment vehicles including forex, stocks, crypto and even bonds – and the fact that this platform aims to elevate the trading process for those with more experience in the industry only makes it more appealing.

While it’s not usually considered to be the best choice for those just starting, there’s no doubt that the functions and features of Interactive Brokers can go a long way for those wanting to take their investments to the next level.

IG

Another excellent application that we think you’ll find to be worthwhile is IG. Looking a little closer into this platform and its services, you’ll find that there are quite a few things that have helped IG to maintain its popularity since 1974. 

Here, you’ll have the option to trade in ETFs, CFDs, bonds, crypto, oil and much more, as well as over 10,000 equities and much, much more. While not usually talked about for being a cost-effective platform, it’s still a generally good site that’s well worth a second glance.

TD AmeriTrade

Another platform that you may find interesting if you’re looking for reliable analysis and data is TD AmeriTrade. For example, you’ll find research tools from the Centre for Financial Research and Analysis, as well as several other trustworthy sources. Of course, there’s more to this site than information; you can expect zero fees and a broad range of assets too, from Bitcoin futures to mutual funds. 

All in all, with so much to offer, most investors will find that TD AmeriTrade is an excellent choice.

Which one of these stock trading apps is the best?

Stock trading apps

With many options available, you may be unsure of which one will be ideal for your unique needs. Fortunately, we want to help you out with this, too. In general, it’s hard to definitively say that one platform outperforms another, but this is generally because most people will have different requirements and preferences for the tools they want to use.

For example, those who don’t have much experience in trading probably won’t find Interactive Brokers to be the ideal option. Similarly, those who want the most streamlined, user-friendly experience may not find a service like Vanguard to be quite as effective for their needs. The same goes for most platforms; they aren’t often designed to be a one size fits all deal, so it’s best to keep this in mind when looking for the perfect stock trading tools.

Understanding the features that’ll best suit your trading endeavours in specific, and the goals you hope to achieve, will give you the best possible chance when making a selection that’ll work for you and your money.

VISIT ETORO

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How do you choose the ideal stock trading app?

With all this in mind, what exactly do you need to consider when looking for a good app to trade stocks? Here are a couple of points that can be worth keeping in mind no matter what it is you’re interested in:

Ensure that your funds will be secure

While there are without a doubt a variety of factors to consider, this is arguably one of the most important. If you can’t trust that your money is safe, then a platform just isn’t worth using. Regardless of what features it may have, none of that will matter if you lose your assets to a hacker because of a lack of security. 

There are far too many people who have lost money and had their personal information stolen due to data breaches, so it really can be essential to make sure that you’ll be sufficiently protected on the platform you choose.

Decide what assets you want to trade

Many trading platforms today will not only have a whole host of stocks, but also several other assets for you to invest in. Because of this, it can be important to be aware of the potential investment opportunities that you could take advantage of, even if you’re not planning on using them just yet. From cryptocurrency, to mutual funds; there are simply so many considerations.

In most cases, those that have a broader range of options are generally a better choice, but that doesn’t mean that it’s something that will act as a deal-breaker for everyone. If you are only interested in trading one vehicle and know exactly what you want from your efforts, you could simply opt for the site that best caters to your needs. After all, apps that some may consider being limited could offer better fees or services for you in particular.

Compare the fees of different sites

If you are hoping to get into trading or even continue your efforts in the most cost-effective way possible, the on-running fees and charges associated with each platform can play a huge part in your decision. The costs that come with trading are essential to keep in mind, especially when using tools that could further cut into your profits. When you consider that most quality platforms will charge a commission for their services, it’s generally something that you won’t be able to avoid, so knowing the cheapest one can save you quite a bit of cash.

There are some good sites out there with minimal or even no fees – and while this doesn’t always lead to top-quality, it doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to keep your outgoings low. The best thing to do is take your time to research your options and make sure that you’re choosing the right site for you. Even if this means higher fees, the balance between successful trades and losses may just even out.

Find out how efficient the application is

The efficiency of a trading platform can often get overlooked when factors like fees take precedent. When user-friendliness and how easy a site is to navigate can all shape your overall experience, it’s actually rather important to choose a platform that you won’t have any issues using. Fortunately, most of the popular tools are well designed, although it’s still a good idea to find out what other users think before you go ahead and sign up. 

Choose the one with the right features 

Stock trading tools can be defined by the features that they provide to their users. Whether the Copy Trader on eToro takes your fancy or simply has the ability to make use of research tools as you trade with little fuss, there is generally a wide range of things you could take advantage of. Aside from these factors, here are just a few more examples of features that could help to make a trading platform even better:

  • The ability to make deposits and withdrawals in an instant, whenever you want
  • Having access to global markets through your trading app
  • Regulation from a trusted financial authority

Consider the devices the app is supported on

For the most part, you’ll find that web-based platforms are going to be accessible on pretty much any device you use. Even so, there are platforms that have great apps on iOS and/or Android, and it can be worth looking into these if you’re interested in the convenience that they can provide over traditional websites. While this isn’t necessarily a top priority, most of us have our smart devices at hand, so it’s a good idea to keep apps in mind.

On a similar note, accessibility is essential too. Not all platforms are available around the globe and it’s always best to make sure that you’re choosing a site that you’ll be able to make your investments on without having to deal with any legal, location-based issues in the process.

Do a background check

Last but not least, we’d encourage you to do a background check on any of the platforms you’re considering using. There are far too many scams out there for you to be walking into investments without first taking caution. While the apps we mentioned earlier are all trusted and used by many individuals, it could still be worth taking the time to do your own research to make sure that you know exactly what you’re getting into.

VISIT ETORO

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Do you need a stock trading app?

Anybody who’s hoping to get into stock trading will need to have a way to access the right markets – and these applications tend to be one of the best ways for practically anyone to do so. This is one of the main reasons why these tools have become so popular; without them, stock trading just wouldn’t be the same.

Of course, some factors can help to make individual ones more efficient than others, and the premise of being able to access the stock markets and trade is always going to be one of the most vital aspects. In any case, if you want to trade stocks, you’re going to want to make sure that you choose the right tools for your needs. Generally speaking, these apps have been created to cater to users in this niche.

Is it easy enough to get started?

Trading stocks

Fortunately, most of the platforms we mentioned above are just perfect for those who want to start trading stocks without any hassle, as most are incredibly easy to sign up to. In fact, here are the 3 steps that you’ll typically need to follow for any platform you choose:

Step 1: Create your account

In most cases, the first step is simply to sign up. It’s often easy to do, with most platforms only asking for information like your first and last name, phone number and email address. Some may want a little more to confirm your identity, like your home address and date of birth, but the info won’t be too invasive and can take just a few minutes to implement.

Step 2: Make a deposit

When you have an account and have the app on your device ready to use, you can make your deposit. Again, this isn’t usually something that will be too complicated. Some platforms may have different payment methods, so it’s worth considering which ones will be simplest for you. Most will also have a minimum deposit amount, so keep this in mind.

Step 3: Get started

While you could head over to the demo trader first (as long as the platform has this feature of course), you could just as easily begin investing in stocks from here. Most platforms will have a button somewhere that’s easy to see, so getting up and running will be a few clicks away.

Each website/app is going to be different, but the general sign-up process tends to be similar. If things do vary however, the whole process should be straightforward enough; after all, platforms want your custom and shouldn’t make you jump through hoops.

VISIT ETORO

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Final thoughts on stock trading apps

While not all investors are looking to trade on their mobile phone or tablet, having the option can certainly be worth considering. Whether you’re interested in a web-based platform or one with a dedicated app, it’s worth taking the time to make sure that you’re choosing the ideal tools for your needs. The more effort you put in, the more likely you are to end up with a result that you’re happy with. 

With our tips for choosing the right stock trading tools and our list of the top platforms, we hope that you will have all the tools you need to make a profitable choice.

FAQ

Can I make real money with stock trading apps?

You’ll find that you can make real money on any reputable platforms that offer access to the stock market – it’s typically the same as using an online brokerage in that regard. All you’ll need to do is make an account, deposit some money and then choose the vehicles that you feel will be the most profitable for investments.

Which stock apps have the lowest fees?

There is a broad range of affordable platforms out there, but most will find that eToro is an excellent one for its low costs. While they will all be solid platforms for investors to sign up to in terms of fees, there’s no doubt that a tool like eToro will be a great first choice.

How should a beginner buy stocks?

Your journey will differ depending on what it is you want from trading. Even so, the best place to start is usually with research. Learn more about the different tools, the types of stocks that you could invest in and the other assets you may be able to put your money into down the line, as a few examples. The more you know, the more prepared you will be throughout your endeavours.

How much should I invest in stocks per month?

While the amount will vary from one person to another, many financial planners out there recommend starting out with around 10% of your annual income. Of course, you should never invest more than you can afford to lose, so always take your unique situation and needs into consideration first.

Can you make a living off of stocks?

It’s important to consider that trading isn’t always the easiest way to make money. In many instances, it’s thought of as a profession and takes some significant effort to be consistently successful. There’s no doubt that it could become a full-time career or be used to supplement your income, but you need to put in the time and resources to make sure that you can do it properly.