Robinhood vs Acorns vs Webull: How to Choose a Microinvesting App (2024)

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I discovered microinvesting a few years ago when I began investing with Robinhood, but since then I’ve ventured into multiple other apps that I routinely recommend for anyone new to investing!

This article will focus on the main three apps that I use regularly: Robinhood, Acorns, and WeBull.

I will discuss the type of person I’d recommend each for, usability, the platforms, and what unique features each has to offer!

So, what is micro investing, you ask?

Micro investing has become an popular way for anyone to learn to invest – without the need for financial advisors or financial planner. In fact, most platforms are completely free to use, some give free stocks and cash, and others cost pennies a month in order to invest!

With Robinhood, Acorns, and Webull, you don’t have to worry about crazy fees that a brokerage firm would tack on, making micro investing far more user-friendly and affordable! Plus, it is a great option for those of you who don’t have thousands in available cash on hand, and want to start practicing and learning about how investing works!

Robinhood vs Acorns vs Webull: How to Choose a Microinvesting App (1)

Robinhood

Robinhood has grown to be a leader in mobile investing, with a simplified layout and both mobile and desktop versions for investing. The app is free but be sure to check out my link here to take advantage of the opportunity for a free stock!

Robinhood is an app I usually recommend to anyone who is new to stock investing and wants to learn how stocks and the market works.

I primarily use just their app, but both their desktop and app versions offer good analyses of stocks and offer you a good visualization regarding the movement of stocks over time. They also have a great news section that has “dumbed down” financial information about the economy that people like you and I can actually comprehend.

Why You Should Use Robinhood

With this in mind, here are 4 reasons to consider Robinhood to invest in stocks.

  • First, Robinhood is a great app for both beginner and intermediate investors.
    As I said initially, I started using Robinhood before any of these other investing apps, and I still enjoy using it. They offer enough information without it getting overwhelming for anyone new to investing.
  • Second, they have a good referral program.
    One great feature of Robinhood is that you can earn free stocks by having friends sign up and be able to learn how the stocks are affected by the daily economy, without spending any of your own money.
  • Third, Robinhood has good analyst ratings that help you understand whether a stock is worth investing in or not.
    This is a feature I’ve enjoyed when doing research on individual companies and stocks. It helps you learn the “why” behind if the stock or company is worth investing in, and it’s provided in a simplified way that you and I can actually understand.
  • Last, they do offer more technical features if you are a more experienced investor.
    What’s nice about Robinhood is that you can begin as brand new to all this investing stuff for free, then as you gain experience, you can purchase their Robinhood Gold membership. This membership costs $5 a month, which includes access to Morningstar Research Reports and NASDAQ Level II Market Data.

Acorns

I have found that Acorns makes the whole “saving and investing” process 10x simpler than any other option out there.

At the cost of $1/month, it’s a simplified way to save and invest money, with the minimum of only $5 to invest. It essentially works by linking to your bank account, and allowing Acorns to put aside the rounded up “cents” portion of your purchases, to invest!

For example, if you buy some coffee for $4.89 this morning, Acorns will set aside the remaining $0.11 – that would have made the purchase $5, for you to invest in stocks. You will accumulate money, and when you’re ready, you can choose what to invest in!

What’s even better is that you get $10 for free to invest when you create an account.

Acorns will allow you to learn about investing, start investing with spare change, and be a part of an innovative platform.

Why You Should Use Acorns

With this in mind, here are 3 reasons to consider Acorns to invest in stocks:

  • First, Acorns is great if you don’t plan on learning a lot about stocks.
    Unlike Robinhood and WeBull, you can use Acorns to more passively invest. You literally can set aside money without even opening the app.
  • .Second, Acorns is a good option if you want the easiest platform available.
    I really believe Acorns is the most basic and straightforward way to save and invest money. Although I see Robinhood as a beginner-friendly app, Acorns seems built specifically for people who need their hand held in the process.
  • Last, they have a very beautiful app and great customer service.
    As I’ve spent hours on the three apps discussed on this video, of all of them, I feel that Acorns really has been developed for the younger generations to help them learn to save and invest for their futures.

Webull

One huge difference that makes Webull different from other investing platforms like Robinhood is how technical it is – Webull provides much more detail and information about stocks than any other beginner-friendly platform I’ve used.

Webull promotes that it offers more stock options than other popular investing apps. Although not an important factor for me, this can be a huge decision maker for those of you who want to invest in single stocks, smaller stocks, or who want to practice with day trading!

Now, due to the amount of detail about stocks that Webull offers, the app is very appealing to investors who are more experienced with the market.

Another reason WeBull is appealing is that they offer more than just one stock for signing up. If you open an account and deposit $100 into the account within 30 days of opening your account, you get a second free stock that is valued up to $1400! This is much different than my experience with receiving stocks on Robinhood that are all around $2-$3 each. Follow this link to learn more about how to earn multiple free stocks through Webull!

Why You Should Use Webull

Here are my top 4 reasons to consider WeBull to invest in stocks:

  • First, they offer expanded hours trading.
    Unlike Robinhood, you can actually buy and sell after market with Webull!
  • Second, they have more In-depth stock analysis of stocks.
    Webull’s interface really is unlike any of the others. It is rich in technical content for more experienced investors to analyze stocks
  • Next, I’ve really loved the Free computer software that they offer!
    On top of having a free app and online experience, Webull is unique in how they offer a separate computer download to get an experience learning about stocks unlike any other investing app!
  • Last, you can get Real-time quotes.
    Unlike Robinhood and Acorns, the Webull app updates by the second. You can literally watch stocks rise and fall before your eyes. As a beginner myself, this feature is great to help with learning how the market works!

SUMMARY

Each of these investing platforms are targeted toward different subsets of people, and offer different features. I suggest you check out multiple platforms before fully deciding on just one. That way you know you won’t be missing out on what another app could be offering.

Robinhood vs Acorns vs Webull: How to Choose a Microinvesting App (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to invest in Robinhood or Acorns? ›

Robinhood is less costly to use. Acorns is basically an automatic investor and advisor so it may be more appealing to a less-active investors. Robinhood is an easy-to-use but feature-limited trading platform so it may be more appealing to an active investor. Both only offer users limited options for support.

How do I choose an investment app? ›

The scoring formula for online brokers and robo-advisors takes into account over 15 factors, including account fees and minimums, investment choices, customer support and mobile app capabilities. Commission-free stock, ETF and options trades. Large selection of research providers. Strong customer service.

Which investment app is best for beginners? ›

7 Best Investment Apps for Beginners
  • SoFi Invest.
  • Investr.
  • Betterment.
  • Robinhood.
  • Acorns.
  • Ellevest.
  • Suma Wealth.
Mar 25, 2024

Which app is better for stock investment? ›

Best Trading Apps for 2024: Fees and Features,
Trading AppsTop FeaturesTrading charges
Zerodha KitePossesses every possibility for stock tradingRs.20
Angel OneQuick stock purchases and salesRs.20
Upstox AppIdeal for immediate investmentRs.20
Groww AppIdeal for Novices0.05% or Rs.20(whichever is lower)
6 more rows

Does Acorns actually invest your money? ›

Your money will be invested once it reaches at least $5. Acorns for beginners is one of the best robo-advisors. Instead of paying percentage-based fees, the app charges a flat monthly fee regardless of your account balance. It's a great choice for fee-conscious investors.

Is Acorns worth it for beginners? ›

The bottom line: If you want to make the most of your spare change and get the occasional retailer kickback, there's really no better place to do that than Acorns. The automatic roundups at Acorns make saving and investing easy, and most investors will be surprised by how quickly those pennies accumulate.

What is the best app for first time stock traders? ›

All of these stock apps are great for beginners and they make it easy to start investing in the stock market with little money.
  • Robinhood – Best app for active trading.
  • Public – Best app for building community.
  • Charles Schwab – Best app for research, account types.
  • Webull – Best app for margin trading, charting tools.
Apr 30, 2024

Why is Webull better than Robinhood? ›

Generally speaking, Robinhood is better for investors who prioritize simplicity and a clean user experience. Webull caters to investors who want more choices and technical features, such as advanced dashboard and robo-advisory services.

What app do professional investors use? ›

Summary: Best Investing Apps
CompanyForbes Advisor RatingBest For
Betterment4.8Best Robo-advisor Investment App
TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim4.4Best Investment App for Experienced Investors
Fidelity Mobile4.3Best Investment App for Average Investors
E-Trade3.6Best Investment App For Beginners
1 more row
6 days ago

Is Webull good for beginners? ›

Webull has some of the lowest fees among brokerages, without skimping on advanced trading tools. Despite the low costs, it may not be the best brokerage for beginners.

Why is Fidelity better than Robinhood? ›

Fidelity charges no inactivity fees, nor does it charge for basic services such as depositing and withdrawing money from your account. Making a trade by telephone will typically incur a $5 charge and broker-assisted trades cost $33. Again, neither of these latter options is offered through Robinhood.

Is Robinhood good for beginners? ›

Robinhood offers many free educational articles on the Robinhood Learn website, but advanced research is gated behind the Robinhood Gold subscription, and it may not be as thorough as what many full-service brokers offer. Beginners: Robinhood offers a significant amount of how-to articles on Robinhood Learn.

What is the safest platform to invest in stocks? ›

Summary of the best online brokers:
  • Fidelity Investments.
  • Interactive Brokers.
  • Charles Schwab.
  • Webull.
  • J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing.
  • Robinhood.
  • SoFi Active Investing.
  • E*TRADE.
7 days ago

What is the easiest stock app to use? ›

Compare the best investment apps for beginners for May 2024
  • Mobile Experience: Robinhood.
  • Beginners: SoFi Active Investing.
  • Investing with Spare Change: Acorns.
  • Hands-Off Investors: Betterment.
  • Simple Stock Investing: Cash App Investing.
5 days ago

Which trading app is best with low brokerage? ›

Complete Review of Charges Best Trading Apps in India
Trading AppA/C Opening ChargesTrading Charges
Upstox AppINR 0INR 20 per trade
Groww appINR 00.05% or INR 20 (which one is lower)
5paisa AppINR 0INR 20 per trade
ICICI AppINR 0INR 20 per trade
16 more rows

Is investing in acorns risky? ›

Banking insurance: Acorns works with partners Lincoln Savings Bank or nbkc bank, Members FDIC, to make sure your funds are federally insured up to $250,000. It's also a member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) which is a protection measure for customers if their brokerage firm fails.

What is better than acorns? ›

We cover some of the best apps like Acorns that you can use to save money and put your investing on autopilot.
  • Chime. Get started with Chime. Chime review. ...
  • Oportune. Get started with Oportun. Oportun review. ...
  • Qapital. Get started with Qapital. Qapital review. ...
  • UNest. Get started with UNest. ...
  • Betterment. Get started with Betterment.

Is Robinhood worth getting? ›

Robinhood Gold can be an excellent value for people who regularly use margin, keep lots of uninvested cash in their accounts, or who take full advantage of IRA investing. Special Offer. Get a 3% match on IRA contributions each year with Robinhood Gold (subscription fee applies), or 1% without.

Can you transfer stocks from Acorns to Robinhood? ›

You can transfer stocks, cash, and other eligible assets from your outside brokerages into Robinhood through ACATS. You can transfer all or part of an outside account. We only accept assets from individual cash, margin brokerage accounts, or traditional or Roth IRAs.

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