Practical Guide: How to Choose the Best App to Invest Money in 2025

Access to financial markets has been significantly democratized in recent years. Today, almost anyone can start investing from their mobile phone by downloading an app to invest money. However, with so many options available, the most common question is: which one to choose?

In this occasion, we will explore five prominent platforms that allow investing with small amounts, analyzing their main features, costs, and what sets them apart from each other.

Essential criteria for selecting an investment app

Before jumping into choosing, it is crucial to understand which aspects to evaluate:

Regulation and capital security

The first filter should be regulation. Organizations like the FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and CNMV (Spain) supervise brokers and guarantee that your funds are protected. Working only with authorized platforms is the best defense against fraud.

Initial deposit and accessibility

For beginners, the minimum deposit amount is critical. Some brokers require $100, while others allow starting with $5 or $20. This difference defines who each platform is aimed at.

Execution speed and spreads

Spreads (difference between buy and sell price) are the invisible costs that directly affect your profitability. Fast execution is also vital to capture market opportunities.

Asset variety

Stocks, cryptocurrencies, currencies, commodities, indices: the diversity of instruments allows you to build a balanced portfolio according to your objectives.

Trading tools

Leverage, stop-loss, take profit, technical analysis: these features determine how much control you have over your positions and your risk management capacity.

The five most accessible platforms for investors with little capital

MiTrade: the minimalist option

Founded in Australia, this platform has quickly gained traction, especially in Asia-Pacific with over 2.4 million users. Its strength lies in operational simplicity and low costs.

It allows starting with just $20 de deposit and offers an app to invest money that works smoothly on iOS and Android without losing functionality compared to the web version. The maximum leverage is 1:200 and it charges no commissions, only tight spreads.

Users especially appreciate the protection of negative balances (your maximum loss is the deposited capital) and the acceptance of USDT for deposits. The demo account includes $50,000 virtual funds, although it expires after 90 days of use.

AvaTrade: innovation and automation

Operating since 2006 with a license from the Irish banking authority, AvaTrade positions itself as a sophisticated platform for investors seeking advanced tools. Its app to invest money, called AvaTrade GO, is optimized for mobile but also integrates MetaTrader 4 and 5.

The minimum deposit is $100 y and allows leverage of 1:30. A distinctive feature is copy trading through platforms like ZuluTrade and Dupli Trade, enabling automatic replication of strategies from experienced investors.

The weak point: it charges $5 for withdrawals and applies fees for prolonged inactivity. Additionally, after 12 months without trading, it deducts an annual management fee.

Plus500: for experienced traders

Although its app to invest money is promoted as accessible, Plus500 is really designed for experienced investors. Founded in 2008, it has reached 25 million users thanks to its advertising campaigns and sports sponsorships.

The interface is comprehensive but densely packed with tools. The initial deposit is $100, leverage 1:30, and it offers unlimited access to demo accounts. However, it charges $10 monthly inactivity fees and has relatively high spreads compared to competitors.

An advantage: price change alerts allow receiving automatic notifications when an instrument experiences significant variations.

XM: the most flexible option

With presence in 196 countries and 2.5 million clients, XM stands out for its minimum deposit of just $5, making it ideal for beginners. It offers 4 different account types and supports both MetaTrader 4 and 5.

Leverage can reach 1:1000 (extremely high, requires experience), and offers spreads from 0.01 pips. Its constant generation of analysis and economic news is highly valued for anticipating market movements.

The downside: $15 quarterly inactivity fee and some users report wider spreads during low liquidity hours.

eToro: the most beginner-friendly

eToro is widely recognized for democratizing access to markets. Its app to invest money prioritizes operational simplicity over advanced features, which explains its 30 million users.

Unique among the options analyzed, it allows both CFD trading and direct investment in stocks and cryptocurrencies. The minimum deposit is $50 y and leverage 1:30. Highlights include integrated copy trading and the club program offering progressive discounts.

The drawbacks: higher spreads, $5 commission on withdrawals, and the notably slow KYC verification process. For operators gaining experience, its tools may be insufficient.

Key functionality comparison

*Direct investment in stocks and cryptocurrencies without CFD

Recognized industry regulators

Before depositing money into any investment app, verify that the broker holds at least one of these licenses:

• FCA: Financial Conduct Authority of the UK
• CySEC: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission
• ASIC: Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• CNMV: National Securities Market Commission (Spain)
• FINRA: Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (U.S.)

All the mentioned platforms hold multiple licenses, adding layers of protection to your capital.

Final recommendations for beginners

Start small: Use the demo accounts available on all these apps to familiarize yourself without real risk. Operations of $50 to $200 are perfect for learning.

Diversify brokers: Do not concentrate everything in one platform. Consider having accounts in 2-3 brokers to compare execution and features.

Understand the real costs: The spread is invisible but significantly impacts. An app with $0 commissions but spreads of 5 pips can be more expensive than one with low commissions but tight spreads.

Set risk limits: Always use stop-loss. An emotional failure without protection can liquidate your account in seconds.

Avoid maximum leverage: Although XM offers 1:1000, using it is reckless. Even professionals prefer 1:50 or less.

The choice will depend on your profile: if you seek maximum simplicity, eToro is ideal. If you need advanced tools, XM or MiTrade. If you have automation experience, AvaTrade shines.

The important thing is to start, learn by trading with real money (even if little), and adjust your strategy along the way. The best investment opportunities are within your reach.