Top 11 best investment platforms for beginners in 2024

By:

Prash Raval

Prash is a financial writer for Invezz covering FX, the stock market and investing. For over a decade he has traded spot FX full time while... read more.

 & 

James Knight

James is the Editor of Education for Invezz, where he covers topics from across the financial world, from the stock market, to cryptocurrency, to macroeconomic markets.... read more.

Updated:  Sep 24, 2024

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19 min read

Ready to take the plunge into investing but overwhelmed by all the choices? Finding the right investment platform is the crucial first step towards building your wealth.

With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel lost – but don’t worry! This guide makes the process straightforward and help you choose the platform that best fits your goals.

We’ve thoroughly researched, tested, and ranked the top investment platforms available. Our rankings consider factors like the fees and cost of investing, ease of use, range of investment options, and the results of our user survey.

This guide will equip you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision. We’ll explain the key features to compare, break down the pros and cons of different platforms, and guide you towards the best investment platform in 2024 that’s right for you.

Best investment platforms for 2024

What are the best investment platforms?

The best investment platform is Plus500 . It’s by far the most popular choice among our readers, boasting low fees, a simple and straightforward platform, and a wide range of investment options.

Below are three more top investing platforms, which you can filter and sort according to the features that are most important to you.

Most popular

1

Min Deposit

-

Best offer

User Score

9.9

Trade +2000 CFDs on Shares, Options, Commodities & more

Unlimited risk-free Demo Account

0 commissions & attractive spreads with up to 1:5 leverage

Start Trading more info

Payment Methods:

Bank Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Credit Card, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Trustly, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Discover, Bank Transfer: SEPA, Bank Transfer: FPS, skrill

Full Regulations:

ASIC, FCA, FSA, MAS, CySEC #250/14

CFD service. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2

Min Deposit

-

Best offer

User Score

9.9

Invest spare change automatically, set aside money from each paycheck and earn more

Access smart portfolios designed by experts, that adjust automatically as you and your money grow

Backed by leading investors and innovators, from Blackrock to CNBC, and chosen by more than 8 million people

Start Trading more info

Payment Methods:

Full Regulations:

3

Min Deposit

-

Best offer

User Score

9.9

Up to $240 bonus!

Deposit with ACA, Wire, Pay with my bank

Invest for dividends and get payout on stocks on Ex-Dividend day

Start Trading more info

Payment Methods:

Bank Transfer, Debit Card, PayPal, Credit Card, Wire Transfer

Full Regulations:

CySEC, FCA

51% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Your capital is at risk.

Top 11 online investment platforms, reviewed

1. Plus500. Best for international trading*

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From 0.08%

Fees

$...

Minimum deposit

2800

No. assets

Yes

Demo/virtual account

Pros & Cons

Free demo account for every user Secure broker, licensed by top-tier regulators Wide variety of CFDs to trade Several good risk management tools

No support on trading information and education Website isn’t brilliantly designed to help users find answers to their questions No MetaTrader trading platform compatibility

Overview

We love Plus500 because it is one of the industry’s most transparent and reliable brokers. Its fees are clear and you’ll know exactly what you will be paying before you trade. Its technology driven platform gives access to futures for a range of instruments, including forex, commodities, and cryptocurrencies among several others.

Plus500 has something for all types of traders, no matter what level of experience. Its low margin requirements (starting at $20) and different contracts make it a top choice for day traders. At the same time, its trading academy is packed with educational content, perfect for beginners just starting. 

One of the features we like most about Plus500 is its bonuses. Not only does it have a low minimum deposit of $100, but you’ll also have the option to receive a bonus the first time you add funds to your account, so you can stretch your money a little further.

For accurate instrument availability, visit plus500.com.

The fees: Plus500 charges a commission of $0.49 per Micro contract and $0.89 per Standard contract (per side). There is an Auto-Liquidation fee of $10 per contract. Other exchange fees may be applicable and can be found on the CME group website. 

*Based on a comparison of 60+ leading brokers and trading platforms.

Highlights

Features	Plus500 summary
No. of tradable assets	2800+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	FSA, ASIC, FMA, FCA, CySEC
View more >	Plus500 >

Visit Plus500 Plus500 Review

Buy or sell stock CFDs with Plus500. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

2. Acorns: Best for simple investing with a small starting pot

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...

Fees

$...

Minimum deposit

...

No. assets

No

Demo/virtual account

Pros & Cons

Low deposit amount - start investing with as little as $5 Offers investment, checking, and regular IRA retirement accounts Automated savings feature Lots of educational content available on the website

Limited investment options - automated Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) portfolios mean no option to pick and trade stocks High fees for small balances No tax benefits when using the platform to invest your money

Overview

We love Acorns because it makes investing accessible to everyone. Acorns rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into a diversified portfolio of ETFs. This innovative approach helps you grow your investments incrementally without needing to make large initial deposits, making it an ideal platform for new investors or those with limited funds.

In addition to its core micro investing services, Acorns provides a suite of educational resources through Acorns Grow, which includes articles, tutorials, and financial literacy content designed to help you improve your understanding of personal finance and investing.

The platform’s emphasis on simplicity, automation, and education makes it particularly attractive to beginners looking to start their investment journey with minimal effort. With its user-friendly app, low fees, and innovative round-up feature, Acorns stands out as a convenient and effective robo advisor & investing tool for building your wealth over time.

The fees: Acorns charges a monthly subscription fee that varies depending on the account you sign up to. The most basic package starts at $3, while the other options are either $5 or $9 per month. There are no additional trading or management fees.

Highlights

Features	Acorns summary
No. of tradable assets
Min. Deposit
ID verification required	No
Free demo account	No
Supported assets
Mobile trading app	No
Web trading platform	No
Regulatory bodies
View more >	Acorns >

Visit Acorns Acorns Review

3. eToro. Best for beginners, copy-trading & demo-account

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0% commission

Fees

$...

Minimum deposit

1500

No. assets

Yes

Demo/virtual account

Pros & Cons

Great for beginners, simple to set up and get started Competitive, industry-leading commissions Popular ‘Copy Portfolios’ function lets you follow top traders Excellent customer service, with live chat support provided

Comparatively high fees for withdrawals and account inactivity Does not integrate with the MetaTrader platform High spreads on some assets

Overview

We love eToro because it’s a trading platform built with beginners and casual traders in mind. The platform combines an interactive, social trading experience with an easy-to-use interface, making it ideal for novice traders.

The far-reaching catalog of more than 5,500 stocks, ETFs, and crypto tokens, includes big names like Apple, Tesla, and Bitcoin, as well as smaller companies or tokens with high growth potential. You can start trading with as little as $10 using fractional shares if you’re on a tight budget.

One feature we particularly appreciate is the ability to interact with eToro’s 35 million users on any asset, market, or portfolio page. If you find traders whose strategies match your risk tolerance, you can copy their portfolios automatically using eToro’s flagship copy trading functionality. This is a great way to learn and potentially benefit from the expertise of more experienced traders.

If you don’t feel comfortable investing your cash straight away, you can use a free demo account, credited with $100,000 virtual dollars. This offers plenty of opportunities to try out a trading strategy that works for you across stocks, crypto, and options trading markets.

Highlights

Features	eToro summary
No. of tradable assets	3600+
Min. Deposit	$100
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	Yes
Supported assets	Stock CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Index CFDs, Commodity CFDs, NFTs
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	ASIC, FCA, CySEC, FinCEN
View more >	eToro >

Visit eToro eToro Review

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

4. Public. Best for AI analysis

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Spreads

Fees

$...

Minimum deposit

9,000

No. assets

No

Demo/virtual account

Pros & Cons

Commission free stock and ETF investing Share and compare your portfolio on a social trading platform Trade crypto, fractional shares, and alternative investments

You can't trade on margin or use leverage No forex, options, funds, metals, or bonds

Overview

We love Public because it makes use of cutting-edge AI technology to enhance your trading and investing experience. Public’s AI-powered feature, Public Alpha offers personalized insights and recommendations through its natural language interface in real time. 

Public’s AI technology helps you make more informed decisions by analyzing massive amounts of data and providing actionable insights. These AI-driven insights are easily accessible and give users access to the latest advancements in financial analysis and trading. 

Not only do can you use AI to help your investments, Public is one of the lowest cost brokerage firms out there. You can invest in stocks and ETFs commission free. You can also buy and trade fractional shares and if you want to diversify, you can explore a range of alternative investments including music and film royalties. There’s even a selection of the biggest cryptocurrencies available.

The fees: There are no fees for investing in stocks during regular trading hours in the US – 9.30am-4pm EST. There is a $2.99 fee for trades outside of regular hours. Alternative investments, including cryptocurrency, are charged a 2.5% fee per transaction.

Highlights

Features	summary
No. of tradable assets	9,000 +
Min. Deposit	$20
ID verification required	Yes
Free demo account	No
Supported assets	Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Options, Bonds, Royalties
Mobile trading app	Yes
Web trading platform	Yes
Regulatory bodies	SEC, FINRA, SIPC
View more >	>

Visit Review

Cryptocurrency execution and custody services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software licensing agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Public Crypto LLC. Crypto trading on Public platforms is served by Public Crypto LLC and offered through APEX Crypto. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading.

What is an investment platform?

An investment account is a specialised platform for your invested funds, enabling you to buy and sell various financial instruments like stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and even complex options. Unlike traditional bank accounts, these accounts unlock many ways to create wealth by participating in financial markets. 

Brokerage firms like Fidelity Investments and Morgan Stanley Self-Directed Investing offer online brokerage accounts giving access to many investment opportunities. Opening an online brokerage account is often a quick process for individual investors. 

There are several investment account types available including stock trading platforms for options trading or commission-free stock purchases. It’s important to remember that taxable accounts incur tax implications for gains. Many online brokerage platforms also offer paper trading features, allowing you to simulate trades without risking real capital.

How do investment platforms work?

They work in a similar way to bank accounts. Users can create an account with an investment platform and gain access to all the services it offers. Once registered, investors can buy and sell thousands of financial products across various markets. Stocks, forex, commodities, crypto, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and investment funds are most commonly found on investment platforms. 

As large sums of money pass through investment platforms every day, security and regulation are at the forefront of most of them. The best platforms are regulated in premier jurisdictions and by Tier 1 regulators, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the US.

The different types of investment platforms

There are a range of investment platforms available today, catering to different investors’ needs. Choosing the right platform is crucial to accessing financial markets and managing your investments.

The best investment platforms for beginners prioritise educational resources and paper trading, while active traders may value low costs and advanced trading platforms to sell stocks, futures, or options contracts online. Here are some of the investment platforms available:

• General investment accounts. These online brokers offer access to a wide range of assets like stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds, making them ideal for active traders who want control over their portfolios. It’s important to remember that trading platforms often come as a taxable brokerage account, so be mindful of tax implications.
• Self-directed investment platforms. Self-directed platforms like eToro or Interactive Brokers let you build your own portfolio, sell stocks, and utilise advanced features like futures trading or margin accounts.
• Robo-advisors. Robo advisors like Wealthify and Nutmeg use algorithms to manage your portfolio based on your risk tolerance and goals. Robo advisors are excellent for beginners or those seeking a hands-off approach. 
• Retirement accounts. The best retirement investment accounts allow you to save for retirement while benefitting from certain tax breaks. The most common variations are Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), where you can invest up to $6,000 or $7,000 if 50+ tax-free, Roth IRAs, where contributions have no tax deductions, and 401(k)s, employer-sponsored investment plans.
• Real estate investment platforms. REITs let you invest in real estate, which means you can invest in property from your investment account without needing hefty sums. The best real estate investment platforms are available to all types of investors. 
• Education investment accounts. You can use an education investment account to save for your child’s education. For example, the 529 college savings plan is designed to help families save for educational expenses. The plan is a tax-advantaged account with money invested into mutual funds. There are no annual limits on contributions and withdrawals are tax-free. 
• Alternative investment platforms. You can use these platforms to invest beyond traditional assets. Some of the most popular alternative investment platforms offer assets like wine, whisky, and farmland. 
• Investment research platforms. Research platforms don’t actually let you invest in anything, but do help with analysis. Platforms like Bloomberg or Morningstar offer in-depth stock reports, analyst ratings, and educational resources.  
• P2P lending platforms. You can lend money directly to individuals or businesses and earn potential returns. The best p2p investment platforms cater to various risk appetites and loan types.
• AI investment platforms. Artificial intelligence investment platforms are similar to robo advisors and use advanced technology and AI to help build your portfolio.

How much do investment platforms cost?

You may have to pay a small percentage fee to manage your investments or buy or sell a stock, but typically it won’t cost you very much. Investment accounts may cost around 0.5% of your total invested amount every year, while the cost of investing in individual stocks may cost a couple of dollars at most each time.

Some platforms charge zero commissions, but make their money in other ways, such as through higher spreads (the difference between the buy and sell price). Other platform fees may include a charge for deposits and withdrawals. 

Here’s a look at the different types of fees you may encounter when using an online investment platform:

How should I choose an investment platform?

It depends on your goals. Do you want to invest regularly with your spare change, or do you want to put aside money to invest lump sums into big investment funds?

Use these questions to help you decide what type of investment platform is best for you.

1. How much do you want to invest?

If you’re just starting out and only have a small amount to invest, then an investing platform that lets you invest your spare change is the best option. 

You can set it to automatically round up your daily purchases and put the spare money into an investment fund.

On the other hand, if you have a lump sum to start with, then consider a platform that lets you choose your own investments and charges low trading fees. That way you don’t lose too much of your capital by paying fees.

2. What do you want to invest in?

Choose an investment platform that allows you to invest in everything you want to. Stocks and shares are the most common asset to invest in, but they aren’t the only option. You can choose from a range of investment options, like cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, and commodities, like gold. 

The best investment portfolios often have a combination of lots of different assets. Balanced portfolios are well-positioned to cope with economic cycles. If you want to create your own balanced investment portfolio, then it’s important to choose an investment platform that allows you to do so.

3. Do you want to choose your own investments?

There are a few different types of online trading platform; ones where you choose what to invest in, ones where your money is managed by finance professionals, and ones that use algorithms to decide what to invest in for you.

Most new investors are better off either trusting their money to a fund manager or using an automated investing platform to buy stocks for them. Or you can use a copy trading platform to follow the advice of more experienced traders.

You also need to think about the type of account you’re going to use to do this. You can set up a simple trading account to buy and sell your own shares, but this may not be the most cost-effective way to go. Many countries offer some form of tax break for investing through specific accounts. In the US, this is typically through a pension scheme, either a 401k or a Roth IRA, which offer tax benefits if you aren’t going to withdraw money until you’re retired.

This links in with your ultimate goals for investing, and whether may need to access the money at short notice or if you’re prepared to put it away for the long haul. Spend some time researching the options available where you live, as it could safe you a lot of money in the long run.

4. What is your risk tolerance?

If you choose a managed, or automated, investment platform, you get to decide how much risk is built into the investment strategy. Generally, the options are lower, medium, or higher risk. It offers less flexibility than a DIY investment platform, but it takes less time

The right investment approach depends on your circumstances. Younger investors can take a more risky approach than older ones, because you have longer to build your wealth. If you’re planning to use the money for a big life purchase, like a house, then a lower risk option is better.

5. Do you want to buy individual stocks, or invest in large funds?

Beginner investors looking to buy stocks in individual companies should look for a platform with low fees and a large range of stocks from around the world. The more regularly you plan to invest, the more important it is to find a platform with low fees.

Those beginner investors looking to put a lump sum into a big, diversified fund should focus on low annual management fees. Each fund charges a flat fee, either in the form of a maintenance fee or an annual management fee. A small percentage change in fees can make a big difference to the charge if you have a lot of money in the account.

More advanced traders might prefer to pick their own stocks and buy and sell them more regularly as part of their investment strategy. Fees are still important, and it may be better to pick an investment platform that charges fees through the spread, rather than a flat fee.

More things to look out for

There are some features that you should look for from every service. You want a cost-effective, secure investment platform that you can trust to keep your money safe for a long time. Here are some more features to look out for:

• A low cost investment platform. Every investment platform charges fees and they are an unavoidable cost for investors. Platform fees either come from commissions or spreads so it’s a good idea to make sure to check your platform’s fee schedule prior to registering. But note that the cheapest investment platform isn’t necessarily the best, you should look for the best balance between low cost or commission free trading and useful features. 

• Top tier security. If you’re going to be investing your money through an investment platform, you’ll want to be sure it’s a secure service. The best platforms offer extra layers of security such as 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) when logging in. 
• A reliable investment platform. Investment platforms experience downtime from time to time, but you want to avoid the ones that crash regularly. You can check out online customer reviews to compare investment platforms before registering with a new platform so you can get an idea of how reliable it is. 
• A well-regulated service. When it comes to choosing an investment account, you want to make sure that the service you’re using is well regulated. The best investment platforms are regulated in tier-one jurisdictions like the US, UK, or Europe. In the US, you want a platform that’s regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and which is a part of the Securities & Investor Protection Scheme (SIPC), which insures your deposits and securities up to the value of $500,000.

The best investment platforms for your needs

What is the best investment platform for beginners?

eToro is the best online investing platform for beginners. It provides low cost investing in an approachable way. Get investing tips from other users and create your own virtual investment portfolio to practise. Here are more of the best investing platforms for beginners.

What is the best stock investment platform?

Degiro is the best place to invest in stocks and shares. With stocks from 50+ exchanges around the world, there is a vast number of companies to choose from when you use the brokerage firm. Here are more of the best stock investing platforms:

What is the best micro-investing platform?

Moneybox is the best micro-investing service for investors. Acorns is another top option for US users. In both cases, you can start small with account minimums starting at just $1 and round up your spare change to start building an investment portfolio. Here are the best micro-investing platforms:

What is the best online investment platform for ESG investing?

Interactive Brokers offers the best ESG investment platform for ethical investments, through its IMPACT subsidiary. Low trading fees and a selection of popular ESG investment vehicles, along with ready-made, socially responsible portfolios make it one of the best online trading platforms for ESG investors. Here are more ESG investing platforms:

What is the best investment platform with a savings account?

SoFi is the investment platform with the best savings account. It offers a competitive interest rate alongside no minimum balance, so you can start earning interest even if you don’t have a big pot to start with. Here are more of the top online brokers offering savings accounts:

What is the best platform for long term investing?

Interactive Investor rates as our best long term investment platform. It has a range of pricing packages so you can choose the one that works best for your investing style, while you can invest and trade stocks from all over the world and have dividends paid directly into your account. It also offers various retirement accounts so you can invest in your future.

Here are some more of the best platforms for long term investing:

What is the best mutual fund investment platform?

Interactive Brokers has the best platform for mutual funds. It offers low fees when you invest and has a large range of investment funds to choose from. Here are some more of the best mutual fund investment platforms:

What is the best investment platform for students?

Moneybox is the best investing account for students. All of its investment accounts have a low minimum investment and you can set it up to invest your spare change, which is the perfect way to access financial markets with little money. Here are more investment accounts for students:

What is the best investing account for kids?

Acorns has the best junior investment account. Known as Acorns Early, it offers a flexible savings account for kids. Set up regular automatic investments to easily build up your kids’ wealth. Here are more of the best investment platforms for kids:

What is the best investing platform for a pension?

Nutmeg is the best investment platform to save for retirement. It offers a managed pension account where you set the risk tolerance and let Nutmeg’s fund managers do the rest. It’s simple to see how your personal pension is doing and adjust the risk parameters as you see fit. Here are more top personal pension investment platforms:

What is the best Roth IRA investment platform?

Wealthfront is the best investment platform for your Roth IRA. Use the technology of a robo advisor to save for retirement and invest in any asset class you like, including crypto. Here are more top IRA investment platforms.

What is the best automated investing account?

Wealthify is the best automated investing broker for everyday investors. It uses smart algorithms to pick investments for you based on the level of risk you’re happy with. Professional managers oversee the process, but the technology helps pick your investments. Here are more top automated investing platforms:

What is the best investment platform for women?

Ellevest has the best range of investing accounts for women. With a risk profile designed specifically for the needs of women, it offers a great account for any new investor. Here are some more top investment platforms for women:

What’s the best investment account for over 60s?

Moneybox is the best instant access investing account for over 60s. The best accounts for older investors are generally cash savings accounts. Moneybox offers a healthy rate of interest on any money held in the account and instant access to your money whenever you need it. Here are more of the best investment platforms for over 60s:

User reviews: rating the best investment platforms

It can be useful to see how other people rate each platform, so you can use their experiences to shape your own decision. We regularly conduct user surveys and gather feedback from individual users about how each service performed.

Below you can find user verdicts on each of the top investment platforms.

If you would like to comment or offer feedback on any specific service, contact our reviews team at [email protected].

Methodology – how we choose the best online investment platforms

Helping people make better financial decisions is at the heart of our mission at Invezz. 

We periodically test more than 69 investment platforms to provide our users with clear, accessible guidance on the investing options available. All testing is carried out by our panel of wealth-building experts, analysts, and active traders who sign up to each platform, conduct research, and score each investing service.

Our tests are designed to find investment services that offer a beginner-friendly, secure investing experience at a fair price. To supplement our practical testing and experience, we research each service to gather any further relevant information. We read online customer reviews, app reviews on the Play Store and App Store, and conduct user surveys to get feedback from real people about what works, and what doesn’t.

Each investment platform is awarded a final score based on 130+ data points across 8 ranking categories: cost, reliability, user experience, deposit & withdrawals, investing options, range of products/markets, research & analysis tools, and the availability of educational & learning resources.

We work closely with personal investing brands to ensure all factual information displayed here is accurate. All data is then fact-checked by an independent reviewer. You can learn more about our expert panel and how we test, rate, and review platforms in our review process. 

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