How to Buy Stocks on Your iPhone
You can buy stocks on an iPhone through a brokerage app in about five minutes
To buy stocks on your iPhone, you download a brokerage app, create an account, link a bank account or transfer money in, search for the stock you want, and place an order. The whole process takes roughly five minutes once your account is funded. The main brokerage apps that work on iPhone are Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, TD Ameritrade, Robinhood, Webull, and Wealthfront — each has its own interface, but they all follow the same basic steps.
Before you start, you need a funded account. That means either connecting your bank account so the app can pull money, or transferring cash into the brokerage first. Most apps let you do this during signup. Once money is in your account, you can place an order immediately — it will settle (actually move into your account) in one to two business days, but you own the stock as soon as you place the order.
Key Takeaways
- Download a brokerage app to your iPhone, create an account, and link your bank account or deposit cash before you can buy.
- Search for the stock by ticker symbol (like AAPL for Apple) or company name, then choose how many shares you want to buy.
- Place a market order to buy at the current price immediately, or a limit order to buy only if the price drops to a specific level.
- Your order executes during market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays), and the stock settles in your account within one to two business days.
- Most brokerages charge no commission to buy stocks on iPhone, but some charge fees for certain order types or account features.
Choosing a brokerage app for iPhone
The main difference between brokerages is their interface, fees, and what extra features they offer. Fidelity and Charles Schwab are full-service brokerages with research tools and educational content built in; they work well if you want to learn as you go. Robinhood and Webull are designed for speed and simplicity; they show you stock prices and let you order in fewer taps. TD Ameritrade (now owned by Charles Schwab) and E*TRADE fall in the middle — solid apps with good tools but not as stripped-down as Robinhood.
All of these charge zero commission to buy stocks, meaning you pay no fee per trade. Some charge fees for margin accounts (borrowing money to buy stocks) or for certain advanced order types, but basic stock buying is free across all of them. The choice usually comes down to which app feels easiest to you — download a couple and try the signup process to see which one clicks.
Setting up your account and funding it
When you open a brokerage app for the first time, you will enter your name, email, Social Security number, and address. The app will ask whether you want a standard taxable account or an IRA (a retirement account with tax advantages). For your first stock purchase, a standard taxable account is simpler — you can open an IRA later. The app will then ask you to verify your identity, usually by answering security questions or uploading a photo of your ID.
Next, you link your bank account. The app will ask for your bank's name and your login credentials, then show you two small deposits (usually under a dollar each) that the bank made to your account. You enter those amounts back into the app to prove you own the account. This process takes a few minutes and happens only once. After that, you can transfer money from your bank to your brokerage account whenever you want — most transfers arrive within one to three business days.
Some apps let you buy stocks before the transfer settles, using what is called instant deposits or margin. This is convenient but adds complexity; for your first purchase, wait for the money to actually arrive in your account.
Finding and ordering a stock on your iPhone
Once your account has money in it, tap the search or quote icon in the app. Type the company name or its ticker symbol — a short code like AAPL (Apple), MSFT (Microsoft), or TSLA (Tesla). The app will show you the current price, a chart of how the price has moved, and sometimes news about the company. Tap the stock to open its detail page.
On the detail page, look for a button that says "Buy" or "Trade". Tap it, and the app will ask how many shares you want. Enter the number — if the stock costs $150 and you have $1,500 in your account, you can buy 10 shares. The app will show you the total cost before you confirm. Then choose your order type: a market order buys at whatever the current price is right now, and a limit order buys only if the price drops to a number you set. Market orders execute almost instantly during market hours; limit orders wait until the price hits your target or the market closes.
Review the order one more time, then tap "Confirm" or "Place Order". The app will show you a confirmation number. You own the stock immediately, even though it will not show up in your account balance until it settles one to two business days later.
Understanding market hours and order timing
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 those hours, it will execute right away (for a market order) or wait for your price target (for a limit order). If you place an order outside market hours — say, at 6 p.m. or on a Saturday — the app will hold it and execute it when the market opens the next trading day.
Some brokerages offer extended hours trading, which lets you buy or sell before 9:30 a.m. or after 4 p.m. This is useful if you want to react to news that breaks after hours, but prices are less stable and spreads (the difference between buy and sell prices) are wider. For most people buying their first stocks, regular market hours are fine.
Fees and costs to watch for
Buying stocks on an iPhone through a major brokerage costs nothing in commission — Fidelity, Schwab, Robinhood, and the others all charge zero per trade. However, a few costs can show up:
- Bid-ask spread: When you buy a stock, you pay the asking price (what sellers want), which is slightly higher than the bid price (what buyers offer). This gap is not a fee the brokerage charges; it is the cost of the market itself. It is usually a few cents per share.
- Margin interest: If you borrow money from the brokerage to buy stocks, you pay interest on the loan. This does not apply to basic stock buying with your own cash.
- Account fees: Most brokerages charge nothing to hold a stock account. Some charge fees if your account balance falls below a minimum (often $25,000 for margin accounts), but standard accounts have no minimum.
Read the fee schedule in the app's settings or help section before you fund your account. It will list any charges that apply to your account type.
What happens after you buy
Once you place an order, the stock appears in your "Positions" or "Holdings" tab in the app, usually within seconds. The app will show you how many shares you own, what you paid for them, and what they are worth right now. If the price goes up, your position shows a green number; if it goes down, it shows red. This is just the current value — you have not gained or lost money until you sell.
The stock will settle in your account within one to two business days. Until it settles, you cannot sell it or use it as collateral for a loan, but you own it and you will receive any dividends the company pays. After settlement, you can sell whenever you want by tapping the stock, choosing "Sell", and placing an order the same way you bought it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy stocks on my iPhone if I do not have a bank account?
Most brokerages require a linked bank account to fund your account. If you do not have one, you will need to open a checking account first — this usually takes a few days. A few brokerages accept wire transfers or checks, but they are slower and less common.
What is the minimum amount of money I need to start buying stocks?
There is no federal minimum, but most brokerages require at least $1 to $100 to open an account. Some stocks cost hundreds of dollars per share, but fractional shares (owning part of a stock) are available on most apps, so you can buy $1 worth of an expensive stock if you want.
Can I buy stocks before market hours on my iPhone?
Most brokerages let you place orders anytime, but they will not execute until the market opens. Some apps offer pre-market trading (starting at 4 a.m. Eastern) and after-hours trading (until 8 p.m. Eastern), but prices are less stable and spreads are wider. For most people, regular market hours are simpler.
What happens if I place an order and then close the app?
Your order will still execute. The app does not need to stay open for the order to go through. You can check on it anytime by opening the app and looking at your order history or positions.
Do I have to pay taxes on stocks I buy on my iPhone?
Yes. When you sell a stock for more than you paid, you owe capital gains tax on the profit. The brokerage will send you a tax form (1099-B) at the end of the year showing all your trades. Hold onto your purchase receipts so you can calculate your gains accurately.