Starting to invest shouldn't require a pile of cash. We tested the top $0-minimum apps for beginners — Fidelity, Webull, Public, and SoFi — and broke down which one fits your style, whether you want to practice, diversify, or get guided help.
investing used to mean opening a brokerage account with a few hundred dollars, paying commissions on every trade, and hoping you had enough to buy a full share of a company like Apple or Amazon. that world is gone.
today, the best investment apps let you start with $0, trade stocks and ETFs for free, and buy fractional shares — so you can own a piece of a $500 stock for $5. the barrier to entry has never been lower.
but which app should a beginner actually use? we compared four of the top platforms — all with no minimum deposit — to find out.
| app | best for | account minimum | commission fees | standout beginner feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fidelity | overall best | $0 | $0 | fractional shares + extensive educational library |
| webull | practice trading | $0 | $0 | paper trading simulator |
| public | diversification | $0 | $0 | fractional shares from $1 + themed investing |
| sofi | guided investing | $0 | $0 | access to certified financial planners (CFPs) |
fidelity has been a trusted name in investing for decades, and their app brings that reliability to your phone. nerdwallet rates fidelity as the best online broker for beginning investors, and it's easy to see why.1
why it wins for beginners:
fidelity is the pick if you want a no-nonsense, full-featured brokerage that grows with you. it's not flashy — it's just solid.
webull's paper trading feature is one of the best ways to learn investing without risking real money. you get a simulated $1 million portfolio and real-time market data to practice with.2
why it's great for beginners:
webull is ideal if you're nervous about making your first trade. practice for a month, build confidence, then switch to real money when you're ready.
public makes investing feel social — you can see what others are buying, follow creators, and invest in themes (like clean energy or AI) instead of picking individual stocks.3
why beginners like it:
public is the best choice if you want to diversify broadly without a lot of money. a $20 deposit can buy fractions of 10 different companies.
sofi isn't just an investing app — it's a full financial platform with banking, loans, and credit cards. for beginners, the standout feature is access to certified financial planners (CFPs) and automated investing.
why beginners should consider it:
sofi is the pick if you want a hands-off, guided experience and prefer having access to a human advisor when you have questions.
the common thread across all four apps is simple: $0 minimums and fractional shares. together, they remove the two biggest hurdles that kept people from investing:
the best app for you depends on your personality. want a trusted name? fidelity. want to practice first? webull. want to diversify with small amounts? public. want a guided hand? sofi.
all four will get you started for exactly $0.
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