When you’re new to investing, it can seem like there’s a lot of information to learn. But you have to start somewhere—so you might as well start with the best investing websites right off the bat!
Table of contents
- What makes the best investment websites the best ?
- 6 Best investing websites for research (and taking action!)
- Expert tip: You can use more than one investing website!
- How can I invest $1,000 right now?
- Where to invest 100 dollars in stocks?
- What is the most trusted investment company?
- Articles related to the best investing websites
- Pick the best investing website for you and get started!
These days, the best investment websites don’t just throw you in the deep end to figure everything out yourself.
Instead, they equip you with the knowledge and tools you need to make investment choices and use their platforms successfully. From educational resources to trading simulators to robo-assistants, the best investing websites have a ton of useful features to discover.
So let’s explore six of the best investment websites for beginners and understand how to use them for research and analysis to learn how to start investing!
But first, why are these the best investment websites?
What makes the best investment websites the best?
Different people often have different criteria for selecting the best investing websites. So that means it’s important to know which factors they care about and why.
For instance, one person might deem the best investment research websites to be ones that tell you things like, “This company is hot right now! Buy this stock today!”
Personally, I tend to stay away from investment analysis sites like that because data has shown that picking individual stocks is rarely the most successful way to invest. Even professional hedge fund traders tend to under-perform index funds, according to CNBC!
So you should be wary of information that promises or implies that you’ll be able to get rich quickly with a certain stock or by day trading. (Learn more about the advantages of investing with index funds!)
In this article, we’ll focus more on the best websites that make it simple to start investing and then grow your financial knowledge.
We’ll be looking for things like:
- Educational resources, as well as investment tools
- A user-friendly layout
- Free or at least low fees
- Updated features
- Options for both automated and manual investing
- Great analytics to help you monitor your results/progress
- Solid security & privacy
- Mobile app access
- Responsive customer support
With this in mind, let’s get started!
6 Best investing websites for research (and taking action!)
As we go over the six best investment websites, we’ll be looking at a few different things.
First, we’ll see what kind of resources are available to help beginners build their investment strategies.
Then, we’ll look at the features that stand out in each of the best investing websites.
Finally, we’ll sum up what makes the site a great choice for beginner investors.
Most of the websites below have educational resources and options to turn your new knowledge into reality by opening your own accounts. So that means if any of these platforms stand out to you, you can start your investment journey as early as today!
1. Fidelity
Fidelity is one of the most popular investment firms out there—and for good reason! Founded in 1946, it’s a well-established firm with a great track record and a diverse range of investment options.
For instance, they have their own collection of index funds with no expense ratios or minimum investments (AKA cheap and accessible for beginners)!
In addition, it offers a user-friendly platform with research tools and learning resources for investors of all levels.
Fidelity research & education
You’ll find a diverse range of resources on Fidelity, including articles, videos, webinars, and more.
The Fidelity Learning Center features insights on investing, retirement planning, and other financial topics. Topics can be as basic as “What Are Stocks?” and range to more complex strategy talk.
Other research tools on the platform include stock search tools, market analysis tools, and independent research reports.
Fractional share investing
Invest in high-priced stocks and funds with smaller amounts of money.
Retirement planning tools
Fidelity provides retirement planning tools, including calculators, educational content, and retirement income planning help.
Robust mobile app
Want to manage your investments on the go? Fidelity’s mobile app provides easy access to account management tools.
Robo-investing through Fidelity Go
Fidelity Go is great if you’re interested in a “set it and forget it” investing strategy. Personalized robo-advisors like Fidelity Go are also a cheaper way to have your investments managed for you.
Is Fidelity good for beginners?
Whether you’re new to investing or you’re ready for the next level, Fidelity is a great place to gain knowledge.
The Fidelity Learning Center provides valuable content to help beginners understand investing concepts, while the user-friendly platform and mobile app make it simple to jump in and start your own accounts.
2. Charles Schwab
Another important name in the brokerage space, Charles Schwab was one of the first firms to push the industry toward low-cost trading.
In order to make investing more accessible to all, they got rid of trade commissions entirely in 2019!
In addition, their recent acquisition of TD Ameritrade means users will benefit from the best features and resources from both platforms.
Charles Schwab research & education
Charles Schwab offers a huge array of educational content through its Insights & Education section, covering investing strategies, market updates, retirement planning, etc. They even have an original podcast called Choiceology.
Schwab also provides its clients access to third-party research reports and tools. The brokerage offers webinars, workshops, and online courses to help investors improve their skills.
Once the merger with TD Ameritrade is complete, Schwab investors will also have access to courses and resources from its Education Center. Also moving over is TD’s popular thinkorswim platform which offers paper trading and in-depth technical analysis tools. Paper trading is a simulation of trading without using real money.
Schwab intelligent portfolios
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is a robo-advisory service that creates diversified portfolios based on how risk averse you are and your goals.
Global trading
Schwab provides access to international markets and foreign currency trading.
Schwab stock slices
Stock slices are Schwab’s version of fractional investing—buy partial shares of popular stocks for as little as $5.
Thematic investing
Align your passions and values with your investments with Schwab’s “thematic stock lists” feature. From sustainability to artificial intelligence, this lets you invest in the future you want to see.
Is Charles Schwab good for beginners?
Charles Schwab is one of the best investing websites for beginners, offering a mix of educational resources and tools.
For instance, its robo-advisory service simplifies portfolio management, and the educational content helps beginners grasp trading basics. The platform is easy to use for various skill levels, though beginners may find the range of features a bit much initially. Schwab also has a well-reviewed mobile app.
3. Vanguard
Vanguard is well known for its focus on low-cost index funds and ETFs.
In addition, one thing that really sets it apart is that there are no private owners or shareholders—the owners of Vanguard are its clients.
Founder John Bogle set it up this way in order to ensure that Vanguard’s interests would always be aligned with the interests of its investors.
Vanguard research & education
Vanguard’s educational focus is on long-term investment principles and cost-effective strategies. While it doesn’t offer as many tools as some other brokers, the site provides investors with a library of research and educational articles, webinars, and calculators to help them understand key investment concepts.
Ownership structure
As mentioned in the intro, Vanguard is client-owned, meaning its funds are owned by the investors in those funds.
Low-cost index funds
Vanguard is known for pioneering low-cost index fund investing, helping reduce overall investment expenses, and encouraging a patient, long-term investment philosophy.
Vanguard personal advisor services
The company offers a hybrid robo-advisory service combined with access to human financial advisors.
Portfolio watch feature
A tool that analyzes your portfolio to make sure your investing strategy matches your goals so you can follow your dreams.
Is Vanguard good for beginners?
Compared to some of the other sites on this list, Vanguard’s website and features are more basic.
However, Vanguard’s simple interface and focus on long-term investing may be good for beginners looking for a passive investment approach. It’s mainly designed for buy-and-hold investors who don’t necessarily need the most modern features. (Luckily, it is modern enough to have its own app!)
4. InteractiveBrokers
InteractiveBrokers is known for its advanced global trading platform and a broad range of investment options, including stocks, options, futures, and more.
It caters to active traders and offers competitive pricing, advanced charting tools, and global market access. Of course, they also let users trade on the go through the IBKR Mobile app.
InteractiveBrokers research & education
Even though it’s on the advanced side, InteractiveBrokers makes the list because of its financial education platform at Trader’s Academy. If you want to really deepen your knowledge of investing, this is a great resource.
The courses at Trader’s Academy are very thorough and explain the theories underlying each concept. You can learn about everything from economics to how the US labor market works, to options and stocks, and much more.
There are also courses that relate specifically to using the InteractiveBrokers platform if you’re interested in giving it a try.
Comprehensive investment variety
You can trade almost any type of investment here, even more niche things like investing in cryptocurrency.
Paper trading
Users who have approved, funded investing accounts can also open paper trading accounts to learn and experiment.
Advanced trading tools
Although this is less important to beginners, the platform is famous for its powerful trading platform with advanced features, including customizable algorithms.
Impact dashboard
Impact dashboard helps conscious investors build a portfolio that matches their values.
Is InteractiveBrokers good for beginners?
As a brokerage, InteractiveBrokers is almost certainly the least beginner-friendly option on this list. After all, it has a complex interface and a focus on advanced trading tools.
However, their Trader’s Academy is a standout when it comes to educational resources. Since you don’t even need an IB account in order to access the courses, it’s worth checking them out.
5. Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge is the online brokerage of Bank of America. It offers a solid array of $0 minimum investment options and research tools on a user-friendly platform.
It’s a good option for Bank of America customers for its seamless integration with the bank’s services and its accessibility to a variety of financial products.
Merrill Edge research & education
In partnership with Morningstar, Merrill Edge has developed an Investing Classroom. Here, you’ll find a series of short courses on stocks, funds, bonds, ETFs, and portfolio types. This makes it one of the best investing websites.
Courses also come with quizzes, which you can use to gauge your knowledge or test what you’ve learned. Don’t miss the webinar series, which covers topics from financial psychology to sustainable investing.
In their Tools & Calculators section, you’ll find resources to help you crunch the numbers for college planning, retirement goals, and general personal finance. Users also have access to the BofA Global Research platform, which provides research reports, market insights, and analysis from Bank of America.
Bank of America integration
This brokerage seamlessly integrates with Bank of America accounts, providing easy transfers and account management.
Preferred rewards program
BofA members who enroll in preferred rewards get banking benefits (e.g. an interest boost on savings and credit card bonuses).
Merrill guided investing
This is an automated investing service that will help you build and rebalance a portfolio that fits your goals.
Is Merrill Edge good for beginners?
If you’re already a Bank of America customer, using Merrill Edge should feel natural and familiar. Its trading tools may be a little more basic compared to other platforms, but if you’re a long-term investor, you don’t need anything fancy. You can also manage your accounts and investments through the Merrill Edge app.
6. Investopedia
This last one is a little different because it’s the only one that isn’t a brokerage, but it is one of the best investing websites! Investopedia is one of my favorite sources of financial knowledge.
It has a wealth of educational articles, recommendations, and news about current market events. No matter what subject they’re covering, the goal is to simplify concepts in a way that anyone can understand.
Investopedia research & education
Essentially, the whole Investopedia site is about research and education.
Content ranges from simple concepts like stocks and bonds to more advanced things like technical analysis. Their mix of information with real-world examples and interactive tools helps make the investing process easier, empowering newcomers to make informed decisions.
Comprehensive educational resources
What sets Investopedia apart is its ability to simplify complex financial terms and concepts, making them easily understandable for beginners.
The resources on Investopedia are accessible to individuals at all levels of expertise in finance who have money goals.
Realistic stock market trading simulator
The platform offers a highly realistic stock market trading simulator that helps users practice trading stocks, options, and ETFs using virtual money. This experience helps users learn how to navigate the dynamics of the market without real financial risk.
Up-to-date market insights
Investopedia provides up-to-date market news, analysis, and trends, keeping readers informed about the latest developments in the financial world. This feature enables investors to stay aware of market shifts and, in turn, make more informed investment decisions.
Is Investopedia good for beginners?
Overall, Investopedia is a good starting point for beginners to build a strong foundation in the world of investing. And their stock market simulator is free, so give it a try!
Expert tip: You can use more than one investing website!
In the past, many investors picked one brokerage, kept all their investments there, and stayed loyal to it forever. Today, you’ve got options with the best investing websites!
Want to do your research on Investopedia, start a retirement account at Fidelity, and keep a “fun money” account at InteractiveBrokers? You can! Or, you can experiment with a few different sites and choose your favorite once you have more perspective and experience.
Before you open any new account, make sure to read the terms and conditions so you’re aware of any potential fees or restrictions. Once you have an account (or two or three), be sure to monitor it regularly to make sure your goals are on track.
How can I invest $1,000 right now?
The best way to invest $1,000 right now is to take a look at your current financial situation and your immediate goals. Let’s check out a couple of examples!
First, if you don’t have an emergency fund, then use the $1,000 to start one! Here’s a quick guide on creating an emergency fund and why it matters.
However, if you’re carrying high-interest debt, like credit cards, it might make more sense to pay extra on that if you’re unsure whether to pay off debt or save. (This way, you’ll save money on future interest payments!)
If you already have an emergency fund and minimal debt, then it’s time to invest! I suggest starting by opening a retirement account to build retirement savings, like a personal IRA or a 401(k) through your work. These accounts are available at many of the best investment websites listed above!
Once you have an account, use the above-mentioned research and education tools to figure out what stocks, bonds, or funds to buy with your $1,000 within the account.
Where to invest 100 dollars in stocks?
Whenever you find yourself with an extra $100 to invest in stocks (or even an extra $20), you can use that money to help build your financial future! One great option is to invest in fractional shares of index funds or ETFs.
Let’s say that you’d like to invest in a certain ETF, but it costs $200 per share, and you only have $100. At brokerages that allow you to buy fractional shares, you can use that $100 to buy half a share of your chosen ETF. This way, you don’t have to wait to get the investments you want!
Here are some other ideas for how to maximize small investments and invest smart.
What is the most trusted investment company?
Some of the largest and most trusted brokerage firms include Fidelity, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab. Trust is crucial when you’re deciding where to keep your money. If this is a big consideration for you, stick with one of the tried-and-true options!
On the flip side, it’s usually better to avoid the newer, shinier investing apps that don’t have an established track record yet. Here are some signs an investment app isn’t trustworthy.
Articles related to the best investing websites
If you enjoyed reading about investing websites, check out these other articles about investing!
Pick the best investing website for you and get started!
Now that you have an idea of the best investing websites to use for research, analysis, and trading, it’s time to make your own plan!
Start by learning how to start investing and make a game plan. You can also enroll in free CGF courses on investing and business to continue growing your financial knowledge.