Being a trader is all about being up to date with the latest trading techniques and tools. But there are so many out there that choosing what’s best can be very difficult. That’s why we’ve taken the time to do the research for you.
Our experts in the financial field spent more than 150 hours testing various mobile trading apps to create a simple trading guide for our readers. You can familiarise yourself with the results of our work below.
In This Guide
Here are the Best Mobile Trading Apps in the U.S.:
- Best Trading App: Fidelity
- Best Investment App: E*trade
- Cheapest Stock Trading App: Robinhood
- Best Free Trading App: Robinhood
- Best Trading App for Beginners: Oanda
- Easy to Download Stock Trading App: Interactive Brokers
- Best Trading App for Android: Fidelity
- Best Trading App for iOS: Robinhood
Which is the Best Trading App in the U.S.?
✔ One of America's top investment banks
✔ Fantastic selection of securities
✔ Reported issues with the platform
✔ Expensive to use outside of the U.S.
✔ One of America's top investment banks
✔ Fantastic selection of securities
✗ Reported issues with the platform
✗ Expensive to use outside of the U.S.
Fees: Some commission-free trading
Demo account: No
Min deposit: 0
Assets: Varied selection of global securities
License: CFTC, the SEC, FCA, etc.
Fidelity Investments is a financial services company that offers products such as brokerage and financial advisory services. It’s a well-established broker that allows its customers to invest in a huge selection of assets and securities.
Fidelity was one of the first companies to offer a mobile app for their Android users. Since then, they have provided regular updates to the app, as well as added new features. The current version of Fidelity for Android is 3.55, and it has been downloaded millions of times from Google Play and the App Store.
The app offers users a customised feed, updated watch list, a lot of markets, research capabilities and more useful features.
However, some users claim that some parts of the app feel unfinished as they are sometimes redirected to a web page, rather than it working in the app itself.
Which is the Best Investment App in the U.S.?
✔ One of the oldest online investment brokers on the market
✔ Free account registration
✔ Lacking customer service and account maintance
✔ Limited availability in Europe
✔ One of the oldest online investment brokers on the market
✔ Free account registration
✗ Lacking customer service and account maintance
✗ Limited availability in Europe
Fees: Cheap trading
Demo account: Yes
Min deposit: $0
Assets: Varied selection of global securities
License: CFTC, the SEC, FCA, etc.
E*trade is one of the online brokerage industry’s pioneers. The company was launched back in 1982. Today, E*Trade is the world’s leading online investing platforms with 5.2 million retail brokerage accounts and a total margin receivables balance of $9.6 billion. E*Trade makes it easy to find low-cost investments, without a hard sell.
E*Trade’s app is all about your convenience. With its award-winning app, you can watch your portfolio grow, get insights and research, check your balance, and much more. It’s the easiest way to start investing on the go.
E*Trade’s app is suitable for both iOS and Android users. Moreover, you can start commission-free online U.S.-listed stock, ETF, and options trades using E*Trade.
Unfortunately, not all the users are satisfied with the latest updates of the app. Customers claim that they’ve found some bugs in a new version.
Which is the Cheapest Stock Trading App in the U.S.?
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✔ Limited strictly to American traders
✔ Limited experience in the sector
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✗ Limited strictly to American traders
✗ Limited experience in the sector
Fees: Completely free
Demo account: No
Min deposit: $0
Assets: Stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, options
License: SEC, Finra
Robinhood is a rapidly growing brokerage, founded by the two co-founders of the popular stock trading app. The app quickly gained popularity for commission-free trading.
Robinhood is a very different broker compared to other brokers on the market. The main product they offer is their trading app, which allows access to real-time market data, advanced charts and instant notifications. They also provide a wide array of ETFs to purchase for those with a long term investing horizon. This is an awesome platform for you if you are interested in stocks, options, or cryptocurrency trading (for more cryptocurrency platforms, see here).
On top of being free of commissions, this brokerage is great in its simplicity and easy-to-use interface.
Which is the Best Free Trading App in the U.S.?
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✔ Limited strictly to American traders
✔ Limited experience in the sector
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✗ Limited strictly to American traders
✗ Limited experience in the sector
Fees: Completely free
Demo account: No
Min deposit: $0
Assets: Stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, options
License: SEC, Finra
Robinhood is a no-minimums, commission-free stock trading app that lets you buy and sell US-listed stocks, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, for free. The app is available on both iOS and Android.
One of the most crucial things about the Robinhood app is that, unlike the rest of the stock brokers and trading apps, it doesn’t take any commission or other charges from investors. Instead, it makes interest on the customer’s account balance.
Many users are satisfied with its easy-to-use and clear interface, but the customer service needs improvement. Some clients say that they were waiting for several days to get a response via email.
Which is the Best Trading App for Beginners in the U.S.?
Oanda is one of the world’s most elite online brokers based in New York and with a global reach that few brokers can compete against.
✔ Their unparalleled global reach
✔ 5 different platforms
✔ High fees and commission
✔ A limited selection of assets in some jurisdictions
✔ Their unparalleled global reach
✔ 5 different platforms
✗ High fees and commission
✗ A limited selection of assets in some jurisdictions
Fees: Commission, fees, and spread depending on the assets/securities
Demo Account: Yes
Min Deposit: 0
Assets: Thousands
Licenses: (CFTC), (FCA) & (IIROC)
Perfectly suited for beginners, the Oanda trading app provides fast and easy access to global markets and 120+ tradable instruments, including currency pairs, precious metals, and CFDs for global markets, indices, commodities, and bonds.
Oanda is good for beginners as it has educational materials that are very helpful. These tools are meant to help new traders increase their overall knowledge base and experience with the trading market. You can watch movies, webinars, or read books, all of which is available in the app.
Oanda’s demo account is one of the most convenient for beginners to use; new traders can learn to trade with virtual funds, without the risk of losing anything.
Which is the Easiest to Download Stock Trading App in the U.S.?
✔ One of the biggest online brokers in North America
✔ Top-shelf trading software for all customers
✔ Long processing time for withdrawls
✔ High commission for small positions
✔ One of the biggest online brokers in North America
✔ Top-shelf trading software for all customers
✗ Long processing time for withdrawls
✗ High commission for small positions
Fees: Rather high fees
Demo account: Yes
Min deposit: $100
Assets: Huge selection
License: SEC, IIROC, FCA, ASIC
Interactive Brokers, often abbreviated to IBKR, is a software-based broker that primarily focuses on online trading. As one of the top online brokers in the U.S., Interactive Brokers has a rich history and a strong reputation.
The IBKR mobile trading application provides electronic access to a broad array of financial instruments, including stocks, options, forex, futures and futures options on multiple market destinations all over the world.
The app is easy to download, and it is available on Amazon, Google Play and the App Store,
Unfortunately, many users claim that the app isn’t intuitive and is more suitable for experienced traders, as it’s hard to navigate and not very user-friendly.
Which is the Best Trading App for Android in the U.S.?
✔ One of America's top investment banks
✔ Fantastic selection of securities
✔ Reported issues with the platform
✔ Expensive to use outside of the U.S.
✔ One of America's top investment banks
✔ Fantastic selection of securities
✗ Reported issues with the platform
✗ Expensive to use outside of the U.S.
Fees: Some commission-free trading
Demo account: No
Min deposit: 0
Assets: Varied selection of global securities
License: CFTC, the SEC, FCA, etc.
With the Fidelity mobile app, you’ll get a personalised experience that helps you stay on top of your investments – whether you’re at home or on the go. The app has no hidden fees and is an easy way for users to stay up-to-date with their finances when away from their desktop computer.
The Fidelity mobile app brings you real-time financial data you need from your portfolio and puts it at your fingertips. It provides a dynamic experience, delivering timely and relevant insights with mobile-friendly charts, powerful tools and more.
The app is rated 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google Play. A lot of users claim that Fidelity has a lot of great information and is good overall.
Which is the Best Trading App for iOS in the U.S.?
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✔ Limited strictly to American traders
✔ Limited experience in the sector
✔ Commission-free trading
✔ Innovative investment services
✗ Limited strictly to American traders
✗ Limited experience in the sector
Fees: Completely free
Demo account: No
Min deposit: $0
Assets: Stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, options
License: SEC, Finra
Robinhood is one of the hottest apps on the trading market today. It’s a free trading app that lets investors trade without paying commissions or fees. Over the last year, the company has grown to 13 million users.
Robinhood is a FINRA-regulated broker-dealer, registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and is a Securities Investor Protection Corporation member. So, we consider it absolutely safe for U.S. traders.
The app is rated 4 out of 5 stars on the App Store. Its users like the super-easy user interface and straightforward design of the app.
Trading Guide for Traders in the U.S.
U.S. regulations are quite strict when it comes to providing information to investors about the brokers they are using and their services and products. This way, you can make an informed decision about whom you want to do business with. If you’re going to trade in the U.S., there are restrictions that you need to follow.
There are several main regulatory bodies in the U.S.:
- The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is the regulatory agency that oversees the futures and options industry.
- The National Futures Association (NFA) acts as an extension of the CFTC. It is an official regulatory organisation that makes it possible for U.S. citizens to invest in the futures market nationwide.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the U.S. government agency that regulates and enforces federal securities laws. The SEC’s main job is to ensure investment firms operate legally, protect investors from scams and keep the national banking system secure.
- The Financial Industry Regulatory Agency (FINRA) is responsible for regulating securities firms based in the United States of America.
U.S. trading laws have various requirements, and all investors should be aware of these laws before entering the U.S. trading market.
How to Choose the Best Trading App
Selecting a suitable broker that will match your needs is an important choice because it can affect your trading career. Investing is not only about making money but also about securing it in the best possible way.
- Broker licence
With so many brokers in the market promising foolproof trading platforms, it is necessary to be cautious. That’s why you must choose the right and safe broker. One of the main things to consider is if the broker has a licence from one of the main U.S. regulatory bodies. All the trading apps we recommend are licensed and strictly regulated.
- Compare brokers
If you’re interested in 2 or 3 brokers, the best way to choose one is to compare their pros and cons and test them. You can use a demo account to do a detailed search or read our comparative articles.
- Educational materials
Experience and development are some of the most important points that every trader should focus on. In order to improve your trading skills, you need to study the trading market a lot and hard, and the trading platform you use can be the best assistant for this.
Therefore, choose a trading platform that provides modern and user-friendly educational materials to develop and improve your trading skills.
FAQs
How can I start trading in the U.S.?
To start trading in the US, you need to:
1. Learn as much as possible about trading
2. Find a suitable broker
3. Practice with a virtual trading account
4. Open a trading account
5. Start researching stocks
6. Make a trading plan and follow it
Can foreigners trade stocks in the U.S.?
Foreigners can sell mutual funds, ETFs and U.S. stocks. In general, there are no rules prohibiting foreigners from selling these assets.
Do foreigners pay tax on U.S. stocks?
U.S. citizens and residents are required to report capital gains on foreign stocks on their tax forms, and they must pay taxes. If you are a foreign investor who trades foreign stocks, you would not be subject to capital gains tax.
How can I buy stocks in the U.S.?
1. Decide how much you can invest
2. Open an account online and fund it
3. Select the stocks that you want to buy
4. Buy stocks online
5. Track your investment
Is day trading legal in the U.S.?
Day trading is legal in the United States, as well as most other countries around the world. There are no laws or regulations that make day trading illegal in the U.S.
Is online trading safe in the U.S.?
Online traders have to be very selective when choosing which stocks they trade because they do not directly access the stock exchanges. You should remember that trading is very risky, and you need a good trading strategy to make a good profit.
What are the best stocks to buy for beginners in the U.S.?
There are many beginner-friendly investments that you can pick from, such as mutual funds or ETFs. A bank or brokerage firm can help you choose from the multitude of different investment options.
Conclusion
Our experts have spent more than 150 hours searching and testing trading and investment apps, to create a complete trading guide to the online trading apps in the U.S. We hope our article has been useful for you.
Note: Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below in case you have any questions regarding trading apps, safety, day trading, investments, financial systems, or anything else that might come to mind while spending time on our website. We promise to answer you as soon as possible.
Trading Platforms, Brokers & Apps That We Tested:
- Markets.com
- 24Option
- IQ Option
- BDSwiss
- HotForex
- Trade.com
- Libertex
- Plus500
- XTB
- InstaForex
- IG Markets
- GKFX
- LionsFX
- Valutrades
- XM
- IronFX
- Blackwellglobal
- FPMarkets
- AmanaCapital
- Admiralmarkets
- Alvexo
- Bizintra
- Pepperstone
- Windsorbrokers
- FXPro
- ForexTime
- HYCM
- FXGrow
- TeleTrade
- Trader.online
- Marketscube
- Finmaxbo
- FXCC
- Oanda
- Forex.com
- LCG
- CMC Markets
- FXCM
- iForex
- IFC Markets
- Aaatrade
Is Trading Allowed In My Country?
CFD Regulation Country by Country. The CFD trading services we are listing in this article are available in the following countries.
Europe:
- Albania
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Macedonia
- Malta
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
Excluded: Belgium
North America
- Belize
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Puerto Rico
- The Bahamas
Excluded: United States
South America
- Argentina
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Colombia
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Guyana
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Suriname
- Uruguay
- Venezuela
Excluded: Brazil
Africa
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Republic of the Congo
- Rwanda
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- The Ivory Coast
- Togo
- Tunisia
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Western Sahara
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Middle East
- Georgia
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Iran
- Iraq
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Cyprus
- Israel
- Jordan
- Saudi Arabia
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- United Arab Emirates
- Oman
- Yemen
Asia
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- China
- China
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Kazakstan
- Kirgizistan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Mongolia
- Myanmar
- North Korea
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Turkmenistan
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
Excluded: Hong Kong
Oceania:
- Australia
- New Zealand
Our Author:
Adam Jarfjord is a Swedish day trader, investor, and copywriter. He works as head of content at BullMarketz.com and has been providing editorial content within the financial sector for more than 5 years.
Read more about him by visiting his LinkedIn profile or contact us directly to learn more about the team.
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