Here is a comprehensive list of the best investing apps I use to learn more about the stock market and think like an investor in 2022.
Sept. 12, 2022
In this list of my best investing apps, I outline the apps that I use to make myself a better investor. Whether it's staying abreast of the day-to-day currents that move the financial markets or delving deeper into a specific stock, this comprehensive collection will make you think like an investor.
If you want to add more resources to your investing strategy, check out the rest of our Think Like an Investor series:
Best Overall Investing App: MyWallSt
While we may be a little biased, I think it's fair to say that the MyWallSt app is a real all-rounder when it comes to investing apps. Here is the list of features included in your monthly subscription:
- A shortlist of over 100 market-beating stocks and accompanying investment theses and research.
- Ability to link your brokerage account and invest in-app.
- Portfolio tracker.
- Watchlist feature that allows you to track the performance of potential investments.
- Daily news and op-ed pieces on the currents that move the market.
- Exclusive subscriber-only podcasts you can listen to in-app.
- A fully integrated educational portal (you'll find more on this below).
So we've got stock picks, research, the ability to invest, a stock screener, daily news, podcasts, and an educational portal all rolled into one nice little bundle. We really do see MyWallSt as the one-stop-shop for any investor.
Where: iOS | Android | Web Version | Developer Website
How Much: $80 for an annual subscription
Best App for Beginner Investors: Learn
Learn is a free app that comprises of over 40 lessons on the foundations of investing. With almost 2 million downloads, it has helped people all over the world start their investing journey and get to grips with some of the basics of investing. With jargon-free language, audio playback, and insights from the market-beating investment team at MyWallSt, it's the perfect place to start.
In the app, we look at the basics of investing, how to find great companies, how to perform your due diligence on potential investments, and how to set up your own brokerage account and buy your first share.
Where: iOS | Android | Web Version | Developer Website
How Much: Free
Best Financial News App: CNBC
The name carries weight for a reason. While you won't get the same in-depth reporting as the Wall Street Journal, for quick updates and alerts on the currents that move the financial markets, CNBC is my first stop. With a simple, customizable interface, as well as up-to-date news you have always associated with CNBC, it's a great app to scan the headlines and glean a quick idea of the day's market activity. If Tesla's (NASDAQ:TSLA) price is tanking thanks to another Twitter (NYSE:TWTR) rampage from Musk, or Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) initiates phase 3 of their plan for world domination, CNBC is usually the first place to find the story.
It's 'Markets' section gives a comprehensive screen of everything from the global indexes to cryptocurrencies, even providing a 'Stocks to Watch' section. Users based in the U.S. can even log in to their TV provider and watch CNBC live through the app. While there is a paywall for certain content and they will try to push you to sign up to CNBC Pro, there is more than enough in the free version.
Where: iOS | Android | Website
How Much: Free
Best Passive Investing App: Acorns
Passive investing is not a new phenomenon,but it is certainly packaged differently these days. The term encapsulates a long-term buy-and-hold investing strategy that tracks a market index, the S&P 500 (NYSEARCA:VOO), or the Nasdaq (NASDAQ:QQQ) for example. While we promote an active, individual stock approach to investing, for many the time that this demands is too much. Passive investing is a great method for people to avail of the benefits of investing without the commitment to building their own portfolio.
Acorns make passive investing even easier by allowing users to round up their day-to-day transactions to the nearest dollar, and investing the spare change. Essentially, if you buy a coffee at Starbucks (NYSE:SBUX) for $2.50, this will be rounded up to $3 and 50c will be added to your portfolio. Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio of ETFs and bonds based on your financial situation and goals. They have two packages, Acorns Lite for $1 a month and Acorns Personal for $3 a month.
Where: iOS | Android | Developer Website
How Much: $1 - $3 a month
Best App for Traders: TradingView
TradingView is a fantastic resource for investors at all levels. It provides an extensive range of charts, real-time market quotes, and technical analysis tools. Perhaps its most valuable asset to would-be investors is the expansive individual stock pages for each ticker, that cover everything from financials, mentions in the press, to individual contributors who provide in-depth analysis on the stock in question.
As a long-term investor, the free basic plan is more than enough for me, however, for those who trade regularly and would avail of the extensive additional features, there are three paid packages ranging from $14.95 - $59.95 a month.
Where: iOS | Android | Website
How Much: Paid subscriptions range from $14.95 - $59.95
While the title for this category is a bit of a mouthful, the content on Stocktwits is anything but. Think of Twitter specifically for stock-talk. Users indicate their watchlist which will fill their personalized news feed. The news feed itself is populated by 'Twits' of other users indicating whether they're bullish or bearish on a specific stock. Twits have a thousand-character limit so there is the opportunity for more in-depth analysis than on Twitter, however, the majority of posts are one or two-line opinions on the near-term outlook of the stock.
Stocktwits is a social media platform, and as with Twitter or Facebook (NASDAQ:FB), the content is posted by its users, so expect some colorful takes. The formality which dictates other investing apps is left at the door. The 'Charts' and 'Trending' features are particularly useful in uncovering a hidden gem here and there, however, you'll have to wade through a lot of noise to find them.
Where: iOS | Android | Website
How Much: Free
Best Budgeting App: Mint
One of the first and most important steps to investing actually has nothing to do with Wall Street. Rather, it's about personal finance and finding the money to invest. It's not always easy to put money aside for investing, and for a lot of us, there's sometimes too much month left at the end of the money.
Mint helps you centralize your finances and keep track of all your incomings and outgoings, allowing you to designate the money you plan to invest each month. While there are 100s of budgeting apps out there, Mint is one of the most popular for a reason. It offers a plethora of ancillary services beyond just a budgeting app, including a free credit score, budgeting goals, an investment tracker, and more. By being more in control of your finances, it will allow you to invest consistently month after month. Mint helps you do this.
Where: iOS | Android | Website
How Much: Free
Best Stock Simulator App: Best Brokers
If you're interested in investing but are not ready to put your money at stake just yet, you can start off with a stock simulator app. This will allow you to invest with 'play money' and give you a taste of what it's like to buy and sell shares in a no-risk environment.
Best Brokers stock simulator allows you to learn how to buy and sell stocks for free in realtime. It has features like your own portfolio with 25k to start off with, a marketplace to buy and sell shares, a news reader for integrated RSS feeds, and the ability to connect and compete with your friends in the app. Best Brokers is a great app to get you acclimatized to investing safely and risk-free, allowing you to build up confidence before the real thing.
Where: iOS | Android | Website
How Much: Free
