Can I start investing with just $50?

Yes, you certainly can. Apps like Acorns and Fidelity Go allow you to begin investing with very small amounts, sometimes as low as $5 or $10. These platforms often use fractional shares or automated investing strategies to make starting simple.

What are fractional shares and how do they help beginners?

Fractional shares let you buy a portion of a single stock, even if you don't have enough money for a full share. For instance, if Apple stock trades at $180, you could invest $10 to own about 0.055 of a share. This makes expensive stocks accessible to investors with smaller budgets.

Best Investing Apps for Beginners With Little Money

📋 This guide is for educational purposes only and not financial advice. Consult a licensed professional for your specific situation.

Quick answer: For beginners with little money, Fidelity Go is often the best choice because it offers a $0 advisory fee on balances under $25,000, requires no minimum to open an account, and starts investing with just $10. This makes it highly accessible compared to platforms with higher minimums or fixed monthly fees.

Starting your investment journey doesn't require a large sum of cash. Many apps now make it possible to invest with just $5, $10, or $50. You'll find options ranging from automated robo-advisors to platforms offering fractional shares, letting you buy small pieces of expensive stocks. We've reviewed five popular apps for beginners, focusing on their minimum investment requirements, fees, and overall user experience.

How to Choose the Right Investing App

When you're starting with limited funds, a few key factors matter most. You'll want an app that minimizes fees and doesn't demand a huge upfront investment. It's smart to pick one that matches your comfort level with managing investments. Do you want someone else to handle the decisions, or do you prefer to pick individual stocks?

Here are some criteria to consider:

Minimum Investment: Some apps let you start with $0, while others might ask for $50 or $100.
Fees: Watch out for monthly subscription fees, advisory fees (often a percentage of your assets), and trading commissions. A 0.25% annual advisory fee on $1,000 means you're paying $2.50 per year. A $3 monthly fee, however, costs $36 per year, which is a much higher percentage on a small balance.
Account Types: Most apps offer taxable brokerage accounts. Some also provide IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) like Roth or Traditional IRAs, which offer tax advantages.
Investment Options: Do you want to invest in individual stocks, ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds), mutual funds, or a pre-built portfolio? Fractional shares are a big plus for small budgets.
Ease of Use: A clean interface and simple setup process make it easier to stick with your plan. You'll want one that's easy to understand.

Top Investing Apps for Beginners with Small Budgets

Many platforms cater to new investors. We've evaluated five options known for their low minimums and beginner-friendly features. You'll find that some are better for hands-off investing, while others give you more control.

1. Fidelity Go

Fidelity Go is an excellent choice for new investors. It stands out because you can open an account with no minimum deposit, and it starts investing your money once you've deposited at least $10. You'll pay a 0% advisory fee on balances under $25,000. That's a significant saving compared to other robo-advisors. For balances above $25,000, the fee is 0.35% annually.

Fidelity Go builds and manages a diversified portfolio of Fidelity Flex® ETFs based on your risk tolerance and goals. You don't pay any trading fees or expense ratios on these underlying ETFs. It's a completely hands-off experience. This platform suits those who want their money to grow without constant attention.

Fits you if: You want a fully managed portfolio with very low fees, especially if your balance is under $25,000. You're looking for an easy way to start investing without picking individual stocks.
Skip it for now if: You prefer to pick your own stocks or want more control over your investments. You might consider a platform like Robinhood for self-directed trading.

2. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

Charles Schwab offers Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, a robo-advisor with a unique fee structure: there's no advisory fee. That's right, 0% advisory fees. You'll still need to meet a $5,000 minimum to start investing. The portfolios consist of Schwab ETFs, and you'll pay the expense ratios on those ETFs, which are typically low.

This platform automatically rebalances your portfolio and can even provide tax-loss harvesting for accounts over $50,000. While it's free, the higher initial minimum might be a hurdle for some beginners. Still, if you can meet the $5,000 threshold, it's a very cost-effective way to get a professionally managed portfolio. A 2024 Bankrate study found 23% of new investors consider a $5,000 minimum too high.

Fits you if: You've at least $5,000 to start and want a completely free, automated investment management service. You're looking for long-term growth with minimal effort.
Skip it for now if: You don't have $5,000 to invest yet. Consider Fidelity Go or Acorns first, then switch when your balance grows.

3. Acorns

Acorns makes micro-investing simple. You can open an account with $0, and it starts investing once you deposit $5. Its most famous feature is "round-ups," which rounds up your credit or debit card purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the change. For example, a $3.40 coffee becomes $4, and the $0.60 difference goes into your investment account. This small, consistent saving really adds up over time.

Acorns offers several subscription tiers, starting at $3 per month for Acorns Personal (Invest, Later, Checking accounts). For $5 a month, Acorns Family includes all Personal features plus custodial accounts for kids. For new investors with just a few hundred dollars, a $3 monthly fee can represent a substantial portion of their assets, reducing overall returns. For example, $36 a year on a $200 balance is an 18% annual fee. You'll find it's great for building a savings habit.

Fits you if: You want to invest small amounts automatically through round-ups or small recurring deposits. You appreciate a simple, diversified portfolio without having to pick stocks.
Skip it for now if: You've a very small balance (under $1,000), as the monthly fee might eat into your returns. Or if you want to pick individual stocks. Consider beginners-guide-to-investing for more traditional approaches.

4. Robinhood

Robinhood popularized commission-free stock trading. You can open an account with no minimum deposit, and there are no trading commissions for stocks, ETFs, and options. It's also one of the few platforms that offers fractional shares, allowing you to buy as little as $1 worth of a stock like Tesla or Amazon. This is incredibly helpful for beginners who can't afford full shares of high-priced companies.

Robinhood provides a user-friendly interface that makes trading accessible. However, it's a self-directed platform, meaning you're responsible for choosing your own investments. While it offers educational resources, it doesn't provide the automated portfolio management you'd get from a robo-advisor. For those interested in buying individual stocks or even cryptocurrencies, it's a popular option.

Fits you if: You want to actively choose individual stocks and ETFs, and appreciate commission-free trading and fractional shares. You're comfortable managing your own investment decisions.
Skip it for now if: You prefer a hands-off approach to investing or want professional portfolio management. This platform isn't for those who want someone else to pick their investments.

5. Vanguard Digital Advisor

Vanguard, known for its low-cost index funds and ETFs, offers Vanguard Digital Advisor. This robo-advisor requires a higher minimum investment of $3,000. It charges a competitive 0.15% annual advisory fee, with the first 90 days free. This fee is on top of the expense ratios of the underlying Vanguard ETFs, which are typically very low (often under 0.05%).

While the minimum is higher than some other options, Vanguard's reputation for low costs and broad diversification makes it appealing for long-term investors. It's a good choice if you're ready to commit a larger sum and want a managed portfolio built with Vanguard's reliable funds. You'll find that Vanguard is focused on long-term wealth building, not day trading. A 2025 NerdWallet survey indicated that 44% of new investors prioritize low fees in their long-term plans.

Fits you if: You've $3,000 or more to invest and want a low-cost, professionally managed portfolio from a trusted name in index investing. You're planning for long-term goals like retirement.
Skip it for now if: You don't meet the $3,000 minimum or prefer a platform with a $0 advisory fee for smaller balances. Check out best-apps-for-tracking-investments if you're already investing and just need better tracking tools.

What Most Reviews Miss About Starting Small

It's counter-intuitive, but sometimes the "cheapest" app isn't truly the most cost-effective when you've very little money. A platform with a $3 monthly fee, like Acorns, costs $36 per year. If you're investing only $200, that's an 18% annual fee on your principal. Compare that to an app charging 0.25% of assets, which would be only $0.50 per year on the same $200. The flat monthly fees disproportionately impact small portfolios.

You'll quickly see that as your balance grows, percentage-based fees become more significant. This means it's often better to start with a percentage-based fee structure, even if it seems higher initially, if your balance is extremely small. However, if you're consistently adding money, a flat fee might eventually become a smaller percentage of your growing assets. Always calculate the actual dollar cost of fees based on your expected balance.

How We Put This Together

Our editorial team reviewed available data on investment apps designed for beginners and those with smaller budgets. We examined minimum investment requirements, advisory fees, trading commissions, and available investment options, including fractional shares. Our analysis included information from each platform's public disclosures, recent industry reports from reputable financial publications, and user reviews.

We didn't open accounts or test the actual trading functionality. We based our assessments on publicly available information as of August 2026. This guide is for informational purposes; no one paid us for these recommendations.

Sources

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 590-A, as checked August 2026.
Bankrate 2024 New Investor Survey.
NerdWallet 2025 Investment Preferences Report.

FAQ

What's the difference between a robo-advisor and a self-directed app?

A robo-advisor automatically manages your investments based on your goals and risk tolerance. You answer a few questions, and it builds and maintains a diversified portfolio for you. Self-directed apps, conversely, give you control to pick individual stocks, ETFs, or other assets yourself. You're responsible for all investment decisions on these platforms.

How much money do I need to start investing in stocks?

You can start investing in stocks with as little as $1. Many popular apps, including Robinhood and Fidelity, offer fractional shares. This means you don't need to buy a whole share of a company; you can purchase a small fraction of a share for just a few dollars. This makes investing in expensive stocks much more accessible.

Are there any truly free investing apps?

Yes, some apps offer commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, like Robinhood. Robo-advisors such as Schwab Intelligent Portfolios charge no advisory fees, though you'll still pay the expense ratios on the underlying ETFs. Fidelity Go also has a 0% advisory fee for balances under $25,000. You'll find options exist without direct advisory fees.