Curated by our team

Top Online Investing Accounts

The account you pick matters less than actually starting — but a good one gives you low costs, real tools, and a reason to stay consistent. Here are our curated picks.

  1. Our #1 Investing Account
    Robinhood

    Best all-around

    Robinhood Investing

    Commission-free investing with an IRA match and automation built in.

    • High-yield cash — 3.35% APY on uninvested brokerage cash with Gold
    • 3% IRA match on every contribution — up to $225/year at the 2026 limit
    • Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, and options with fractional shares from $1
    • Recurring investments to automate dollar-cost averaging on any schedule
    See Robinhood Investing
  2. Betterment

    Best hands-off

    Betterment Investing

    A leading robo-advisor that builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you.

    • Invest smarter with tax-savings tech
    • Save for retirement with a tax-advantaged IRA
    • Automated management diversifies and invests for you
    • Over 1 million customers
    See Betterment Investing
  3. SoFi

    Best all-in-one app

    SoFi Invest

    Active and automated investing in the same app as your banking.

    • Buy stocks and ETFs with zero commission fees
    • Use SoFi's automated robo-advisor with zero management fees
    • Access to alternative investments and IPOs
    • Complimentary access to SoFi's credentialed financial planners
    See SoFi Invest

The full guide to investing accounts

Online brokers made investing cheap, simple, and available from your phone. The account you pick matters less than actually starting — but a good one gives you low costs, solid research, and tools that don't get in your way. Our curated picks are above; here's how to get going.

How to start (5 steps)

  1. Choose a reputable brokerage — low fees, good reviews.
  2. Open the account with your ID and basic details.
  3. Fund it with a bank transfer.
  4. Learn the platform before you put real money to work.
  5. Research before you buy — skip the hot tips.

The boring approach that works

Most people do best with a low-cost, broad index fund and an automatic monthly contribution. Get any employer 401(k) match first — it's free money — clear high-interest debt, build a starter emergency fund, then invest the rest for the long haul and leave it alone.

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