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 9 days ago (2026-07-15)
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.
