7 Best Investment Apps for Beginners: A Guide for 2025
Discover the top seven investment apps for beginners in 2025, designed to simplify investing with ease, insights, and accessibility.
Investment apps have revolutionised the way beginners access financial markets, making wealth-building more attainable for all. These platforms typically feature low barriers to entry, user-friendly interfaces, and numerous educational tools designed for novice investors. In this guide, we explore seven standout investment apps for beginners in 2025, highlighting their unique features and ideal use cases. The best overall app for new investors is SoFi Active Invest®, praised for its simplicity, affordable cost structure, and flexible investment options suitable for long-term strategies. With no trading fees or account minimums, it also offers access to Certified Financial Planners and opportunities to invest in IPOs. However, it lacks tax-loss harvesting features. Acorns Invest™ is an excellent choice for micro-investing, allowing users to round up spare change and automatically invest in low-cost ETFs, though its monthly plans can be costly for smaller portfolios. Socially conscious investors can turn to Public Investing, a platform that blends social interaction with commission-free trading and fractional shares. While advanced trading options are limited, it fosters group discussions and insight-sharing among users. Vanguard remains a leader in retirement-focused investing, offering comprehensive retirement accounts such as IRAs and tools for informed long-term planning. However, its robo-advisory service comes with higher costs. Ally Invest excels in tax-optimised investing and offers versatile portfolios tailored to different financial goals but requires substantial initial deposits for its wealth management services. For hands-off investors, Betterment Investing provides cost-efficient automated investing, personalised portfolios, and comprehensive goal-setting tools, albeit with added fees for ongoing access to certified advisors. Lastly, Stockpile appeals to families aiming to educate children on investing through kid-friendly mini-lessons and gift-stock features, though it charges a monthly membership fee. The growing appeal of investment apps lies in their accessibility and affordability, bridging gaps traditionally seen in equity investing. Key features for beginners include intuitive navigation, educational materials tailored to inexperience, and helpful tools for portfolio management and diversification. Setting clear goals, understanding risks, and focusing on long-term strategies are vital steps to achieving financial success while avoiding common pitfalls like over-trading or reacting emotionally to market fluctuations. A diversified portfolio and a buy-and-hold strategy can mitigate risks and produce steady growth over time. Armed with disciplined research and the right investment tool, beginners can confidently enter the world of investing and build a foundation for financial security.