We've compiled a list of the top investing apps for those who want to start investing, manage their portfolio, or make trades while on the go
By making it easier to track performance and manage what you buy and sell, the top investing apps can make investing more manageable.
These user-friendly applications might be ideal for novices wishing to dabble in investing or seasoned investors seeking to make trades while on the go, open an ISA for stocks and shares, or grow their portfolio.
An ethical investment strategy, the best ISA investments, opening a personal pension, and even free trades can all be facilitated by the right app.
Additionally, a selection of pre-made portfolios might be available.
If you're unsure whether it's time to invest or if you should commit to a high-yielding one-year savings account, read our post on the advantages of saving as opposed to investing.
Upon transferring ISAs or pensions to the platform, certain investing apps offer cashback or a bonus.
Depending on the type of investor you are, we have compiled a list of some of the top apps available for selection.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates all of the apps listed below, and while most of them charge for investment purchases, they are all free to download.
How do apps for investing operate?
In addition to holding your funds, the account or app provider lets you buy and sell investments. Although their products are diverse, they at least provide a general investment account. Most provide a personal pension in addition to a tax-efficient ISA that lets you keep your investments and avoid paying taxes on growth, capital gains, or dividends.
Some provide a standard savings account so you can accumulate your nest eggs in one place.
Your app allows you to fund (pay into) your investment account and purchase or sell a variety of assets, including bonds, shares, funds, and, in certain situations, cryptocurrency.
You can monitor the performance of your portfolio and typically see a breakdown of your holdings by asset, sector, and region using the app.
Although these apps don't provide financial advice, they may give you access to research, analysis, and performance data to aid in your investment choices.
Prior to selecting an app, you should clarify what it offers, including the types of investments it offers, the yearly fees, and customer support in case you need assistance with your account at any point.
Top investing apps for novices.
Nutmeg.
Naturally, Nutmeg, the largest digital wealth manager in the UK, has a sleek and user-friendly app.
Nutmeg provides a range of pre-made portfolios instead of requiring you to select your own shares and funds. These depend on your investment style and risk tolerance; for instance, you may want to make socially conscious investments.
You can select from a general investment account, pension, junior ISA, lifetime ISA, or stocks and shares ISA.
A minimum investment of 500 is required (100 for junior and lifetime ISAs). Depending on the amount and portfolio chosen, Nutmeg charges between 0 and 25 percent. Fees for investment funds are extra.
The app has a Google Play rating of 4 out of 5 stars and an App Store rating of 4 out of 8.
Make your money.
You can open a pension, junior ISA, general investment account, or stocks and shares ISA with Wealthify, which is supported by Aviva. The bare minimum investment is one (50 for the pension).
You can choose from a variety of investment portfolios, including ethical ones, based on your savings objectives and risk tolerance.
In addition to Wealthify's 0.6 percent annual fee, investment costs are 0.6 percent, with ethical portfolios incurring 0.7 percent. The annual fee for SIPPs is 0.6 percent up to 100,000, and then drops to 0.3 percent for any amount beyond that.
The app receives a rating of 4 out of 4 stars on the App Store and 3 out of 2 stars on Google Play (complaints seem to be more focused on investment returns than the app itself).
Moneybox.
Moneybox is an excellent option for novices because you only need one to get started. Along with a variety of exchange-traded funds and tracker funds, there are three pre-made portfolios available for selection.
Also, investors can mix and match their own portfolio by selecting from 20 large US stocks, including fractional shares of companies like Amazon and Coca-Cola.
ISAs for stocks and shares, general investment accounts, junior ISAs, lifetime ISAs, and personal pensions are all available to investors.
You can start a regular weekly deposit, a monthly payday boost, or make one-time deposits, or you can use the "round up" feature to invest your spare change.
A monthly fee of one percent, an annual charge of 0.5 percent, and investment costs ranging from 0.7 percent to 0.7 percent are all included. The app receives 4 points on Google Play and 4 points on the App Store.
The BFIA Readers Choice Awards 2024 saw Moneybox win Best Financial App.
Plum.
The "ultimate smart management app" is how Plum describes itself. Plum provides unlimited commission-free trades for thousands of brands, such as Tesla and Meta, in addition to up to 26 investment funds, which include tech, healthcare, and green options.
An ISA, general investment account, or pension can be funded with just one.
Additionally, depending on your membership, you can earn up to 4point 38 percent interest from an easy-access savings account and 4point 76 percent from a cash ISA.
The basic plan is free, while the "pro" and "premium" plans cost 2 and 9 points per month, respectively. There is also an annual management fee of 0 to 45 percent on investments. The fees charged by fund managers fall between 0 and 13 percent and 0 and 88 percent. The app receives 4 points on Google Play and 4 points on the App Store.
The greatest investing applications for regular investors.
Langsdown, Hargreaves.
With thousands of funds and shares available, Hargreaves Lansdown is the biggest investment platform in the United Kingdom.
If you'd rather have a professional create your portfolio, there are also four pre-made options.
To open an ISA, junior ISA, fund and share account, lifetime ISA, self-invested personal pension (SIPP), or junior SIPP, you must deposit at least 100. The annual fee is 0.45% (it decreases for portfolios over £250,000), plus trading fees for shares you buy or sell, and investment costs.
Trade shares from the UK, Europe, and North America, as well as trade bonds and funds, are all available on the app, along with real-time share prices. It has an App Store score of 4 points 7 and a Google Play score of 4 points 6.
AJ Bell.
AJ Bell provides four pre-made portfolios, thousands of shares, and funds for do-it-yourself investors. Stocks and shares ISA, lifetime ISA, junior ISA, SIPP, and junior SIPP are among its complete range of products.
AJ Bell Youinvest charges a competitive 025 percent for investors with less than £250,000. People with bigger portfolios pay less. On top are fees for trading shares and investment funds.
Customers can use the app to buy and sell investments, check the value of their portfolio, view live prices of shares in the US, UK, and Canada, and log in using their biometrics. It has an App Store score of 4 points and a Google Play score of 4 points.
The 2024 BFIA Readers Choice Awards saw AJ Bell win Best Broker and Best Funds Platform.
Toro.
EToro is worth looking at if you want to see how other traders invest or if you want to purchase cryptocurrencies. In addition to a variety of pre-made portfolios with themes like tech, travel, and oil, it provides access to shares, Bitcoin, and other cryptocurrencies. Additionally, you have the option to instantly replicate the trading of high-performing traders in your own portfolio.
Users open a taxed trading account (no ISA or pension option is available). The fees are minimal: there is no account fee, but after a year without trading activity, there is a £10 monthly inactivity fee and a 0.75 percent currency conversion fee.
Withdrawals to an external account from GBP and EUR accounts are free. A fixed £5 fee is assessed by eToro for withdrawals to external accounts from a USD investment account. UK eToro Club members receive a 20 percent discount on conversion fees for Gold and Silver members, a 40 percent discount for Platinum and Platinum+ members, and an 80 percent discount for Diamond members. When purchasing or selling cryptocurrency, there is a 1% fee.
3.8 on Google Play and 3.9 on the App Store are the app's respective ratings. There have been complaints of technical problems and trouble making withdrawals.
The best free trading apps for investors.
Free trade.
The basic investing account offered by Freetrade has no fees, and as the name implies, there are no costs associated with trading shares.
The ISA and SIPP for its stocks and shares cost 4 and 11 points per month, respectively. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), investment trusts, and shares (including US fractional shares) are all available. No pre-made portfolios are available.
Its app has a 4 out of 3 star rating on the App Store and a 3 out of 9 star rating on Google Play.
Trading 212.
With no annual fee or trading fees, Trading 212 is an extremely affordable choice. It also provides a free trading account and ISA. Be mindful of fees associated with making deposits into your Trading 212 account, as well as a currency conversion fee of 0 to 15%.
Investors can choose from over 13,000 shares and ETFs, and you can invest with just one.
The app has a Google Play rating of 4 out of 2 stars and an App Store rating of 4 out of 6. People say it's a great way to buy and sell shares because it's quick and simple.
In the 2024 BFIA Readers Choice Awards, Trading 212 was named the Best Low-Cost Broker.
Top investing applications for moral investing.
The Great Trade.
The Big Exchange might be worth a look if you have a strong commitment to making ethical investments. Establishing a new financial system in the UK that "delivers a positive impact on people, and the planet" is the platform's stated goal, which was co-founded by The Big Issue.
With pre-made "bundles" of funds and a list of investment funds if you would rather pick your own, it provides an ISA, junior ISA, and general investment account. These funds come from Triodos, Liontrust, and Pictet.
A competitive 0 percent annual fee is charged, with fund manager fees ranging from 0 percent to 1 percent. The Big Exchange claims that its app is "brimming with features to make managing your money easier, spending tools, and insightful information."
It does not yet have a Google rating, but it has 3 out of 1 stars on the App Store.
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