• Discounts and special offers
  • Subscriber-only articles and interviews
  • Breaking news and trending topics

Already a subscriber?

By signing up, you accept Moneywise's Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

Not interested ?

The recent rise in popularity of low-cost investment apps means there’s plenty of free stock being offered.

Many apps and trading platforms offer users free stock when they sign up.

Here’s a rundown of how you can net yourself some free stock.

1. Acorns

Portland, OR, USA - May 9, 2020: Acorns mobile app icon is seen on a smartphone screen.
Tada Images / Shutterstock

Free stock value: $10

Acorns is a micro-investing app that lets newcomers to the market trade stocks and ETFs without worrying about things like when to buy or sell.

When you sign up you take a few minutes to set up a portfolio based on your personal tolerance for risk. The app connects to your debit or credit card and rounds up your transactions to the nearest dollar. The leftover change is then invested on your behalf in ETFs.

You can automate investments if you want to grow your portfolio faster, and Acorns also offers bonus investment cash when you shop at one of their partnered brands.

The most basic Acorns account, Acorns Personal, is $3 a month. When you sign up and make your first investment you can get a $10 credit, which you can invest in the stock or ETF of your choice.

More: Best robo-advisors

Discover how a simple decision today could lead to an extra $1.3 million in retirement

Learn how you can set yourself up for a more prosperous future by exploring why so many people who work with financial advisors retire with more wealth.

Discover the full story and see how you could be on the path to an extra $1.3 million in retirement.

Read More

2. Robinhood

using Robinhood app to monitor equities rates for trader broker workers in stock exchange market from smartphone with monitor background in Bologna, Italy, 10 Oct 2020
Luca Lorenzelli / Shutterstock

Free stock value: Up to $223.24

Robinhood is a full-service brokerage app that lets you buy and sell stocks, options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and cryptocurrency, with no trading fees or commissions.

It also allows what’s called fractional trading, meaning you can buy partial shares in big companies with stock worth hundreds or even thousands per share.

Robinhood made headlines recently during the “Reddit rally,” which pushed its user base into the millions -- and made a lot of folks a lot of money.

When you sign up for Robinhood, you can get a free stock. It’s awarded via lottery, so you could end up with stock in a major company like Apple or Visa, worth upwards of $200.

3. Stash

Smartphone showing STASH application logo on an a screen. Manhattan, New York, USA - July 4, 2019.
NYC Russ / Shutterstock

Free stock value: $5

Stash is another investment app that emphasizes ease of use and puts a focus on newcomers to trading.

A Stash Beginner account, their basic plan, costs just $1 a month and gets you personalized recommendations of stocks and ETFs to buy based on your own risk tolerance.

And here’s where the free stock comes in: Stash offers $5 to invest when you sign up, which you can use to buy a fractional share in companies like The Walt Disney Co. and Facebook.

More: Stash vs. Acorns vs. Robinhood

Diversify your portfolio by investing in art

When it comes to investing, a diversified portfolio can lead to better returns. Masterworks' art investing platform has turned a previously inaccessible asset class into an actual option for individual investors. Think of artists like Banksy, Monet or Warhol. Get priority access and skip the waitlist here.

Skip the waitlist

4. Public

Free stock value: Up to $70

Public’s selling point is that it makes trading social. It emphasizes the ability to follow other investors and share insights as a way to increase your financial literacy.

You can also invest with your friends and share tips with a supportive community (a far cry from the clamor of Reddit), and Public has built-in safeguards to protect users. You won’t find any strange or confusing investment instruments, and Public doesn’t sell trades to “market-makers.”

This focus on community is also how you earn your free stock: through Public’s referral program. The free stock is worth up to $70 and is available to both the referrer and the referee.

5. Webull

Free stock value: $2.50 to $250 for signing up; $8 to $1,600 for $100 deposit

Webull is a no-commision investing app that lets users trade stocks, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies through its mobile app.

You can get two free stocks by enrolling. Upon signing up for a Webull account you’ll get a randomized stock worth between $2.50 and $250. And by depositing your first $100 in your account, you’ll get another stock worth between $8 and $1,600.

Webull offers even more free stock if you refer other users to the service. If you do, the people you’ve referred will get a free stock and you’ll receive another.

Sponsored

This 2 minute move could knock $500/year off your car insurance in 2024

OfficialCarInsurance.com lets you compare quotes from trusted brands, such as Progressive, Allstate and GEICO to make sure you're getting the best deal.

You can switch to a more affordable auto insurance option in 2 minutes by providing some information about yourself and your vehicle and choosing from their tailor-made results. Find offers as low as $29 a month.

Justin Anderson Former Reporter

Justin Anderson was formerly a reporter at MoneyWise. He has a degree in Journalism from Ryerson University and his career has seen him cover everything from business and finance to the entertainment industry to politics, with plenty in between.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.