A beginner-first investing app from Fidelity's parent, with 3.33% on idle cash and a practice mode. Independent Plynk review: 4/5 for brokerage.
By Michael Hewitt, Founder & Editor-in-Chief. Rates last checked August 31, 2026.
Our verdict
First-time investors get a practice mode, 3.33% APY on idle cash and a $1 start, from Fidelity's parent, FMR LLC. The range is narrow, with no bonds, no mutual funds and no direct international, so plan for a transfer once you outgrow it. Check BrokerCheck for CRD 308213 before opening, since at least one disclosure event is on record.
Skip it if you want bonds, mutual funds or direct international holdings, or you're past the beginner stage.
About Plynk
A beginner-first investing app from Fidelity's parent, with 3.33% on idle cash and a practice mode. Plynk is offered by Plynk, an FMR LLC company; brokerage by Digital Brokerage Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. We could not find a published customer rating for it on Trustpilot or the Better Business Bureau, so none is shown.
Best for: First-time investors who want a practice mode and a real parent company.
Editorial grade: B+ (composite score 81/100).
Highlights
Owned by FMR LLC (Fidelity's parent), which is a materially different backer from most beginner investing apps
3.33% APY on uninvested cash (Plynk's own figure, as of August 31, 2026)
Commission-free trading on over 5,000 stocks and nearly 3,400 ETFs
A simulated trading mode for learning without real money, which very few brokerages offer
What we like
The APY on idle cash is competitive and does not require a separate savings account
Practice mode is a genuine beginner feature, not a marketing one
FMR LLC behind it means real capital and real compliance infrastructure
Free to use, with no platform fee
Where it falls short
FINRA BrokerCheck records at least one disclosure event against Digital Brokerage Services LLC, the broker-dealer. We could not retrieve the detail, so check BrokerCheck for CRD 308213 before opening an account
A narrow universe: no bonds, no mutual funds, no direct international
Crypto is provided by a third party (BitGo Bank & Trust), so it sits outside SIPC coverage as crypto always does
Fees, minimums, and rates
Monthly fee: $0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs; app access free. Minimum to open: $1. Current APY: 3.33%. Rates and fees last checked on August 31, 2026.
How we reviewed it
This is a desk review: we have not opened an account with Plynk, an FMR LLC company; brokerage by Digital Brokerage Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. It is built from Plynk, an FMR LLC company; brokerage by Digital Brokerage Services LLC, member FINRA/SIPC's published rates, fee schedule and terms and from the public complaint record, and compared with the other products in the Brokerage shortlist. Our brokerage and robo-advisor reviews weight costs and fees (25%), platform and tools (20%), asset selection (15%), account types (10%), education and research (10%), customer support (10%), and trust and safety (10%). The rubric is the same for every brand.