The investing landscape in 2025 looks remarkably different than it did a decade ago. Mobile-first platforms have matured, traditional brokerages rebuilt their apps, and robo-advisors became staples for hands-off investors. Whether you’re an active trader hunting opportunities, a beginner building a starter portfolio, or a long-term investor focused on low fees and tax optimization, there’s an app tailored for your goals. This guide walks through the top investment apps in the U.S. for 2025, compares fees and features, and gives clear recommendations for different investor types — with a practical comparison table to help you decide quickly. Forbes+1
Why the “best” app depends on you
Before we dive into specific apps, a quick reality check: there’s no universal “best” app. The right choice depends on:
- Your goals: day trading, retirement, saving for a house, or automated investing each point to different apps.
- Risk tolerance & required tools: active traders value advanced charts and options chains; long-term investors prioritize low ETF fees and tax features.
- Cost sensitivity: fees, commission structures, and advisory costs compound over years.
- Preferences: human financial advice vs automated portfolios vs self-directed trading.
The remainder of the article maps top apps to those needs and shows where each shines in 2025. NerdWallet
Quick comparison table — snapshot view (2025)
| App | Best for | Account minimum | Commission & fees (typical) | Key strengths | Notable weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | Long-term investors & retirement | $0 | $0 commissions on US stocks & ETFs; options $0.65/contract (typical) | Robust research, retirement tools, fractional shares, great customer service. | Platform can be feature-dense for novices. Fidelity+1 |
| Robinhood | Beginner traders & commission-free active trading | $0 | $0 commissions on stocks/ETFs; crypto spreads/fees vary | Very simple UX, crypto + stocks in one app, new advanced trader tools in 2025 | Limited long-term planning tools; regulatory scrutiny historically. Robinhood Newsroom+1 |
| Betterment | Hands-off investors who want robo-advice | $0 (digital) | 0.25% (Digital) / 0.40%+ for premium plans; tax-loss harvesting available | Automated rebalancing, goal-based advice, tax-loss harvesting. | Advisory fee adds drag on small balances. betterment.com+1 |
| Wealthfront | Robo users wanting advanced tax features | $0 | ~0.25% typical | Tax optimization, cash management, automated investing | Less human advisor access vs big brokerages. NerdWallet |
| Webull | More advanced traders on mobile | $0 | $0 commissions (stocks/ETFs); options pricing competitive | Advanced charting, screening, derivatives tools | Learning curve for beginners. Investopedia |
| M1 Finance | Portfolio customization + automation | $100 (for borrowing/advanced features) | $0 trading for pies; M1 Plus subscription for extra tools | Invest by “pies” (fractional allocations), autopilot rebalancing | Not ideal for intraday traders. Navid Moazzez |
| Acorns | Micro-investing & beginners saving spare change | $0 | $1–$3/mo subscription tiers | Round-ups, automatic investing, retirement add-ons | Limited advanced investment options; monthly fee can be high vs balance. Forbes |
| Schwab | Full-service investors & retirement accounts | $0 | $0 commissions on stocks/ETFs; Schwab Intelligent Portfolios robo with different structure | Strong research, banking integration, low fees | Robo option may require balancing with other services. NerdWallet |
(Table summary assembled from recent platform pages and industry roundups — see citations in the text.)
Deep dives — strengths, features, and who should use each app
Fidelity — Best for retirement & full-service investors
Fidelity’s mobile and web platforms have evolved into a one-stop solution for both DIY and advised investors. It offers $0 trading on US stocks and many ETFs, fractional shares (dollar-based investing starting at $1), robust research and educational content, and a full lineup of retirement account options. For long-term investors who value service, low costs, and conservative stewardship of retirement assets, Fidelity remains a top choice in 2025. Fidelity+1
Why choose Fidelity: excellent for IRA/401(k) rollovers, strong customer support, and institutional-grade research in a consumer app.
Watch out for: too many options can overwhelm beginners; advanced traders sometimes prefer platforms with more technical analysis tools. StockBrokers.com
Robinhood — Best for commission-free trading & younger investors
Robinhood redefined retail trading with a simple, mobile-first interface and commission-free trading. In 2025 the company continued to broaden offerings — including enhanced trader tools, tokenized equities for some markets, and a new venture fund offering retail access to private markets — while balancing regulatory attention. For users who want a low-friction way to trade stocks, ETFs, options and crypto in one place, Robinhood remains compelling. Robinhood Newsroom+1
Why choose Robinhood: ultra-simple onboarding, fast order flow, and expanding product set for active or novice traders.
Watch out for: less emphasis on retirement planning tools and some public skepticism due to past regulatory issues; consider your need for guided advice. MarketWatch
Betterment & Wealthfront — Best robo-advisors for passive investors
Robo-advisors like Betterment and Wealthfront are built for people who want automated, diversified portfolios with minimal fuss. Betterment emphasizes goal-based planning and offers tax-loss harvesting that, according to its claims and customer outcomes, can sometimes offset advisory fees for taxable accounts. Wealthfront competes closely with similar low fees and tax optimization features. Morningstar and NerdWallet ranked these services highly in 2025 for investors who prioritize automation and tax efficiency. betterment.com+1
Why choose robo-advisors: automatic rebalancing, diversified ETF allocations, tax-loss harvesting, and usually no account minimums.
Watch out for: advisory fees (typically ~0.25%) reduce returns vs purely index ETF investing on your own; not ideal if you want control over exact holdings.
Webull & M1 Finance — Niche favorites
- Webull: appeals to traders who want advanced charts, custom studies, and derivatives. It’s a good middle ground for people who want Robinhood simplicity but with more technical depth. Investopedia
- M1 Finance: unique “pie” model lets you assemble fractional allocations and automate contributions to maintain target weights — great for buy-and-hold investors who want customization plus autopilot features. Navid Moazzez
Acorns & Stash — Best for micro-investing and habit building
If your first priority is starting rather than optimizing, micro-investing apps like Acorns (automatic round-ups) and Stash (low-cost starter portfolios and fractional shares) help build saving habits. They’re excellent for new investors who need automated nudges, though monthly fees can be comparatively high for very small balances. Forbes
Fees, tax features, and what matters most in 2025
Fees and tax efficiency are critical. A 0.25% advisory fee might sound small, but over decades it compounds; similarly, even low trading costs can add up for frequent traders.
- Trading commissions: Most major U.S. brokerages now offer $0 commission trading on stocks and ETFs — but options contracts and specialty trades still carry per-contract or service fees. Always check the fine print for options and OTC products. Fidelity+1
- Robo fees: Expect ~0.25%–0.40% for popular robo advisors; tax-loss harvesting can offset fees for taxable accounts and is a key differentiator. betterment.com+1
- Subscription models: Some apps (M1 Plus, premium tiers for Acorns, Robinhood Gold historically) offer subscriptions for extra tools — weigh those against your expected benefit. Navid Moazzez+1
Tax features to seek in 2025: automatic tax-loss harvesting, tax-efficient ETF selection, harvest reporting for your tax returns, and retirement account rollovers. Morningstar and NerdWallet highlighted these as major value add-ons for robo and hybrid platforms this year. Morningstar+1
Putting it together: which app should you pick?
Here are concrete recommendations based on common investor profiles.
- Complete beginner, building a habit: Acorns or Stash — automated round-ups and simple starter portfolios. Forbes
- Cost-conscious long-term investor / retirement saver: Fidelity or Charles Schwab — zero commissions, excellent retirement tools, strong research. Fidelity+1
- Hands-off investor who wants automation: Betterment or Wealthfront — robo-advice, tax-loss harvesting, goal planning. betterment.com+1
- Active trader who wants mobile first: Robinhood or Webull — commission-free trades, quick execution, crypto access on Robinhood. Keep an eye on added advanced features and regulatory news. Robinhood Newsroom+1
- Investor who wants customization + automation: M1 Finance — fractional pies and autopilot rebalancing. Navid Moazzez
Practical steps to choose and migrate
- Define a 1-year and 10-year goal. If retirement or tax efficiency matters, prioritize Fidelity/Schwab/Betterment. If you want to trade frequently, choose Robinhood/Webull.
- Open a small account and test flows. Fund $50–$100, try placing trades or setting up a robo plan, and check the app’s educational resources.
- Check fees & fine print. Options pricing, margin rates, IRA fees, or subscription costs may change the math.
- Consolidate where it helps. Having some assets in a primary broker improves visibility for tax & planning; use secondary apps for supplementary strategies (e.g., crypto, micro investing).
- Migrate assets carefully. For IRA/401(k) rollovers, request direct transfers (ACAT) to avoid taxable events; brokerages usually provide step-by-step help. Fidelity and other major brokers have detailed transfer assistance. Fidelity
Risks, security, and due diligence
- Regulation & platform risk: While many apps are safe and insured (SIPC protects brokerage cash/securities up to limits), regulatory changes and company decisions (product expansions like Robinhood’s venture fund or tokenized stocks) can shift how products behave and are offered. Keep up with important platform announcements. Barron’s+1
- Custodial differences: Robo advisors may custody assets differently or use partner brokerages; read custody agreements to confirm your assets’ protections. betterment.com
- Data security: Use MFA (two-factor authentication), choose strong passwords, and monitor account activity.
- Overtrading temptation: Commission-free trading reduces costs but can increase impulsive trading; set rules for yourself (eg. wait 24 hours before big decisions).
Final thoughts — trends shaping investing in 2025
Several themes are defining investment apps this year:
- Democratization of asset types: tokenized stocks and expanded crypto access make more asset classes reachable to retail users — promising but accompanied by regulatory complexity. Reuters
- Hybridization of services: established brokerages now offer robo advice, and robo providers add human advisor tiers — the lines keep blurring. NerdWallet
- Focus on tax efficiency: as robo advisors mature, tax-sensitivity (harvesting, tax-aware allocations) became a major differentiator. betterment.com+1
- UX as a moat: simple, mobile-first UX remains decisive for new entrants, but power users demand depth (advanced scans, options analytics), pushing platforms to offer configurable tiers.