In the past, the majority of people who invested did so through the use of human stockbrokers who assisted them in the process of executing buy and sell orders. Trading stocks, bonds, and other securities online today requires very little work and can be started by virtually anyone.
Smartphones have rapidly become an integral part of daily life in a relatively short amount of time, and people are using them for an increasing variety of purposes when they are on the move. The majority of stockbrokers now provide clients with mobile trading applications that can be installed on their smartphones in order to facilitate stock transactions at any time, from any location.
There are a lot of different investing applications that major brokers provide, and most of them enable you accomplish the same things that you could do if you logged into your online account portal using a desktop or laptop computer. Simply said, they provide a mobile interface for accessing your account.
You could be interested in utilizing a stock trading app if you prefer to take an active role in managing your portfolio or if you like to make frequent moves with your money. Both of these tendencies are compatible with active trading.
We did research to determine which applications are the best available, taking into consideration aspects such as how simple they are to use, the amount of money that must be deposited before using them, and the costs associated with using them.
How Does an App for Trading Stocks Really Work?
Investing in stocks, bonds, ETFs, mutual funds, and other securities may all be done from your mobile device with the help of a stock trading app. You are able to make your decision on which app you want to use based on a few different criteria, such as the minimum account balance that is necessary, the fees that are charged by the app, and the investment alternatives that are accessible.
After you’ve determined which app best suits your needs, you may fund your account with real money and immediately begin trading. While searching for an app to invest your money with, it is recommended to look for ones that have minimal minimum balance requirements and low costs for investing.
How Much Capital Is Need to Start Using an Online Stock Trading App?
You may get started with very little capital required by using a number of different stock trading applications, including some of the ones on this list. Because some of them allow you to start investing with as little as one dollar, nearly everyone can open an account by utilizing an app.
How Should You Decide Which Stock Trading Software Is Right for You?
There are many different apps available for trading stocks, and they do not all cater to the same demographic of users.
Consider not just the costs and minimums associated with the account, but also the way in which you prefer to invest money and the type of investor that the app is geared for. An individual who is interested in passive investing should look for an app that focuses on mutual fund and exchange-traded fund investments. Those who are engaged in active trading could prefer a platform that is tailored to those who are interested in day trading derivatives.
Are There Any Risks Involved While Using Stock Trading Apps?
Yes. The vast majority of apps are provided by big brokerage firms and allow you to perform the same actions that you could perform by collaborating with a real-life broker or by using your personal computer. Simply said, they make it easier to make investments even when you’re on the move.
You should only invest money that you can afford to lose since you should always keep in mind that there is some level of risk involved with any form of investing.
Methodology
Our readers can count on us to provide them with reviews and ratings of online brokers that are objective, thorough, and comprehensive. Our reviews are the culmination of several months’ worth of research and analysis into every facet of an online broker’s platform.
These aspects include the user experience, the quality of trade executions, the products that are available on the platform, the costs and fees, the level of security, the mobile experience, and customer service. A rating scale was constructed based on these parameters, collecting thousands of data points that were weighed into a scoring system.
Trading options involves taking on a considerable level of risk and is not suitable for all types of investors. There is an increased level of danger associated with certain intricate choice methods. Please make sure you have read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options before engaging in any option trading. In the event that it is applicable, substantiating material for any claims will be made available upon request.
The Top Mobile Trade Applications of 2023
TD Ameritrade Mobile
We selected TD Ameritrade Mobile as our top overall trading app for a few reasons.
First is the convenience of utilizing it, both in terms of the user experience while you’re in the app and making trades, and for the cheap fees and minimums. You are not required to pay a minimum deposit in order to open an account with TD, and the majority of trades do not result in any commissions or other fees being charged. The software itself is elegant and straightforward to use, making it simple to access and manage your account.
The TD Ameritrade Mobile app also provides a significant amount of helpful educational content that you may utilize to educate yourself on the subject of trading. Your account comes with free access to online courses that help you learn about different investing topics.
You may open practically any form of investing account with TD Ameritrade, from a standard brokerage account to a trust account, which is yet another advantage of this online broker. You only need to download one app in order to quickly manage all of your investments, regardless of their purpose.
Pros:
- Many sorts of accounts are available.
- Comprehensive educational resources and instructional sessions
- There are no required opening deposits for a regular account.
- There are no commissions charged on most trades.
Cons: There is no option to invest in fractional shares
Fidelity
One of the top brokers in the world, Fidelity manages assets worth more than $10 trillion and is one of the largest brokerage firms in the world. A number of factors contributed to its inclusion in our list of the best trading apps.
One benefit is that you can simply handle all of your investing needs within the app itself, which is a huge time saver. The organization allows you to open a variety of accounts, including regular brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, 529 plans and other forms of education savings plans, and other sorts of accounts. No matter why you’re putting money away, Fidelity should be able to assist you in some way.
Trading is also made simple for novice investors by Fidelity. To invest in Fidelity’s mutual funds, you are not required to maintain a minimum balance, nor do you need to invest a certain amount of money. You can even develop a diverse portfolio without having to pay any investment fees with the help of the firm’s zero-expense-ratio index funds, which are offered by the company.
Trading individual equities is made simple with this software, should that be your trading strategy of choice. Also, you can invest in thousands of equities or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with as little as one dollar by trading fractional shares.
PRos:
- Many sorts of accounts are available.
- Investing in fractional shares with minimum requirements of just one dollar
- There is no minimum required to invest in mutual funds offered by Fidelity.
Cons
You are unable to trade futures in addition to certain other securities.
tastyworks
Tastyworks is a wonderful broker for people who want to take a very active role in their trading, as well as for people who want to trade in more than just stocks and bonds. This is why it made it onto our list.
The area in which tastyworks really shines is in the area of derivatives like options. tastyworks keeps its fees low and places a limit on the total amount of fees that can be charged for a single transaction. This is in contrast to the practice followed by many brokers, who will charge high commissions and fees for the types of trades in question. The maximum charge for stock and ETF options trades, as well as trades involving cryptocurrencies, is capped at $10 per transaction, irrespective of the amount of the transaction.
Pros:
- This translates to the fact that active options and cryptocurrency traders who wish to move huge quantities of money can do so at a very low cost with tastyworks.
- Reduced transaction costs for executing deals in derivatives
- Participate in a wide range of derivative markets.
- Several cryptocurrencies available
Cons
Not designed for beginners
E*TRADE Portfolios
Many people who are looking for a mobile trading app want one because it makes it simple to execute trades and manage their accounts while they are on the move. Nevertheless, when it comes to investing, some people want a helping hand rather than just a mobile trading app. This support is available at a minimal fee through the E*TRADE Core Portfolios.
When you sign up for an account with E*TRADE, you will be asked about your objectives with regard to financial investments. The program will automatically create a portfolio for you based on the information you provide and will handle the day-to-day management of your financial assets. When using the app, all you need to do is choose whether you want to make a withdrawal or an addition to your account balance. You might also revise your objectives in order to adapt your portfolio to changing circumstances.
The minimal costs that E*TRADE charges—just 0.30% of your invested assets—are what set it apart from other brokerages on the market.
Pros
- Low fees
- Management of investments performed automatically
- Robo-advising services typically have low entry requirements.
Cons
- Compared to other stock trading apps, this one has a higher minimum.
- Fewer types of accounts overall
InteractiveBrokers
Some people have made the conscious decision to engage in extremely active trading, which involves transferring money into and out of various assets on many occasions each trading day. Day trading in this manner has the potential to be a lucrative, albeit risky, endeavor. If you have a robust app for trading stocks, you’ll be able to do business from your mobile device regardless of where you are.
The InteractiveBrokers platform was developed bearing in mind these types of active traders. You have access to more than one hundred different order types for buying and selling securities like stocks and options, and you can trade on margin to increase the potential profits of your transactions by leveraging your account balance (or losses).
The pricing structure is straightforward, with some trades costing nothing at all and others costing only a few fractions of a cent per share traded, with a maximum fee equal to one percent of the total value of the trade.
Active traders can also benefit from the app’s analysis and investment research, which is supplied by Thomson Reuters Refinitiv. This gives active traders an advantage over other traders and enables them to locate investment opportunities that are suitable for their needs. There are research and analysis tools available in addition to those already mentioned.
Pros
- Many order options available
- Powerful research tools
- Designed with active traders in mind
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly