Best for beginners
Robinhood
The app that made investing feel approachable
BEST FORFirst-time investors who want a simple mobile experience with no minimum to start.
Reviewed by the Clientele Research Team · Last checked 1 month ago (2026-07-15)
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Scores. Click any row to see our rationale
Fee Friendliness▼9/10
Ease of Use▼9/10
What You Can Buy▼5/10
Account Variety▼3/10
PROS
✓Start investing with as little as $1. Buy fractions of any stock.
✓The simplest investing app available.
✓Earn interest on uninvested cash. Rate depends on account tier.
✓Buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, and 15+ other cryptocurrencies in the same app.
✓No account minimum.
✓Instant deposit up to $1,000 to start trading the same day.
✓No commissions on options trades. Other brokers charge $0.65/contract.
✓24/7 live chat support.
CONS
✕IRA match rate is only 1% on the free tier. Reaching the 3% match requires the $5/month Gold plan.
✕No mutual funds or bonds.
✕No phone support on the free plan.
✕Trade orders may not always get the best available price due to the PFOF model.
✕No desktop platform. Web experience is basic compared to Fidelity or IBKR.