The 10 Best Stock Trading Apps For 2023

In this guide, we discuss the best stock trading apps in 2023. These are massively popular among both retail and institutional investors because of such factors as their affordability, accessibility, and support for fractional trading.

Throughout this guide, we will explore these apps’ key features and tell you what makes each stand out. We will also introduce you to the most important factors to consider when vetting the best stock trading apps and provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to buy your first stock via one of the most popular stock trading apps.

Here is the outline of what our analysts and the majority in the stock investing and trading space consider the 10 top stock trading apps in 2023.

 

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

In the next section, we discuss these top stock investing apps in detail. We tell you about their key features, why they rank among the most popular stock trading apps today, and why you, too, may consider investing in stocks using either.

The Best Stock Trading Apps In 2023 Reviewed

When vetting these stock apps and coming up with our list of the best stock investing apps, we considered such factors as their ease of use. We also examined the cost of trading on each platform, beginner-friendliness, supported research and trading/investing tools, and customer support.

Ultimately, we settled on the following as the best stock investing apps for 2023. Here is an overview of their key features and how they work:

1. eToro – Overall Best Stock Trading App 2023

eToro is one of the most popular multi-regulated stock trading apps in the world, licensed by such tier-1 agencies as SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, and CySEC. It is also one of the most reputable and has been around since 2007. Here, you get to invest in thousands of US and international stocks commission-free. You will also have the option of investing in actual stocks or trading stock CFDs.

But access to a wide range of stocks isn’t the only reason why we consider eToro the best stock investing app. Others include its user-friendliness, as evidenced by its straightforward client onboarding process and highly intuitive user interface. We also feature it here because of its affordability seeing that you only need $10 to start trading stocks. Further, the online broker charges 0% commission and maintains highly competitive spreads for stock CFDs (available to non-US clients).

The broker also makes it here because it is a multi-asset trading platform. In addition to stocks, you can trade cryptos, commodities, forex, ETFs, and indices on the eToro app. But even more importantly, it has morphed into one of the most popular stock trading apps because of its support for social and copy trading.

Social trading allows for free interactions between investors/traders, while copy trading lets you earn passively when you copy winning trade strategies of highly successful stock traders. You could also copy smart portfolios if you are looking for a more diversified approach to stock investing.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

2. Schwab – Best Stock Trading App for User-Friendliness

The Schwab app makes it to our basket of the best stock apps for 2023 because of its ease of use. Though it may take a few days to have your brokerage account approved, the registration process is smooth and straightforward. The app is also easily navigable, which makes it appealing to beginner stock traders/investors.

Other factors that make Schwab one of the most popular stock trading apps include its affordability. It, for instance, doesn’t maintain a minimum deposit limit. It also supports fractional share trading/investing, and you can start buying these with as little as $5. Schwab also lets you trade/invest in thousands of both US-listed and international stocks. The online brokerage will not charge you a commission for the US stocks, while the international stocks attract highly competitive fees.

We also liked Schwab because of its trading app’s innovativeness. It, for instance, features a wide range of highly advanced market analysis and risk management tools. It even has an integrated intelligent assistant, commonly referred to as a Robo advisor, which will execute trades on your behalf, actively manage the stock trading account, and provide price alerts.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

3. Fidelity – Best Stock App for Fractional Trading

Fidelity investments trading app is one of the most popular and massively reputable online brokerages today. At the time of writing, for instance, the Fidelity app has a 4.8/5 star rating on Apple App Store after 1.9 million ratings. Much of this could be attributed to its reliability, affordability, security, and the app’s user-friendliness.

These are all some of the reasons why we feature Fidelity Investments in our list of the best stock trading apps today. Others include the fact that it maintains some of the lowest trade minimums for fractional traders. For starters, Fidelity has no minimum initial deposit minimums. And you can own/trade even the most expensive stocks with as little as $1.

Additionally, the online brokerage doesn’t charge a commission when you buy US-listed stocks on the platform. International stocks listed on the platform will, however, have attractive variable but competitive trading fees.

We also list it here because it is a multi-asset trading platform. In addition to stocks, you can invest in or trade bonds, ETFs, options, and mutual funds on the platform. We must also add that in addition to the self-directed standard account, you can also trade different types of accounts – including such IRA accounts as Roth, Traditional, and Rollover. It even has a comparison tool to help you determine the account that works best for you.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

4. TradeStation – Great Stock Trading App for Advanced Tools and Technology

TradeStation is a premier stock trading and investing mobile app that stands out because of its innovativeness. It gives all its platform users access to a growing range of powerful analysis and trade execution tools. These range from real-time streaming quotes and indicators, price alerts, charting, and risk management tools. You even have access to a free demo account for practice trading and strategy testing.

But this isn’t the only reason why we include TradeStation in our basket of the best stock trading apps in 2023. We also list it here because it is a multi-regulated stock investing platform with a solid reputation for reliability and affordability. These are evidenced by the fact that the online brokerage is licensed in the US, doesn’t have a minimum deposit limit, and charges 0% commission for stock trades.

TradeStation’s other unique features include the fact that it is a multi-asset trading platform offering cryptos, indices, futures, and options alongside stocks. It is also rich in educational material and guides for beginner stock investors. Plus, it has a sister-but-standalone app – the FuturesPlus app – dedicated to futures trading.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

5. SoFi – Best App for Automated and Zero-Commission Stock Trading

SoFi is, at its core, a personal finance management platform. But it still features prominently on our list of the most popular stock trading apps because it combines banking services and investing. Through the app, you can invest in or trade thousands of US-listed stocks at a 0% commission. The app will also let you participate in upcoming stock IPOs and invest in such other assets as cryptocurrencies.

The process of setting up a SoFi trader account is quick and straightforward. It doesn’t even maintain a minimum initial deposit. It supports fractional trading, and you can start investing in US stocks with as little as $5.

One of SoFi’s most outstanding qualities, however, is its trade/investment automation feature. This refers to an algorithm that takes into account such factors as your investing goals and risk tolerance. It then comes up with an investing strategy and starts creating an investment portfolio. You can then automate how much of your savings are directed to this portfolio and the regularity of such deposits.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

6. E*Trade – Best Stock Trading App for Long-Term Stock Investing  

E*Trade is the investing app of the highly reputable and multi-regulated Morgan Stanley Bank. It also makes it our index of the best stock trading apps for 2023 primarily because of its appeal to long-term stock investors. It has become especially popular with investors looking to open Beneficiary, Rollover, Roth, and Traditional IRA retirement accounts.

The E*Trade account opening process is straightforward and gives you access to two account types – the self-directed investment account and managed brokerage account. The self-directed account has no minimum deposit limit and charges no brokerage commission when buying US-listed stocks. The app even features a host of educational resources and guides dedicated to beginner traders.

To open a managed brokerage account, however, you will need to make a minimum $500 deposit. You will also have to pay an annual management fee of 0.30% for the account. Note, however, that neither stock investing account supports fractional trading. They, nevertheless, feature a wide range of penny stocks which helps them retain appeal among beginner stock traders.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

7. Ally Invest – Great Stock App to Trade ETFs Commission Free

Like SoFi, Ally Invest is a financial services platform-cum investing app. It, too, offers a mix of both personal finance services like savings and lending but also supports stock trading. Unlike SoFi, however, Ally Invest doesn’t support fractional trading, which places some expensive but highly lucrative S&P 500 stocks listed on the brokerage app out of reach for retail investors.

Ally Invest, however, addresses this by supporting a growing range of penny and affordable stocks. Furthermore, Ally Invest is a multi-asset brokerage app supporting such other instruments as ETFs, options, bonds, and mutual funds.

Other factors that make Ally Invest one of the most popular stock trading apps today include its innovativeness, affordability, and stellar client service. It, for instance, has the automated investing feature, best known as the Ally Invest Robo portfolios – which features four pre-determined and tax-optimized investing strategies.

The self-directed account has no minimum deposit limit, but the Robo-advisors require a $100 minimum deposit. Both stock investing accounts, however, do not charge a brokerage commission when you buy US-listed stocks. And lastly, Ally Invest maintains a highly accessible and responsive customer service team – both online and offline.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

8. Robinhood – Best Low-Cost Stock Trading App

Robinhood is one of the most popular online brokerage accounts in the US. Much of this is attributable to its low cost and user-friendliness – thanks to its easily navigable user interface. By low cost, we mean that the broker doesn’t charge a commission for all the financial instruments supported on the platform, which include stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, it too supports fractional trading and will let you buy any of the listed financial instruments with as little as $1.

There are two types of trading accounts available on Robinhood – standard and gold accounts. The onboarding process for either is quick and straightforward, and it takes less than 10 minutes to open a verified Robinhood account. Additionally, both do not have a minimum initial deposit and list thousands of both US and international stocks. The maximum you can deposit into a standard account instantly is, however, capped at $1000.

The Gold account is subscription-based – at $5 per month. It gives you access to all the perks of the standard account and such other additional benefits as no maximum limit on instant deposits. It also gives you access to advanced research and market analysis tools, as well as margin trading facilities.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

9. WeBull – Start Investing in Stock with as Little as $5

WeBull is a highly reputable online brokerage- regulated by both the SEC and FINRA. It is also massively popular among both retail stock traders/investors and long-term investors. This could be attributed to its affordability and its support for different IRA retirement accounts. It could also be attributed to WeBull’s ease of use and the fact that it is a multi-asset brokerage – supporting stocks, options, and ETFs.

WeBull doesn’t maintain a minimum initial deposit for either the general account or IRAs. It also supports fractional trading, allowing you to own even the most expensive stock with as little as $5. Further, the broker doesn’t charge a commission when you buy US-listed stocks on the platform. International stocks will, however, attract variable but highly competitive trading fees.

Other factors that help WeBull feature among the best stock trading accounts in 2023 include the innovativeness of its trading platform. It, for example, integrates highly advanced research and charting tools and even lets you trade full after-market hours. Not forgetting that it has one of the most responsive customer support teams available online and on the phone.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

10. TD Ameritrade – Best App for Trading Stock Options

TD Ameritrade is the sister app for the equally popular stock investing app and platform – ThinkorSwim. Several factors, especially that it doesn’t support fractional trading and limited educational content (in comparison to ThinkorSwim), earned it the professional investor’s app tag. Most recently, it was acquired by Charles Schwab – in a move that only served to fuel its popularity and cement its reputation.

Several factors help TD Ameritrade make it to our list of the best stock trading app. These include its easy-to-use trading interface that also integrates a wide range of advanced technical analysis and research tools. We also include it here because it gives its users access to thousands of both US-listed and international stocks. The US stocks can be traded at 0% commission but investing in overseas stocks attracts competitive fees.

Additionally, TD Ameritrade has no minimum initial deposit limit. And even though it doesn’t support fractional share ownership, the brokerage gives you access to thousands of penny and other affordable stocks. Not forgetting that, like most other brokerages we have discussed here, TD Ameritrade maintains a highly responsive customer support team – available online and on-phone.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

What To Look For In The Best Stock Trading Apps 2023

Hereinabove, we have discussed what we consider the 10 top stock trading apps today. But how do you decide if one is the best for you? What factors should you consider when vetting these and more trading apps and finding the best for you?

We tell you of a few stock trading must-haves here:

• Regulation and reputation: It is important that you only register with a regulated and highly reputable stock trading app. Check their user reviews about such critical factors as customer service, reliability, execution speeds, and the overall user experience.
• Cost of trading: When assessing the cost of trading on an app, check such factors as the commissions, spreads, and non-trading fees maintained by the app.
• User-friendliness: Your preferred stock trading app should have an intuitive interface that appeals to other beginner and professional investors.
• Security: Check the security measures imposed by the stock trading app around access to the app and your confidential personal and financial information. 
• Deposit/trading minimums: Check if the stock trading app has minimum/maximum deposit limits, check if they support your preferred payment methods, and confirm if they support fractional share ownership.
• Premium services: It is also important that your preferred stock trader app integrates such premium services as advanced trading/research tools and margin facilities.

How To Use A Stock Trading App For Beginners - Step-by-Step Guide

You now understand what to look for in a good stock trading app. We have also introduced you to some of the best mobile apps for stock investing. Here, we will teach you how to invest in stocks and buy your first stock via a mobile app via one of the most popular mobile investing apps – eToro.

Step 1: Register a stock trader account

Download the eToro app and choose to create a new trader account. Complete the registration form that pops up by keying in your personal information, including your name, address, country, and email address. It will also ask about your trading experience and income sources.

Step 2: Verify identity

Since eToro is a multi-regulated stock investing platform, it is required by law to verify the identity of its platform users. The brokerage app will, therefore, ask that you verify your identity by uploading a copy of your driving license or passport.

Step 3: Fund your trader account

Log in to the approved trader account and click the ‘Deposit Funds’ icon. From the list of supported payment options, choose and follow the prompts to make your first initial deposit - a minimum of $10.

Step 4: Start buying stocks 

On your user dashboard, click on the ‘Discover’ icon to reveal the supported trade instruments. Choose stocks and from the list of find preferred shares to trade/invest in from the list of supported stocks. Use the trading to customize the trade by indicating either the number of sticks you wish to buy or the amount you wish to spend on the stocks.

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Conclusion - Best Stock Trading Apps

There goes everything you need to know about the best stock trading apps in 2023. Here, we have discussed what our analysts and the majority of stock traders and investors consider the most useful brokerage apps. We have explored their features and pointed out some of their most outstanding features.

We have also told you of the factors that you need to consider when looking for a stock investing app that works for you. These include the app and brokerage firm’s reputation, the security measures put in place around both the app and your personal data, the app’s user-friendliness, and the cost of trading.

If you are looking to start investing in or trading stocks, follow the above step-by-step guide that teaches you how to start buying the best stocks via the eToro app.

eToro – Top Stock App Broker

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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