Best Investing Apps for Young Adults 2026: 8 Top Picks Reviewed

Most investing app roundups are written by people who've never had to decide between paying rent and putting $50 into the market. I have. And honestly, that changes everything about which apps actually matter.

When I first started putting money to work outside of my savings account, I spent way too many hours comparing platforms — only to realize most reviews were written by people who'd never actually had to worry about whether a $5 monthly fee was worth it. Here's the deal: the best investing apps for young adults in 2026 aren't necessarily the flashiest ones. They're the ones that match your goals, your risk tolerance, and honestly, how much time you want to spend thinking about this stuff. Some of us want to geek out on charts. Some of us want to set it and forget it. Both are valid.

This guide cuts through the noise. Whether you've got $5 or $5,000 to start with, there's an app here for you.

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What to Actually Look for in an Investing App

Before we get into specific tools, let's talk about what actually matters. A lot of beginner investors get distracted by slick interfaces or zero-commission trading headlines without asking the right questions.

Here's what I'd look at:

• Minimum investment requirements — Can you start with what you actually have?
• Fee structure — Monthly fees, expense ratios, and hidden costs add up faster than you'd think
• Investment options — Stocks, ETFs, crypto, fractional shares, retirement accounts?
• Educational resources — Does the app help you learn, or just trade?
• Automation features — Auto-investing and round-ups can do a lot of the heavy lifting
• Account types — Taxable brokerage, Roth IRA, traditional IRA, or all three?

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How I Evaluated These Apps

I didn't just read the marketing pages. I looked at real user reviews, dug into fee disclosures, tested ease of onboarding, and considered how each platform performs for someone who's just getting started versus someone who wants more control. The criteria:

1. Ease of use — Is the UI intuitive for a first-timer?
2. Cost — Total cost of ownership over a year, not just the headline fee
3. Investment options — Range and flexibility
4. Educational content — Quality and accessibility
5. Customer support — Because things go wrong, and you'll want help
6. Automation — Passive investing features
7. Account variety — Retirement accounts matter, even at 22

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Quick Comparison Table

App	Best For	Monthly Fee	Min. Investment	Rating
Robinhood	Commission-free active trading	$0 (Gold: $6.99/mo)	$0	⭐ 4.2/5
Webull	Intermediate traders & analytics	$0	$0	⭐ 4.3/5
M1 Finance	Automated portfolio investing	$0 (Premium: $3/mo)	$100	⭐ 4.5/5
Acorns	Passive micro-investing	$3–$5/mo	$0	⭐ 4.1/5
Stash	Beginner education + investing	$3–$9/mo	$0	⭐ 3.9/5
SoFi Invest	All-in-one financial platform	$0	$0	⭐ 4.2/5
Betterment	Hands-off robo-advising	$4/mo or 0.25%/yr	$0	⭐ 4.4/5
Fidelity	Long-term & retirement investing	$0	$0	⭐ 4.6/5

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Detailed Reviews of the Best Investing Apps for Young Adults

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1. Robinhood — Best for Commission-Free Active Trading

Get Robinhood

Robinhood basically changed the investing world when it launched commission-free trading back in 2013. Love it or not, that shift forced every major broker to follow suit — and that's genuinely worth acknowledging. In 2026, it's still a solid option for young adults who want to actively buy and sell stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto without paying per trade.

That said, it's not without its baggage. The 2021 GameStop trading restrictions left a lot of users permanently skeptical of the platform — and honestly, fair enough. But if you're focused on building a straightforward portfolio and want a dead-simple interface, Robinhood still delivers on that core promise.

Key Features:

• Commission-free stock, ETF, options, and crypto trading
• Fractional shares starting at $1
• Cash management account with competitive APY
• Robinhood Gold includes margin investing, bigger instant deposits, and Level II market data
• Retirement accounts (Roth IRA, traditional IRA) with a 1% match on contributions
• 24/7 stock trading on select securities

Pricing:

• Free tier: $0/month — covers all core features
• Robinhood Gold: $6.99/month — margin, Level II data, higher APY on cash
• Robinhood Gold Card: Premium credit card option (waitlist-based)

Pros:

• Zero commissions on most trades
• Extremely beginner-friendly interface
• 1% IRA contribution match is genuinely useful
• Fractional shares make any stock accessible

Cons:

• Customer support has historically been frustrating
• Limited research tools compared to Webull or Fidelity
• No mutual funds
• Controversy around order flow practices

My hot take: Robinhood is fine as a starting point, but don't treat it as your forever app. It's basically the training wheels of investing — useful, but most serious investors outgrow it within a year or two.

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2. Webull — Best for Intermediate Traders Who Want Real Data

Get Webull

Webull is what Robinhood grows up to be. It's still commission-free, still has a clean app, but it layers in real technical analysis tools, paper trading (so you can practice without real money), and more granular market data. For a young adult who's done the basics and wants to go deeper, Webull is a genuinely strong pick.

The paper trading feature alone is worth downloading the app for — it's one of the most underrated learning tools in the entire investing app space. You can simulate an entire portfolio, test strategies over weeks, and make all your expensive mistakes without actually losing a dollar. Fun fact: professional traders use paper trading to test new strategies even after years in the market.

Key Features:

• Commission-free stock, ETF, options, and ADR trading
• Extended hours trading (4 AM–8 PM ET)
• Advanced charting with 50+ technical indicators
• Paper trading simulator
• Fractional shares
• Options analytics dashboard
• Crypto trading

Pricing:

• Standard account: $0/month
• Webull Premium: Subscription tiers for additional data feeds and research (roughly $9.99–$29.99/month depending on data packages)

Pros:

• Excellent free charting and data tools
• Paper trading is perfect for learning without risk
• Strong options trading interface
• Extended hours trading window

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve than Robinhood
• No robo-advisor or auto-investing
• Customer support can be slow
• No retirement account matching

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3. M1 Finance — Best for Automated Portfolio Investing

M1Finance

Look, M1 Finance is my personal favorite for young adults who want a set-it-and-mostly-forget-it approach without handing full control to an algorithm. You build "Pies" — visual portfolio slices — and M1 automatically rebalances and reinvests dividends according to your target allocations. It's genuinely brilliant for systematic investing.

Here's the deal: M1 sits in a sweet spot between a robo-advisor and a DIY brokerage. You're making the allocation decisions, but the automation handles the execution. That middle ground is more useful than it sounds — especially if you're the type of person who has strong opinions about what you want to own but doesn't want to manually rebalance every quarter.

Key Features:

• Pie-based portfolio builder with automatic rebalancing
• Fractional shares across 6,000+ stocks and ETFs
• Expert pies (pre-built portfolios) for hands-off investors
• Dynamic rebalancing when you add funds
• Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and taxable accounts
• M1 Premium includes margin borrowing, higher APY, and smart transfers

Pricing:

• Standard: $0/month (minimum $100 to start)
• M1 Premium: $3/month — adds margin loans at lower rates, higher cash APY, and automated smart transfers

Pros:

• Unique pie-based investing system is intuitive and visual
• Automatic rebalancing without selling tax-inefficiently
• Great for both passive and semi-active investors
• No trading commissions

Cons:

• $100 minimum to start investing (vs. $0 at most competitors)
• One trading window per day on the free tier
• No crypto trading
• Customer support response times can lag

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4. Acorns — Best for Passive Micro-Investing and True Beginners

Try Acorns

Acorns built its whole brand on one idea: round up your spare change and invest it. And honestly, it's clever. Spend $3.75 on coffee, and Acorns rounds up to $4.00 and invests that $0.25. You don't think about it. It just happens. For someone who's never invested a single dollar, that frictionless entry point has real value.

The downside? Acorns is expensive relative to your balance if you're starting small — and I think this is a bigger problem than most reviews admit. A $3/month fee on a $200 portfolio works out to 18% annually in fees. Eighteen percent. That math is brutal. But once your balance climbs above, say, $2,000–$3,000, it becomes much more reasonable and the habit you've built is worth something.

Key Features:

• Round-up micro-investing from linked cards
• Pre-built diversified portfolios (Conservative to Aggressive)
• Recurring investment scheduling
• Acorns Early (kids' investment accounts)
• Acorns Later (IRA accounts)
• Found Money — brand partnerships that invest cash back into your account
• Acorns Checking account with debit card

Pricing:

• Acorns Personal: $3/month — individual taxable + IRA accounts
• Acorns Premium: $5/month — adds kids' accounts, life insurance access, and emergency fund feature

Pros:

• Zero barrier to entry — genuinely anyone can start
• Completely automated, no investment decisions required
• Round-up feature builds the investing habit naturally
• Good for people who struggle to save actively

Cons:

• Fees are punishingly high relative to small balances
• No individual stock or ETF selection
• Limited customization
• Not ideal once you're ready for more control

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5. Stash — Best for Education-First Beginners

Stash

Stash takes a slightly different angle than Acorns. It's still aimed at beginners, but it puts more emphasis on financial education and giving you some actual say in what you invest in. You pick from curated ETFs and stocks with plain-English names like "Defending America" or "Clean & Green" — and importantly, the app tells you what's actually inside each one. It's a nice bridge between pure automation and full DIY investing.

Honestly, I think Stash's educational content is underrated. It's some of the most accessible beginner finance writing I've come across, and it's built directly into the experience rather than buried in a help section nobody reads. The $3–$9/month fees are a genuine concern for small balances, though — same issue as Acorns.

Key Features:

• Themed investing portfolios described in plain language
• Auto-Stash recurring investments
• Stock-Back rewards (earn fractional stock when you use the Stash debit card)
• Stash Banking with debit card
• IRA accounts available
• Fractional shares
• Learning content built directly into the app

Pricing:

• Stash Growth: $3/month — personal investment + banking + IRA
• Stash+: $9/month — adds two kids' custodial accounts and 2x Stock-Back rewards

Pros:

• Great educational content woven into the experience
• Plain-language fund descriptions reduce confusion for beginners
• Stock-Back rewards are a fun incentive
• Good for building investing habits from scratch

Cons:

• $3–$9/month fees are painful for small balances
• Investment selection is curated, not fully open
• No automatic rebalancing
• Interface feels a bit cluttered compared to competitors

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6. SoFi Invest — Best for Young Adults Who Want Everything in One Place

Join SoFi

SoFi started as a student loan refinancing company — which is a fun detail given that half their target audience is drowning in student debt — and has since turned into a full financial services platform. SoFi Invest is genuinely solid: commission-free, no minimums, fractional shares starting at $5, crypto, and an automated investing option. What makes it stand out is the ecosystem. You can have your bank account, loans, credit card, and investments all under one login.

If financial simplicity is a priority, SoFi's all-in-one approach is hard to beat. Consolidating everything in one place isn't just convenient — it also makes it much easier to see your full financial picture at a glance. And free access to certified financial planners? That's worth real money.

Key Features:

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Automated investing (robo-advisor) with no management fee
• Fractional shares starting at $5
• Crypto trading
• Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA
• SoFi Banking, credit cards, and loan products in one platform
• Access to certified financial planners (CFPs) at no extra cost — this is a genuinely big deal that most people overlook
• IPO access for retail investors

Pricing:

• SoFi Invest: $0/month — no commissions, no management fees on automated portfolios
• Premium SoFi membership perks tied to other SoFi products

Pros:

• Truly $0 for most features
• Free CFP access is exceptional for beginners
• All-in-one platform reduces app clutter
• No management fee on automated portfolios

Cons:

• Investment options aren't as deep as Fidelity or Webull
• Crypto selection is more limited than dedicated platforms
• You get more value if you use multiple SoFi products together
• Research tools are pretty basic

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7. Betterment — Best for Hands-Off Robo-Investing

Try Betterment

Betterment is the OG robo-advisor — they basically invented the category back in 2010. You answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and Betterment builds and manages a diversified portfolio of low-cost ETFs for you. Tax-loss harvesting, automatic rebalancing, dividend reinvestment — it handles all of it without you lifting a finger after setup.

For a young adult who genuinely doesn't want to make investment decisions — and is honest enough with themselves to admit that — Betterment is an excellent choice. The 0.25% annual fee is the only real knock, and honestly at smaller balances it's pretty manageable. On a $5,000 portfolio, that's about $12.50 a year.

Key Features:

• Goal-based investing (retirement, emergency fund, general wealth)
• Tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts
• Automatic portfolio rebalancing
• Socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios
• Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA, joint accounts
• Betterment Checking and Cash Reserve accounts
• Charitable giving portfolios

Pricing:

• Betterment Digital: $4/month OR 0.25%/year (the 0.25% annual rate kicks in once your balance reaches a certain threshold)
• Betterment Premium: 0.40%/year — adds unlimited CFP access (minimum $100,000 balance required)

Pros:

• Best-in-class robo-advisor with a long, solid track record
• Tax-loss harvesting saves meaningful money at tax time
• Automatic rebalancing keeps your allocation on target
• Clean, goal-focused interface

Cons:

• No individual stock picking — you get what the algorithm gives you
• 0.25% fee starts to add up on larger balances
• Not remotely useful for active traders
• Premium tier requires a $100K minimum, which isn't realistic for most young adults right now

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8. Fidelity — Best for Long-Term and Retirement Investing

Fidelity

Okay, I'm going to say something a lot of younger investors don't want to hear: Fidelity might be the best app on this entire list. Not because it's the most exciting. It's not. The UI isn't winning any design awards. But Fidelity has zero-expense-ratio index funds (their own ZERO funds — literally 0%), no account minimums, no commissions, a genuinely strong mobile app in 2026, and some of the best retirement account options available anywhere.

Fidelity is where a lot of people end up eventually, usually after bouncing around two or three trendier platforms first. My honest opinion? Just start here and save yourself the detour.

Key Features:

• Commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading
• Fidelity ZERO funds — 0% expense ratio index funds that no competitor has matched
• Fractional shares (Stocks by the Slice) from $1
• Full suite of retirement accounts (Roth IRA, 401k rollover, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA)
• Excellent research tools and third-party analyst reports
• Fidelity Go robo-advisor (free under $25,000)
• Youth Account for teens aged 13–17
• 24/7 customer support by phone and chat — and they actually answer

Pricing:

• Standard brokerage: $0/month, $0 commissions
• Fidelity Go: Free under $25,000, then 0.35%/year
• Fidelity Personalized Planning: 0.50%/year with advisor access

Pros:

• Best retirement account options for young adults, full stop
• ZERO expense ratio index funds are genuinely unmatched in the industry
• Customer support that's actually responsive — a bigger deal than it sounds
• Huge range of investment options including mutual funds
• Decades of institutional trust and stability

Cons:

• Interface is less "fun" than Robinhood or Webull — it's a real difference if you care about that
• Can feel overwhelming for absolute beginners in the first week
• Advanced options trading isn't as streamlined as Webull
• Robo-advisor costs more than Betterment at higher balances

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Detailed Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Robinhood	Webull	M1 Finance	Acorns	Stash	SoFi	Betterment	Fidelity
Fractional Shares	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅
Crypto	✅	✅	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌
Roth IRA	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Robo-Advisor	❌	❌	Partial	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Auto-Rebalancing	❌	❌	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅
Paper Trading	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Tax-Loss Harvesting	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌
Free CFP Access	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌ (premium)	❌
Min. Investment	$0	$0	$100	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
Monthly Fee	$0–$6.99	$0–$29.99	$0–$3	$3–$5	$3–$9	$0	$4/0.25%	$0

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How to Choose the Right Investing App for You

Don't let yourself get paralyzed by this decision. Here's a simple framework:

You have less than $500 and have never invested before: Start with Acorns or Stash. The automation removes the decision-making overhead. Yes, the fees are proportionally high — but you'll build the habit first, and that's what matters most in year one. You can always move your money later.

You want to invest passively and forget about it: Betterment or M1 Finance. Betterment is truly hands-off; M1 gives you slightly more control over your portfolio composition while still handling rebalancing for you. Both are solid.

You want to learn how to trade and pick stocks: Webull. The paper trading feature means you can make all your inevitable early mistakes without losing real money. Don't skip this step — most people who go straight to live trading wish they hadn't.

You want everything — investing, banking, loans — in one app: SoFi. The free CFP access alone makes this worth trying, especially if you've got student loans or complex financial questions you've been putting off.

You're serious about retirement investing and playing the long game: Fidelity. There's simply no better place for IRAs, 401k rollovers, and long-term wealth building. The ZERO expense ratio funds are a real, lasting competitive advantage.

You just want to trade commission-free with a simple app: Robinhood. It's not perfect, but it works for what it is.

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Verdict: Top Picks for Different Types of Young Adult Investors

After going through all eight of these platforms, here's where I land:

• 🏆 Overall Best: Fidelity — The combination of zero-cost index funds, account variety, and responsive customer support makes it the strongest long-term choice for young adults who can look past the less glamorous UI.

• 🥈 Best for Beginners: Acorns — Nothing beats it for getting someone who's never invested to actually start investing. The habit-building is the whole point.

• 🥉 Best for Passive Investors: Betterment — The robo-advisor quality and tax-loss harvesting justify the fee for hands-off investors with growing balances.

• Best for Learning to Trade: Webull — Paper trading, real data, and solid charting tools in a completely free package.

• Best All-in-One Platform: SoFi — Especially valuable if you're managing student debt alongside your investments.

• Best Automated DIY Investing: M1 Finance — The Pie system is genuinely clever and works well for people who want real control without constant active management.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best investing app for young adults with no money?

Acorns, SoFi, Robinhood, or Fidelity — all four have $0 minimums. Acorns is especially good for people who genuinely struggle to find money to invest, because the round-up system automates the whole thing. Fidelity is the better choice if you have even a small lump sum ($25–$50) to start with, since there are no monthly fees quietly eating into your balance.

Are investing apps safe for beginners?

The reputable ones — yes. Every app on this list is regulated by FINRA and covered by SIPC insurance up to $500,000 for your securities. That protects you if the brokerage itself goes under, though it won't protect you from your investments simply losing value (that's just normal market risk and no insurance covers it). Stick to the established platforms on this list and don't let any app push you into options or margin trading until you genuinely understand what you're doing.

What's the best investing app for young adults focused on retirement accounts?

Fidelity, no contest. It offers every major account type — Roth IRA, traditional IRA, SEP IRA, rollover IRA — charges no fees, and has access to those ZERO expense ratio index funds that no competitor has matched. Betterment is a solid second choice if you'd rather have your retirement investing handled automatically without making portfolio decisions yourself.

Should young adults invest in stocks or ETFs?

For most beginners, start with low-cost index ETFs. You get instant diversification, lower risk than individual stocks, and you don't have to research individual companies to do it well. Once you understand the basics and have an emergency fund in place (3–6 months of expenses, ideally), adding individual stocks makes more sense. Don't skip the foundation — I know it sounds boring, but this is the part that actually builds wealth.

Is Robinhood still good in 2026?

It's fine. Easy to use, zero commissions, and the 1% IRA contribution match is a genuinely nice perk. But customer support is still spotty and the research tools are thin compared to Fidelity or Webull. Use it to get started if the interface appeals to you — just don't treat it as your only account forever.

How much should a young adult invest each month?

The common guidance is 10–15% of your take-home income once you've got an emergency fund covered. If that's not realistic right now, start with $25 or $50 a month — seriously, that's enough to build the habit and let compound interest start doing its thing. On a 7% average annual return, $50/month invested from age 22 grows to roughly $130,000 by age 55, without ever increasing your contributions. The most important variable isn't how much you start with. It's that you actually start.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and doesn't constitute personalized financial advice. Always consider your own financial situation and consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal.