INVESTING - ONLINE BROKERS
Last updated March 8, 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.
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
Download the investing app CNBC calls “ChatGPT meets Robinhood”
You can now invest using the world’s first AI investing assistant.
It’s called Magnifi, and it’s a powerful (and almost magical) app that CNBC has referred to as “ChatGPT meets Robinhood.”
Magnifi’s unique AI approach means you get more guidance than a brokerage … but less cost than an advisor.1 Simply link your Robinhood, E*Trade, and other brokerages, and the AI will help find potentially untapped opportunities across all your holdings.
With Magnifi, getting investment advice is as simple as texting. After connecting your brokerage accounts, just open the chat and ask questions like, “How can I invest $1,000,” “Compare Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia,” and even, “Am I paying excess fees?”
Every time you ask a question, Magnifi uses pro-level data from sources like Morningstar, Factset, FRED, and more to give you powerful advice through the lens of your unique investment portfolios. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen!
BONUS: For a limited time, sign up today and get 50% off your first month (just $7!).
Get started
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.)
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
Get up to $700 to add to your investment account
Looking for a more personalized way to invest your money while keeping costs low?
With a J.P. Morgan Self Directed account,3 you are in the driver’s seat, backed with useful tools to help you build a diversified portfolio which is easily managed online or via the Chase Mobile® app.
You’ll have access to a wide range of investments including stocks, ETFs, fixed income, mutual funds, and options. Plus, you can enjoy unlimited commission-free online stock, ETF, and options trades.
BONUS: Get up to $700 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money.
Sign up for a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investment account now
Claim Your Free Stock - Between $5 to $200
Robinhood Benefits
- When you sign up, a surprise stock appears in your account
- Commission-free trading with no account minimums
- Trade stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies
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 to help you make money
- Stock Rover – Best app for stock research.
- Charles Schwab – Best app for beginners.
- Ellevest – Best app for socially responsible investing.
- Public – Best app for learning about companies.
- Fundrise – Best app for direct investment in real estate.
Comparison of the Best Investment Apps for Beginners in India
| Investment App | Key Features | User Ratings |
|---|
| Upstox | User-friendly interface, advanced charting tools | 4.5/5 |
| Zerodha | Robust trading platforms, in-depth market analysis | 4.7/5 |
| Angel Broking | Research tools, advisory services, investment reports | 4.3/5 |
6 more rowsJan 24, 2024
Best Trading Apps for 2024: Fees and Features,
| Trading Apps | Top Features | Trading charges |
|---|
| Upstox App | Ideal for immediate investment | Rs.20 |
| Groww App | Ideal for Novices | 0.05% or Rs.20(whichever is lower) |
| Paytm Money | There is no commission for direct mutual funds | Rs.15 |
| 5paisa App | Features an option for automatic investing | Rs.20 |
6 more rowsIf you want to invest $10 and earn daily, opening a high-yield savings account is a great option. High-yield savings accounts offer higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts, which means you can grow your wealth faster. These accounts are also a safe place to keep your emergency fund.
Should I use Webull or Robinhood? ›
Bottom Line. Webull may be the better choice for nearly any investor who wants an online trading platform. Sophisticated investors are unlikely to find any significant benefit in Robinhood's ease of use. However, both platforms make trading easy and quick, whether from a desktop or a smartphone screen.
Why is Fidelity better than Robinhood? ›
While Fidelity offers clients access to more than 10,000 mutual funds, including many proprietary funds, Robinhood doesn't allow mutual fund trading at all. Fidelity also offers the opportunity to buy CDs and bonds, and Robinhood doesn't.
Which is the safest app to invest money? ›
Best Investing Apps
| Broker | NerdWallet rating NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service. | Account minimum |
|---|
| Fidelity Learn more on Fidelity's website | 5.0 /5 | $0 |
| Webull Learn more on Webull's website | 5.0 /5 | $0 |
3 more rowsMar 29, 2024
Pros include low investment amounts, ease of use, and potential educational resources. Cons encompass fees, limited diversification, lack of personalized advice, and potential for losses. Consider your goals, research fees and options and evaluate ease of use when choosing a micro-investing app.
Should I invest through my bank or an app? ›
You definitely do not want to invest through your bank. You will have poor service and very high costs. Robinhood and Wealthsimple are ok options and if that is what you are comfortable with go with that.
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.”
Robinhood and Acorns each have a unique target audience, but the biggest difference between the two is that Robinhood may be better for beginners looking to choose their own individual stock and ETF investments, while Acorns may be a good choice for hands-off investors who want help building a diversified, long-term ...
How many stocks should I own as a beginner? ›
What's the right number of companies to invest in, even if portfolio size doesn't matter? “Studies show there's statistical significance to the rule of thumb for 20 to 30 stocks to achieve meaningful diversification,” says Aleksandr Spencer, CFA® and chief investment officer at Bogart Wealth.
What can make you $1,000 a day? ›
Jobs that pay $1,000 a day
- Sales representative. ...
- Blogger. ...
- Digital marketing specialist. ...
- Freelance writer. ...
- Business development executive. ...
- Freelance designer. ...
- Petroleum engineer. ...
- Sales executive.
6 Ways to Turn $1000 into $10000
- Invest in Real Estate.
- Invest in Stocks and ETFs.
- Get Out of Debt Now.
- Start an Online Business.
- Retail Arbitrage.
- Invest in Yourself.
Here are ten ways to make $10k quickly:
- Become A Freelancer. Freelancing is one of the most popular ways to make money quickly. ...
- Invest In Cryptocurrency. ...
- Participate In Online Surveys. ...
- Become A Virtual Assistant. ...
- Do Odd Jobs. ...
- Create An Online Course. ...
- Become An Affiliate Marketer. ...
- Sell Your Stuff.
- Our six best ways to invest $100 starting today. ...
- Use a micro-investing app or robo-advisor. ...
- Invest in a stock index mutual fund or exchange-traded fund. ...
- Use fractional shares to buy stocks. ...
- Put it in your 401(k) ...
- One way not to invest $100. ...
- Related investing topics.
- Don't wait to invest.
Best investments for beginners
- High-yield savings accounts. This can be one of the simplest ways to boost the return on your money above what you're earning in a typical checking account. ...
- Certificates of deposit (CDs) ...
- 401(k) or another workplace retirement plan. ...
- Mutual funds. ...
- ETFs. ...
- Individual stocks.
What it lacks in features, it makes up for in user-friendliness. You want to trade cryptocurrencies or invest in fractional shares. You're a newer investor with limited capital: Robinhood lets users buy fractional shares of stock for as little as $1, so it's a good choice for investors who are just getting started.
Can I trust Robinhood? ›
Robinhood is considered safe for investors. It's a member for the Securities Investor Protection Corp. (SIPC), is regulated by the SEC, and has additional financial protection per customer up to certain amounts for cash and securities.
