Top 5 Investment Apps for Beginners in 2026 | EasyEarns | EasyEarns
Blog PostProduct ReviewsMarch 14, 2026Verified
Top 5 Investment Apps for Beginners in 2026
New to investing? These are the 5 best investment apps for beginners in 2026, with low fees, simple interfaces, and free share sign-up bonuses.
Investing used to feel like something reserved for people in suits with six-figure salaries. Not any more. In 2026, you can start building a portfolio from your phone with as little as £1, and several of the best investment apps offer free shares just for signing up.
But with so many platforms available, picking the right one matters — especially when you're starting out. The wrong app can mean confusing jargon, hidden fees, or features you'll never use.
We've tested and compared the top investment apps available in the UK to help you find the best fit. Every app on this list is FCA-regulated, offers a straightforward experience for beginners, and keeps costs low.
What to Look for in a Beginner Investment App
Before diving into the list, here's what actually matters when you're choosing your first platform:
Low or zero fees — High fees eat into your returns, especially with smaller portfolios
Simple interface — You shouldn't need a finance degree to buy your first share
ISA availability — A Stocks and Shares ISA means your gains are tax-free up to £20,000/year
Fractional shares — The ability to buy a slice of expensive shares like Amazon or Tesla
Educational resources — Helpful for learning as you invest
FCA regulation — Non-negotiable for the safety of your money
1. Trading 212 — Best Overall for Beginners
Minimum deposit: £1
Commission: £0 on stocks and ETFs
ISA: Yes (free)
Fractional shares: Yes
Trading 212 consistently tops beginner lists for good reason. The app is clean, intuitive, and genuinely commission-free for buying and selling stocks and ETFs.
Free Stocks and Shares ISA — no annual platform fee
Fractional shares from £1 — invest in any company regardless of share price
AutoInvest pies — set up automated, diversified portfolios
Free share bonus when you sign up through a referral link
Interest on uninvested cash — currently around 5.1% AER
The AutoInvest feature is particularly good for beginners. You create a "pie" of different stocks or ETFs, set how much to invest each month, and Trading 212 handles the rest. It's essentially a DIY robo-adviser.
Best for: Complete beginners who want zero fees and a simple start.
2. InvestEngine — Best for Hands-Off Investing
Minimum deposit: £100 (managed), no minimum (DIY)
Commission: £0 on ETFs
ISA: Yes (free)
Fractional shares: Yes (ETFs)
InvestEngine is ideal if you'd rather not pick individual stocks. It offers two modes:
Managed portfolio — InvestEngine builds and rebalances a diversified ETF portfolio for you, completely free. This is rare — most robo-advisers charge 0.25%-0.75% annually
DIY portfolio — Choose from 700+ ETFs with zero commission
Key highlights:
£0 management fee for managed portfolios — genuinely unique in the UK
Automatic rebalancing keeps your portfolio on track
Regular investing with automated monthly contributions
Business and personal accounts available
Welcome bonus available through referral links
The managed portfolio is where InvestEngine truly shines. You answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and it creates a globally diversified portfolio. The fact this costs nothing makes it arguably the best option for people who want to invest but don't want to think about it.
Best for: Beginners who want a managed, diversified portfolio without fees.
3. Freetrade — Best for Simple Stock Picking
Minimum deposit: £2
Commission: £0 on basic trades
ISA: Yes (£5.99/month for Standard, or free on Plus at £11.99/month)
Fractional shares: Yes (US stocks)
Freetrade lives up to its name for basic share dealing. The app is deliberately simple — designed so anyone can buy their first share in minutes.
Key highlights:
Zero commission on instant orders during market hours
Clean, beginner-friendly interface with stock descriptions and key stats
6,000+ stocks and ETFs across UK, US, and European markets
Fractional US shares from £2
Community features — see what other users are investing in
Free share worth up to £100 when you sign up via referral
The main drawback is the ISA fee. While basic trading is free, you'll pay £5.99/month for a Stocks and Shares ISA, which adds up to £71.88/year. For small portfolios, this can eat into returns. If you're investing more than a few thousand pounds, the fee becomes negligible as a percentage.
Best for: Beginners who want a simple app for picking individual stocks.
4. eToro — Best for Social Investing
Minimum deposit: $50 (approximately £40)
Commission: £0 on stocks (spread fees on CFDs)
ISA: No
Fractional shares: Yes
eToro pioneered the concept of social investing — the idea that you can learn from and copy successful investors. It's particularly popular with beginners who want guidance without paying for a financial adviser.
Key highlights:
CopyTrader — automatically replicate the trades of top-performing investors
Massive community with investor discussions and sentiment data
Educational academy with courses and webinars
Wide asset range — stocks, ETFs, crypto, commodities, forex
The CopyTrader feature is genuinely useful for beginners. You can browse investors by their track record, risk score, and strategy, then allocate funds to automatically mirror their trades. It's a practical way to learn while your money works.
Important to note: eToro's fee structure is more complex than the others. There's a $5 withdrawal fee and a currency conversion fee of around 1.5% since accounts are USD-denominated. No ISA is available, which means your gains are subject to Capital Gains Tax.
Best for: Beginners who want to learn from experienced investors through copy trading.
5. Lightyear — Best for Low-Cost International Investing
Minimum deposit: £1
Commission: £0 on US stocks, £1 on European stocks
ISA: Yes (free)
Fractional shares: Yes
Lightyear is the newest app on this list but has quickly earned a reputation for transparent, low-cost international investing.
Key highlights:
Zero commission on US stocks — no hidden FX markup on USD trades
Multi-currency account — hold and invest in GBP, USD, and EUR without conversion fees
Competitive FX rates — 0.35% for currency conversion, among the lowest available
Free Stocks and Shares ISA
3,000+ stocks and ETFs across major markets
Interest on uninvested cash in multiple currencies
Lightyear's standout feature is its approach to currency. Most UK platforms charge a hidden FX fee of 0.5%-1.5% every time you buy a US stock. Lightyear lets you convert once and hold USD, saving significantly on repeated trades.
Best for: Beginners focused on US and international markets who want transparent FX costs.
Before you start investing, keep these principles in mind:
Start small — You don't need thousands. Even £25/month adds up over time through compound growth
Use your ISA allowance — Your first £20,000/year in gains is tax-free inside an ISA. Don't waste this
Diversify — Don't put everything into one stock. ETFs are an easy way to spread risk across hundreds of companies
Think long-term — The stock market goes up and down. Historically, staying invested for 5+ years smooths out the bumps
Invest regularly — Monthly contributions help you benefit from pound-cost averaging
Never invest money you can't afford to lose — This is not a savings account
Which App Should You Choose?
For most beginners, Trading 212 offers the best all-round package: zero fees, a free ISA, fractional shares, and the AutoInvest feature for hands-off investing.
If you'd rather someone else manage your portfolio entirely, InvestEngine's free managed option is unbeatable.
If you want to learn from other investors, eToro's CopyTrader is worth exploring — just be aware of the FX and withdrawal fees.
Browse all available investment app referral offers to grab a free share or bonus when you sign up. Every little helps when you're starting out.
