7 Free Stock Trading Apps In 2024

Share this:
Editorial Note: While we adhere to strict Editorial Integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for How We Make Money. None of the data and information on this webpage constitutes investment advice according to our Disclaimer.

The best free stock trading app - eToro

eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs.

Top free stock trading app are:

  • 1

    eToro - best copy trading app for free stock and ETF trading, etc

  • 2

    eOption - best for traders seeking free stock trading apps that integrate sophisticated trading platforms

  • 3

    RobinHood - best beginner-friendly free stock trading app

  • 4

    Degiro - best low-cost free stock trading app for beginners and professional traders

  • 5

    E*TRADE - best free stock trading apps for all traders

  • 6

    Fidelity - best free stock trading app suitable for novice and experienced investors

  • 7

    Charles Schwab - best free stock trading app for fractional share investors

If you are preparing to invest in stocks, your first assignment should be finding the best stock trading platform. As a beginner, your interest should be in brokers that offer free trading apps and other top stock trading services.

There are brokerages that have done away with commissions on stock trades. They ensure the process of buying and selling stocks right from an app on your phone is easier than ever before. So, if you are seeking the best free stock trading app, TU experts have spent time researching and reviewing many of the free stock trading apps, so to save you time, we selected the best free trading apps for you.

However, this article will present traders with the top free trading app to safely buy and sell stocks. Additionally, there are guides explaining essential information about stock apps that will help you choose the best stock trading app.

eToro-best stock brokers with 0 fees
68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Is free stock trading possible?

Yes. Free stock trading is possible, as most of the best stock trading apps offer this type of trading, otherwise known as commission-free trading. Furthermore, these brokers offer a variety of account types, user-friendly platforms, and more, in addition to free trading apps. It is crucial to assess the broker's additional services, including the trading platform, option contract fees, and investment selection.

You should consider the advantages and disadvantages of free stock trading before deciding if it is the best choice for your investing requirements.

👍 Pros of free stock trading:

Commission-free or free stock trading is cost-saving—you may lower your trading fees.

Free stock trading offers novices an inexpensive method of learning about trading and investing without the burden of commission fees.

Active stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) traders can purchase and sell assets more frequently without worrying about trading expenses. This helps investors acquire a range of stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which readily diversify their portfolios.

👎 Cons of free stock trading:

Exchange costs, regulatory fees, and account maintenance fees are additional costs that traders must pay.

Some free stock trading platforms might provide fewer advisory and research services and have a restricted selection of investment products.

Note: Before choosing a brokerage or trading platform, read the fine print and comprehend the entire fee structure. Recall that stock investing involves risk, so it is critical to base your investment decisions on your risk tolerance and financial goals.

The best free trading apps for stock trading

The broker you choose is crucial, regardless of whether you want to trade a few options contracts or buy and sell a few stocks. Below are 8 of the best free stock trading apps, typically offering $0 account minimums or low minimum requirements, commission-free trading, investment education, and flexible customer support. Below are 7 of the top free stock trading apps you can trust for your stock investments.

eToro - stock trading platforms: eToro WebTrader, eToro mobile App

Open an account
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.

Minimal deposit: $10-$10,000

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: eToro WebTrader, eToro Mobile App

Fees: zero commission for stock trades

Mobile trading apps: Yes

EToro, a well-known and elite stock trading platform, has established itself as a one-stop stock platform for individuals seeking investing knowledge. This platform stands out due to its social trading platform, enriched modern and sleek application, easy-to-use and secure interface, and extensive educational resources. For novices seeking reliability, this is the best free stock trading app.

With a strong focus on security, regulation, and transparency, EToro is one of the best free stock trading apps, making it the favorite trading platform for veteran and novice traders. A very useful feature for new traders who want to learn from actual people's experiences without having to pay advisors exorbitant fees is eToro's social hub, where investors can discuss markets or exchange information.

Along with trading CFD shares, eToro allows fractional shares and offers top-notch services on its mobile app and web platform.

👍 Pros:

The mobile app has advanced trading features.

Affordable stock, CFD, and forex

eToro charges fair and transparent fees.

Low minimum deposit

👎 Cons:

EToro is not available in some jurisdictions that offer the service.

eOption - stock trading platforms: eOption web, eOption mobile app, eOption pro

Open an account
Your capital is at risk.
Via eOption's secure website.

Minimum deposit: $500 to $2000 (if you are a US resident, there is no minimum to open an account with eOption).

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: eOption web, eOption mobile app, eOption pro

Fees: $0 per stock/ETF trade

Mobile trading apps: Yes

eOption is another broker that provides traders with a free trading app. It is a multi-asset investment platform that lets you invest in the most well-liked markets worldwide. Leading regulatory bodies like FINRA and SIPC oversee eOption, which offers trading instruments including stocks, options, bonds, ETFs, and fixed-income instruments.

eOption provides low trading commissions, lightning-fast order execution, and cutting-edge platforms with a comprehensive suite of analytical tools. It serves as a mediator in deals involving standard stock classes and an authority on options trading.

Additionally, there are no minimum deposit requirements for cash trading accounts opened by US residents, and this broker offers low commissions for trading options. Quick assistance via phone and live chat on the trading platform during regular business hours.

👍 Pros:

Unlimited Trades in ETFs and Stocks for $0

Rich trading platform with real-time expert assistance

Trades in stocks and ETFs are commission-free.

$0 per trade

👎 Cons:

Commodities, futures, futures options, forex, cryptocurrencies, and fractional shares of stocks/ETFs are not available for trading.

Robinhood - stock trading platforms: Robinhood app

Minimal deposit: $0

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: Robinhood App

Fees: $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options

Mobile trading apps: Yes

The next free trading app on this list is Robinhood, and it offers a great user interface, multiple investment options, and no commission fees. Robinhood's excellent trading platform is perfect for novice investors looking for a reliable place to invest. This broker is a pioneer in the field of zero-commission trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and even cryptocurrency.

In addition to not levying a per-contract fee or charging flat commissions on options trades, Robinhood also boasts a competitive fee schedule. It supports fractional shares. Using just $1, investors can purchase fractional shares of thousands of stocks through Robinhood. With the fractional share feature, traders do not need to have a large amount of capital to create a diversified portfolio. Robinhood is the best option for traders who want to reduce costs or move to a commission-free stock trading model because it only has a $0 account minimum.

👍 Pros:

$0 commissions

Excellent mobile investment app

Fractional shares feature

Robinhood matches 1% of IRA contributions and offers free stock, options, ETF, and cryptocurrency trades.

👎 Cons:

No availability of fixed-income instruments and mutual funds

Degiro - stock trading platforms: DEGIRO WebTrader

Minimal deposit: one unit of the base account currency

Account minimum: 0

Stock trading platforms: DEGIRO WebTrader

Fees: Trading on US and Canadian stock exchanges will cost $1 commission and a $1 trade handling fee.

Mobile trading apps: Yes

DEGIRO could be the ideal option for investors seeking a free, simple, affordable, and safe stock trading app that provides access to the largest international markets. While DEGIRO is among the best free stock trading apps, the well-designed DEGIRO user interface allows users to see the precise costs of a trade before submitting an order.

DEGIRO has few additional fees and provides low-cost stock trading on numerous US and European exchanges. In comparison to other well-known online brokers, DEGIRO charges significantly lower fees for trading individual stocks in the US, Europe, and the UK. If you trade just once or twice a year, you do not need to worry because opening an account is simple, and there are no minimum deposits or inactivity fees.

There is no withdrawal fee for US stocks, but trading US options or futures entails a €5 monthly fee.

👍 Pros:

has the most affordable market rates

overseen by high-level authorities

Allow traders to initiate trades on American and European exchanges.

User-friendly mobile and web platforms

👎 Cons:

You cannot trade Forex, cryptocurrencies, or CFDs

E*TRADE - stock trading platforms: Power E*TRADE, E*TRADE Website

Minimal deposit: $0

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: Power E*TRADE, E*TRADE Website

Fees: $0 commission

Mobile trading apps: Yes

E*TRADE is among the best free stock trading apps that simultaneously fulfill the trading requirements of active stock and option traders. With thousands of mutual funds tradable with no transaction fee, the numerous trading platforms and $0 online stock and ETF commissions appeal to long-term investors. It offers services following guidelines set forth by FINRA, SIPC, NFA, FDIC, and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

With no minimum account requirements, novice traders can benefit from $0 commissions on online US-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades. E*TRADE provides mutual fund investments and trading in stocks, options, futures, bonds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

E*TRADE (available only to US clients) offers a fully digital and user-friendly account opening process, but the account verification process takes a while.

👍 Pros:

No commissions for exchange-traded funds, mutual funds, or stocks purchased online.

Integrates one of the finest mobile trading applications

No deposit requirements

There are no minimum balance requirements or trading activity requirements.

👎 Cons:

While no minimum deposit is required to open an account, for it to remain open, it must be funded within 30 days.

Fidelity - stock trading platforms: Fidelity Active Trader Pro

Minimal deposit: $0

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: Fidelity Active Trader Pro

Fees: Online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are subject to a $0.00 commissions)

Mobile trading apps: Yes

Another well-liked free trading app is Fidelity, which offers a variety of investment options along with a user-friendly mobile interface. It features an excellent mobile app suitable for novice and experienced investors, plus commission-free online stock and ETF transactions. Once more, this broker is a good choice for investors looking for trading apps that will save them money on regular trades of stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and options.

Fidelity is an affordable broker because it offers mutual funds, a zero-expense-ratio index, and $0 account minimums. It also combines first-rate research and an outstanding mobile app. With a minimum of just $1 per stock or ETF, investors can purchase and sell fractional shares of the company. As an illustration, traders can purchase 0.001 shares of Amazon.com.

👍 Pros:

Commission-free exchanges of stocks and ETFs

Provides fractional share investment options.

A large array of mutual funds

Superior mobile application

👎 Cons:

The options contract fees are higher than average, and futures trading is not offered.

Charles Schwab - stock trading platforms: thinkorswim, StreetSmart Edge®, Schwab.com

Minimal deposit: $0

Account minimum: $0

Stock trading platforms: thinkorswim, StreetSmart Edge®, Schwab.com

Fees: Schwab offers commission-free online stock and ETF trading.

Mobile trading apps: Yes

Charles Schwab is the next best stock broker; it offers traders free trading apps. This stock broker has reduced mutual fund fees, eliminated account fees, and removed per-trade commissions to support seasoned or novice investors making their first trade. Thus, opening an account at Charles Schwab and trading stocks, ETFs, and funds is among the most economical choices.

The extensive range of investment options, account kinds, and excellent apps completes the stacked feature set. This is the greatest free stock trading app, with a $0 account minimum, $0 stock, and fractional share investing options for ETF trades. With as little as $5, investors can purchase fractional shares of any S&P 500 stock through the fractional share option. Once more, Schwab's mobile app is among the greatest that a large brokerage house has to offer. Research has indicated that the ratings for its iOS and Android apps are above average, which is consistent with its robust online trading, account access, and management experience.

👍 Pros:

Outstanding client support

An extensive assortment of mutual funds.

Excellent mobile application.

No transaction fees

👎 Cons:

You cannot customize the platform.

Top trading apps compared

This table presents the fees that UK traders must pay some top brokers.

Stock trading commission Options trading commission Copy trading commission Inactivity fee Withdrawal fee

eToro

Free

Free

Free

Paid for

Paid for

eOption

Free

Paid for

Free

Paid for

Paid for

Degiro

Paid for

Paid for

-

Free

Free

Robinhood

Free

Paid for

Free

Free

Free

E*TRADE

Free

Free

Free

Free

Free

Fidelity

Free

Free( $0.65 contract fee)

Free

Free

-

Charles Schwab

Free

Free( $0.65 contract fee)

Free

Free

Free

How to choose a free trading app?

Choosing a free trading app demands that a trader consider certain factors. A trader should prioritize their choice of instrument when making investment decisions, and one of the things they should be thinking about is evaluating their trading or investment goals. Other factors a trader must consider include:

1

Verify if the free trading app offers access to the specific assets you're interested in trading.

2

Verify that the free trading app has security features like data encryption and two-factor authentication (2FA) and is supervised by a respectable financial institution.

3

Recognize the free trading app fee schedule and account types (margin, individual, joint, and retirement accounts) offered by the app, such as.

4

Assess the free trading app's user-friendliness to see if it offers real-time market data and sophisticated charting tools and is simple to use and intuitive.

5

Examine the responsiveness and customer support channels of the app. Having fast and dependable customer service can help solve problems or respond to inquiries.

6

Consider mobile and desktop options to determine which platforms are available.

Note: Before you decide on any free trading app, ensure to compare 3 to 5 of these free trading apps based on your priorities.

How do free trading apps work?

Free trading apps function by letting users trade a variety of financial assets without having to pay standard trading commissions, including stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, and more. Free trading apps are well-known for offering commission-free stock trading, fractional stock purchases, and a range of account kinds, such as joint accounts, individual retirement accounts, and accounts for minors under custodial supervision. For active investors, there is also access to a user-friendly trading platform, competitive margin rates, and sophisticated trading tools.

How do free trading apps make money?

Free trading apps eliminate traditional trading commissions, but using these platforms may come with additional fees and hidden costs. Free trading apps make money using different uncommon means, for example, the Payment for Order Flow (PFOF). With PFOF, when users place orders to buy or sell securities, the app's parent company may route those orders to market makers or high-frequency trading firms. By executing the orders, these market makers make money from the difference between the bid and ask prices. Free trading apps often hold uninvested cash balances in customer accounts and earn interest on these cash balances.

Again, many free trading apps offer margin trading, where users can borrow funds to leverage their trades. Users pay interest on the borrowed funds, and this interest revenue contributes to the app's income. In a nutshell, free trading apps generate revenue through rehypothecation, margin lending, interest, and fees for upgraded services.

Among the unstated costs connected to free trading applications are:

  • Inactivity Fees

  • Exchange Fees

  • Currency Conversion Fees

  • Withdrawal Fees

  • Margin Interest

FAQs

What advantages do free trading apps offer to investors?

By eliminating traditional trading commissions, free trading apps make investing more accessible to a larger group of people and allow investors to diversify their portfolios by buying a variety of stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and other assets. Once more, there is no minimum account requirement.

What tools and features are available in free trading apps?

Free trading apps offer investors a more user-friendly interface, real-time market data, advanced charting tools, and access to financial news, research reports, and analysis from reputable sources, educational resources, risk management tools, and social features.

Which apps are currently leading the rankings, and what factors contribute to their popularity?

Considering their social trading platform and sleek, contemporary mobile application, free trading apps like eToro top the list. Some apps, like Robinhood, are renowned for being the first to offer real-time market data, commission-free trading, and an easy-to-use mobile app. E*TRADE's customer service and Power E*TRADE, an upgraded platform for active traders, are the main reasons for its popularity.

When choosing a free trading app, what factors should investors take into account?

Investors should consider factors like regulatory compliance, cost structure, asset availability, account types, user-friendliness, educational resources, customer support, mobile and desktop access, and security measures.

Glossary for novice traders

  • 1 Trading

    Trading involves the act of buying and selling financial assets like stocks, currencies, or commodities with the intention of profiting from market price fluctuations. Traders employ various strategies, analysis techniques, and risk management practices to make informed decisions and optimize their chances of success in the financial markets.

  • 2 Broker

    A broker is a legal entity or individual that performs as an intermediary when making trades in the financial markets. Private investors cannot trade without a broker, since only brokers can execute trades on the exchanges.

  • 3 Investor

    An investor is an individual, who invests money in an asset with the expectation that its value would appreciate in the future. The asset can be anything, including a bond, debenture, mutual fund, equity, gold, silver, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and real-estate property.

  • 4 CFD

    CFD is a contract between an investor/trader and seller that demonstrates that the trader will need to pay the price difference between the current value of the asset and its value at the time of contract to the seller.

  • 5 Cryptocurrency

    Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual currency that relies on cryptography for security. Unlike traditional currencies issued by governments (fiat currencies), cryptocurrencies operate on decentralized networks, typically based on blockchain technology.

Team that worked on the article

Peter Emmanuel Chijioke
Contributor

Peter Emmanuel Chijioke is a professional personal finance, Forex, crypto, blockchain, NFT, and Web3 writer and a contributor to the Traders Union website. As a computer science graduate with a robust background in programming, machine learning, and blockchain technology, he possesses a comprehensive understanding of software, technologies, cryptocurrency, and Forex trading.

Having skills in blockchain technology and over 7 years of experience in crafting technical articles on trading, software, and personal finance, he brings a unique blend of theoretical knowledge and practical expertise to the table. His skill set encompasses a diverse range of personal finance technologies and industries, making him a valuable asset to any team or project focused on innovative solutions, personal finance, and investing technologies.

Dr. BJ Johnson
Dr. BJ Johnson
Developmental English Editor

Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK. In 2020, Dr. Johnson joined the Traders Union team. Since then, he has created over 100 exclusive articles and edited over 300 articles of other authors.

Mirjan Hipolito
Cryptocurrency and stock expert

Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets. Her specialties are daily market news, price predictions, and Initial Coin Offerings (ICO).