Best Investing Apps for College Students in January 2026

The post Best Investing Apps for College Students in January 2026 by Ryan Peterson appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.

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.

1. Best for Long-Term Financial Growth: Fidelity Youth & Spire

Best For

Teens

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Fidelity Investments’s website

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 U.S. stocks and ETFs with no account minimums. Fractional shares for stocks and ETFs can start around $1, but mutual funds still follow their own share or fund minimums rather than a $1 entry point.
• 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

2. Best for All-in-One Financial Management: SoFi Invest

Best For

IPO Investing

Overall Rating

Read Review

Get Started securely through SoFi’s website

More Details

Disclosure: Other fees, such as exchange fees, may apply. Please view our fee disclosure to view a full listing of fees. Investing in alternative investments and/or strategies may not be suitable for all investors and involves unique risks, including the risk of loss. An investor should consider their individual circumstances and any investment information, such as a prospectus, prior to investing. Interval Funds are illiquid instruments, the ability to trade on your timeline may be restricted. Brokerage andActive investing products offered through SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA(www.finra.org) /SIPC(www.sipc.org). There are limitations with fractional shares to consider before investing. During market hours fractional share orders are transmitted immediately in the order received. There may be system delays from receipt of your order until execution and market conditions may adversely impact execution prices. Outside of market hours orders are received on a not held basis and will be aggregated for each security then executed in the morning trade window of the next business day at market open. Share will be delivered at an average price received for executing the securities through a single batched order. Fractional shares may not be transferred to another firm. Fractional shares will be sold when a transfer or closure request is initiated. Please consider that selling securities is a taxable event. Options involve risks, including substantial risk of loss and the possibility an investor may lose the entire investment Before trading options please review the Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options Advisory services are offered by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Utilizing a margin loan is generally considered more appropriate for experienced investors as there are additional costs and risks associated. It is possible to lose more than your initial investment when using margin. Please see: https://www.sofi.com/wealth/assets/documents/brokerage-margin-disclosure-statement.pdf for detailed disclosure information Probability of Member receiving $1,000 is a probability of 0.026%; If you don’t make a selection in 45 days, you’ll no longer qualify for the promo. Customer must fund their account with a minimum of $50.00 to qualify. Terms and conditions apply*. For 401k rollovers, existing SoFi IRA members must complete 401k rollovers via this link For SoFi members without a SoFi IRA, a SoFi IRA must first be opened, and 401k rollover must be completed utilizing Capitalize via this link. SoFi and Capitalize will charge no additional fees to process a 401(k) rollover to a SoFi IRA. SoFi is not liable for any costs incurred from the existing 401k provider for rollover. Please check with your 401k provider for any fees or costs associated with the rollover. For IRA contributions, only deposits made via ACH and cash transfer from SoFi Bank accounts are eligible for the match. Click here 3. for the 1% Match terms and conditions. For full promotion terms please visit: https://www.sofi.com/acatoffer. SoFi does not accept cryptocurrencies and has limitations on some mutual funds and OTC stocks. Brokerage and Active Investing Products offered by SoFi Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC.

Best For

IPO Investing

N/A

1 Minute Review

SoFi®’s mission is simple: to help reach clients like you reach their financial independence and realize their ambitions. SoFi knows that this independence comes from making decisions that help your money start to work for you in the long run. The brand helps individuals make these decisions through personal financial products such as personal loans, student loans and automated and active investing. 

The brand additionally provides in-person experiences such as educational and networking events, personalized guidance from experienced financial planners. SoFi’s services have been highlighted in outlets such as Forbes, Medium, and CNBC’s Make It.

SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best APY, discounts, rewards, and more when they set up Eligible Direct Deposit, receive $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits, or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions <> applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus page.

Best For

• IPO Investing
• Investors

Pros

• No Contract Fees
• Highly-rated mobile app for iPhone and Android
• No account fees; Transfer and Inactivity Fees are easily avoided
• More than most tradable securities included alternative asset funds

Cons

• Only available in the U.S.
• Limited selection of research and tools.

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

3. Best for Passive Saving and Investing: Acorns

Best For

Prepping for future investing

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Acorns’s website

More Details

Best For

Prepping for future investing

N/A

1 Minute Review

Acorns can help you roll your pennies into crisp hundreds with automatic savings, rounding up on purchases and inexpensive set-it-and-forget-it portfolio management. Integrate your checking, savings, investment and retirement accounts into 1 financial hub on your smartphone.

Best For

• Newer investors looking to leave the heavy pulling to a robo-advisor
• Regular debit card users who want to save change automatically
• Families building wealth
• Prepping for future investing

Pros

• Inexpensive subscription cost at each tier
• Smart, intuitive automatic investing strategies that utilize your spare change without leaving you cash broke
• Retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s available for investment and management, which isn’t always the case with robo-advisors
• Heavy metal debit card (maybe not the most important factor but still pretty cool)
• ESG portfolios are available with Invest accounts

Cons

• No direct relationship with a financial advisor or certified financial planner

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. You can still pay the underlying ETF expense ratios; and if you transfer out your assets, additional fees may apply.
• 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

4. Best for Social Learning and Fractional Investing: Public.com

Best For

Trading Ideas

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through public.com’s website

More Details

Best For

Trading Ideas

N/A

1 Minute Review

Public is the only investing platform that lets you trade stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, options and alternative assets—like fine art and collectibles—all in one place. Public also provides access to custom company metrics, live shows about the markets, and insights from a community of millions of investors, creators, and analysts.

Today, Public provides more ways to create a diversified portfolio than nearly any other online broker. Members can engage in sophisticated investing strategies and access a wealth of investing insights—from company-specific analysis to live audio shows and town hall-style Q&As. In addition, Public offers a premium membership tier with unique company KPIs, detailed performance metrics, and institutional-grade research. 

 

Best For

• Stock and ETF investors
• Crypto investors
• Investors looking to diversify with alternative assets or bonds and options

Pros

• Commission-free stock and ETF trading
• Fractional share investing
• Advanced data, tools, and insights with Public Premium

Cons

• You can’t transfer crypto to another wallet
• No mutual funds or precious metals
• At this time, only offers individual brokerage accounts and not IRAs

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

5. Best for Financial Education with Personalization: Stash

Best For

Casual investors

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Stash’s website

More Details

Disclosure: Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value.

Best For

Casual investors

N/A

1 Minute Review

Stash is a personal finance hub app that offers access to investing and banking services. Designed for everybody, you can use Stash for budgeting, investing, banking, and gaining financial literacy. Additionally, they offer tiered monthly subscription plans.

Best For

• Casual investors or people looking to test the waters
• Long-term investors who can tolerate potential market volatility
• Savvy investors who can self-direct their strategy with the help of expert advice

Pros

• No investing minimums*
• Fractional shares
• Flat-rate fee structure

Cons

• All educational services are done through the app/website, and there is no personal advisor on the phone or in person
• Can’t roll over existing retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA

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 and includes investing, banking and education; Underlying investment costs (ETF expense ratios) still apply, and higher-tier plans provide additional features.
• 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

6. Best for Low-Cost, Mobile-First Access: Robinhood

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

Overall Rating

Read Review

get started securely through Robinhood’s website

More Details

Best For

Commission-Free Mobile Trading

N/A

1 Minute Review

Robinhood is a popular trading platform known for its commission-free trades and user-friendly mobile app. Ideal for novice investors, Robinhood makes it easy to buy and sell stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. The platform offers a straightforward, no-frills experience, making it accessible for users new to investing. With features like fractional shares and a sleek interface, Robinhood lowers the barriers to entry for investing, allowing users to start with just a few dollars. It lacks the advanced tools and research options that more experienced investors might seek. Overall, Robinhood is a great choice for beginners seeking a simple way to invest.

Best For

• Beginners looking for simplicity
• Mobile-first investors
• Commission-free trades

Pros

• User-friendly mobile app
• Instant double
• Cash management
• Access to cryptocurrencies

Cons

• Limited research tools
• No mutual funds available
• Basic customer support options

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

The post Best Investing Apps for College Students in January 2026 by Ryan Peterson appeared first on Benzinga. Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this.