Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.
Retail investing is being transformed by a new generation.
According to a recent report from the JPMorgan Chase Institute, 37% of 25-year-olds had transferred funds into investment accounts by early 2025, nearly six times more than those who did in 2015. And those gaining the fastest momentum aren’t the wealthy—it’s lower-income young adults who are leading the charge by joining the market in greater numbers and investing more than higher-income groups.
For many younger and lower-income individuals, traditional paths to building wealth—homeownership, owning real estate—are becoming harder to access due to increased housing costs, low savings rates and weak income growth. As a result, investment in financial assets like stocks plays a larger role in how people accumulate wealth.
But entry barriers still matter, and that’s where investing apps designed for beginners come into play. With low or zero minimums, intuitive design, educational content and low fees, these apps can help new investors enter the market with more confidence and ease.
Tools Making It Easier for Beginners to Invest
For a new generation of investors—especially young adults and those with tight budgets—apps have become one of the most convenient ways to start building wealth. They strip away the high barriers that once kept people out of the market, like steep account minimums, high fees and complicated trading platforms.
Instead, these tools focus on accessibility, automation and education, allowing first-time investors to step into the world of investing.
Here’s how beginner-friendly investment apps can help new investors get started in the market:
Robinhood
Robinhood, one of the most widely known investing apps, has no account minimums, which means you can start your investing journey with very little capital. This is especially appealing to new investors who may not have large sums to invest up front.
Robinhood also provides fractional shares (so you can own a slice of expensive stocks even with small amounts of money) and crypto trading, giving users a range of investment options to choose from.
New investors should be aware that some features of the Robinhood app can make investing feel like gambling and can push advanced trading features like margin loans. Users should refer to Robinhood’s educational resources and understand the risks that come with trading.
Acorns
Acorns uses your savings to help build your portfolio through its “round-up” system. For example, if you buy something for $1.50, it rounds the purchase to $2 and invests the extra 50 cents. Over weeks and months, that spare change starts to grow. The money goes into portfolios built from low-cost ETFs based on your risk tolerance and goals, so you get built-in diversification without managing it yourself.
Acorns also offers tools for goal-setting and educational resources to make investing feel approachable, especially for beginners who want guidance without getting overwhelmed. However, a flat monthly membership fee (ranges from $3 per month to $12 per month) can eat into your returns if your overall balance is small.
Fidelity Mobile
Fidelity’s mobile app offers a full-feature experience that bridges beginner and more advanced investing. With the app, users can trade U.S. stocks and ETFs commission-free with no account minimums.
The app also provides fractional shares, robust research tools, expert insights, watch lists and plenty of tools to help with tracking investments and understanding opportunities.
Fidelity also pushes security and low cost as strengths, plus educational content to help newer investors build their knowledge and confidence.
Bottom line
Recent data suggests that young Americans—including those from lower-income households—are investing earlier and more often than before. Beginner-friendly investing apps lower entry barriers, offering cost-efficient and accessible paths into the market.
If you’re just getting started, picking an app that aligns with your amount of capital, risk tolerance, and overall financial goals can help you build wealth and achieve your financial goals with smart use.