October 30, 2026

Best Trading Apps in 2026: Fees and Custody Compared

Compare the best trading apps for stocks, options, crypto, and futures: fees, what you can trade, custody, and US availability, checked October 2026.

The best trading app depends on what you trade. For US stocks and options, the big brokers now charge $0 online commissions, so the real differences are options contract fees, crypto pricing, futures access, and who holds your assets.

This guide compares eight apps: Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Interactive Brokers, Robinhood, Webull, Coinbase, Kraken, and the Nika app. It covers what each one lets you trade, what a standard trade costs, how custody works, and where each app fits best.

Disclosure: Nika publishes this comparison and the Nika app is one of the apps listed. Competitor facts come from each provider’s own pricing, help, and legal pages, checked on 30 October 2026.

Our quick picks

Fidelity: long-term investors who want $0 online US stock, ETF, and options commissions with no account minimum to open.
Charles Schwab: stocks plus futures and forex in one broker, and BTC and ETH through Schwab Crypto.
Interactive Brokers: active and global traders, with IBKR Lite for $0 US stock and ETF trades and crypto at 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value.
Robinhood: a simple app with stocks, options, futures, crypto, and prediction markets.
Webull: $0 stock, ETF, and options commissions, with futures and crypto in the same app.
Coinbase: crypto first, now with $0 commission US stocks and ETFs.
Kraken: crypto first, with commission-free US stocks and ETFs in eligible states.
The Nika app: one self-custodial app for crypto, stocks, commodities, forex, perpetual futures, prediction markets, and yield.

Best trading apps compared

Checked on 30 October 2026. Fees and availability change; confirm in the app before you trade.

	Robinhood	Webull	Fidelity	Charles Schwab	Interactive Brokers	Coinbase	Kraken	The Nika app
What you can trade	Stocks, options, crypto	Stocks, options, crypto	Stocks, funds, crypto	Stocks, futures, forex	Stocks, futures, crypto	Crypto, stocks, futures	Crypto, stocks, perps	Access to 500+ markets
Stock and ETF commission	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0 on IBKR Lite	$0	$0 (US only)	See the note below the table
Options	$0; index $0.50	$0; some index $0.50	$0.65 per contract	$0.65 per contract	Check with the provider	Check with the provider	Check with the provider	Not offered (perpetual futures available)
Crypto trading cost	Spread or 0.00% to 0.95%	Check with the provider	Check with the provider	0.75%, zero spread	0.12% to 0.18%	Fees plus spread if applicable	Instant Buy 1% plus spread	See the note below the table
Futures or perpetuals	Futures (own FCM)	Futures (own FCM)	Check with the provider	$2.25 per contract	Yes, incl. micro crypto	Perp-style, commodity	US futures and perps	Perpetual futures
Regulation	SIPC member; NYDFS crypto	FINRA, SIPC member	NYSE, SIPC member	SIPC member	FINRA, SIPC member	NMLS 1163082; FINRA/SIPC	NMLS 1843762; FINRA/SIPC	Non-custodial, not a broker

Notes on the table:

“Check with the provider” means we could not confirm the value on the provider’s own pages on the date checked.
Stock and ETF commissions are for online, self-directed trades of US-listed stocks and ETFs. Each app’s conditions, other fees, and sources are in its review below.
In the Nika app, trades settle in USDC from your existing balance, and gas fees are covered automatically in the Nika app. Trades through Nika can include Nika fees, and venue fees can apply, so review the total in the app before you confirm.
All eight apps are on iPhone and Android. Charles Schwab offers Schwab Mobile, with thinkorswim on iPhone; Interactive Brokers offers IBKR Mobile; and Kraken offers the Kraken and Kraken Pro apps (app pages in Sources).

How we compared these apps

We used the same six questions for every app:

What you can trade: stocks, options, futures, crypto, prediction markets, and earn products.
What a standard trade costs: commissions, contract fees, and spreads, from the provider’s own fee pages.
Custody: who holds your assets and your keys.
Availability: who can open an account, with US state limits where the provider publishes them.
Regulation and protection: registrations, memberships, and what SIPC does and does not cover.
Mobile apps: whether the app is on iPhone and Android.

We used primary sources only, and no provider paid for placement. We applied the same criteria to the Nika app, and we mark anything we could not confirm. This guide covers mainstream brokers and exchanges. For onchain venues such as DEXs and perp DEXs, see our guide to onchain trading platforms.

The best trading apps in 2026, reviewed

Fidelity

What it is: a full-service US broker with a mobile app for stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, and CDs.

Who it fits: long-term investors who want a broad menu of funds and bonds next to their stock trades, and no account minimum to open.

Costs: Fidelity charges $0 commissions for online US stock, ETF, and option trades, and online options trades carry a fee of $0.65 per contract (Fidelity). Some exceptions apply, such as a service fee on a limited list of ETFs and different pricing for accounts Fidelity designates as professional traders.

Crypto: Fidelity Crypto is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets and lets you buy, sell, and transfer crypto such as bitcoin, ethereum, and solana. Fidelity says it holds crypto in cold-vaulted storage (Fidelity).

Margin: Fidelity’s base margin rate is 10.825%, effective since 18 September 2026, with lower rates on larger debit balances.

Protection: brokerage accounts are held at Fidelity Brokerage Services, Member NYSE, SIPC.

What to check: Fidelity’s crypto pricing, futures access, prediction markets, cash yield, and state availability were not confirmed on the pages we read, so check them in the app before you trade crypto there.

Charles Schwab and thinkorswim

What it is: a large US broker for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, futures options, forex, mutual funds, and bonds (Schwab pricing), with two app experiences: Schwab Mobile for everyday investing and thinkorswim for active trading. Schwab says its site is designed for US residents.

Who it fits: investors who want stocks, options, futures, and forex in one broker, with crypto in a linked account.

Costs: Schwab charges $0 online commissions on listed stocks and ETFs and $0.65 per options contract. Futures and futures options cost $2.25 per contract, per side, before exchange and NFA fees. Forex has a $0 online commission, with trade costs reflected in the bid and ask spread (Schwab pricing).

Crypto: Schwab Crypto lets you trade BTC and ETH for 0.75% of trade value with zero spread. It is linked to a Schwab brokerage account, and Schwab says it is available in all US states except New York and Louisiana and not in US territories (Schwab Crypto).

Protection: securities brokerage is offered by Charles Schwab & Co., member SIPC. Crypto held through Charles Schwab Premier Bank is not protected by SIPC.

What to check: Schwab’s prediction markets and cash yield were not confirmed on the pages we read.

Interactive Brokers

What it is: a global broker known for market access across many countries and asset types, with IBKR Mobile for phones.

Who it fits: active traders and investors who want stocks, options, ETPs, futures, bonds, and crypto from one account (Interactive Brokers).

Costs: IBKR Lite charges $0 on US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs, and it is available to US residents with individual, joint, IRA, and trust accounts. IBKR Pro uses fixed or tiered per-share pricing (Interactive Brokers).

Crypto: Interactive Brokers charges 0.12% to 0.18% of trade value, with a $1.75 minimum per order capped at 1% of trade value. Execution and custody are handled by Paxos Trust Company or zerohash, depending on account type and residence. Interactive Brokers also offers bitcoin, ether, and solana futures, including micro contracts, and Ethereum staking through zerohash for eligible clients (Interactive Brokers).

Forecast contracts: Interactive Brokers offers forecast contracts through its affiliate ForecastEx, and some are open only to eligible US residents.

Protection: Interactive Brokers is a member of NYSE, FINRA, and SIPC and is regulated by the SEC and CFTC. Digital assets held with Paxos or zerohash are not protected by SIPC.

What to check: options pricing and the current interest rate on cash. Interactive Brokers advertises interest on cash balances, but we did not confirm the current rate.

Robinhood

What it is: a US app built around a simple interface, with stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, prediction markets, and retirement accounts.

Who it fits: people who want one simple app for stocks and crypto, with futures and event contracts when they are ready.

Costs: Robinhood charges $0 commissions on US-listed stocks, ETFs, and their options for self-directed accounts. Index options cost $0.50 per contract, or $0.35 with Robinhood Gold (Robinhood fee schedule).

Crypto: Robinhood offers two ways to fill a crypto order. With market maker routing, there is no commission, and Robinhood says it receives $0.95 per $100 in the spread as of 15 June 2026 (Robinhood). With exchange routing, fees run from 0.00% to 0.95% by tier (Robinhood Crypto fee schedule). Robinhood Crypto is available in every US state and DC, and Robinhood keeps the majority of customer crypto in cold storage (Robinhood Crypto).

Futures and prediction markets: both run through Robinhood Derivatives, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA member (Robinhood futures; Robinhood prediction markets).

Gold: Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month and pays 3.6% APY on eligible brokerage cash, subject to terms (Robinhood Gold).

Protection: Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Securities are members of SIPC, and Robinhood Crypto is licensed by NYDFS and registered with FinCEN as a money services business (Robinhood Gold; Robinhood Crypto).

What to check: which brokerage products are available in your state.

Webull

What it is: a US brokerage app with stocks, ETFs, options, futures, crypto, fixed income, and cash management.

Who it fits: active traders who want $0 commissions on stocks and options, with futures and crypto in the same app.

Costs: Webull charges $0 commissions on US-listed stocks, ETFs, and options, with $0.50 per contract on certain index options and $0.10 on oversized orders (Webull pricing). Webull says it earns from “stock loans, interest on free credit balances, margin interest and payment for order flow.”

Crypto: Webull offers 70+ coins through Webull Pay, with Bakkt or Coinbase as the provider. Webull Pay is a licensed money transmitter, NMLS 1886762 (Webull crypto).

Futures and more: futures run through Webull Futures, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA member. Webull’s menu also lists overnight trading, IRAs, and money market funds.

Protection: Webull Financial is an SEC-registered broker-dealer and a member of FINRA and SIPC.

What to check: crypto trading costs, the provider and terms for prediction markets listed in Webull’s menu, the cash management rate, and state availability.

Coinbase

What it is: a US crypto exchange that has added stocks, futures, and prediction markets.

Who it fits: crypto buyers who want stocks and ETFs in the same account.

Stocks: Coinbase offers $0 commission US stock and ETF trading through Coinbase Capital Markets, member FINRA/SIPC, for US residents only, and currently charges no regulatory fees on those trades (Coinbase stocks).

Crypto costs: Coinbase charges fees plus a spread where applicable and quotes a transaction price that you confirm (Coinbase User Agreement). Coinbase says Advanced trading fees are generally lower than Simple ones (Coinbase 10-K). Check current entry rates on Coinbase before you trade.

Derivatives and prediction markets: Coinbase offers US perpetual-style futures and commodity futures through Coinbase Financial Markets, an FCM, and began offering event contracts in December 2025 (Coinbase 10-K). Coinbase says access to prediction markets is initially limited to a subset of US users (Coinbase). It acquired Deribit in August 2025 (Coinbase 10-K).

Custody: Coinbase holds your crypto in a hosted wallet. Its user agreement says customer assets are not Coinbase’s property and are not subject to claims of its creditors. Coinbase also offers staking; its ETH staking page showed “up to 1.65% APY” on 30 October 2026.

Eligibility and licenses: Coinbase requires US residence and age 18 or older (Coinbase User Agreement), and it holds money transmitter licenses under NMLS ID 1163082 (Coinbase licenses).

What to check: options, Advanced fee tiers, staking commission, and state exceptions. For head-to-head detail, see Binance vs Coinbase and Kraken vs Coinbase.

Kraken

What it is: a crypto exchange with a simple app, Kraken Pro for order-book trading, margin, onchain staking, and US stocks.

Who it fits: crypto traders who want a pro order book and stocks in eligible US states.

Costs: Instant Buy costs 1% (1.5% on custom orders) plus a spread. Kraken Pro uses maker and taker tiers, starting at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for spot crypto at Tier 1. Flexible staking carries a 20% commission on rewards (Kraken fee schedule).

Stocks: Kraken offers 11,000+ US stocks and ETFs with no commission in eligible states through Kraken Securities, member FINRA/SIPC. Kraken notes that other fees may apply (Kraken stocks). Kraken’s xStocks are not available in the US.

Derivatives: in the US, futures and perpetual futures for eligible clients run through Kraken Derivatives US, a CFTC-registered FCM (NFA ID 0309379) (Kraken). Kraken said on 15 June 2026 that “Eligible US clients can now trade perpetual futures on Kraken Pro” (Kraken blog). Outside the US, Kraken offers perps in certain regions at 0.25% to open and 0.25% to close.

Availability: Kraken serves all US states except Maine and New York.

Licenses: Payward Interactive is registered with FinCEN as a money services business and holds state licenses under NMLS ID 1843762 (Kraken disclosures).

Custody: Kraken Financial, a Wyoming special purpose depository institution, provides custody for eligible clients. Kraken says its digital asset services are offered by Payward Interactive, “not a member of FINRA/SIPC and not FDIC insured” (Kraken stocks).

What to check: options and prediction markets, which we could not confirm on Kraken’s pages.

The Nika app

What it is: one self-custodial app where you can trade 500+ markets from one account. Nika provides access to crypto, stocks, commodities, forex, prediction markets, and yield.

What you can trade: crypto spot and perpetual futures, spot gold, silver, oil, EUR/USD, GBP/USD, USD/JPY, the S&P 500, and fractional NVDA, AAPL, and TSLA. Perpetual futures offer leverage up to 50x, depending on the market, with isolated or cross margin, depending on the market. The Nika app shows an estimated liquidation price before you confirm a perp trade.

How it works: trades settle in USDC from your existing balance. Gas fees are covered automatically in the Nika app.

Beyond trading: prediction markets in the Nika app are settled by the underlying prediction market protocol. Earning yield and borrowing are both live. Nika AI, the assistant built into the app, helps you research and prepare trades, and every transaction needs your approval unless you turn on automation with your own rules. Read more about one app that connects trading, yield, and tracking.

Custody: you can sign up with email, Google, or Apple. Nika uses Privy as the wallet infrastructure provider, and Nika does not hold users’ private keys. Both wallets’ private keys are exportable.

Who it fits: people who want crypto, commodities, forex, stock exposure, and perps in one self-custodial balance.

What to check: availability in your jurisdiction, Nika fees and venue fees on your trade, and the terms of the protocol behind each product. Some products may not be available in every region, including the US. Access to perpetuals and prediction markets is subject to the underlying protocols’ terms and availability.

Best stock trading app for beginners

The best stock trading app for beginners keeps costs low and the first steps simple. Here is what to compare:

Commissions: $0 online commissions on US stocks and ETFs are now standard at Robinhood, Webull, Fidelity, Schwab, and IBKR Lite, so a $0 commission alone does not set an app apart.
Options fees: if you plan to trade options later, the contract fee matters more than the commission. Fidelity and Schwab charge $0.65 per contract, while Robinhood and Webull charge $0 on most equity options.
Account minimums: Fidelity and Schwab have no minimum to open an account.
Fractional investing: buying a dollar amount instead of a whole share lets you start small.
Funding: check how you can deposit and how long it takes before you can trade.
Learning tools: paper trading, guides, and clear order screens help you avoid costly mistakes.

The best trading app for beginners is usually the one you understand. Start with one or two products, learn how orders fill, and add options, margin, or futures only when you know the risks.

The Nika app takes a different approach to a first trade. You sign up with email, Google, or Apple, with no seed phrase to write down, and you can start small with fractional NVDA, AAPL, and TSLA. Fractional stocks give you exposure to companies like Nvidia, Apple, and Tesla without buying a full share; here is how tokenized stocks differ from shares in a brokerage account.

Best app for day trading

The best day trading app depends on what you trade intraday and how often. Day traders usually compare:

Cost per trade at your volume: commissions, contract fees, and spreads add up fast when you trade many times a day.
Futures access and contract fees: Schwab charges $2.25 per futures contract, per side. Robinhood and Webull both offer futures through their own FCMs.
Trading hours: stock markets have set hours, while crypto trades around the clock.
Risk tools: stop orders, margin alerts, and a clear view of your buying power.

Margin rules apply at US brokers. FINRA’s investor guide on frequent intraday trading, dated 4 June 2026, says: “To trade using margin (funds borrowed from your firm), you must maintain a minimum of $2,000 in equity in your margin account.” It adds that your brokerage firm may require higher minimum equity amounts, that intraday margin requirements apply during the trading day, and that a firm may freeze margin trading for 90 days if you keep creating intraday margin deficits and do not cover them promptly (FINRA).

For a day trading app for beginners, pick one market, trade small, and learn the margin rules before you use leverage.

If you trade crypto, the Nika app offers crypto spot trading 24/7 and perpetual futures on Nika, with leverage up to 50x, depending on the market, and isolated or cross margin, depending on the market. Leverage raises both gains and losses, so learn how a liquidation price is set and the difference between perpetuals and dated futures before you open a position.

Custodial broker or self-custodial app: who holds your assets?

Every broker and exchange in this guide except the Nika app holds assets for you. That is a custodial model: the company keeps your securities or crypto in accounts it controls, and you log in to give instructions.

For securities, SIPC protection applies at member brokers, within its limits. It does not cover crypto. Schwab says crypto in a Schwab Crypto account is not protected by SIPC (Schwab Crypto), and Kraken says its digital asset services are offered by Payward Interactive, “not a member of FINRA/SIPC and not FDIC insured” (Kraken stocks). Coinbase’s user agreement says customer crypto is not Coinbase’s property and is not subject to claims of its creditors (Coinbase User Agreement).

A self-custodial app works the other way. You hold the keys, and no company holds your assets on your behalf. The rules of each protocol you use still apply, and you are responsible for your logins and approvals.

The Nika app is non-custodial. You can create an account with email, Google, or Apple. Nika uses Privy for its embedded EVM and Solana wallets, so you do not need to write down or manage a seed phrase to get started. Both wallets’ private keys are exportable, allowing you to use compatible external wallet software. Nika does not hold users’ private keys. Privy’s user help center explains embedded wallet access and export options; protect your login methods and any key you export. Holding your own keys does not remove the rules and risks of the protocols you use. For the basics, read what a non-custodial wallet is.

What trading apps charge beyond commissions

A $0 commission is only one line of the bill. Other costs to check:

Spreads: the gap between the buy and sell price. Robinhood says that on a $100 crypto buy through market maker routing, it receives $0.95 of the spread. Schwab Crypto charges 0.75% with zero spread. Kraken Instant Buy adds a spread to its 1% fee.
Options contract fees: $0.65 per contract at Fidelity and Schwab, and $0.50 per contract on index options at Robinhood and on certain index options at Webull.
Regulatory fees: small fees on certain sales, which some apps pass through. Coinbase says it does not currently charge regulatory fees on stock trades.
Payment for order flow: Webull lists payment for order flow among the ways it makes money and links to its SEC Rule 606 disclosure.
Subscriptions: Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month.
Funding and transfer fees: wires, card deposits, and outgoing transfers can carry their own charges.

In the Nika app, gas fees are covered automatically and trades settle in USDC from your existing balance. Nika fees and venue fees can still apply, so review the total before you confirm.

Can you make money with a trading app?

An app does not make money for you. If you are looking for the best trading app to earn money, start with the risk: trading can lose money, and leverage can lose more than you put in on some products. Most of the outcome depends on what you buy, when you sell, and what you pay along the way.

Some apps also pay you on idle balances or staked crypto. These are separate products with variable rates:

Robinhood Gold pays 3.6% APY on eligible brokerage cash, for $5 a month.
Robinhood takes a 25% commission on crypto staking rewards (Robinhood Crypto fee schedule).
Kraken takes a 20% commission on flexible staking rewards.

Rates change, and staking rewards are paid in crypto whose price moves. In the Nika app, earning yield is live, and you can earn yield on your balance through staking, lending, vaults, and tokenized real-world assets. That yield comes from third-party protocols, rates vary, and yield is never guaranteed.

How to choose the right trading app

Your need	What to compare	Apps that fit
Long-term investing	Commissions, funds, minimums	Fidelity, Schwab, IBKR
Options	Contract and index fees	Robinhood, Webull, Fidelity, Schwab
Futures	Contract fees, margin, hours	Schwab, IBKR, Robinhood, Webull, Coinbase, Kraken
Crypto	Fee plus spread, coins	Coinbase, Kraken, IBKR, Robinhood, Schwab
Stocks plus crypto	Stocks, coins, custody	Robinhood, Webull, Coinbase, Kraken, the Nika app
Self-custody	Who holds the keys	The Nika app
Prediction markets	Menu, fees, settlement	Robinhood, IBKR, Coinbase, the Nika app

For crypto, compare the fee plus spread on the same trade size. The Nika app puts crypto, fractional stocks, commodities, and EUR/USD in one self-custodial balance. For prediction markets, check each venue’s settlement rules; our guide to Kalshi and Polymarket shows how the two compare on fees, custody, and access.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the number one trading app?

No single app wins for everyone. Fidelity fits long-term investors, Interactive Brokers fits active and global traders, Robinhood and Webull fit people who want stocks, options, and crypto in one simple app, and Coinbase and Kraken fit crypto-first traders.

What is the most trusted trading app?

Check what you can verify. Brokers should be FINRA and SIPC members, crypto platforms should hold state money transmitter licenses, and you should know who holds your assets.

Is $100 enough to start day trading?

Fractional investing lets you start with a small amount, but margin rules apply at US brokers. FINRA’s guide dated 4 June 2026 says you “must maintain a minimum of $2,000 in equity in your margin account” to trade on margin, and your firm may require more.

What is the best trading app for beginners?

Look for $0 commissions, simple funding, and fractional investing. Our beginners section above lists what to compare.

Do trading apps guarantee a profit?

No. You can make money, but you can also lose it, and leverage adds to that risk.

Do trading apps hold my money?

Brokers and exchanges hold assets for you; self-custodial apps do not. SIPC covers securities at member brokers within its limits, and it does not cover crypto.

Can I trade stocks and crypto in the same app on Nika?

Yes. The Nika app provides access to crypto, stocks, commodities, and forex from one account, including fractional NVDA, AAPL, and TSLA. Asset and feature availability depends on your jurisdiction and the applicable issuer or protocol terms.

Sources

Fees, products, and availability checked on 30 October 2026.

Explore Nika

Trade crypto, stocks, commodities, forex, and prediction markets from one non-custodial app.

Open Nika to trade 500+ markets from your USDC balance, or get the Nika app on iPhone and Android.

Access to perpetuals and prediction markets is subject to the underlying protocols’ terms and availability.

Asset and feature availability depends on your jurisdiction and the applicable issuer or protocol terms.

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