Last updated Feb. 27, 2024 | By FinanceBuzz Editors
As technology advances, so do day-to-day processes. If you’re new to investing or have been with the same brokerage for years, you probably missed a huge jump forward in online investing.
We’ve put together a list of platforms that are completely changing the way we think about investing. These user-friendly platforms can guide you through purchasing whole or fractional shares, and grant you access to assets that were previously out of reach for everyday investors.
Weigh your options, then choose the one that’s right for you.
Invest in Apple, Tesla, or Amazon for just $1
Once you’ve paid all your essential monthly bills, take a look at what’s left in your bank account and come up with an investing strategy. Even if it’s not a lot of money, don’t let that stop you – you can start investing with just $1.
Stash is a great place for beginning investors to get started. You can invest in fractional shares (partial shares) in companies that are household names like Apple, Tesla, and Amazon. A single share of some companies could cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, but with fractional shares you can invest with as little as $1.
If you're thinking about saving for retirement, you can start investing in an IRA and enjoy the tax benefits that come with retirement accounts. Stash also offers tools and guidance to help you along the way.
As a bonus, Stash will give you $20 towards your first investment after you sign up and deposit $5 or more into your personal portfolio.1
Sign up for Stash now
Paid Non-Client Promotion
FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)
Get a free stock valued between $5 to $200
Robinhood is a great option for both new traders and seasoned investors.
With Robinhood it’s completely free to buy and trade stocks, options, and more. All trading is commission-free with no account minimums or maintenance fees. They’ll even give you a free stock in a company like Apple, Sprint, or Ford.
Sign up using the link below and Robinhood will add 1 free share of stock (valued between $5 to $200) to your account when your brokerage application is approved.
Sign up for Robinhood now
Build passive income with shares of rental homes
Secret: You don’t have to be an Airbnb host to build passive income with rental properties.
Ark7 is a new way of building wealth by investing in high-quality, professionally managed rental properties … without having to buy the whole property yourself.
Sign up for free here and make sure you confirm your email so you get access to the properties. Then, simply choose properties you like and invest in shares of them. The investment minimum is $20. Of course, the more you invest, the more earning potential you have.
Ark7 investors have earned 5%+ annualized distributions from monthly income alone2. If applicable, you’ll receive monthly distributions straight to your account.
Get started
Invest in “cash flow” properties for as little as $500
Rental properties can be a powerful source of cash flow. But what if you don’t want to buy (or manage) entire rental properties?
Thanks to recent advances in investment tech and legal, it’s now possible.
CalTier gives you access to cash-flowing commercial real estate starting with as little as $500.3 These “cash flow” properties are alternative investments that fall outside of the stock market and are not always available to retail investors.
Where your money goes: Your investment is spread across a portfolio of cash-flowing apartment buildings, either directly or as fractional investments with CalTier’s real estate partners.
How you get paid: CalTier with their partners manages the buildings for you. When applicable, you’re paid directly to your bank account from the potential income generated by the portfolio in proportion to your share ownership in the fund.
Ultimately, CalTier is a powerful tool that can help you get started in the world of cash flow real estate … all for a fraction of what it would cost to buy an entire property yourself.
Get started with as little as $500
Paid Non-Client Promotion
FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)
Get $20 to Start Investing
Stash Benefits
- Get $20 to make your first investment4
- Invest in stocks, bonds, and ETFs
- Fractional shares available
- Start investing with just $5
Paid Non-Client Promotion
FinanceBuzz doesn’t invest its money with this provider, but they are our referral partner. We get paid by them only if you click to them from our website and take a qualifying action (for example, opening an account.)
How we chose these products
FinanceBuzz evaluated a selection of investment products offered by our partners, looking at various criteria including product features, fees, and more. We did not review all products in the category and compensation was considered when evaluating and ordering the products.
FinanceBuzz is not an investment advisor. This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
FAQs
Best Investing Apps 2024
| Title | Fees | Min. deposit |
|---|
| Sofi Invest | $0 stock & ETF trades. 0/contract options trades. 1.25% crypto fee. | $0 |
| Stash | $3 or $9 monthly fee | $0 |
| Public App | $0 stock & ETF trades. 1.25% crypto fee. | $0 |
| Plynk Invest | $0 stock & ETF trades. $0 mutual fund trades. 0.50% crypto fee. | $0 |
8 more rowsMar 20, 2024
Best investing apps to help you make money
- Betterment – Best app for automated investing.
- Invstr – Best app for education.
- Acorns – Best app for saving.
- Wealthbase – Best app for trading games and contests.
- Wealthfront – Best app for portfolio management.
- Fidelity Investments – Best app for managing money all-in-one.
Choosing Between Webull and Robinhood
Along with its low-cost products, Webull offers extended hours of trading, free real-time quotes, Nasdaq market data, and 24/7 customer support. Robinhood is best for active investors wanting access to the platform's beta NFT platform and web3 wallet.
What is the best app for stocks for beginners? ›
Best Trading Apps for 2024: Fees and Features,
| Trading Apps | Top Features | Trading charges |
|---|
| Zerodha Kite | Possesses every possibility for stock trading | Rs.20 |
| Angel One | Quick stock purchases and sales | Rs.20 |
| Upstox App | Ideal for immediate investment | Rs.20 |
| Groww App | Ideal for Novices | 0.05% or Rs.20(whichever is lower) |
6 more rowsHere are the best low-risk investments in April 2024:
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Money market funds.
- Short-term certificates of deposit.
- Series I savings bonds.
- Treasury bills, notes, bonds and TIPS.
- Corporate bonds.
- Dividend-paying stocks.
- Preferred stocks.
Investments That Can Potentially Return 10% or More
- Stocks.
- Real Estate.
- Private Credit.
- Junk Bonds.
- Index Funds.
- Buying a Business.
- High-End Art or Other Collectables.
Our picks at a glance
| Investment app | Tradable asset classes | Robo-advisory option |
|---|
| Webull | 6 | Yes |
| Firstrade | 6 | No |
| SoFi | 5 | Yes |
| Ally Invest | 5 | Yes |
5 more rowsApr 16, 2024
Mobile investing platforms are popular because they make the investing process easier and less expensive. But gamification and other features can also result in more emotional decisions and day-trading-like behavior.
Which is better stockpile vs Robinhood? ›
Both companies offer commission-free trades for both stocks and ETFs. If you're looking for the best options trading platforms, Stockpile won't work for you, but Robinhood might. Stockpile doesn't allow you to trade options at all, while Robinhood provides options trading with no contract fees.
What is the downside to Webull? ›
Cons. As is consistent with smaller investment brokerage apps, the available assets are limited. No access to bonds, mutual funds, cryptocurrency or foreign exchange. Only accounts worth $25,000 or more have access to unlimited day trading.
Webull offers investors access to initial public offerings (IPOs), as well as over-the-counter (OTC) stocks for an additional commission. That puts it ahead of some brokers in terms of the capabilities of its trading platform — but behind those that offer free OTC stock trades.
Does Webull have a monthly fee? ›
Both Webull and Robinhood market themselves as commission-free and fee-free brokers. They largely live up to that promise. You won't pay a commission for buying stocks, ETFs, options trading, or cryptocurrencies with either brokerage firm. Neither charges account maintenance fees.
What is the most used app for stocks? ›
Most online brokerages and trading apps offer stocks as an investment option. Depending on your level of expertise, personal preferences, and investment goals, the best trading apps for stocks can vary. Some of the best stock trading apps for beginners include Robinhood, SoFi, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab.
How much should a beginner put in the stocks? ›
“Ideally, you'll invest somewhere around 15%–25% of your post-tax income,” says Mark Henry, founder and CEO at Alloy Wealth Management. “If you need to start smaller and work your way up to that goal, that's fine. The important part is that you actually start.”
Is Vanguard worth investing in? ›
Leader in low-cost funds: The company has a solid reputation for the well-below-average expense ratios on its index funds and exchange-traded funds. For long-term investors looking to pair a buy-and-hold strategy with the lowest-cost offerings, it's hard to beat the service and selection found with Vanguard.
Will it be better to buy a car in 2024? ›
"2024 is probably the best year since the pandemic to buy a new car," Mark Schirmer, director of industry insights at Cox Automotive, told ABC News. "2021 and 2022 were really difficult years. Dealers are talking about discounts again ... this was not happening 18 months ago.
How will the car market be in 2024? ›
With higher supply and lower prices, new-vehicle sales in 2024 are expected to gain over 2023, but market growth will be constrained, with an increase of less than 2% expected and the market new-vehicle market reaching sales of 15.7 million1 sales.
What investment vehicle has the highest return? ›
The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns, however, come with higher risk. Stock prices typically are more volatile than bond prices.
What is the outlook for the automotive industry in 2024? ›
The automotive supply chain will likely never look like it did pre-pandemic, but inventory levels generally recovered in 2023 and are expected to continue doing so in 2024 and 2025. Car prices remain elevated in 2024 due to inflation but are showing initial signs of decreasing as inventory stabilizes.
