Getting started investing as a beginner can be overwhelming, filled with complex terminology and all sorts of nuances. Missteps can cost you greatly, and this stress leads to many sitting on the sidelines never actually diving in and taking action. 

But, it doesn’t have to be this way. We’re here to help you feel confident getting started by unpacking the best investment apps for beginners. 

These solutions cut through the noise, simplifying the process and empowering newcomers to make informed decisions with ease. They provide clarity and eliminate much of the guesswork and uncertainty that can deter aspiring investors.

That being said, not all beginner investment apps are created equal. You need one that blends user-friendly interface with insightful support for analyzing stocks, helping you find opportunities and execute trades with precision.

That’s why we’re excited to unveil VectorVest’s stock advisory app – your key to winning more trades with less work. It tells you what to buy, when to buy it, and when to sell it. 

It’s outperformed the S&P 500 index by 10x for more than two decades and can help you replicate this success. Get started with the #1 stock analysis software today!

What Should You Look For in the Best Investment App for Beginners?

Before we get into our list of the best beginner investment apps, it’s important that you understand what you are looking for. So, what separates the best investment apps for beginners from the rest? To a certain extent, you’ll need to weigh what matters most to you in a solution. 

Are you looking for something simple and low-cost that just helps you execute trades or manage your portfolio? OR – do you want something that helps you find stocks to invest in, tells you when to buy, and shows you when to sell for a profit? 

We’ll cover a list of considerations below that you can prioritize as you search for a reliable, intuitive investment app. Some of these are non-negotiable, and others are just nice to have.

User-Friendly Interface

Investing is perplexing enough as is – you don’t need a complex, hard-to-navigate interface making things harder! It should be well-organized, allowing you to find and execute trades swiftly. 

Look for apps with a clean design that offers quick access to your portfolio, market data, and educational content. The ability to customize dashboards and receive notifications about your investments can enhance your experience and efficiency.

Stock Analysis Insights

This is what really separates the best investment apps for beginners from the rest. The best stock analysis app helps you assess opportunities and execute trades with confidence. 

You should have access to an array of technical and fundamental analysis tools, including but not limited to market trends, company financials, stock performance, and more.

These might include technical indicators, charting capabilities, and fundamental analysis data such as earnings reports and balance sheets. Some apps also integrate analyst ratings and forecasts to help you make data-driven investment decisions. 

But, if you want to make things as simple as possible in analyzing stocks, look for a solution that has its own proprietary ratings to boil down complex insights into a more digestible format. The best apps offer you a clear buy, sell, or hold recommendation for any given stock, at any given time.

Portfolio Management Features

You should make sure the app you choose allows you to track the performance of your investments in real-time offering insights into profits and losses. 

Features like automatic rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting, and risk assessment tools can help maintain the health of your portfolio. Additionally, the ability to set goals and monitor progress towards them can keep you aligned with your long-term financial objectives.

Low Fees and Costs

While there are a variety of free stock analysis websites you can choose from, you’ll likely realize that the real value is behind a paywall. 

Still, minimizing fees is something you probably want to prioritize – especially if you’re a beginner with a small account. So, look for apps that offer low or no commission trades, minimal account fees, and transparent pricing structures. 

Some apps also offer free trades for certain assets or have tiered pricing based on account balance or trading frequency. It’s important to understand all potential costs to ensure they don’t eat into your investment returns.

Just remember, though – you typically get what you pay for. Don’t skimp on key features or usability just to save a bit of money.

Variety of Investment Options

Diversification is key when building a stock portfolio, no matter your stock investment strategy. The best apps provide access to a wide range of investment options, including individual stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and even cryptocurrencies. 

This variety allows you to spread risk across different asset classes and industries. For those interested in socially responsible investing, some apps also offer curated lists of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) compliant investments.

Educational Resources and Tools

The best apps for beginner investors feature a wealth of educational resources, including tutorials, articles, webinars, and online courses that cater to various learning styles.

These resources should cover the basics of investing, advanced strategies, and market analysis techniques. They should also offer insights into how to actually use the app to the fullest, helping you make the most of the tools available.

One great resource you should prioritize as a beginner investor is paper trading. This allows you to put your investment strategy to the test in simulated environments without real money. You can make mistakes when the stakes are low, saving you from costly errors when they actually matter.

Customer Support and Service

To top it all off, you should make sure the app is backed by helpful support should you ever need it. This means responsive customer service through multiple channels such as live chat, email, or phone.

Quick assistance with technical issues, trade inquiries, or account problems ensures a smooth investment experience. Additionally, some apps offer personalized guidance from financial advisors, which can be invaluable for beginners needing tailored advice. 

That being said, you don’t need a financial advisor – especially when you use what is truly the best investment app for beginners in VectorVest. So, without any further ado, let’s get into the best beginner investment apps in 2024.

What are the Best Investment Apps for Beginners in 2024? 

As we said from the start, the best apps for beginner investors can empower you to win more trades with less work. 

But VectorVest stands apart from the rest because it isn’t just a solution for you to buy and sell stocks in – it tells you which stocks to buy, when to buy them, and when to sell them. It’s also among the only solutions that show you its track record, so you can verify its performance over the past 20 years and counting. 

Let’s get into what makes it the best stock research website in 2024.

VectorVest

VectorVest isn’t just the best stock investment app for beginners, it’s trusted by seasoned traders as well. Its powerful blend of simplicity, advanced analytics, and educational support put it ahead of other options. 

It offers a unique approach to stock analysis with its proprietary VST™ (Value-Safety-Timing) ratings, which analyze over 16,000 stocks daily to provide clear buy, sell, or hold recommendations. This system helps you make informed decisions quickly, often in as little as 10 minutes a day.

By focusing on undervalued stocks with a proven track record of stability and a rising price trend, the app minimizes risk while maximizing the potential for reliable profits. 

The VST™ ratings system is designed to stack the odds in your favor by recommending stocks that are safe and undervalued, yet on an upward trajectory, regardless of market trends or popularity.

You can integrate with popular trading platforms, providing an all-in-one portfolio management solution. It boasts a wealth of features, including daily stock picks, customizable watchlists, and real-time alerts, all powered by an advanced market-timing algorithm. 

Advanced integrations even allow you to set up stop losses and take profit orders, removing human error and emotion from your investment strategy. This prevents you from getting in your own way – something beginner investors and even experts struggle with from time to time.

This allows investors to buy and sell at the right time, based on robust data-driven decisions developed by PhD mathematicians. It’s the best stock picker whether you’re looking for aggressive growth stocks or the best stocks to invest in as a beginner.

But with the trust of millions of investors and counting, alongside more than 15,000 published reviews endorsing this stock trading system, don’t just take our word for it. See firsthand what VectorVest can do for you with a free stock analysis today.

Betterment

Betterment is an excellent choice for those looking to simplify their investment experience. Its automated investing feature is especially beneficial for beginners, making it easy to manage money, trade, and rebalance portfolios without much effort. 

The platform is designed with a goal-oriented approach and offers socially responsible investing options. If you are just looking to start saving your money a bit smarter, it should align with your goals. But if you’re looking to actually earn real returns on your money, you may end up underwhelmed. 

Another shortcoming of Betterment is the annual fee for advising services, which could be a deterrent for investors looking for a more cost-effective solution. Additionally, the high minimum balance requirement of $100,000 for the Premium plan might not be accessible to all investors.

Acorns

Acorns is a really unique solution that caters to individuals who prefer a hands-off investment approach and want to start investing without the need to actively manage their portfolios. 

It’s similar to Betterment in that sense, but the way it works is far different. You connect with your bank account and it pulls in recent purchases – from there, you can choose to “round up” to the nearest dollar amount, investing cents into stocks automatically. 

The app’s simplicity makes it an attractive option for beginners, and the unique nature of how you invest has certainly earned it attention. However, the flat monthly fee structure of Acorns can be relatively high for smaller accounts, and the inability to choose individual investments without opting for a Premium plan may limit investors who desire more control over their investment choices. 

Invstr

Invstr is a great app for beginners because it blends of education and investment opportunities, making it an excellent platform for those new to investing. 

The Invstr Academy provides users with valuable lessons on investing. Once you have taken the time to learn and you feel ready, you can start with fractional shares for as low as $5. 

However, Invstr does have some limitations, including a cap on the number of free trades per day unless you subscribe to their premium service. Additionally, the platform restricts users to investing only in U.S. stocks, which may limit diversification options. 

Be aware of the various fees, including monthly subscription costs, withdrawal and deposit fees, and commissions on fractional trades. In the end, most investors find that these cons outweigh the pros.

Robinhood

When most people think of investment apps, Robinhood comes to mind – and for good reason. It is one of the most user-friendly choices with no commissions on trades. 

You can trade stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies. Robinhood Gold offers additional features for a monthly fee, such as professional research and higher APY on uninvested cash. 

That being said, Robinhood has faced criticism for a lack of comprehensive trading tools and research unless you’re a Gold member. Additionally, the absence of joint accounts, education savings accounts, or mutual funds could be a significant drawback for some investors. 

Potential users should also be cautious of Robinhood’s past controversies, including outages and concerns over inexperienced users making risky trades. 

TD Ameritrade

This beginner app offers great stock analysis tools, especially for active traders. With no commissions on stock or ETF trades and a variety of account platforms, TD Ameritrade caters to different investment styles and goals.

Beginners can comfortably start with the main TD Ameritrade app and transition to thinkorswim, a robust platform for more active trading, which includes features like chatting with expert traders.

That being said, some of these comprehensive features and research tools might be overwhelming for beginners compared to more straightforward apps like VectorVest. Additionally, adviser program fees based on managed assets could be potential drawbacks.

E*Trade

E*Trade is another option for beginners seeking a commission-free investing app with an intuitive interface. 

The platform boasts a broad investment selection and compatibility across various devices, including Apple wearables. E*Trade provides users with valuable market insights through real-time news, Bloomberg TV, and third-party research. 

While the app is user-friendly and rich in research offerings, potential users should be aware of the high minimum balances and fees associated with its managed portfolios. 

This could be a significant consideration for those looking to start with smaller investments or who prefer a more hands-off approach to their portfolio management.

SoFi Investing

SoFi has a user-friendly interface and no fees or minimum balances, making it an appealing option for those looking to start small with an uncomplicated platform.

SoFi’s automated investing feature allows newcomers to let a robo-advisor manage their wealth, simplifying the investment process. This sounds great if you don’t want to do any hard work, but the returns will be low. It’s not a whole lot different than investing in a typical low-risk fund.

SoFi offers educational resources and complimentary financial planning sessions with certified financial planners to help members establish a solid investment strategy. That being said, you don’t need a financial planner, like we said earlier.

And like most other solutions on this list, you won’t get much in the way of stock analysis features that actually help you choose which stocks to invest in. Some investors have found that the lack of tax-loss harvesting is a deal breaker, too.

Fundrise

Fundrise is an intuitive real estate investment app with a straightforward setup process and a low entry threshold. The platform’s low advisory and asset management fees are attractive, and it’s accessible to nonaccredited investors, making real estate investment more democratic. 

Fundrise boasts a significant investment portfolio, but it’s important to note that it may not be suitable for those looking for short-term gains or immediate liquidity in their investments. This is, yet again, just another app that helps you get a savings account started.

Public

Public caters to the modern investor who values community and education in their investment journey. With no account minimums and the opportunity to invest in fractional shares, Public makes it possible to start small and scale up. 

The platform’s social features can be particularly beneficial for beginners who want insights from experts and other traders. You can also share your own findings along the way.

Public’s offering of cryptocurrencies and alternative assets adds to its appeal, though the additional fees for these investments and the absence of mutual funds might be a consideration for some investors. 

Final Thoughts on the Best Beginner Investment Apps in 2024 

That concludes our guide to the best beginner investment apps in 2024! The key takeaway is that most investment apps for beginners fall short in one way or another – some don’t actually help you analyze stocks or monitor your portfolio with intuitive insights. 

Others may offer stock market technical indicators to support your stock analysis, but these are overly complicated and leave you grappling with decision overwhelm. Some are incredibly limited in the investment options you have at your disposal.

There’s only one solution that offers it all in a single, comprehensive solution: VectorVest. Whether you’re looking for falling stocks to buy or current undervalued stocks, volatile stocks, or even the best blue chip dividend stocks – our pre-curated screeners bring the top opportunities on any given day right to your fingertips.

Then, you can simply follow the VST system to determine the best time to buy and the best time to sell, eliminating any stress or uncertainty along the way. What more could you ask for?

We hope this conversation has left you with a clear understanding of what separates VectorVest from the rest, whether you’re getting started with blue chip investing, investing for early retirement, or swing trading for a living.

At this point, though, why not experience what VectorVest can do for you firsthand? Get started today and begin your investment journey on the right foot.