Best Investment Apps with Signup Bonuses for New Users

When you're a new investor, finding a brokerage signup bonus can feel like hitting a small jackpot. A bonus—whether it's a cash credit or free shares of stock—is literally free money that you can immediately put to work in the market. It is the fastest, safest, and most fun way to boost your opening balance.

These promotions are not just for high-net-worth investors anymore. Today, nearly every major investing app offers some form of incentive to new users.

To get the best value, you must know two things:

1. Free Stock vs. Cash Credit: A free share of a stock (like Robinhood's offer) is easy to get but random in value. A cash credit (like E*TRADE's offer) is guaranteed but usually requires a much larger initial deposit.
2. The Requirements: Most bonuses require a minimum deposit and a minimum holding period (often 90 days or more). Always read the fine print!

Here are the best investment apps and platforms currently offering attractive signup bonuses for new users.

🏆 The Winner: Best for Large Deposit Cash Bonuses

E*TRADE (from Morgan Stanley)

E*TRADE is known for offering some of the most generous cash bonuses in the industry, although they are tiered and require a substantial deposit to maximize. They are a mature, full-service platform, perfect for the new investor who wants a stable platform and already has a larger lump sum to move.

• Offer Type: Tiered Cash Credit.
• Bonus Range: $50 up to $10,000+
• Minimum Requirement for Bonus: A deposit of $1,000 for the lowest bonus tier ($50).
• Best For: Investors looking to transfer an existing account or those starting with a deposit of $5,000 or more.
• Key Requirement: The funds must typically be transferred from outside E*TRADE and held in the new account for at least six months to keep the bonus.

The Math: E*TRADE is usually the best percentage return on your deposit once you reach their tiers of $20,000 and above.

The Runner-Up: Best for Small/No-Deposit Free Stock

Webull

Webull and similar apps like Moomoo are famous for lowering the barrier to entry, offering bonuses that are easy to claim and require very little starting capital. Webull's bonus often includes a mix of cash and free stock.

• Offer Type: Free Stocks or Cash Reward based on deposit tiers.
• Bonus Structure: Often offers free fractional shares of popular stocks (like Apple or Google) simply for opening an account and making a small deposit (often $100). Higher deposit tiers ($5,000+) qualify for larger cash rewards.
• Minimum Requirement for Bonus: Often as low as $100 or just a single trade.
• Best For: True beginners starting with a small initial deposit and those who enjoy the excitement of getting a potentially high-value "mystery" stock.
• Key Advantage: Webull's bonuses often come with extra perks like complimentary access to Level 2 data, which is valuable for researching active stock movements.

The Best for Transparent Stock Bonuses

Moomoo

Moomoo, a competitor to Webull, often runs aggressive promotions that are designed to quickly give the user a large number of free stock shares or a specific fractional share.

• Offer Type: Specific Fractional Stock Shares (e.g., NVIDIA) or Free Stock Draws.
• Bonus Structure: Currently, Moomoo frequently offers a tiered reward system, where a $100 deposit unlocks a small fractional share of a high-priced stock, and higher deposits ($2,000+) unlock a greater total value of fractional shares.
• Minimum Requirement for Bonus: Typically a net deposit of $100.
• Best For: Beginners who want a clear, known reward (e.g., a fractional share of a major company) rather than a mystery stock. They also frequently offer high APY on uninvested cash.

The Best for Automated and Micro-Investing

Acorns

Acorns, the pioneer of micro-investing, often runs simple, straightforward cash bonuses designed to get users started with their automated "Round-Up" feature.

• Offer Type: Flat Cash Bonus.
• Bonus Amount: Often a simple $10 or $20 cash reward.
• Minimum Requirement for Bonus: Opening an account and setting up a recurring investment (e.g., $5 a week).
• Best For: Users who need the lowest entry barrier and want an app that automatically invests spare change from everyday purchases.

Head-to-Head: Comparing Bonus Types

Final Verdict: Read the Fine Print!

While signup bonuses are great, never choose a brokerage only for the free money. The long-term costs of trading and the quality of the platform matter far more than the initial bonus.

However, if you've already decided on a platform, or are choosing between two similar apps, the signup bonus can be the deciding factor.

Your Action Plan for Claiming a Bonus:

1. Check the Promo Code: Make sure you enter the correct code when opening the account.
2. Verify the Hold Time: Know how long you must leave the money in the account (usually 3 to 6 months).
3. Confirm the "New Money" Rule: The bonus nearly always requires new money transferred from outside the brokerage firm.