Practical Guide: Where to Invest with a Limited Budget in 2025

Do you want to start investing but don’t have large amounts of money available? Modern trading apps have democratized access to financial markets, allowing anyone to open an account with very low minimum deposits. In this guide, we review five platforms that combine accessible deposits with professional tools.

What to look for in a trading app for beginners?

Before analyzing specific options, it is essential to understand what features make a platform suitable for investors with limited capital.

Competitive minimum deposit: The initial entry requirement should be accessible. Ideally between $5 and $100, not thousands.

Risk management tools: Stop-loss and take profit are non-negotiable. Without these functions, your investment is exposed to uncontrolled losses.

Variety of assets: Whether you want to trade cryptocurrencies, stocks, or currencies. A versatile platform allows you to diversify from the start.

Execution speed: In trading, milliseconds matter. A slow app can cost you real money.

Verifiable regulation: Any platform where you deposit money must be regulated by a recognized authority (FCA, CySEC, ASIC, etc.).

The five most accessible trading apps right now

MiTrade: The choice for agile traders

MiTrade was founded in Australia in 2006 and has grown to reach 2.4 million global users. Its strength lies in execution speed and deposit versatility.

What sets it apart:

• Initial minimum deposit: just $20 USD
• Allows USDT as a deposit method (ideal for cryptocurrency users)
• Free demo account with $50,000 virtual
• Triple regulation: ASIC, CIMA, and FSC
• Tight spreads and zero commissions
• Negative balance protection

Limitations:

• The demo account is valid for 90 days
• The maximum leverage of 1:200 is moderate compared to other brokers

Best for: Traders seeking a low barrier to entry and wanting to experiment risk-free before investing real capital.

AvaTrade: Smart automation for investors

AvaTrade (founded in 2006 in Ireland) has focused its model on technological innovation. Its copy trading and automation tools distinguish it from others.

Key advantages:

• Proprietary platform optimized for mobile: AvaTrade GO
• Compatible with MetaTrader 4 and 5
• Access to ZuluTrade and DupliTrade for automated investing
• Regulation FCA, CySEC, and ASIC
• Maximum leverage 1:30

Disadvantages:

• Minimum deposit of $100 USD (higher than competitors)
• Inactivity fees after 3 months without trading
• Annual management fee on prolonged inactive accounts

Best for: Investors who prefer to automate decisions and want to let their money work without constant supervision.

Plus500: The platform of millions of users

With 25 million clients worldwide, Plus500 positions itself as one of the most popular investment apps in the sector. Its success comes from a simple yet powerful interface.

Main features:

• Designed interface for beginners without sacrificing functionality
• Real-time price change alerts
• Unlimited free access to demo account
• Regulation FCA, CySEC, and ASIC
• Minimum deposit: $100 USD

Weak points:

• Monthly inactivity fee of $10 USD
• Wider spreads than specialized brokers
• Variable withdrawal times depending on users
• Requires more rigorous identity verification

Best for: First-time investors valuing ease of use and the stability of a well-established brand.

XM: Maximum leverage freedom

XM has been operating since 2009 and has a presence in 196 countries with 2.5 million clients. It stands out for its economic content and market analysis offerings.

Highlights:

• Extremely low minimum deposit: $5 USD
• Maximum leverage of 1:1000 (the highest in the market)
• Four different account types available
• Spreads from 0.01 pip
• Regulation in five jurisdictions: FCA, IFSC, DFSA, CySEC, ASIC
• Constant generation of analysis and economic news

Cons:

• Inactivity fee of $15 USD
• Higher spreads compared to other brokers in some conditions
• Restrictions on open positions with coupons

Best for: Experienced traders with very limited capital seeking maximum leverage and detailed market analysis.

eToro: Social investing made easy

eToro transformed the concept of retail investing by introducing social copy trading. With over 30 million users, it truly democratized market access.

Main advantages:

• Allows investing in both CFDs and spot assets (real stocks, cryptocurrencies)
• Integrated copy trading (replicate successful investors’ trades)
• Minimum deposit of $50 USD
• Extremely intuitive interface
• Regulation FCA, CySEC, and ASIC

Disadvantages:

• $5 USD withdrawal fee
• Wider spreads compared to competitors
• Complex KYC verification process
• Limited for advanced traders needing sophisticated tools

Best for: Absolute beginners and users who want to learn by copying experienced traders.

Quick comparison: Which to choose based on your profile?

If you have $5-20 USD and want to try: XM offers the lowest minimum deposit in the market. Perfect for experimenting with minimal risk.

If you’re a beginner with no experience: eToro or Plus500 offer intuitive platforms with free demo accounts to learn without real money.

If you want to automate investments: AvaTrade with its copy trading tools allows your money to work while you sleep.

If you value execution speed: MiTrade stands out for competitive spreads and zero commissions, ideal for active traders.

If you need maximum leverage: XM allows up to 1:1000, though this requires experience to avoid rapid capital loss.

Critical factors in choosing trading apps

Regulatory security: It’s not enough for a platform to have nice interfaces. Verify that it is regulated by recognized bodies like FCA (United Kingdom), CySEC (Cyprus), or ASIC (Australia). An unregulated platform exposes your money to total fraud risk.

Operational speed: In trading, quick execution is money. Avoid platforms with cumbersome processes to open or close positions. The best apps execute orders in milliseconds.

Asset catalog: While it may seem that “more is better,” quality matters. Prefer platforms offering main markets with good liquidity (major currencies, top cryptocurrencies, recognized indices) rather than hundreds of obscure assets.

Transparent cost structure: Compare spreads, commissions, inactivity fees, and withdrawal charges. Some brokers charge “zero commission” but have double spreads. Calculate the total real cost.

Risk tools: Stop-loss and take profit are mandatory. Without them, you’re playing roulette. Look for apps that also offer trailing stops and conditional orders.

Available support: A broker with 24/7 customer service is worth more than one with “low cost” and no support. When something goes wrong, you need urgent help.

Main regulatory authorities in trading

When evaluating any platform, verify that it has a license from at least one of these authorities:

• FCA (Financial Conduct Authority): United Kingdom, highest trust in Western Europe
• CySEC (Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission): Cyprus, European regulatory standard
• ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission): Australia, very strict regulation
• CNMV (Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores): Spain, for local operators
• FSC (Financial Services Commission): Virgin Islands, alternative to CySEC
• FINRA: United States, maximum regulation but less common in global platforms

Do not trust platforms that do not mention their regulator or claim to be “in the process of regulation.”

Conclusion: Your first step in trading

Investing with little money through trading apps is entirely feasible in 2025. The financial entry barrier is minimal, but the knowledge barrier remains high.

Practical recommendation: choose a platform, open a free demo account, and operate for months without real money. Experiment with different assets, understand how stops and take profits work, and learn to read charts.

Only when you feel confident in your strategy, deposit real capital. Start small, even with $20-50 USD. The important thing is not to make quick money but to learn the process correctly.

Trading apps are there to democratize access. The rest depends on your education and discipline.