Best Mutual Fund Apps 2023

eToro: Overall Best Stock App with 0% Commission

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Looking to invest in the financial markets but don’t have the time or knowledge to pick individual assets? Then it’s well worth considering a mutual fund app.In doing so, your chosen mutual fund provider will invest on your behalf – allowing you to earn both capital gains and dividends. In this guide, we review the best mutual fund apps for 2023 and walk you through the process of making an investment today.

67% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site.

Top Mutual Fund Apps 2023

Below you will find the best mutual fund apps in the market right now. Be sure to scroll down and read our comprehensive review of each app provider before signing up!

1. eToro – Overall Best Mutual Fund App with 0% Commission
2. Robinhood – Best Mutual Fund App for US Traders
3. Fineco Bank – Best Mutual Fund App For Regular Direct Plans
4. Plus500 – Best Mutual Fund App For Trading CFDs
5. Fidelity – Best Mutual Fund App for 0% Fees
6. Fineco Bank – Best Mutual Fund App For Regular Direct Plans
7. Plus500 – Best Mutual Fund App For Trading CFDs
8. TD Ameritrade – Best Mutual Fund App for Research and Analysis
9. Interactive Brokers – Best Mutual Fund App for Global Investments
10. IG – Best Mutual Fund App for UK ISAs (Smart Portfolios)

Best Mutual Fund Apps Reviewed

When searching for the best mutual fund apps for your needs – there are several core metrics that you need to explore.

For example, not only does the app need to offer the mutual fund that you wish to invest in, but you also need to assess what fees and ongoing commissions you will need to pay. You then need to look at factors like regulation, usability, and research tools.

To help clear the mist, below we review the best mutual fund apps for 2023 and beyond.

1. eToro – Overall Best Mutual Fund App with 0% Commission

eToro is a hugely popular trading app that is simple to use and most importantly – regulated on multiple fronts. This includes a license with the Financial Conduct Authority, ASIC, and CySEC – and registration with FINRA in the US. This top-rated rate brokerage firm – which is now used by over 20 million people, offers a great selection of assets including investment funds.

This includes a huge range of index-tracking funds that focus on the FTSE 100, Dow Jone, S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, and more. There are also funds that target dividend stocks, corporate bonds, and US Treasuries – alongside a selection of investment trusts. Irrespective of which fund you opt for, eToro will not charge you any commission to enter and exit the market. Instead, the only fee that is applicable comes in the form of the expense ratio charged by your chosen fund.

What we also like about this popular mutual fund app is that the minimum investment is just $50. This is unusual, as funds often require at least $500 to get started. But, at a small minimum of $50 – this allows you to diversify across heaps of different funds. In addition to funds, eToro also allows you to buy shares in over 2,400 companies. This stock market offering extends to 17 international exchanges – covering everything from London and New York to Frankfurt and Hong Kong. If you are interested in other assets such as cryptocurrency then eToro offers an exceptional array, it’s one of the best bitcoin trading apps out there as well as providing many altcoins to choose from, there is something here for every trader!

It goes without saying that the eToro investment app is compatible with both iOS and Android. The app can be downloaded free of charge and the account opening process takes minutes. Once you have taken a photo of your passport or driver’s license, you can then proceed to deposit funds directly within the app. Supported payment methods offered by eToro include debit/credit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like Paypal and Neteller.

Pros

• 0% trade commissions
• Full-screen technical charts on mobile
• News feed and price alerts
• Built-in social network for day traders
• Supports copy trading
• Fractional shares

Cons

• Doesn’t support Google Pay or Apple Pay

67% of retail investors lose money trading CFDs at this site.

2. Robinhood – Best Mutual Fund App for US Traders

Robinhood is one of the most popular stock apps in the US. The app is particularly popular with casual US-based traders with little to no experience in investing. This is because Robinhood is easy to use and does not have a minimum account balance requirement.

On top of US-listed stocks and a modest number of international ADRs, Robinhood also offers a great selection of ETFs making it a best etf epp. This covers ETFs that track US and foreign shares, gold, corporate bonds, index funds, and more. Best of all – and much like eToro, Robinhood does not charge any trading commission.

There are no ongoing account fees either – unless you upgrade to the Gold account. If you do, you will have access to margin trading facilities and benefits from a higher threshold of instant-processed deposits. Robinhood is well regulated in the US so safety should be of no concern. The app also provides financial news feeds – which is great for performing independent research.

Pros

• 0% commission trading
• No minimum deposit required
• Lists of hot stocks and market sectors
• Easily discover related stocks
• Includes news feed and analyst ratings

Cons

• Very limited technical charts
• No price alerts

Your capital is at risk.

3. Fineco Bank – Best Mutual Fund App For Regular Direct Plans

Fineco Bank is an investment bank located in Italy that offers brokerage services to clients in the UK and Europe. The provider is often described as a low-cost trading app – as it allows you to buy UK shares from just £2.95 and US-listed stocks at $3.95.

The app also supports commission-free CFD trading on a number of financial markets. With that said, Fineco Bank is also a great option if you are looking to build long-term direct plans – as the app offers a huge range of passive funds.

In particular, Fineco Bank allows you to set up a recurring investment plan at just £/€/$ 50 per month. This is great for those of you that want to put a bit of money into the financial markets at the end of each month without needing to actively research investments. When it comes to selecting a fund, this is also taken care of by Fineco Bank.

All you need to do is answer a few questions about your financial goals and tolerance to risk. Then, Fineco will distribute your monthly investments accordingly. The fees associated with automatic fund investments at Fineco is just 0.25% per year. As Fineco is an E.U-based investment bank – naturally, it is heavily regulated, so your funds are safe.

Pros

• Buy shares from just £2.95
• Thousands of shares, ETFs, and funds supported
• Trade CFDs via shares, indices, commodities, and more
• Low minimum deposit of just £100
• Heavily regulated and trusted reputation
• No fees to deposit
• Financial planning

Cons

• ETFs require a monthly payment of £2.95 (includes 1 free ETF trade)
• No debit card deposits

There is no guarantee you will make money with this provider.

4. Plus500 – One of the Best CFD Apps for Mutual Funds

Plus500 is a CFD trading app that allows you to speculate on thousands of financial markets. This includes ETFs, stocks, cryptocurrency assets, hard metals, energies, many forex pairs and even mutual funds. The main premise here is that you will not be investing in mutual funds.

Instead, your primary objective is to speculate on whether you think the value of the mutual fund will increase or decrease. This allows you to benefit from both rising and falling markets. The Plus500 app – which is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, also allows you to trade mutual funds with leverage.

Your limits will depend on where you reside, albeit, this is usually capped at 1:5 when trading mutual fund CFDs. This will amplify a $100 stake into $500. Irrespective of whether you go long or short on your chosen mutual fund markets – Plus500 does not charge any trading commissions.

Instead, it’s only the spread that you need to pay. The minimum deposit at this top-rated trading app is just $100. Plus500 supports debit and credit cards, as well as Paypal. There is also a fully-fledged demo account available on the app. This allows you to trade mutual fund CFDs in a risk-free manner.

Pros

• Heavily regulated trading platform
• 0% commission on all forex trading positions
• Leverage facilities available
• Mobile app is highly rated
• No transaction fees
• Minimum deposit just £100
• Heaps of forex pairs supported
• Thousands of CFD instruments

Cons

• Does not offer traditional investment assets

72% of retail CFD accounts lose money

5. Fidelity – Best Mutual Fund App for 0% Fees

Fidelity is an old-school brokerage firm that has since entered the age of mobile investing. The app – which is available on both iOS and Android, is packed to the rafters with financial markets.

This includes stocks, bonds, IPO access, ETFs, options, and of course – mutual funds. Regarding the latter, you will have access to over 10,000 funds – listed not only in the US but across several global marketplaces. When it comes to fees, this is where Fidelity really stands out.

This is because the app does not charge any commissions when you buy or sell mutual funds – other than the respective expense ratio. In fact, if you invest in a Fidelity mutual fund – you will pay 0% in expense ratio fees – which is unheard of in the trading scene.

In addition to fee-free investing, this mutual fund app does not have a minimum account balance in place. This ensures that Fidelity is suitable for investors of all budget levels. If you are also looking to perform ongoing financial research – Fidelity offers a highly extensive set of analytical and fundamental tools.

Pros

• Great selection of long-term investment products
• Access US-listed stocks, ETFs, and investment options commission-free
• Covers thousands of markets in 25 different countries
• Excellent reputation and heavily regulated
• No minimum lump sum requirement
• Top-rated research and educational materials
• Advanced analysis tools available for seasoned pros

Cons

• Account opening process can be slow
• No debit card deposits/withdrawals

Your capital is at risk.

6. TD Ameritrade – Best Mutual Fund App for Research and Analysis

When it comes to generating market insights through technical and fundamental analysis – TD Ameritrade stands out from the crowd. This age-old brokerage firm is now behind a hugely popular mobile trading app – which is available on both Android and iOS.

In total, TD Ameritrade gives you access to over 13,000 direct mutual funds – so you won’t be short of options. When it comes to fees, you wont pay any commissions to invest in a load mutual fund at TD Ameritrade.

You will, however, need to pay a commission of $49.99 on no-load funds – which is expensive. In terms of research tools, you might find the mutual fund screener of interest. This allows you to find a mutual fund that meets your financial goals based on pre-defined factors.

You can also compare mutual funds at the click of a button – with key metrics including past performance, expense ratios, and Morningstar ratings. TD Ameritrade also offers an up-to-date list of top-rated mutual funds that its team of in-house analysts like the look of.

Pros

• Enormous selection of stocks and options
• Commission-free trading
• Two mobile apps available
• Fully customizable indicators with thinkorswim scripts
• Analyze 4-leg options trades

Cons

• Only accepts bank transfers for payment
• Relatively pricey margin rates

Your capital is at risk.

7. Interactive Brokers – Best Mutual Fund App for Global Investments

Launched in 1978 and active across dozens of countries – Interactive Brokers is a highly established brokered firm. You can invest and trade online or via the provider’s Android/iOS mobile app.

In total, Interactive Brokers gives you access to over 40,000 mutual funds – which is huge. Not only does this include popular funds listed in the US – but around the world. What we really like about this broker is that more than 8,300 funds can be invested in commission-free.

If your chosen mutual fund is located outside of the US, you will pay a fee of EUR 4.95 per trade. Either way, Interactive Brokers gives you the option of investing on margin – subsequently giving you additional purchasing power. Some of the most sought-after mutual funds available at Interactive Brokers are backed by the likes of Invesco, BlackRock, PIMCO, and Fidelity.

If you’re also interested in other asset classes, Interactive Brokers has you covered. This includes everything from stocks, options, and futures to ETFs, bonds, and robo-advisor portfolios. Perhaps the main drawback with Interactive Brokers is that the initial account opening process is a bit long-winded. But, once you are set up – you’ll have unfettered access to the global financial markets.

Pros

• Huge library of traditional stocks
• Dozens of exchanges and markets covered
• CFD instruments also supported
• No account minimum
• Low fees starting from $0.005 per share

Cons

• More suitable for experienced investors and traders
• No debit/credit cards – bank transfers only

There is no guarantee you will make money with this provider.

8. IG – Best Mutual Fund App for UK ISAs (Smart Portfolios)

IG is a UK-based brokerage firm that offers share dealing, investment funds, CFD trading, and spread betting. Launched in 1974 – the platform has a great reputation in the UK investment scene. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and covered by the FSCS scheme – IG is also a PLC listed on the London Stock Exchange.

Spread betting is only available to clients in the UK

This mutual funds app provider offers a unique product which it calls ‘Smart Portfolios’. These are diversified investment portfolios that are professionally managed by the team at IG. Your capital will be spread across a variety of funds – covering stocks, bonds, and even commodities.

There are many Smart Portfolios to choose from – which are allocated based on risk. This covers a ‘conservative portfolio for risk-averse investors up to an ‘aggressive portfolio for those seeking higher returns. Either way, IG charges an annual fee of 0.72% to invest in its Smart Portfolios.

It is also possible to combine your Smart Portfolio investment with a Stocks and Shares ISA. This means that the first £20,000 invested each year will be shielded from capital gains and dividend tax. If you’re from the UK and like the sound of IG – the minimum deposit is just £250 and supported payment methods include debit cards and a local bank transfer.

Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.

Pros

• Trusted investing app with a long-standing reputation
• More than 17,000 financial markets
• Low stock trading fees
• Leverage and short-selling also available
• Spread betting and CFD products (Spread betting is only available to clients in the UK)
• Access to dozens of international markets
• Great research department

Cons

• Minimum deposit of £250
• US stocks have a $15 minimum commission

Your capital is at risk when trading CFDs at this site.

Mutual Fund Apps Fees Comparison?

Below you find a comparison table that outlines the fees and minimum account requirements stipulated by the best mutual fund apps.

What are Mutual Funds?

Mutual funds allow you to invest in the financial markets in a 100% passive nature. This is because you will be investing your capital with a large financial institution that is tasked with buying and selling assets on your behalf. Some of the biggest fund houses in this industry include Fidelity, Vanguard, BlackRock, and PIMCO – which collectively manage trillions of dollars worth of investment capital.

Crucially, by investing in a mutual fund, you can sit back and allow your money to work for you. There is no requirement for you to spend countless hours research which assets to invest in. Nor do you need to worry about timing the markets. Instead, mutual funds are managed by experienced traders that have access to vast resources.

Here’s a simple example of how a mutual fund investment works:

• You invest $5,000 into a mutual fund that focuses on high-yield dividend stocks
• At the time of the investment, the mutual fund is priced at $50 per share
• At the end of year one, the value of the mutual fund has increased to $75 per share
• This means that on an investment of $5,000 – your capital is now worth $7,5000
• Throughout the year, you also receive four dividend payments from the mutual fund at a yield of 4%
• As such, you received a total payment of $200 (4% of $5,000 investment)

There are two key points to note about the above example. Firstly, your mutual fund investment is represented as a share price. Mutual funds don’t, however, trade on a public stock exchange. Instead, the share price is based on the NAV (Net Asset Value) of the mutual fund.

The NAV is simply the total amount of assets held by the mutual fund – at the current market value. As such, when the NAV increases – as will the respective share price and thus – the value of your investment will rise. You will only be able to realize this increased NAV when you sell your mutual fund investment.

Secondly, mutual funds also pay dividends. This is usually distributed every three months and your share will be based on the amount you have invested. These payments are a result of assets that generate regular income – such as dividend stocks, real estate holdings, or bonds.

Why Invest in Mutual Funds?

There are many reasons why investing in a mutual fund is a much better idea than attempting to manage your capital on a DIY basis.

This includes:

Passive Investment

The main attraction of a mutual fund is that once you make an investment – you can sit back and enjoy a passive stream of income. This is because the mutual fund financial advisor makes all investment decisions.

For example – based on the underlying strategy, the fund manager will decide which assets to buy and when to sell them. Each fund will usually have a large team of analysts, researchers, and in-house traders that have a vast amount of experience in the financial markets.

You only decisions that you need to personally make are what mutual fund to invest in and subsequently – when to cash out.

Mutual Funds are Actively Managed

When you invest in an ETF or index-tracking fund, your money is being managed in a passive nature. This means that the fund provider will simply look to track the respective market.

• In other words, if you invest in an index fund that generates annual returns of 10% – you will make the same (less fees).
• Similarly, if the index fund losses are 10% over the course of the year, your investment will also decline by the same amount.
• This is in stark contrast to how most mutual funds work – as they are typically actively managed.
• In simple terms, this means that the mutual fund manager will look to outperform the market by making smart investment decisions.

For example, if the mutual fund is focused on UK-based blue-chip stocks – it won’t take the easy option by simply tracking the FTSE 100. On the contrary, the mutual fund manager will determine which FTSE 100 stocks should be added to its portfolio and which companies don’t quite make the cut.

Two Streams of Income

As we briefly covered in our example above, most mutual funds offer two streams of income. Firstly, when NAV of the fund increases, so will the value of your investment.

These capital gains will be realized once you cash out. Secondly, most mutual funds pay dividends every three months. If you’re looking to build a long-term investment plan – this is great. The reason for this is that on each dividend payment, you can reinvest the money back into the mutual fund (or another asset).

In doing so, you are constantly increasing the size of mutual fund investment. As you do, the size on your quarterly dividend payments will also increase – as the yield is based on a large stake in the mutual fund.

Great for Diversification

When you invest in a mutual fund, there is every chance that you will be indirectly gaining access to hundreds of different assets. For example, the mutual fund might hold a highly diversified basket of stocks from a variety of markets. Or, the fund might invest in a large collection of corporate and government bonds.

Either way, you only need to make a single investment into the mutual fund to create a balanced and well-diversified portfolio. Attempting to replicate a mutual fund portfolio on a DIY basis would not only be time-consuming, but costly.

Fees are Very Reasonable

Although mutual funds are actively managed – this doesn’t mean that you will be hit with hefty investment fees. Instead, you will find that the vast majority of mutual funds are priced at less than 1% per year.

When you consider what goes on behind the scenes in terms of research and analysis – this is very reasonable. Take note, you might also need to pay a brokerage commission to invest in your chosen mutual fund. With that said, the best mutual fund investment apps that have been discussed today typically offer a commission-free service.

How to Choose the Best Mutual Fund App for You

In searching for the best mutual fund app, you need to perform lots of research to ensure the provider is right for you. For example, some mutual fund apps only service residents of selected countries. Additionally, you also need to look at what mutual funds are supported, as well as regulation, payments, and commissions.

Here’s a breakdown of the most important considerations that need to be made in your hunt for the best mutual fund app.

Regulation

It goes without saying that your chosen mutual fund app be authorized and regulated by a reputable financial body. Make no mistake about it – all of the best mutual fund investment apps discussed on this page are heavily regulated.

For example, eToro is licensed by the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC (Australia) – and registered with FINRA (US). Ultimately, this ensures that your mutual fund investment is being safely managed.

User Experience

On the one hand, the process of investing in a mutual fund is very straightforward. Typically, all you need to do is open an account with a mutual fund app, make a deposit, and then allocate some funds to your chosen investment. This is especially the case when using a user-friendly app like eToro – as it takes just 10 minutes to get started.

However, you will also come across mutual fund apps that have been poorly designed. For example, the process of opening an account might take up to a week – largely because of a cumbersome KYC process that needs to be manually processed. We also come across mutual funds apps that are difficult to navigate – especially when it came to finding an investment.

Supported Mutual Funds

You don’t want to go through the process of opening an account with a trading app only to find that it doesn’t support your chosen mutual fund. In many cases, you are unable to view what mutual funds the app supports until you register an account – which can be problematic.

With that said, if you know that the app supports thousands of mutual funds from a variety of international marketplaces – then there is every chance that there is an investment that meets your financial goals. This is especially the case with the likes of Fineco Bank, TD Ameritrade, and Interactive Brokers.

Fees

When investing through a mutual fund app – there are several fees that you might be exposed to.

This includes the following:

• Commission: Some mutual fund apps charge a commission when you invest. If they do, this will be charged when you initially invest in the mutual fund and again when you cash out. Commissions are usually flat – meaning they remain the same irrespective of how much you invest. Our top-rated trading app – eToro, charges no commissions at all when investing in a fund.
• Minimum Redemption: Although your chosen mutual fund app might offer a commission-free service – you need to check whether a minimum redemption clause is in place. This refers to a flat fee that is charged if you sell your mutual fund investment within a certain time period – say 60 days.
• Expense Ratio: The expense ratio is charged by the mutual fund provider and not the trading itself. This covers the fees involved in managing investor funds. Just make sure that your chosen mutual fund app doesn’t charge a mark-up on the expense ratio. In other words, if the mutual fund charges 0.5% per year – the app should also charge you 0.5% per year.

The best mutual fund apps are very transparent when it comes to fees. As such, refer to the provider’s website to get a full breakdown of what fees and charges will be applicable when investing in a mutual fund.

Investment Tools

Although mutual funds allow you to invest passively – it’s a major bonus when trading apps offer research tools. After all, there are tens of thousands of mutual funds in operation from all over the world. As such, you need to invest some time to ensure your chosen mutual fund meets your financial objectives and attitude to risk.

We found that the best mutual fund investment apps offer an in-house research facility. This might include ratings from major financial platforms like Morningstar, information regarding past performance and expected returns, and the level of risk associated with the fund.

An additional investment tool that we came across when reviewing the best mutual fund apps for 2023 was the eToro Copy Trading feature. This allows you to invest in individual traders as opposed to a broader mutual fund.

We like the fact that you can view a full suite of data about the trader you are considering copying – such as financial performance, risk rating, and maximum drawdown. Best of all, eToro doesn’t charge anything to utilize its Copy Trading tool – so this offers a great alternative to conventional mutual funds.

Payment Methods

The best mutual fund brokers allow you to deposit and withdraw funds directly through the app. For example, eToro allows you to instantly fund your account with a debit/credit card or e-wallet (Paypal, Skrill, Neteller). Some providers also support mobile payments such as Google and Apple Pay.

At the other end of the scale, some mutual fund apps only support bank transfers. Depending on your location, this means that it might take a few days for the funds to arrive.

Customer Service

Finally, it’s also a good idea to check what customer support channels the mutual fund app offers. Ideally, if you need assistance, you will be able to get real-time support via a live chat facility.

This is offered by eToro on a 24/5 basis. Unfortunately, many mutual funds apps that we came across only offer email support. This means that you might not receive a reply until the next day – sometimes longer.

How to Download a Mutual Fund App & Start Trading

Ready to download a mutual fund app and make your first investment? If so, we are now going to walk you through the process with the popular investment app eToro – which allows you to buy and sell funds on a commission-free basis at a minimum stake of just $50.

eToro – Best Mutual Fund App with 0% Commission

By investing in a mutual fund, no longer do you need to spend countless hours researching technical and fundamental data – nor do you need to try and time the market. Instead, through a single investment – your chosen mutual fund will make all trading decisions on your behalf.

If you’re ready to invest in a fund right now and want to avoid paying any commission – consider top-rated trading app eToro. This heavily regulated broker offers heaps of diversified funds and managed portfolios – and getting started takes minutes!

67% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

FAQs

Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.