Do you remember what it was like to have to go to the bank to deposit a check (suggesting you remember checks)?
Heading to the bank, filling out slips, and waiting in line, all for a transaction that took mere minutes to wrap up? Wasn’t that fun?
Trading was once just as cumbersome. It really wasn’t that long ago that people had to rely on daily newspapers for information about stocks. You were stuck dealing with a broker and even relying on phone calls for transactions.
Then the glorious internet changed everything!
We gained mechanisms for learning about stocks at any time, from the comfort of home (my Trading Challenge students will tell you it’s a great way to learn).
Then, smartphones shifted that paradigm, making it possible to stay informed while on the go.
Now, smartphone apps make monitoring the stock market and trading a breeze. You find out about pricing and complete transactions from anywhere, as long as you can connect to the network. It’s beautiful!
Today we’re gonna talk about Android apps. Yeah, there are tons of us who love their iPhones. I’ll cover iPhone stock market apps in a future post. If I cover both Android and iPhone here, you’ll be reading forever — because I have a lot to say about stock market apps.
So this post, my friends, is all about Androids.
And they’re not all created equal …
Table of Contents
The 8 Best Stock Market Apps for Android
Whether you’re looking for a simple stock quote app or the top stock portfolio apps Android has to offer, picking the right one is important.
The app you choose impacts the quality of the experience, including the ease of accessing information or how quickly you can execute trades.
If you want to find great stock market apps for Android, here are eight apps that deserve your attention.
#1 StockTwits
If you combine social media and stock tracking, you end up with StockTwits.
If you’re wondering, “What’s the best app for watching stocks?” StockTwits could be it. Not only do you get real-time data, but you can also gauge investor sentiment, all in one place.
StockTwits also features news and professionally curated stock lists, introducing traders to new possibilities. The ability to engage with the community is also helpful, as you can discuss strategies with other traders you respect (and ignore the morons).
While StockTwits covers stocks thoroughly, it also taps into the cryptocurrency, forex, and futures markets, making it a bit more comprehensive. With the included earnings calendar, you can also prepare for upcoming events, like the release of earnings reports.
As a bonus, if you use Robinhood, you can connect your account and trade for free through StockTwits. This also allows you to share information about your verified trades with the community if you want to be a more active part of the conversation.
Key features of StockTwits stock market app for Android
- Engaged community
- Earnings calendar
- Real-time data
- News highlights
- Professionally curated stock lists
- Customizable message streams
- Trending stocks based on social activity
#2 Bloomberg
Bloomberg is one of the most trusted names in finance, and for good reason.
Not only is the company a news heavyweight, but they also developed the Bloomberg Terminal, the software that gives professionals serious monitoring and analysis power, and trade-initiating capabilities.
The Bloomberg app is one of the top free stock apps for Android around.
If you appreciate customization — which I definitely do — you can’t go wrong with this app.
You can configure it to display the news you want to see and decide when you get a price alert notification.
And creating a personal stock portfolio is a breeze, making it easy to know if you’re in the green or red.
Prefer your information in a video format? With the Bloomberg app, you can tune into Bloomberg Television Live with a few taps. The interface is simple and intuitive, so navigating is as natural as possible.
Key features of Bloomberg stock market app for Android
- Trending financial, market, industry, and other relevant news
- Real-time market data
- Custom watchlists
- Access to Bloomberg Television Live
- Audio interviews and analysis
- Free and subscription options
#3 TD Ameritrade Mobile
I’ve used TD Ameritrade and know tons of people who use it regularly. It’s a great stock trading app from a brokerage standpoint, making buying a really straightforward process.
The commission fees set at $6.95 per trade (at the time of this writing), so the cost is very competitive. There aren’t any additional subscription fees or platform fees to mess with, so you can keep your costs manageable.
With the TD Ameritrade app, there’s no minimum cash deposit for getting started. On this point alone, many consider it the best stock trading app Android has to offer for beginners. Here, you can begin your trading journey even if you don’t have a lot of cash.
The app is also a comprehensive information source. Along with real-time streaming quotes, you can access a ton of research and news. Since staying informed is critical for trading, it really puts everything you need in one place.
It’s important to note that TD Ameritrade’s mobile app is lacking in one area: shorting.
If you want to short, then E*Trade is better in that regard. However, there’s nothing to say you can’t use both, letting you get the best of both worlds.
Key features of TD Ameritrade mobile stock market app for Android
- Real-time streaming quotes
- Level II quotes
- Comprehensive charts
- Third-party research
- Stock trading and order status monitoring
- News and streaming video
#4 Yahoo! Finance
When it comes to name recognition, Yahoo! Finance is hard to beat. And it remains relevant for a good reason.
Even if other aspects of Yahoo! (like the email service) no longer garner respect, Yahoo! Finance is a kick-ass free Android stock market app around when you need information.
You can monitor your personal portfolio, add stocks to a watch list, and even personalize the news feed.
Yahoo! Finance also goes well beyond stocks. The app tracks currencies, bonds, equities, commodities, and even the world markets. Plus, you can monitor over 100 cryptocurrencies, all from this one app.
The Yahoo! Finance app doesn’t support actual trading, but it’s super-useful for information. And it doesn’t cost a dime to use. Why wouldn’t you want all of this data available with a simple tap of your finger?
Key features of Yahoo! Finance stock market app for Android
- Create watchlists for real-time stock quotes
- Personalized news
- Portfolio tracking
- Monitor stocks, bonds, equities, commodities, world markets, and cryptocurrencies
- Compare stocks (with interactive full-screen charts)
- Track the performance of your holdings
#5 Investing.com
The free Investing.com Android app continues to rate highly among traders and investors. Live quotes are available in only a few taps, and charts for over 100,000 stocks are available for your viewing pleasure.
In the app, you can find valuable information about stocks, bonds, futures, options, commodities, and more. Plus, there are details from foreign exchanges, making it even more comprehensive.
From inside the app, you can create watchlists and customize a portfolio, making stock monitoring easy. If you want to stay on top of new developments, set up some customizable alerts, so you know when a price reaches a specified threshold or a percentage change occurs.
Alerts are also available for news articles and economic events, giving you even more power when it comes to staying informed. You can also take advantage of the economic calendar feature, allowing to you track market-moving events.
Key Features of Investing.com Stock Market App for Android
- Real-time data
- Economic calendar
- Personalized portfolio
- Customizable alerts
- Breaking news and analysis
#6 Robinhood
Want to trade stock in real-time without commissions and fees? Then Robinhood may be the right stock trading app for you.
Robinhood targets newbies, including day trading beginners, so some experienced traders are skeptical about what it has to offer. I’m not a big Robinhood fan myself — and I explain why in the video below — but there’s no denying the app is a game changer, making trading accessible to practically anyone.
Along with stocks, options, and ETFs, Robinhood also offers cryptocurrency trading without fees. Users can access charts with intuitive designs, check historical market data, and get customer support
The buying process is easy. When you find a stock you want, just tap “Buy,” enter the number of shares, and tap the check mark. Then, with a single swipe, your transaction is complete. Boom.
Key features of Robinhood stock market app for Android
- No fees or commissions
- Stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies
- Simple and intuitive design
- Fast sign-up process
- Portfolio tracking
- Real-time market data
#7 TradeHero
Are you looking for a free Android stock market app that focuses on learning? Say hello to TradeHero, where you can practice trading in a safe environment and with access to real-world data.
To be a great trader, honing your skills is a must. But, that usually means putting money on the line, and that’s intimidating for beginners — or those who don’t have much to lose.
Even testing out a new market strategy is risky, no matter how much experience you have. With TradeHero, you get to put your trading chops to the test, all without any real risk.
When you sign up, you get $100,000 in fake money to create a fantasy portfolio. Then, you can compete against other users and try to work your way up the leaderboard.
Along the way, you can receive alerts about specific stocks and access tutorials full of tips. There’s also a ton of info from news sources, keeping you informed along the way.
You get to learn by doing without putting your money on the line. What’s better than that?
If you do decide that you’re ready to trade CFDs for real, you can do that with TradeHero too. Just exit virtual mode, open a live account, deposit funds, and take advance of their commission-free platform.
Key features of TradeHero stock market app for Android
- Virtual mode to practice, learn and test new strategies
- Robust community and easy access to tips
- Trending financial news
- CFD trading
#8 E*Trade Mobile
E*Trade is one of the most recognizable names in trading. Who doesn’t remember the seven-year run of E*Trade baby ads?
The E*Trade Mobile app is similar to TD Ameritrade’s, except that it’s significantly better for shorting. Otherwise, you can trade in most major securities, like stocks, options, mutual funds, and ETFs, once you open a brokerage account with them.
Plus, E*Trade puts information right in the palm of your hand. Do you want real-time stock quotes? Comprehensive news from leading sources like MarketWatch and Morningstar? CNBC video-on-demand? It’s all right there.
The dashboard is also completely customizable, so you can access educational materials and comparison charts fast. Trade executions are a breeze and, at $6.95 per trade, the pricing is competitive.
You can even create watchlists, simplifying your research process. I’m a huge fan of watchlists. You’re always welcome to check out my penny stock watchlist.
If you’re a tablet user, E*Trade is one of my favorite stock market apps for Android tablets.
Instead of just making the smartphone display larger, it gives you an optimized design. That means more information and a visually attractive format, all created for a better tablet experience. It’s great.
Key features of E*Trade mobile stock market app for Android
- Custom watchlists
- Trading for stocks, options, mutual funds, and ETFs
- Real-time data
- News and educational materials
- Enhanced design for Android tablets
Benefits of Using a Stock Market App
OK, so you know a lot about these Android apps now, but are you still not sure that using stock market apps is for you? Can’t you just do all of this on your computer or through your phone’s browser?
Sure, you can totally rely on a trusty laptop or smartphone’s browser to gather information and trade, but it isn’t the most efficient approach.
Each of the Android apps I covered is optimized for mobile trading, so you gain a lot by going the app route.
These apps are designed with efficiency in mind. They let you accomplish high-value tasks quickly while you’re on the go. The interfaces are designed with smartphones and tablets in mind, so you aren’t hindered by the physical device either.
If you want to be a great trader, education is critical. If you don’t embrace research and planning, you’re going to struggle …
… Don’t make it hard on yourself!
With these apps, you can simplify the research process, no matter where you end up.
Plus, if you take advantage of one — or more —of these apps and take part in my Trading Challenge, you can never go wrong expanding your scope of information.
The Importance of Endless Learning
Great traders are always learning. They’re constantly looking for more information to help them refine their strategies and gain their edge in the market.
They’re doing research, reading books, watching YouTube tutorials, and learning from other traders.
Every trader has a weakness … whether it’s holding onto losers too long, getting too emotional when trading, running an unbalanced portfolio, not timing entries or exits properly … the list goes on.
That’s why it’s so important to study and keep learning. And one of the best ways to keep learning is with my Trading Challenge.
Through the Challenge, you’ll get access to all my resources, trades, commentaries, webinars, and more. Plus, you get the chance to learn from my top students.
Combine that with all of the data and capabilities the apps provide, and you’ll fit right in with my me and many of my students — because when you use an app, you take trading out of the office or home and into the world.
I’m all about trading while traveling. I often call it the “laptop lifestyle,” but for the sake of this post, I’ll call it the “app-top lifestyle” — because we’re all about apps today.
Apps give you real-time updates and trending news are right at your fingertips, giving you the ability to learn and execute trades whenever the ideal moment strikes …
… But what about security?
How Safe Are Stock Market Apps for Android?
The apps that I mentioned here — especially the biggest names — place high importance on their users’ safety and security.
Most of them are as safe (if not safer, for some) than their desktop app counterparts, though may have vulnerabilities that aren’t present in the web-based platforms.
It’s important to understand that no system is 100% secure. There’s always risk when you do anything online, so keep that in mind.
Large firms tend to have the best security when it comes to mobile trading, offering features like advanced encryption. However, weaknesses do exist, especially since new threats emerge almost daily. Even if you avoid the worst brokers, you still need to be cautious.
Good companies strive to keep things as secure as possible across all platforms because a single breach is incredibly damaging not just to their customers but to their reputation.
Still, it’s smart to do what you can to keep your accounts secure …
- Password protection. Choose strong passwords. Don’t reuse them. Change your passwords regularly.
- Use Wi-Fi responsibly. Don’t trade over public, unsecured, or shared Wi-Fi, including the networks you find in hotels, restaurants, and coffee shops.
- Monitor your accounts. Do this regularly. Look for suspicious activity and take action if you see something strange.
While companies strive to maintain secure environments, your vigilance is also important — so don’t slack here!
The Bottom Line
The eight options you just learned about are some of the top choices for Android stock market apps around. They connect you with invaluable information and help you trade on the move, to keep you closer to opportunities.
Just make sure to use them wisely. When you have the ability to execute a trade whenever you want, it’s easy to get sucked into the fervor surrounding a stock or any other security.
Never allow speed to trump research, because being informed is always the key to trading success.
Have I overlooked any other killer apps here? What are your favorite trading apps? Share your comments and let me know.
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