The best investment apps offer a wide variety of features that are designed to cater to investors of all experience levels. These include educational resources, a stock market sandbox for practice and even social networking elements that foster community engagement. However, it’s important to choose a platform that fits your investing preferences and meets your unique needs.

Investors should consider whether they prefer to invest in individual stocks or ETFs (exchange-traded funds). Certain apps allow investors to do both, while others specialize in one type of investment vehicle. Some apps also offer unique features that set them apart from the competition. For example, Public is a commission-free investing app that offers various assets such as individual stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The company also focuses on providing users with educational content, including “Town Hall” meetings with business leaders and the Public Live podcast.

Maximize Your Returns: The Best Investment Apps for Smart Investing

In addition to trading fees, investors should consider how many different types of accounts they can open with an investment app. Ideally, an app should provide at least one free bank account that is FDIC insured and can be linked to an app. Some apps also feature rounding-up services, which automatically transfer money from your bank account to the investment app.

Finally, investors should take into consideration the total cost of ownership. The best investing apps have low costs, a comprehensive selection of research tools and good customer support. On the other hand, apps with limited investment offerings, high costs, basic trading technology and low user ratings should be avoided.