The best investment apps for teens ranked: Fidelity Youth Account, Schwab Teen Investor, Greenlight, and Acorns. Compare fees, age requirements, and features to find the right brokerage account for your teenager.
the earlier you start investing, the more time compound growth has to work. for teenagers, the challenge has always been access: most brokerages require you to be 18. but a handful of apps now offer teen accounts — some custodial, some joint, some fully owned by the teen with parental oversight. here are the best options.
fidelity's youth account is a brokerage account owned by the teen (ages 13–17) with a parent or guardian as a co-owner. there are no account fees, no minimums, and no commissions on trades.1 parents can monitor activity, set alerts, and view balances — but the teen gets to make the investing decisions. fidelity also bundles educational content directly in the app.
best for: teens who want real ownership of their portfolio with a safety net.
the schwab teen investor account is a joint brokerage account for teens 13–17 and their parent.2 both the teen and parent can log in, trade, and manage the account together. schwab also offers a bonus: teens who complete the schwab moneywise america financial course can earn a cash deposit into their account.
best for: families who want to invest side by side and learn together.
greenlight started as a debit card for kids and has grown into a full financial app. the investing tier lets parents open a custodial brokerage account where teens can research stocks and ETFs and request trades for parent approval.3 it also includes savings, chore tracking, and spending controls — all in one place.
best for: families who want a complete money management system, not just investing.
acorns early is a custodial investment account that uses the signature acorns approach: round-ups from everyday purchases get invested into a managed portfolio.4 college students (ages 18–24) can use acorns for free for up to four years. for younger teens, a parent opens the account and the teen learns by watching their portfolio grow automatically.
best for: teens who aren't interested in picking stocks but want to build the habit of investing.
| app | age range | fee | account type | parental controls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| fidelity youth | 13–17 | $0 | teen-owned, custodial | full monitoring |
| schwab teen investor | 13–17 | $0 | joint | collaborative |
| greenlight | any age (custodial) | from $4.99/mo | custodial | trade approval |
| acorns early | any age (custodial) | $0 for students | custodial | parent-managed |
the best app for your teen depends on their personality. a hands-on teen who wants to research and pick stocks will thrive with fidelity youth or schwab. a teen who'd rather set and forget will do well with acorns. and if you have a younger child who needs guardrails and guidance, greenlight's approval-based system is a solid starting point.
all four options prioritize education and safety — no margin trading, no options, and no way for a teen to blow through a life savings in a single afternoon. that's the right balance.
disclosure: askbuy may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page. we only recommend products we've researched and believe add genuine value.
This page was written by the engine and the engine is still on the line. The conversation below picks up where the article stops.
Yes — the picks above are the engine's current verdicts. Ask a sharper version of this question below and you'll get a custom answer with the latest pricing.