After more than 15 years of investing, I’ve learned the app matters less than the habit behind it. Consistent buying and long holding periods do most of the heavy lifting to grow wealth. The average stock market return has been right around 10% a year since 1928, according to Motley Fool research.
Three apps stand out for phone-first investors this month: SoFi®, Fidelity, and E*TRADE. Any of the three can get the job done, so the right pick comes down to how you like to invest.
My approach is simple: buy great businesses and hold them for years.
1. SoFi Active Investing
SoFi Active Investing is the app I point new investors to when they already run their whole financial life from their phone. The interface is clean and genuinely intuitive to learn, which takes the fear out of placing a first trade. There are no commissions on stocks or ETFs, no account minimums, and no monthly fees. Terms apply.
SoFi® also offers fractional shares, so you can buy into a big-name company with just a few dollars. Because banking and investing live in one app, you can move cash from savings into a trade almost instantly. That tight loop makes it easy to put spare money to work.
SoFi Active Investing earned our Best Stock Broker for Beginners and Best Stock Broker for Fractional Shares awards for 2026. For someone building a first portfolio, that combination is hard to beat.
Who it’s best for: Phone-first beginners who want one app for banking and investing, plus an accessible way to start small.
2. Fidelity
Fidelity is where a large chunk of my own retirement savings actually sits, across both pre-tax and post-tax accounts. I trust it because it has been around for decades and manages trillions in assets. Its app is also extremely easy to use.
Fidelity also offers eligible customers a steady stream of IPOs. But you’ll need a minimum balance held at Fidelity to qualify. Its research and educational tools are some of the deepest available on any app. If you want to understand what you’re trading, Fidelity gives you room to dig.
Fidelity won both our Best Stock Broker Overall and Best Stock Broker for ETFs awards for 2026. For buy-and-hold investors, it is tough to top.
Who it’s best for: Long-term investors who want a wide range of account types, deep research, and best-in-class retirement tools.
3. E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley
E*TRADE has two separate trading apps in one ecosystem: a simple app for everyday investing and Power E*TRADE for active traders. Stocks and ETFs trade commission-free, and there is no minimum to open a brokerage account.
Now owned by Morgan Stanley, E*TRADE pairs your account with institutional-grade research most apps can’t match. It really shines for depth. The research, screeners, and options tools give serious investors plenty to work with, all from a phone.
Who it’s best for: Research-driven investors and active traders who want professional-grade tools and Morgan Stanley insights in their pocket.
Getting started matters more than the app you pick
These three apps are all low-cost, phone-friendly, and built for buying and holding good companies over time. The best one is simply the one that fits how you invest.
Pick it, fund it, and buy your first great business.
See all of the best free stock-trading apps of 2026.