The top 10 apps for investing in the stock market in 2026

Updated 31 July 2026

The best apps for investing in the stock market in 2026 are Finary Life, ProRealTime, Degiro, Capital.com, Trade Republic, Boursier.com, MetaTrader 4/5, IG, XTB and Trading 212. This guide compares their fees, the wrappers they give access to (ordinary securities account or CTO, equity savings plan or PEA, life insurance) and the profile each one suits.

Key takeaways

• Two apps in this selection give access to a PEA: Trade Republic since January 2025, and XTB.
• ProRealTime, MetaTrader and Boursier.com are not brokers: they are analysis or information tools, to be linked to a brokerage account.
• Trade Republic charges €1 per order and applies no fees on scheduled investment plans, and no custody fees.
• Degiro has added cryptocurrency purchases at 0.5% per transaction, but still does not offer a PEA to French investors.
• Investing in the stock market through an app carries a risk of capital loss, whichever broker you choose.

Investing your money in the stock market from your smartphone is possible

Gone are the days when you had to go through your bank manager to buy shares or gold, for example. Gone are the excessive delays and the exorbitant fees. Access to the financial markets has opened up and opening a trading account is easier today than it has ever been. In a few clicks, and by providing your personal details, you open your own trading account. To choose between brokers, you will need to look closely at transaction fees, custody fees and other incidental charges.

One important point that beginners often overlook is the platform or the stock market app itself. Some brokers give you access to a trading platform with your own login. In some cases that means a mobile phone app, which is very useful for day traders and scalpers who place several buy and sell orders within the day. If the broker does not offer that option, you can always use a stock market app of your own and link it directly to your account.

Which trading platforms let you invest through an app?

Ten apps cover most of what a French investor needs, from pure brokers to analysis platforms. Here is what each one actually lets you do, the assets it gives access to and the price you pay.

• Degiro: a Dutch brokerage firm, Degiro needs no introduction in the trading world. Once you have created your account online, you can access the app to invest from your phone. The account opening process is secure and very strict. Brokerage fees vary but are very low. You get access to a large number of assets: shares, ETFs, bonds, options, futures and, more recently, cryptocurrencies (0.5% per transaction). Degiro does not, however, offer a PEA in France: investing there is only possible through an ordinary securities account.

• ProRealTime: this is THE trading platform par excellence. It allows detailed technical analysis through customisable charts, a full range of indicators and scripting options. You can only trade directly from the app with an associated trading account at Interactive Brokers, IG or Saxo Bank. Otherwise, you can access the charts free of charge with daily data, which is enough for swing traders and long-term investors.

• Trade Republic: lets you invest in shares and ETFs, and set up a scheduled investment plan, which means you can invest automatically. On this app, commission is fixed at €1 per order, and free for the scheduled investment plan. You simply pick your share and place your buy order, setting a floor price and the quantities you want. The app is intuitive and easy to use. Since January 2025, Trade Republic has also offered a PEA to French tax residents, on the same €1 per order pricing and with no custody fees.

• Boursier.com: this is a French app focused mainly on the Paris stock exchange (CAC 40). Its purpose is to give users information on how the market is moving. In it you will find market analysis and reference points for managing a portfolio in light of the news, without personalised advice. The CAC 40 will hold no more secrets for you, though the other international markets remain accessible too. There are no fees in this stock market app and you can build a watchlist of shares. In return, advertising is present. One last point: you will learn a great deal, but you cannot invest directly from the app.

• Capital.com: present on the trading market since 2016, this British broker has carved out a strong position with more than 874,000 active accounts worldwide (Capital.com figure, July 2026). The app gives access to several asset classes, among them shares, currencies, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. Its interface is intuitive, modern and easy to use. The fees are reasonable given the services the trading app provides. Here too you get access to the latest economic and financial news. Indicators and analysis tools are present and varied.

• Trading 212: Trading 212 is one of the favourite apps of beginner traders. Founded in 2004 in Bulgaria, it launched commission-free brokerage in the United Kingdom in 2017 and has been one of the most widely used trading apps there ever since. It offers more than 7,000 international shares and ETFs, as well as more complex products such as CFDs (contracts for difference) and forex. It lets users invest from €1 through fractional shares. Trading 212 comes in two versions: Trading 212 Invest, to buy shares and ETFs commission-free, and Trading 212 CFD for active trading with leverage.

• Finary Life: this is the e-vie life insurance policy distributed by Finary and underwritten by Generali Vie. The approach differs from the brokers above: you invest in the stock market inside a life insurance wrapper, either self-directed across more than 700 investment options or in a profiled portfolio of BlackRock iShares ETFs. Subscription starts at €300, or €150 with scheduled contributions, with no entry, switching or contribution fees, and 0.50% annual management fees on unit-linked funds. The fees of the options you choose apply in addition, and unit-linked funds carry a risk of capital loss.

• MetaTrader 4 and 5: these are analysis and execution platforms published by MetaQuotes, not brokers. You do not open an account with MetaQuotes: these platforms are offered on a white-label basis by CFD and forex brokers, who actually hold the account. MetaTrader 4 is still maintained (build 1470, March 2026) and MetaTrader 5 is the more recent version. Fees therefore depend entirely on the broker you choose, not on the platform itself.

• IG: a British broker established in France, historically specialised in CFDs, turbos and leveraged trading, with one of the widest market catalogues in the sector (international shares, indices, commodities, currencies). IG is also one of the three broker partners of ProRealTime for placing orders. These leveraged products amplify losses as much as gains and are aimed at experienced investors.

• XTB: a Polish broker regulated in France, long associated with CFDs, it now offers a securities account and a PEA. On the PEA, commission is 0% up to €100,000 invested per month, then 0.2% above that, with no opening, account-keeping or inactivity fees, on more than 1,250 shares and 185 eligible ETFs. Its crypto offering runs exclusively through CFDs and ETNs: there is no direct purchase of cryptocurrencies.

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Which is the best app for investing in the stock market in France?

For a French investor with a long-term horizon, Trade Republic and XTB are the two apps in this selection that give access to a PEA, the most tax-efficient wrapper beyond five years. For active trading or technical analysis, the answer is different: it then depends on your investor profile and on how much time you want to devote to it. The list of apps above is not exhaustive either, and there are plenty of others that might suit you. Some investors swear by technical analysis while others favour fundamental analysis.

The history of the financial markets shows just how important it is to take both into account. Combining chart analysis with economic news helps you understand a market move better, without guaranteeing a result: investing in the stock market carries a risk of capital loss. The best approach is therefore to have access to apps for investing in the stock market and to stay informed. You will need at least 2 apps, and ProRealTime plus Capital.com can make a good combination. You would then add your broker's own app, Degiro being widely favoured in France for some years now.

Which is the best app for investing in foreign stock markets?

Whether you are abroad or your investments target foreign markets, the choice of app stays much the same. Identifying the best trading apps clearly is difficult. To specialise in foreign markets, simply avoid apps such as Boursier.com, which are less oriented towards markets outside France. One of the most widely used trading apps in the United States is NinjaTrader, but you can just as easily use ProRealTime and your broker's app.

One important element to consider in your choice is fees. Some apps are free and others paid, not least because they do not offer the same services:

• Free apps: economic and financial news, plus a few basic technical analysis apps (with limited features);
• Paid apps: brokers, since they take their fees, and charting platforms with access to real-time prices and technical indicators.

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The top 10 apps for investing in the stock market

To finish, here is the TOP 10 of trading apps for investing in the stock market:

1. ProRealTime: best technical and charting analysis platform on desktop;
2. Degiro: best broker for shares and ETFs;
3. Capital.com: most diversified broker;
4. Trade Republic: best app with scheduled investing;
5. Finary Life: to invest in the stock market through a French life insurance policy, underwritten by Generali Vie, available from €300;
6. Boursier.com: best app for analysing the French and European markets;
7. MetaTrader 4 and 5: best technical analysis platform on smartphone;
8. IG: best broker for international financial products;
9. XTB: wide range of CFDs, including on cryptocurrencies (through CFDs and ETNs, with no direct holding), and a commission-free PEA up to €100,000 invested per month;
10. Trading 212: best commission-free app for beginners;

All that is left is to find the stock market app that fits your needs.

Fewer fees
More capital invested

With Finary Life: 0 entry, switching or contribution fees. 0.50% annual management fees on unit-linked funds. Investment option management fees apply in addition and vary depending on the options chosen.

Invest from €300

Non-contractual document for promotional purposes. Investment in unit-linked vehicles carries a risk of capital loss, since their value is subject to fluctuation, both upwards and downwards, depending in particular on developments in the financial markets. The insurer guarantees the number of unit-linked vehicles and not their value, which it does not guarantee. The e-vie life insurance policy is an individual life insurance policy, denominated in euros and/or unit-linked vehicles, underwritten by Generali Vie, a company governed by the French Insurance Code. Finary SAS — 58 rue de Monceau 75380 Paris 8 — Investment Firm authorised by the ACPR under no. 19283, ORIAS no. 21001279, member of AMAFI

How can you avoid scams and hidden fees?

The most effective habit is to check the broker before opening an account, against the blacklist published by the AMF. That list, according to the Autorité des marchés financiers, "lists the operators appearing on blacklists, that have been the subject of a warning published by the Autorité des marchés financiers and/or that are impersonating a regulated operator". The AMF adds that "this table and these lists are updated regularly but cannot be exhaustive": absence from the list is therefore not an authorisation. Then test two or three apps with small amounts, comparing what you actually pay, including commission per order, spread and currency conversion fees.

Frequently asked questions

Can you open a PEA from a mobile app?

Yes. Trade Republic has offered a PEA to French tax residents since January 2025, with commission of €1 per order. XTB offers one too, commission-free up to €100,000 invested per month, on more than 1,250 shares and 185 eligible ETFs. Degiro, Capital.com and Trading 212 are limited to the ordinary securities account or to CFDs.

Which apps for investing in the stock market are genuinely free?

Information and analysis apps such as Boursier.com are free and funded by advertising. Brokers, on the other hand, always earn something: a fixed commission per order at Trade Republic, the spread on the order book, or currency conversion fees on securities listed outside the euro area. An app advertised as commission-free is therefore never entirely free.

What is the difference between a brokerage app and an analysis app?

A brokerage app, such as Degiro or Trade Republic, executes your orders and holds your securities. An analysis app, such as ProRealTime or MetaTrader, only displays the charts and indicators: it has to be linked to a partner broker's account before an order can be placed.

How much do you need to start investing in the stock market with an app?

A few euros are enough at most mobile brokers, thanks to fractional shares and scheduled investment plans available from €1. To invest in the stock market through a life insurance policy with Finary Life, the minimum initial contribution is €300, or €150 with scheduled contributions.

How can you check that an investment app is authorised in France?

The AMF publishes blacklists of operators that have been the subject of a warning, as well as white lists of authorised providers. Before making any deposit, check which side the app or its broker falls on. The AMF points out that these lists cannot be exhaustive: absence does not amount to an authorisation.

How are gains made through a stock market app taxed?

In an ordinary securities account, capital gains and dividends fall under the flat tax, raised to 31.4% on 1 January 2026 (12.8% income tax and 18.6% social levies). In a PEA more than five years old, gains are exempt from income tax and only the social levies remain due.

Sources

AMF, blacklists and warnings on unauthorised websites and brokers

Service-public.fr, equity savings plan (PEA): how it works, caps and eligible securities

Service-public.fr, taxation of PEA income

Trade Republic, PEA: pricing and how it works

XTB, PEA: fees, eligible instruments and conditions

ProRealTime, broker partners for placing orders

Capital.com, key platform figures

Finary, Finary Life: the e-vie policy underwritten by Generali Vie, fees and investment options