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Stocks are not just the trading format where you fill a form, contact the stock exchange, and then buy or sell. It is a vast concept, and with the times changing, online trading is also on an all-time rise. Several stock trading apps offer stocks at $0 and even provide options to trade in ETFs, with user-friendly interfaces and top-notch experience you cannot afford to miss.
What is the best stock trading app?
The best stock trading app for US traders is TD Ameritrade because of its excellent navigation, number of assets, execution, and support. Fidelity is the best stock trading app for investors. However, if you prefer options trading, you can use E*Trade.
There are 11 applications, in particular, that have over 40 features and fulfill every sort of requirement when it comes to online trading. Moreover, these applications are compatible with both Android and iOS operating systems.
Best stock trading apps in 2022
E*Trade Stock Trading App
E* trade’s applications are very compatible in terms of usage and have many features for their users. If you frequently like to trade amongst options, then it is the perfect option for you. Even for stocks, it is an ideal platform, but you need to have at least $1,000 for data streaming.
The resources on their pages are very few compared to their competitors; therefore, if you’re a beginner, there is not much over here for you to learn.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.65/contract.
Fidelity Stock Trading App
This application provides easy online trading, has no reports for bugs, has a straightforward user interface, and as an investor, you’ll like the facilities provided. In the case of active investors, this application might not be the best, but it’s still the best choice for most people who like to trade in stocks. There is no essentiality for payment for order flow as well.
Their margin rates might be on a higher note than others, and there is no customization in terms of screening. Also, the banking services are not provided directly by them.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.65/contract.
Ameritrade Stock Trading App
Ameritrade has the facility of $0 trades; their trading platforms are very accessible, crafted with typical market research and even resources that lead the industry for beginners. It is indeed one of the best trader apps and is well known for its active customer service. Though not ideal for trading online, their desktop platform is truly unique.
You can also trade in futures and forex if you want to, but there is no exchange to international markets for trading. Also, if you like to trade in penny stocks, their fee is a whopping $6.95.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.65/contract.
Merrill Edge Stock Trading App
Merrill Edge has a mobile application with a fantastic user interface, and even better if you wish to research certain stocks. Their services are ahead of what the market generally offers. If you are already connected to the Bank of America, then there are several benefits and accounts functioning universally.
But, if in stocks you like penny stocks and OTCs, then you may not find it here. Also, there is no fractional share trading available.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $065/contract.
Interactive Brokers Stock Trading App
Whether you have an Android or an iOS device, Interactive Brokers trading on the go is very accessible. The data can be streamed easily, and the portfolio can also be easily managed. There is also the facility of full-featured order entry and consists of all factors that a trading professional would look for.
If you’re thinking of the best app to do stocks like a professional, this is the ideal one as it also provides global access to markets.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.65/contract.
Charles Schwab Stock Trading App
If you’re looking forward to having a consistent experience of trading that makes you enjoy trading rather than creating a burden, then Charles Schwab is the ideal one for any device. Although their application misses out on providing alerts and detailed quotations, this shouldn’t be bothering you unless you aren’t an active trader.
You can also have the option to plan financially in multiple ways via their services, and fractional shares are available as well. They’re very much recommended if you’re into saving via IRA accounts.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.65/contract.
Trade Station Stock Trading App
An ideal stock market broker app that consists of one of the best trading technologies in the industry, their smooth functioning provides facilities to active and professional traders in the proper manner. Not only for stocks, but their matrix ladder and trading across all complex situations make full-day trading possible as well.
Also, if you wish to trade in cryptocurrency, then that is possible via this very platform. However, their resources are spread across two sites; therefore, that might cause some problems.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.50/contract.
Robinhood Stock Trading App
Robinhood is already a renowned platform and is also very compatible in terms of usage. However, though they stepped in as the pioneers in ETFs and stocks, every app nowadays provides these facilities. Hence, they lag in terms of providing a variety of trading tools. But, their newsletters are highly insightful. Therefore you can get to learn a lot.
These days, the order process has been more on a controversial path; therefore, take care of the same and try using the platform via desktop.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.00.
WeBull Stock Trading App
WeBull, without a doubt, has more facilities than Robinhood but still lacks a lot compared to the rest of the market. But, if you’re looking for something basic and easy to use, then this app comes to your rescue. You can also trade in cryptocurrency via this platform, but not through your phone since it doesn’t support the same.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.00.
Firstrade Stock Trading App
If you’re looking for the best stock trading app in the USA, this is not the right one for you as most of the country speaks and deals in English. Firstrade, on the other hand, is the ideal app for Chinese investors. However, it also requires a minimum presence of 10,000 dollars in your account. Therefore, only go for it when you’re good at speaking Chinese.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.00.
Ally Invest Stock Trading App
Ally Invest is a compatible platform only if you are an ally bank customer. If that’s not the case, then as an individual broker, you might not find it the best one for you. But they are working intensively on providing the best tools, platform, research on investments, and educational resources. Your account can be managed universally without any issues.
Their trading tool lacks a bit when it comes to using it, and you can go for it only if you’re a typical professional.
Minimum deposit: $0.00.
Stock trading charges: $0.00.
Option trading charges: $0.50.
Best trading apps for stocks: A comparison
If you’re looking forward to having some good, user-friendly, trusted stock apps, then look no more! This comparison displays their streaming quotes in real-time, multiple indicators, and the other features some might feature while others might not. Say, for instance, less than 50% of the applications can send alerts when it comes to stocks. Check out what Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and E*Trade have for you:
- Market Moving Feature: All of these three have the feature that displays the Top Gainers.
- Live TV Streaming: Three of them, Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and E*trade, have the option of streaming live TV.
- Videos on demand: while Fidelity and TD Ameritrade provide the service of videos on demand, E*Trade doesn’t have such facilities.
- Alerts on stocks: Luckily, all three of these platforms provide you with alerts on stocks.
- Viewing options chains: Yes, you can view options chains on Fidelity, E*Trade, and TD Ameritrade.
- Real-time watch list: This kind of watch list is present on all three of these platforms.
- Streaming watch list: The list is also present on all three, namely Fidelity, TD Ameritrade, and E*Trade.
- Creating & Managing watch lists: All three let you create & manage watch lists on their respective platforms.
- Column Customization in watch lists: You can customize the columns according to what you want to see on TD Ameritrade, Fidelity, and E*Trade.
- Column Filtering in watch lists: All three can quickly help you to filter columns accordingly.
Trading app free: which one can you go for then?
If you’re looking for a free stock broker app, then TD Ameritrade is hands down the best without even a single doubt. They have two applications, which are not something everyone has; Thinkorswim mobile and TD Ameritrade Mobile. If you’re a casual investor, then the Ameritrade application is ideal for you. In contrast, if you’re an active investor with a knack of features essentially needed in an application, then you must go for thinkorswim.
With that being said, let us also tell you that both applications have functionality worth it to use.
Best stock trading app: How do I choose?
Nearly every exchange offers you $0 stock trades these days; therefore, if you’re looking for the best stocks and shares app, then look for the one that suits your feature requirement. Also, remember that whatever application you opt for displays you the real-time streaming quotes since most applications don’t show you typically real-time.
Applications such as Trade Station and TD Ameritrade provide you alerts on stocks as well as top-notch tools for your charts. You may also find a lot of indicators of trends and options to customize the same as well. Whereas if you’re looking for the best stock exchange app for beginners, you could always take a look at Fidelity and TD Ameritrade as both of them fit your requirements just perfectly.
Safest app for stocks: Which one to go for?
If you’re looking for the best stock trading app to make money but also looking for the utmost safety, then here are the Top Stock Trading Applications in 2021 for you:
- E*Trade: Go for it if you are into options.
- Fidelity: Investing? Then this is the best application for you.
- TD Ameritrade: If you’re a trader, look no more!
- Merrill Edge: If you wish to research a bit on stocks, then Merrill Edge is for you.
- Interactive Brokers: As a professional, why not go for this one!
Using just any other broker puts you at many risks when it comes to the security of your details. In contrast, a typically crafted application will always provide you protection at all points. If you’re looking forward to judging the security measures, look for the biometric login feature first, and then look if they have two-factor authentication to avoid any hacking situation.
Technology: Which application is the best in terms of technical aspects?
TD Ameritrade was the first in the market to establish itself technically with Alexa Skill. Further ahead in August 2017, they became the first broker that integrated Facebook Messenger with their chatbot, introducing the idea of Artificial Intelligence across all concepts. Then, Apple Business chat also entered its list of technical features in 2018.
Apple Car Play and Android Auto witnessed the arrival of TD Ameritrade. If you take a look, there isn’t one concept TD Ameritrade hasn’t laid its foot into. But now, considering the ever-changing times, TD Ameritrade isn’t the only one as everyone from Fidelity, Interactive Brokers, Charles Schwab are not compatible with Alexa. But still, Ameritrade has the most catch on commands and features in terms of Alexa.
Free stocks: Which app provides some stocks for free?
Not every app has the policy to provide you free shares to attract you more towards investing. Still, applications such as Robinhood and WeBull offer you 1-2 shares of their choice if those are compliant with the regulations. With Robinhood, you can get up to $500 worth of free shares annually, all depending on your trading frequency.
Webull, on the other hand, gives you a single share when you open an account and another free one when you deposit money in it. Apart from that, both companies provide you free shares when you complete a step ahead or achieve a milestone.
$100 in hand, can I start trading with it?
There is no minimum deposit requirement these days, so yes, of course, you can begin trading with as little as you have in hand. Every market trading app permits you to deal with $100, be it ETFs, stocks, or fractional shares. If you’re looking for more, check out the best app to compare trading stocks online, which will help you find out the extensive details.
To summarize
This article has given you every piece of detail, and be it from a mobile share trading app to a real stock market app; our list features all. Therefore, to end up with here’s a briefing of the top 5 applications once again:
- Fidelity: The best for investors.
- TD Ameritrade: The best for traders.
- E*Trade: The best if you like trading in options.
- Merrill Edge: The best if you’re looking for insights on stocks.
- Interactive Brokers: The best if you’re looking for an app as a professional.
And, that’s it! We hope you find every detail in this article and are now fully equipped with detailed insights; happy trading, everyone!
He is an expert in financial niche, long-term trading, and weekly technical levels.
The primary field of Igor's research is the application of machine learning in algorithmic trading.
Education: Computer Engineering and Ph.D. in machine learning.
Igor regularly publishes trading-related videos on the Fxigor Youtube channel.
To contact Igor write on:
igor@forex.in.rs
