Investment Apps for Buying Real Shares and ETFs
If you want to actually own shares and ETFs instead of trading contracts on price movement, you need an investing app, not a CFD platform. This guide covers apps built for long term investing: real stock ownership, ETF portfolios, and access to global markets from your phone.
Trading vs Investing: Know the Difference First
These two things get lumped together a lot, but they work completely differently. Trading usually means CFDs or leveraged products where you never own the underlying asset. You're speculating on price movement, often short term, with borrowed money involved. Investing means you buy the actual share or ETF unit. You own a piece of the company or fund, you can hold it for years, and you get real dividends.
Trading (CFDs)
- You don't own the asset
- Leverage magnifies gains and losses
- Built for short term price speculation
- No dividend ownership rights
- Higher risk, faster outcomes
Investing (Shares & ETFs)
- You own real shares or fund units
- No leverage on standard accounts
- Built for long term growth
- Eligible for dividends
- Lower risk profile, slower and steadier
What You Can Actually Invest In
Investment apps give you access to a few main asset types. Knowing what each one is helps you pick the right app and the right mix for your goals.
| Asset Type | What It Is |
|---|---|
| Individual shares | Direct ownership in a single company, like Apple or Nvidia |
| ETFs | A basket of assets in one fund, tracking an index or sector |
| Index funds | Tracks a full market index like the S&P 500 |
| Bonds | Loans to governments or companies that pay fixed interest |
| REITs | Property investment funds that trade like shares |
Regulation: Why It Matters for Shares and ETFs
When you buy real shares or ETFs, your broker needs to be regulated in a way that protects your ownership rights and your money. Look for brokers regulated by bodies like the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus/EU), BaFin (Germany), ASIC (Australia), or SEC (US). Regulated brokers are required to keep your assets in segregated accounts, separate from company funds. This matters more for investing than for CFD trading, because you're holding real assets for the long term and you need certainty that they're actually yours.
Global Markets and Where You Can Invest From
Most investment apps let you buy shares listed on major exchanges like the NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, and European exchanges. Some go further and include Asian markets like Hong Kong or Japan. Where you live doesn't stop you from investing internationally, but it does affect tax treatment, currency conversion costs, and sometimes which specific exchanges your broker gives you access to.
Best Investment Apps Reviewed
Here's a closer look at five apps that let you buy real shares and ETFs, not CFDs. Each one has a different focus, so the right pick depends on what markets you want, how much you plan to invest, and whether you want extra features like copy trading or a savings plan.
eToro
Best for copy tradingRegulated by FCA, CySEC, and ASIC
eToro built its name on social and copy trading, but it also gives you access to real stocks and ETFs alongside its CFD products. You can follow other investors and mirror their portfolios, or build your own from thousands of listed shares. The app is beginner friendly and includes a wallet feature called eToro Money for managing cash.
50% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Good for
- Beginners who want to learn by copying others
- Investors who want stocks and ETFs in one app
- Social features and community sentiment
Keep in mind
- Withdrawal fee applies
- Account runs in USD, so conversion fees apply for other currencies
- CFDs and real assets are both on the platform, so check what you're buying
BlackBull Markets
Best for market access varietyRegulated by the FMA (New Zealand)
BlackBull Markets is known in the CFD and forex space, but it also offers a share investing option for clients who want real ownership rather than leveraged exposure. It runs on solid ECN infrastructure and segregates client funds, which matters when you're holding assets long term.
Good for
- Traders who already use BlackBull for CFDs and want a share option too
- Clients who value strong execution infrastructure
- Segregated client fund security
Keep in mind
- Smaller share and ETF selection than dedicated investing apps
- Better known for CFD and forex trading than investing tools
- FMA regulation offers less investor protection than FCA or ASIC
Freedom24
Best for IPO accessRegulated by CySEC (Cyprus, EU passported)
Freedom24 stands out for giving retail investors access to IPOs before they list, something most apps don't offer. Beyond that, it covers a wide range of US and European stocks and ETFs, plus bonds. It also pays interest on cash sitting in your account, which is a nice touch if you keep uninvested funds around.
Good for
- Investors who want early access to IPOs
- Bond investing alongside stocks and ETFs
- Earning interest on uninvested cash
Keep in mind
- Interface is less beginner friendly than some competitors
- Fee structure is more complex, worth checking before you trade
- EU focused, so market coverage outside US/EU is limited
Trade Republic
Best for savings plansRegulated by BaFin (Germany)
Trade Republic is built for simplicity. It runs on a flat fee per trade, and its savings plan feature lets you automatically invest a set amount into stocks or ETFs on a schedule. It also pays interest on cash held in the account. It's a strong pick if you want a straightforward, low cost way to invest regularly rather than pick individual trades constantly.
Good for
- Automated recurring investing (savings plans)
- Simple, low flat fee pricing
- European stock and ETF access
Keep in mind
- Primarily built for European investors
- Fewer advanced tools than larger platforms
- Limited access to non-European exchanges
Revolut
Best for all-in-one banking + investingInvestment services regulated across multiple jurisdictions depending on region
Revolut started as a neobank and added stock and ETF investing as part of its app, alongside currency exchange, cards, and crypto. If you already use Revolut for banking, adding investing means everything sits in one place. Free trades are limited by your subscription tier, so heavier traders may outgrow the free allowance quickly.
Good for
- People who want banking and investing in one app
- Multi-currency account holders
- Casual investors making occasional trades
Keep in mind
- Free trade allowance depends on subscription plan
- Investing features are secondary to its banking product
- Less depth than dedicated investing platforms
Quick Comparison
| Broker | Regulation | Fractional Shares | Standout Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | FCA / CySEC / ASIC | Yes | Copy trading | Beginners, social investing |
| BlackBull Markets | FMA | Limited | ECN infrastructure | Existing CFD clients adding shares |
| Freedom24 | CySEC | Yes | IPO access | Early IPO investors, bond buyers |
| Trade Republic | BaFin | Yes | Savings plans | Automated regular investing |
| Revolut | Varies by region | Yes | All-in-one banking | Casual investors already banking with Revolut |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Most global investment apps let South African residents open an account and buy shares listed in Hong Kong, Japan, or other Asian markets, as long as the broker offers access to those exchanges. You'll need to check the specific app's market list, and be aware of currency conversion fees between ZAR, USD, and the local currency of the exchange.
A CFD is a contract between you and the broker based on price movement. A share is actual ownership in a company. With a CFD you never hold the asset, and with a share you do, along with any dividend rights that come with it.
No. Most investment apps support fractional shares, meaning you can buy a portion of an expensive stock for as little as $1 to $10. This makes it possible to build a diversified portfolio with a small starting budget.
Generally yes, because an ETF holds many underlying assets, which spreads out your risk. A single company share depends entirely on that one company's performance, while an ETF's value is tied to the performance of the whole basket it tracks.
No, not on a standard investment account without leverage. Your loss is limited to what you put in. This is different from CFD trading, where leverage can create losses beyond your initial deposit.
Usually not automatically. Most apps report your trading activity, but the responsibility to declare and pay capital gains or dividend tax sits with you, based on the tax rules in your country of residence.
With a properly regulated broker, your shares are held in segregated custody accounts separate from the broker's own funds. This means they aren't treated as company assets if the broker fails, and investor protection schemes often provide additional cover up to a set limit.
Yes, there's nothing stopping you from holding accounts with multiple brokers. Some investors do this to access different markets, compare fees, or spread custody risk across providers.
Kevin George is an active trader of stocks, forex, commodities and crypto with over 15 years of market experience. He hold a master's degree in finance and mix microeconomic studies of company financials with a big-picture macroeconomic view.
Kevin earned a bachelor's degree from Robert Gordons University in Scotland. He returned later to earn his master's degree in finance.
Kevin has written for investopedia, Seekingalpha with his resume on Muckrack and LinkedIn