Best Stock Trading Apps for Beginners (2026 Ranked)
“Zero commission” is standard now. So how do you choose? We tested Robinhood, Webull, and Fidelity to see which one actually helps you make money (and which one just wants you to gamble).
Head-to-Head Comparison
You don’t pay commissions anymore (thank you, competition). But you do pay in other ways, like data or service.
| Feature | Robinhood | Fidelity | Webull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade Fee | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Min Deposit | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fractional Shares | Yes ($1) | Yes ($1) | Yes ($5) |
| Account Types | Taxable / IRA | All (IRA/HSA/401k) | Taxable / IRA |
| User Type | Best App |
|---|---|
| Beginner | Robinhood |
| Long Term | Fidelity |
The Breakdown
1. Robinhood: The “iPhone” of Investing
It revolutionized the industry. The interface is beautiful, simple, and addictive (be careful with the confetti).
Best For: Buying your first 5 stocks.
Warning: Their customer service is mostly chat bots. Hard to reach a human if things go wrong.
2. Fidelity: The “Adult” in the Room
Fidelity manages trillions of dollars. They aren’t going anywhere. Their app looks like it was made in 2010, but their research tools are world-class.
Best For: Your life savings (Roth IRA) and serious wealth building.
3. Webull: The “Gamer” Choice
If you want to feel like a Wall Street trader with 6 monitors, Webull is for you. It’s free but packed with charts, indicators, and data.
Best For: People who want to trade actively or love analyzing charts.
Pro Tip: Fractional Shares
Think you can’t afford Amazon or NVIDIA because one share costs $1,000+?
The $5 Rule
Strategy: Don’t wait to “save up” for a full share. Just auto-invest $50 every week into the big companies you love.