You can buy stocks directly on your iPhone using a brokerage app
To buy stocks on your iPhone, you read a brokerage app, create an account, link a bank account or debit card, and place an order through the app's trading interface. The process takes about 15 minutes from read to your first purchase. Popular brokerage apps include Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Robinhood, and Webull — each has its own layout and fee structure, so the exact steps vary slightly by app.
You do not need to be a financial professional or have a large amount of money to start. Most brokerages let you buy fractional shares, meaning you can invest $5 or $50 instead of waiting to afford a full share. The main thing to understand before you begin is that stock prices move constantly, and the price you see on your screen may not be the price you actually pay if there is a delay between when you place the order and when it executes.
Key Takeaways
- read a brokerage app, create an account with your name and Social Security number, and link a bank account or debit card to fund your trades.
- Search for the stock by its ticker symbol (a short code like AAPL for Apple), decide how many shares or dollars you want to buy, and place the order.
- Market orders execute at the current price and usually fill within seconds; limit orders let you set a maximum price you are willing to pay but may not fill if the stock does not reach that price.
- Your first purchase may take one to three business days to settle, meaning the shares are officially yours and the money officially leaves your account.
- Most brokerages charge no commission to buy stocks, but some have account minimums or require a certain number of trades per month to avoid fees.
Choosing a brokerage app and opening an account
Start by downloading a brokerage app from the App Store. The major ones — Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Robinhood, and Webull — are all free to read. Each one has a different user interface and different rules about account minimums and fees, so if you are not sure which to pick, start with one and you can always open an account elsewhere later.
Once you open the app, tap the button to create a new account. You will enter your name, email address, date of birth, and Social Security number. The brokerage uses this information to verify your identity and comply with federal law. This part takes about five minutes. Some apps ask additional questions about your investment experience or financial situation — these are optional and do not affect whether you can open the account.
After your identity is verified, you will link a bank account or debit card. The app will ask for your bank's routing number and your account number, or it will let you sign in to your bank directly through the app. This is how the brokerage moves money in and out of your account. Most brokerages let you start trading as soon as the link is confirmed, though the money may take one to two business days to actually arrive in your brokerage account.
Finding and researching a stock before you buy
Once your account is set up and funded, open the app's search or quote function. You will see a search bar where you can type a company name or its ticker symbol. A ticker symbol is a short code — usually two to four letters — that represents a stock. Apple's ticker is AAPL, Microsoft is MSFT, Tesla is TSLA. If you do not know the ticker, type the company name and the app will show you matching results.
When you tap on a stock, you will see its current price, a chart showing how the price has moved over time, and sometimes news articles or analyst ratings. The current price is what the stock traded at most recently, but it is not necessarily the price you will pay — that depends on the type of order you place. Take a moment to look at the chart and read any news to make sure you understand what you are buying, but remember that past performance does not predict future results.
Some apps let you add stocks to a watchlist so you can track them without buying. This is useful if you want to watch a stock's price for a few days or weeks before deciding to purchase.
Placing a market order or limit order
When you are ready to buy, tap the "Buy" button on the stock's page. The app will ask you how many shares you want to buy or how much money you want to spend. If you enter a dollar amount instead of a share count, the app will buy as many whole shares and fractional shares as that amount covers. For example, if a stock costs $150 per share and you enter $100, you will own 0.67 shares.
Next, you choose between a market order and a limit order. A market order buys the stock at whatever the current market price is right now. It executes almost when ready — usually within seconds — but you do not know the exact price until the order is complete. A limit order lets you set a maximum price you are willing to pay. If the stock is trading at $50 and you set a limit order for $48, the order will only fill if the price drops to $48 or lower. Limit orders can take hours or days to fill, or they may never fill at all if the stock does not reach your price.
For a first purchase, most people use a market order because it guarantees the trade will go through. Tap "Review Order" to see a summary of what you are about to buy, the estimated price, and any fees. Then tap "Confirm" or "Place Order" to complete the purchase.
Understanding settlement and when you own the shares
After you place an order, the app will show it as "pending" or "in progress" for a few seconds to a few minutes. Once it fills, the order status changes to "filled" and you own the shares. However, the trade does not officially settle for one to three business days. Settlement is the point at which the shares are fully yours and the money is fully out of your account.
During the settlement period, you can see the shares in your account and watch their value change, but you cannot sell them or use them as collateral for a loan. This is a federal rule that applies to all stock purchases, not something individual brokerages control. Once settlement is complete, you have full access to the shares.
Fees and costs to watch for
Most major brokerages charge zero commission to buy stocks, meaning there is no per-trade fee. However, some brokerages have account minimums — a minimum amount of money you must keep in the account — or require a certain number of trades per month to avoid monthly fees. Check the brokerage's fee schedule in the app's settings or help section before you open an account.
You may also pay a spread, which is the difference between the bid price (what buyers are willing to pay) and the ask price (what sellers are asking). When you place a market order, you typically pay the ask price, which is slightly higher than the bid. This spread is not a fee charged by the brokerage — it is the natural cost of buying and selling in the market. Spreads are usually small, a few cents per share, but they add up on large purchases.
Some brokerages offer margin accounts, which let you borrow money to buy stocks. Margin is risky and not recommended for beginners. Stick with a standard cash account where you can only spend money you have already deposited.
Buying stocks during market hours versus after hours
The stock market is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time. If you place an order during these hours, it executes during the trading day. If you place an order outside these hours — early morning, evening, or on weekends — it will execute the next time the market opens, usually the next business day at 9:30 a.m.
Some brokerages offer extended-hours trading, which lets you trade before 9:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Extended-hours trading has wider spreads and lower volume, meaning fewer buyers and sellers, so prices can be more volatile and harder to predict. Most beginners should stick to regular market hours.
What happens after you buy: tracking and managing your position
Once your trade settles, the stock appears in your portfolio or holdings section of the app. You will see how many shares you own, the price you paid per share, the current price, and your total gain or loss. The app updates these numbers throughout the trading day as the stock price moves.
You can set price alerts so the app notifies you when a stock reaches a certain price. You can also sell the stock at any time during market hours by tapping "Sell," choosing how many shares to sell, and placing a market or limit order just like you did when you bought. Remember that selling also takes one to three business days to settle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a minimum amount of money to start buying stocks on my iPhone?
Most brokerages have no account minimum, meaning you can open an account with $1. However, some brokerages require a minimum deposit to fund your account, typically $100 to $500. Check the specific brokerage's requirements before you sign up. Since many brokerages let you buy fractional shares, you can invest small amounts like $5 or $10 per trade.
What is the difference between a market order and a limit order?
A market order buys at the current price and fills almost when ready. A limit order sets a maximum price you are willing to pay and only fills if the stock reaches that price or lower. Market orders may provide execution but not price; limit orders may provide price but not execution. For beginners, market orders are simpler and more reliable.
Can I buy stocks on my iPhone outside of market hours?
Yes, you can place an order anytime, but it will not execute until the market opens. If you place an order at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday, it will execute at 9:30 a.m. the next morning. Some brokerages offer extended-hours trading before 9:30 a.m. and after 4 p.m., but spreads are wider and prices are less predictable during these times.
How long does it take to own the shares after I place an order?
Your order fills within seconds to minutes, and you can see the shares in your account when ready. However, the trade does not officially settle for one to three business days. During settlement, you own the shares but cannot sell them. Once settlement is complete, you have full access.
Are there any fees to buy stocks on my iPhone?
Most major brokerages charge zero commission per trade. However, some have account minimums or monthly fees if you do not meet certain requirements. You may also pay a small spread — the difference between the bid and ask price — which is not a fee but a natural cost of trading. Check your brokerage's fee schedule before you open an account.