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5 Best Investing Apps for September 2026

Every app here charges $0 commission on stock and ETF trades, so the fee moved to idle cash.

By Michael Hewitt, Founder & Editor-in-Chief. Updated September 29, 2026.

The commission went to zero years ago, so every app here is "free," and the real fee moved somewhere harder to see: what the app pays on cash you have not invested yet. On a beginner's idle $2,000, the difference between 0% and 3.6% is about $72 a year, which is worth more than any charting feature. Robinhood's 3.6% requires Gold at $5 a month, which eats $60 of that $72; Fidelity pays about 3.4% with no subscription. Robinhood still ranks first because Gold also lifts its IRA match from 1% to 3%, enough to cover the fee on a $3,000 contribution.

The 5 Best Investing Apps for September 2026

  1. Robinhood: Best overall: 3% IRA match with Gold
  2. Fidelity: Best for full-service and retirement investing
  3. Charles Schwab: Best for research and tools
  4. SoFi Invest: For beginners
  5. Webull: Best for active traders

Best Overall: Robinhood

Robinhood is first because Gold, at $5 a month, pays for itself through retirement saving: it lifts the IRA match from 1% to 3%, and 2% of a $3,000 contribution is $60, a year of Gold. Anything past that, plus 3.6% on idle cash, is ahead of the fee.

Two conditions apply: keep Gold for a year and leave the matched money in the IRA for five. Treat it as retirement money, not a bonus.

Best for Retirement and Idle Cash: Fidelity

Fidelity is for anyone who will not pay a subscription. Idle cash sits in SPAXX, the default core position, which yielded about 3.4% in late September 2026: about $68 a year on $2,000, against $12 at Robinhood after Gold's $60.

It offers every account a household needs, including 401(k), 529 and HSA, research from 20+ providers, and four index funds with a zero expense ratio.

Best for Research: Charles Schwab

Schwab is for the investor who wants to study a position before buying it. Its thinkorswim platform, inherited from TD Ameritrade, brings advanced charting, options analytics and paper trading to desktop, web and mobile, and research from Morningstar, Argus and MarketEdge is free. It also has 300+ branches and 24/7 phone support.

Not for: a beginner who wants one simple screen. thinkorswim has a steep learning curve.

For beginners: SoFi Invest

SoFi suits a first account for someone who wants banking, investing and a planner in one app. It links to SoFi Checking, Savings and Credit Card, includes access to a credentialed SoFi financial planner, and matches IRA contributions and rollovers at 1% with no subscription.

The sign-up offer is up to $1,000 in stock when you fund $50 or more; "up to" describes the best case.

Best for Active Traders: Webull

Webull is for the trader who wants pro-grade charts without paying for a platform. Level 2 Nasdaq TotalView quotes are free, options carry no per-contract fee (Fidelity and Schwab charge $0.65), and 24-hour weekday trading covers select stocks and ETFs. Paper trading, crypto, and Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs are included.

Not for: a buy-and-hold investor who wants mutual funds in a taxable account, since Webull offers them only in IRAs. Fundamental research also trails Fidelity and Schwab.

Key Takeaways