THE TOP STOCK TRADING APPS FOR 2021
The rapid development of smart phone technology has made it possible to access everything from a single mobile device. The stock market is no different. It is now the norm to use trading apps to check the market and stay up to date on the latest news and development.
On stock trading apps you can start trading from $0 investment. They have an easy-to-use interface that both beginners and expert traders can use. You can do your stock market business online, having access to all the features from the screen of your smart phone.
We tested 11 stock trading apps for our yearly 2021 Review. We compared them by testing 40 features from all the apps. We took positive reviews from brokers about the performance and functionality of the app while trading stock. The scores were then compared and marked.
The testing was carried out on an iPhone XS (Apple IOS) and Samsung Galaxy S9+(Android).
TOP STOCK TRADING APPS 2021
- Coinbase – Best Crypto App for Investors
- Plus500 – Best App for Options
- Interactive Investor – Best Stock App for Traders ·
- Forex – Best Stock App for Professionals
- Trading212 – Great for Stock Research
Coinbase – Top crypto app for Traders
Coinbase is an ideal tool for new crypto investors but it cannot provide other investment experience. Coinbase features like learn program and the ability to easily set up recurring purchases, provide the inexperienced traders with a clear path to becoming invested and actually understanding cryptocurrency. Coinbase Pro is a cheaper and more robust option for experienced traders. Coinbase is designed with the beginner in mind so educational material is one of the best.
Please check and review all terms and conditions before applying.
Plus500 – The one to use for everyday investors
Plus500 provides an interface for executing trades without the need for advanced functionality. The broker’s spreads are competitive, which keeps costs low, and the proprietary WebTrader platform is intuitively functional. Plus500 have the additional security of regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority. The lack of educational and research resources, not providing MT4 as an alternate platform, and no auto-trading make this broker unsuitable for beginners and technically oriented traders.
76.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets & CFDs with the provider above.
Interactive Investor – Best IRA accounts
Interactive Investor suits those brokers who want to manage their own investments or want to invest in more esortic investments beyond unit trusts, investment trusts and ETFs. Interactive investor has a fixed fee charge which is helpful to investors having a huge portfolio as they will be charged minimum amount in terms of fee. Apart from all this, Interactive investor website was not upto the mark as many traders faced difficulties while trading which leads to lot of negative reviews.
Please check and review all terms and conditions before applying.
Forex – The choice for professionals
Forex service all types of traders but its emphasis on fast, reliable execution for the high-volume trader makes them top rated in industry. They offers access to a variety of financial instruments with spread and commission costs that are on par with the industry, a choice of account types, multiple user interfaces, and educational and research resources. But more attention can be given to customers for achieving better rating.
Please check and review all terms and conditions before applying.
Trading212– Top app for Options
Trading 212 works as a CFD and forex broker regulated by multiple financial supervisory authorities. Trading 212 offers commission-free stocks and ETFs, while CFD fees and non-trading fees are low as well. The account opening process is seamless and the trading platforms are user-friendly. Trading 212 has a limited product portfolio, lacking popular asset classes such as bonds or options. Phone and live chat support, and forex fees are relatively high.
Please check and review all terms and conditions before applying.
Other Trading Platforms
Other platforms made it to our list of the best trading platforms in 2021. They include:
TradeStation Global
TradeStation has put a great deal of effort into making themselves more attractive to the mainstream investor, but the platform is still best suited for the active, technically-minded trader. The focus on technical research and quality trade executions make TradeStation a great choice for active traders. Also the technical tools and screeners aimed at active traders are all at or near the top of the class.
Please check and review all terms and conditions before applying.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE TOP TRADING APPS
Almost all trading apps offer real time streaming quotes, charting with different indicators and watchlists that can be synced to get an overall market review. But other features such as stock alerts and quotes are not so common. For example, only 50% of trading apps give basic stock alerts.
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| 76.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets & CFDs with the provider above. | |||||
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| 71.2% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets & CFDs with the provider above. | |||||
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LEADING TRADING APPS FOR BEGINNERS
- TD Ameritrade
- Fidelity
BEST STOCKBROKER FOR BEGINNERS
TD Ameritrade took the winning position as the best online broker for beginners based on more than 30 variables. It offers the most diverse and comprehensive collection of educational resources and content.
TD Ameritrade has more than 200 videos, quizzes, progress tracking, and monthly webinars.
TOP FREE STOCK TRADING APP
TD Ameritrade bags the title for the best free trading app. It gives a choice between two apps: TD Ameritrade mobile and Thinkorswim Mobile.
TD Ameritrade Mobile is aimed at casual investors, whereas Thinkorswim Mobile is targeted at active investors. Both offer top quality performance and features.
WHAT TO CHOOSE?
Using low prices and $0 stick trades should not be the base of comparing different trading apps. Nowadays, all leading market apps offer that. Instead compare the different features like charting features, watch lists, quotes, and order tickets. This will give you a better idea of the functionality and performance of the app.
An interesting bit of info: Realtime streaming of quotes is not the norm with all trading apps. Some apps also change, or refresh stock quotes every couple of seconds or more.
TD Ameritrade and TradeStation give great charting tools and stock alerts, along with many custom options. Investors are also privy to hundreds of technical indicators that help them with their stock trading options.
THE TRADING APP LEADING IN TECHNOLOGY
TD Ameritrade wins again as it was the first broker to:
- Use Alexa in their app in August 2017
- Integrate Facebook Messenger
- Have their own chatbot
Further innovations are including Apple Business Chat in 2018, followed by Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in 2019. This makes TD Ameritrade the leader in rolling out technological innovations in trading apps.
Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, and Fidelity also offer Alexa skills.
We did not test out any Alexa features in the annual review of 2021, but we did check out the Amazon ratings. It was no surprise to see TD Ameritrade as the winner of offering the best-quality experience and functionality.
TRADE WITH AS LOW AS $100
Most traders can start trading with as little as $100. That’s because there is no minimum deposit for opening an account. There is commission free stock and ETF trades as well.
You can use our online trading tool for further help with pricing and features.
OUR APPROACH AND PROCESS
For our annual best trading platforms review, we collected 2,816 data points over three months and used the results to rank brokers. Participation is mandatory for all the brokers included in the survey. Each participating broker completed a detailed data profile and had an annual meeting (live or web).
We have a comprehensive data validation process that has an error rate of 0.01%. each year. This gives our online readers credible and high-quality data.
Tradezone101.com has the largest database of information on the online broker industry. Our rigorous self-checks, combined with thorough research provides you the latest stock market information you can trust.
