Best trading apps compared: stocks, ETFs and crypto

App-store ratings and crypto counts as of September 2026.

New to all things trading and investing? You might want to start with how to invest in stocks and what exactly are stocks, before coming back to compare the trading apps that offer access to them.

Kraken built its name as one of the largest and most trusted crypto exchanges. But today, Kraken delivers far more than a crypto exchange alone.

You can trade stocks, ETFs and tokenized assets in many regions, along with hundreds of leading cryptocurrencies, from a single platform. For assets you hold for the long term, there are several flexible ways to earn rewards on your eligible holdings.

The Kraken app is designed to keep investing approachable, so you can buy stocks and ETFs, dollar-cost average into crypto, and manage eligible-asset rewards from one account. With Kraken, you can take control of your entire financial portfolio from a compliant, secure and intuitive trading app.

Kraken Pro is the advanced counterpart to the everyday simplicity of the Kraken app. It’s built for people who trade actively and want more control. With Kraken Pro, you can access professional-grade charting, a deep set of order types, and the ability to move between spot, margin and derivatives without leaving the platform.

Conveniently, Kraken Pro runs on the same login credentials and the same portfolio balance as the Kraken app, so you can start simple and step up to Pro as your strategy grows rather than opening a new account somewhere else.

On the product and feature side, Kraken Pro extends your trading potential well beyond a buy-and-hold strategy. You can trade crypto spot and on margin, access regulated futures, and in certain regions, trade tokenized equities.

For traders who want to execute a more proactive multi-asset trading strategy using more powerful charting and portfolio management tools, Kraken Pro is a strong choice. If you are interested in trading with an account that is funded with Kraken’s capital instead of your own, Kraken Prop offers an evaluation-based proprietary-trading program.

So whether you are looking to take your trading strategy to the next level with more powerful charting and futures trading, or if you are already an advanced trader looking for an edge, Kraken Pro is the all-in-one platform built for you.

Kraken Pro vs. the Kraken app — the Kraken app keeps things simple for investing and building a portfolio. Kraken Pro adds the depth, derivatives and execution tools that active and advanced traders rely on. Most people begin with Kraken and switch to Kraken Pro when they need the extra functionality.

Still interested in learning more about the difference between Kraken and Kraken Pro? Check out our complete breakdown for the difference between these two leading trading apps.

Robinhood is widely regarded as the most beginner-friendly trading app because of how accessible it is. Commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options, plus fractional shares, makes it easy to start with a small amount, and it has since added crypto and futures. Extended trading hours and in-app support add convenience for people newer to the market.

Robinhood vs. Kraken — Robinhood offers a clean, simple experience aimed at newer investors; Kraken suits people who want deeper access to more diverse assets and products — including spot crypto, tokenized equities and, via Kraken Pro, margin and futures — in one place.

Schwab Mobile brings one of America’s largest brokerages to your phone, serving both everyday investors and those who want to dig deeper into markets. It pairs market data, interactive charts, customizable watchlists and news with full-service extras like mobile check deposit, transfers and bill pay, with biometric login and two-factor authentication on the security side.

Schwab Mobile vs. Kraken — Schwab brings the legacy and infrastructure of a long-standing, full-service brokerage; Kraken is a modern platform that extends beyond equities into spot crypto and tokenized assets, so you can see traditional and digital assets in one view.

Fidelity delivers a well-known brokerage to your device, with research, analyst insights and educational resources layered on top of everyday trading. Its usability suits beginners while its depth appeals to experienced investors, and built-in cash management, bill pay and mobile check deposit make it a hub for managing money rather than just placing trades.

Fidelity Investments vs. Kraken — Fidelity fits investors who want a traditional financial ecosystem spanning retirement planning and long-term wealth building; Kraken is a multi-asset platform that combines stock and ETF trading with a broad range of crypto markets under one account. For pro-grade charting and order types, Kraken Pro adds enhanced execution tools.

E*TRADE, part of Morgan Stanley, blends easy-to-use mobile features with access to advanced brokerage capabilities. The standard app handles day-to-day trades and portfolio monitoring, while Power E*TRADE targets active traders with richer charting, options support and advanced order types. Real-time market data and live Bloomberg TV round out the research tools.

E*TRADE vs. Kraken — E*TRADE takes a traditional brokerage approach with a wide range of assets in-app; Kraken adds spot crypto and tokenized assets to traditional investing, with fractional trading and, via Kraken Pro, margin and futures in a single account.

Ally, through Ally Invest, suits individual investors who want low-cost trading with intuitive tools tied into their broader finances. You can pick automated investing with a robo-advisor, hands-on self-directed trading, or personal advice from a dedicated advisor, and move money between Ally Bank and Ally Invest with a unified view of cash and investments.

Ally vs. Kraken — Ally bridges banking and investing in a familiar interface; Kraken bridges traditional equities and cryptocurrencies, so you don’t need separate accounts to move between stocks and crypto.

Vanguard brings its reputation for low-cost, investor-friendly investing to mobile. Alongside standard trading tools, you get access to thousands of mutual funds with competitive expense ratios, and the platform leans toward long-term investing and financial planning via Vanguard Digital Advisor® available for guidance.

Vanguard vs. Kraken — Vanguard focuses on disciplined, passive investing and portfolio diversification for retirement-minded investors; Kraken offers more agility and broader market exposure for people who want to move between traditional and digital markets on one platform.

For more on spreading risk across assets, see crypto portfolio diversification.

eToro mixes traditional investing with social features. CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios let you mirror other investors or invest in ready-built thematic baskets, so the app can feel more like a social network than a brokerage. Minimum trades start around $10, opening the door to fractional investing. However, it’s worth noting eToro charges some withdrawal and inactivity-related fees not found on other platforms.

eToro vs. Kraken — eToro’s social features appeal to community-minded and newer investors; Kraken leans toward investors who want a versatile multi-asset platform, deeper market tools and, via Kraken Pro, margin and futures.

Merrill Edge pairs a traditional brokerage backed by Merrill and Bank of America with tight banking integration, so you can see banking and investments in one place. It offers a strong research suite built on institutional insight, plus self-directed investing for hands-on users and guided/advisory services for those who want help building a portfolio.

Merrill Edge vs. Kraken — Merrill Edge takes a legacy, planning-first approach with banking integration; Kraken blends equity investing with digital-asset exposure for investors who value asset variety and flexibility.

SoFi suits beginners and investors with limited starting capital. It lets you buy fractional shares from as little as $5 and delivers a simple and approachable interface. It also offers access to select IPOs at offering prices, and an automated investing option that builds and manages diversified portfolios with no management fee, for a hands-off approach.

SoFi vs. Kraken — SoFi focuses on simplicity and automated support for casual investors; Kraken is built around asset variety and depth, with advanced tools on Kraken Pro for more active traders who want broad access and control.

IBKR Mobile brings Interactive Brokers’ technology and deep liquidity to your phone, with execution and order types that rival desktop platforms, aimed at advanced, professional and global traders. You can access more than 160 markets worldwide, place complex orders, and use integrated scanners and watchlists. Choose IBKR Lite for commission-free (plus fees) US stocks and ETFs, or IBKR Pro for competitive per-share pricing and advanced routing.

IBKR Mobile vs. Kraken — IBKR Mobile is built for granular control and institutional-grade tools; Kraken suits investors across experience levels who want unified access to both crypto and stock markets, with a simple app and an advanced Pro tier.