Best Investing Apps for College Students

College students today have more access to investing tools than any generation before. Between tuition, textbooks and part-time jobs, it might seem like there’s no room to start investing but the right platform can help students build strong financial habits early without requiring large balances or complex strategies.

The best investing apps for college students offer $0 account minimums, fractional shares, built-in education and clear paths to long-term wealth creation. These platforms make it easy to get started with just a few dollars while teaching core investing principles along the way. Whether you’re saving for your future, experimenting with stocks or simply learning how markets work, the apps in this guide offer both affordability and education in a user-friendly package.

How We Chose the Best Investing Apps for College Students

We evaluate platforms based on the specific needs of college-aged investors. Our key criteria included:

• Commission structure and fees: No or low trading costs, $0 account minimums and transparent pricing
• Ease of use: Intuitive mobile apps and straightforward account setup processes
• Account options: Support for individual brokerage accounts, Roth IRAs and automated investing
• Educational value: Resources that teach investing concepts, financial planning and responsible risk-taking
• Financial tools: Budgeting, goal tracking and banking integration
• Support access: In-app support, live chat or knowledge bases tailored to new investors

Best Investing Apps for College Students

The following apps combine low costs, educational tools and user-friendly design making them ideal choices for students ready to start building their financial future.

Fidelity Youth & Spire – Best for Long-Term Financial Growth

Fidelity offers two app experiences tailored to young investors: Spire for beginner adults and Fidelity Youth Account for those aged 13–17. Both platforms offer access to full-service brokerage features with no commissions and no account minimums alongside tools that teach budgeting, saving and goal-setting.

Fidelity Youth and Spire users can invest in stocks, ETFs and mutual funds with fractional shares starting at just $1. The Spire app includes financial goal tracking, while the Youth Account includes a debit card and parent-managed oversight. Best of all, users gain access to Fidelity’s broader ecosystem as they grow making it a natural bridge to long-term investing.

Key Features:

• Fees: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs; no account minimum
• Investments: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, fractional shares
• Platform Experience: Mobile-first with clean navigation and built-in goal-setting
• Education: Age-appropriate financial literacy tools, calculators and articles
• Drawbacks: Youth accounts require parental sponsorship for users under 18

SoFi Invest – Best for All-in-One Financial Management

SoFi Invest is ideal for college students looking to manage their finances in one place, offering free stock and ETF trading alongside integrated banking, budgeting and lending services. With no account minimums and the ability to start investing with as little as $5, it’s designed for accessibility.

Students can choose between active investing and automated portfolios (robo-advising). Fractional shares are available and SoFi frequently offers cash bonuses or promos for first-time investors. It’s also one of the few platforms offering Roth IRAs with no maintenance fees making it a strong long-term option.

Key Features:

• Fees: $0 for stock and ETF trading; $0 minimums for Roth IRAs and taxable accounts
• Investments: Stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, crypto, automated portfolios
• Platform Experience: Mobile-first with financial insights and member perks
• Education: Articles, webinars and access to live financial planners
• Drawbacks: Limited customization for experienced users; fewer advanced trading tools

Acorns – Best for Passive Saving and Investing

Acorns takes a unique approach by turning spare change into long-term investments. Its Round-Ups feature automatically invests the difference when users make everyday purchases making it a great solution for students who struggle to save consistently.

Users are placed into diversified portfolios based on risk tolerance and can access Roth IRA and custodial accounts under higher-tier plans. While Acorns charges a small monthly fee (starting at $3), its simplicity and automation are ideal for passive investors who prefer a “set it and forget it” model.

Key Features:

• Fees: $3/month for personal accounts; includes retirement features
• Investments: Diversified ETF portfolios; automated investing only
• Platform Experience: Sleek mobile app with clear goal tracking
• Education: Budgeting tools, savings tips and educational content for beginners
• Drawbacks: Monthly fee can outweigh returns for small balances

Public.com – Best for Social Learning and Fractional Investing

Public combines social investing with transparency, giving students a platform where they can buy fractional shares, follow experienced investors and see what others are trading. The app emphasizes education and ethics, avoiding payment-for-order-flow and instead using tips and optional subscriptions for revenue.

Public offers access to stocks, ETFs and crypto with no minimums and a clean, mobile-focused interface. While it doesn’t provide advanced tools or automation, the platform excels in helping new investors learn by observing others in a curated social feed.

Key Features:

• Fees: $0 commissions on trades, optional research subscriptions available
• Investments: Stocks, ETFs, crypto, fractional shares
• Platform Experience: Social feed integration, simple navigation
• Education: Built-in investor profiles, glossary terms and curated content
• Drawbacks: No retirement accounts and limited features beyond social discovery

Stash – Best for Financial Education with Personalization

Stash blends hands-on investing with tailored education, helping students build good habits while learning the "why" behind each investment. The platform supports fractional share investing and offers personalized portfolio recommendations based on risk tolerance and financial goals.

For a monthly fee (starting at $3), users get access to taxable accounts, retirement accounts and a linked debit card for budgeting and round-up investing. Stash also offers curated investing themes like “Clean & Green” or “Blue Chips” to help students invest according to values or sector interests.

Key Features:

• Fees: Starts at $3/month; includes investing, banking and education
• Investments: Stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, Roth IRA access
• Platform Experience: Goal-oriented mobile app with spending insights
• Education: Embedded tips, content for beginners and real-time recommendations
• Drawbacks: Monthly fee may not suit students with very small balances

Robinhood – Best for Low-Cost, Mobile-First Access

Robinhood introduced millions of young investors to the market with commission-free trading and a minimalist mobile app. It remains a top choice for students who want to buy and sell stocks quickly without learning complex interfaces. The platform supports fractional shares, crypto trading and basic options all with zero trading fees.

Robinhood’s interface is ideal for mobile users, but its education tools are more limited than some competitors. It offers a subscription product, Robinhood Gold, which adds research and margin access for $5/month, though most students won’t need the upgrade to get started.

Key Features:

• Fees: $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs and options; $0 account minimum
• Investments: Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, fractional shares
• Platform Experience: Fast, mobile-first interface with minimal friction
• Education: In-app articles and basic definitions; no long-form tutorials
• Drawbacks: No retirement accounts; limited long-term planning tools

Why Starting Early Matters

For college students, time is your greatest asset when it comes to investing. Even small, consistent contributions during your late teens and early twenties can grow significantly thanks to compound returns. Whether you invest $5 or $500, the most important part is starting.

Apps designed for new investors make it easier to learn while doing. Many support fractional investing, automate deposits and guide users through diversified portfolios, removing guesswork. They also help build financial confidence, something that compounds just like your returns.

Starting now doesn’t just build wealth, it builds discipline. By investing early, students can develop the habits that lead to long-term financial independence.

Build Wealth While You Study

Investing as a college student isn’t about chasing high returns or trading aggressively. It’s about forming habits that lay the foundation for financial growth over decades. Platforms like Fidelity and SoFi offer long-term tools like Roth IRAs and goal tracking. Acorns and Stash simplify the process through automation and themed portfolios. Public and Robinhood make investing accessible and engaging, especially for mobile-first users.

Choose the app that fits your goals whether it’s passive saving, active learning or integrated financial planning. The earlier you start, the more time your money has to grow.

Frequently Asked Questions