Best Investment Apps (2026): Fidelity, Schwab, Wealthfront Compared

Fidelity is the best investment app for most people in 2026 — it covers active traders and passive index investors alike, with no account minimums and strong research tools. For hands-off investors who want their portfolio managed automatically, Wealthfront is the best robo-advisor we tested.

Disclosure: Apps Tested does not provide investment advice. This review evaluates apps on usability, features, and reliability only. Consult a licensed financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Rank	App	Score	Fees	Best For
#1	Fidelity Editor's Pick	9.2/10	$0 commissions	Best full-service app
#2	Charles Schwab	9.0/10	$0 commissions	Best for serious investors
#3	Wealthfront Best Robo-Advisor	8.9/10	0.25% annual fee	Best automated investing
#4	M1 Finance	8.7/10	Free / $3/mo Plus	Best pie-based auto-investing
#5	Robinhood Best for Beginners	8.4/10	$0 commissions	Best for new investors

1. Fidelity — Best Overall (9.2/10)

Fidelity's mobile app combines the tools serious investors need — charting, screeners, research reports, real-time quotes — with a clean enough interface that new investors aren't overwhelmed. Commission-free stock and ETF trades. No account minimum for brokerage accounts. The Fidelity Youth Account for teenagers is genuinely useful for parents teaching financial literacy.

Fidelity's index funds (FZROX, FZILX) have zero expense ratios — you literally pay nothing to hold them. For passive investors building a simple portfolio, this is unmatched. Fractional shares down to $1 let beginners invest in high-priced stocks.

2. Charles Schwab — Best for Serious Investors (9.0/10)

Schwab's acquisition of TD Ameritrade brought the powerful thinkorswim trading platform under the Schwab umbrella. For options traders and technical analysts, thinkorswim is among the most powerful desktop platforms available. The mobile app is less impressive than Fidelity's but adequate. Schwab has excellent customer service and a strong branch network if you ever need to talk to a human.

3. Wealthfront — Best Robo-Advisor (8.9/10)

Wealthfront manages your portfolio automatically for 0.25% annually. You answer questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and Wealthfront builds a diversified ETF portfolio and rebalances it automatically. Tax-loss harvesting (selling losing positions to offset gains) is included, which can meaningfully improve after-tax returns.

For busy professionals who want to invest without managing their portfolio, Wealthfront is excellent. The Path financial planning tool provides detailed projections for retirement, home purchase, college savings, and other goals.

4. M1 Finance — Best Pie-Based Investing (8.7/10)

M1's "pies" concept lets you build a portfolio from stocks and ETFs in the proportions you want, and M1 automatically maintains those proportions when you deposit money. It's a hybrid between self-directed and automated investing. For investors who want to build a custom portfolio without constant manual rebalancing, M1 is a clever solution.

5. Robinhood — Best for Beginners (8.4/10)

Robinhood popularized commission-free trading and remains one of the most approachable apps for new investors. The interface is simple. The options trading is accessible (though this can be a liability for inexperienced traders). Robinhood Gold at $5/month adds higher instant deposit limits and professional research reports. The 2021 GameStop controversy and past technical outages during high volatility remain marks against it.