PickedFinance
Comparison guide

Best investing apps

Most investing apps now charge $0 to trade US stocks and ETFs. The differences are in options pricing, subscriptions, and the fees you only notice later, like moving your account out.

By PickedFinance Editorial TeamLast updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Disclosure: links on this page currently go straight to each provider’s own site, and we don’t earn a commission from them. If we join a provider’s affiliate program later, that will never change which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.

How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Short answer: on Nov 10, 2026, Fidelity, Robinhood, Public and Webull all charged $0 for online US stock and ETF trades. Fidelity charges $0.65 per options contract; Robinhood, Public and Webull charge $0 on stock and ETF options. Acorns is different: a $4–$12 monthly subscription that invests for you, including spare-change Round-Ups.

Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (each rate shows the day we checked it on the provider’s page)
PickProductBest forKey terms
One app for investing and retirementFidelity brokerage accountLong-term investors who want one app for everything$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades
Free stock and ETF optionsPublicOptions traders who want rebates$0 (US-listed stocks and ETFs, including extended hours) as of Nov 10, 2026 stocks and ETFs
Hands-off with spare changeAcornsAutomatic investing for people who won’t pick investments$4/month (Bronze; Silver $8, Gold $12) as of Nov 10, 2026

We read each app’s fee schedule or pricing page on Nov 10, 2026. Regulatory pass-through fees (SEC and FINRA trading fees on sales) apply at every broker and aren’t compared. We don’t score apps, and we have no affiliate relationship with any of them.

Our picks

One app for investing and retirement
Fidelity brokerage account
Stocks and ETFs $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026; no account minimums.
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
Free stock and ETF options
Public
$0 (stock and ETF options; index options $0.35 per contract) as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit Public (opens in a new tab)
Hands-off with spare change
Acorns
$4/month (Bronze; Silver $8, Gold $12) as of Nov 10, 2026
Visit Acorns (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

From each app’s fee schedule or pricing page, Nov 10, 2026
AppUS stocks and ETFsStock and ETF optionsNotable other fees
Fidelity$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026Not compared
Robinhood$0 (stocks, ETFs and their options) as of Nov 10, 2026$0Index options $0.50 per contract ($0.35 with Gold); optional Gold $5/month; instant withdrawals up to 1.75%
Public$0 (US-listed stocks and ETFs, including extended hours) as of Nov 10, 2026$0 (stock and ETF options; index options $0.35 per contract) as of Nov 10, 2026Outgoing account transfer $100; $3.99/month inactivity fee under $70 with no activity for 6 months
Webull$0 (US-listed stocks, ETFs and options) as of Nov 10, 2026$0Certain index options $0.50 per contract; outgoing stock transfer $75
AcornsManaged portfoliosNot offeredSubscription: $4/month (Bronze; Silver $8, Gold $12) as of Nov 10, 2026

The picks in detail

One app for investing and retirement

1. Fidelity brokerage account

Best for: Long-term investors who want one app for everything

Fidelity charges $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 for online US stock and ETF trades and $0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026 for options, with no account minimums and fractional shares from $1. It also offers IRAs with no account fees and a robo option (Fidelity Go) free under $25,000.

Key terms: $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades Fidelity terms

Pros

  • Full-service broker with IRAs
  • Fractional shares from $1

Cons

  • Options cost $0.65 per contract
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
Best for Simple app trading, including options

2. Robinhood

Best for: Simple app trading, including options

Robinhood says investing is commission-free for stocks, ETFs and their options, with no fees to open or maintain an account. Its fee schedule lists index options at $0.50 per contract ($0.35 for Gold members). Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month and adds tools and other perks; instant bank withdrawals cost up to 1.75% (minimum $1). Robinhood’s full fee schedule is a PDF; its older fee-schedule help page returned “not found.”

Key terms: $0 (stocks, ETFs and their options) as of Nov 10, 2026 stocks, ETFs and options Robinhood terms

Pros

  • $0 stock and ETF options
  • No account fees

Cons

  • Instant withdrawals cost up to 1.75%
  • Many features sit behind the $5/month Gold plan
Visit Robinhood (opens in a new tab)
Free stock and ETF options

3. Public

Best for: Options traders who want rebates

Public’s fee schedule (last updated Oct. 13, 2026) lists $0 for US-listed stocks and ETFs, including extended hours, $0 for stock and ETF options, and $0.35 per contract for index options. Enrolled options traders can get a rebate of $0.06–$0.18 per stock or ETF options contract. Watch the other fees: $100 to transfer your account out, $5 per paper statement, and a $3.99 monthly inactivity fee for accounts under $70 with no activity for six months. Public Investing is a member of FINRA and SIPC[9].

Key terms: $0 (US-listed stocks and ETFs, including extended hours) as of Nov 10, 2026 stocks and ETFs Public terms

Pros

  • $0 options with a possible rebate
  • $0 extended-hours trades

Cons

  • $100 outgoing transfer fee
  • Inactivity fee on small idle accounts
Visit Public (opens in a new tab)
Best for Options traders who want no deposit minimum

4. Webull

Best for: Options traders who want no deposit minimum

Webull says it doesn’t charge commissions for stocks, ETFs and options listed on US exchanges and has no deposit minimums. It charges $0.50 per contract for certain index options and $75 for each outgoing stock transfer.

Key terms: $0 (US-listed stocks, ETFs and options) as of Nov 10, 2026 stocks, ETFs and options Webull terms

Pros

  • No deposit minimums
  • $0 stock and ETF options

Cons

  • $75 outgoing transfer fee
Visit Webull (opens in a new tab)
Hands-off with spare change

5. Acorns

Best for: Automatic investing for people who won’t pick investments

Acorns charges a monthly subscription: Bronze $4, Silver $8, Gold $12. Bronze includes an investment account with an expert-built portfolio, Round-Ups that invest your spare change, and an Acorns Later retirement account. A flat fee weighs heavily on a small balance: $48 a year is 4.8% of a $1,000 account.

Key terms: $4/month (Bronze; Silver $8, Gold $12) as of Nov 10, 2026 Acorns terms

Pros

  • Fully automated, including Round-Ups
  • Retirement account included

Cons

  • Flat fee is expensive on small balances
  • You can’t pick individual stocks
Visit Acorns (opens in a new tab)

What protects your account

Brokerage accounts aren’t FDIC-insured. SIPC[9] protects customers of a failed member brokerage up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash, if securities and cash are missing, but not against investment losses. Check each firm’s membership before you fund it.

Who should skip this

  • You want someone to manage everything for a percentage fee. See robo-advisors.
  • You need the money within a few years. Keep it in insured savings instead.

Frequently asked questions

Which investing app has the lowest fees?
For US stock and ETF trades, Fidelity, Robinhood, Public and Webull all charged $0 on Nov 10, 2026. For stock and ETF options, Robinhood, Public and Webull charged $0; Fidelity charged $0.65 per contract.
Are there hidden fees?
Check transfer-out and inactivity fees: Public charges $100 to transfer out and $3.99 a month on idle accounts under $70; Webull charges $75 per outgoing stock transfer; Robinhood charges up to 1.75% for instant withdrawals.
Is Acorns worth $4 a month?
It depends on your balance. $48 a year is 4.8% of a $1,000 balance but 0.48% of $10,000.
Is my money protected if an app fails?
At SIPC-member brokers, SIPC[9] covers missing securities and cash up to $500,000 (including $250,000 cash). It doesn’t cover market losses.
Do you earn money from these apps?
No. We have no affiliate relationship with any app on this page.

Sources

Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.

  1. Fidelity: Commissions, margin rates and fees (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  2. Fidelity: Fractional shares (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  3. Robinhood Financial: Standard Pricing Fee Schedule (PDF) (cdn.robinhood.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  4. Robinhood: Trading fees on Robinhood (robinhood.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  5. Robinhood: Gold (robinhood.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  6. Public: Fee schedule (public.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  7. Webull: Pricing (webull.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  8. Acorns: Pricing (acorns.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  9. SIPC: What SIPC protects (sipc.org, checked Nov 10, 2026)
best of

Best robo-advisors

A robo-advisor builds and rebalances a portfolio for you for an advisory fee, usually a small percentage of your balance each year, plus the expense ratios of the funds it uses. We read each firm’s own page on Nov 10, 2026.

best of

Best brokerage accounts for beginners

Most large brokers now charge $0 to trade US stocks and ETFs online, so for a beginner the differences are in minimums, fractional shares, account fees and how easy it is to start small. We read each firm’s own pricing page on Nov 10, 2026.