*This post may contain affiliate links, please see my disclosure
- M1 Finance: Snag a big cash reward of up to $250 in your new M1 Invest account.
- Acorns: Create an account, make your first investment, and snag a $10 bonus investment.
- Robinhood: Open a taxable account, link your bank account, and get a free share worth up to $225.
- Public: Land a stock slice–otherwise known as a fractional share–worth anywhere from $3 to $300 with a new account.
- Webull: Open a new account to get two free stocks worth up to $300; make any deposit and get three free stocks up to $3000.
- SoFi Invest: Download the app and get up to $1000 with a new account!
- E*Trade: Get a cash bonus up to $3,500 with a new taxable or retirement account and qualifying deposit.
7 Best Free Stock Promotions (2022)
Have you ever wished for a little headstart when it came to investing? While we can’t promise that we know the secret to inheriting a windfall from your long lost Great Aunt Ida thrice removed, we do know a thing or two about free stocks.
We know what you’re thinking: Where can I get stocks for free? There are actually a handful of some of our favorite investing platforms that run regular promotions giving away either free stocks or free cash.
Investing App | Minimum | Fees | Promotion | RMM Rating |
M1 Finance: on M1 Finance website | $100 | No fees on basic accounts $125 per year for M1 Plus | $30 - $500 bonus | |
Acorns: on Acorns website | $0 | $3 - $5 per month | $5 sign-up bonus | |
Ally Invest: on Ally website | $100 | $0 per trade | Up to $3,000 bonus | |
TD Ameritrade: on TD Ameritrade website | $0 | $0 per trade | Up to $1,000 bonus | |
Robinhood: on Robinhood website | $0 | $0 per trade
| Free stock (up to $225 value) | |
Fidelity: | $0 | $0 trades | Up to $100 bonus | on Fidelity website |
Check out the 7 Best Free Stock Promotions (2022) below:
M1 Finance: Up to $250 Invest Bonus
M1 Finance is an excellent investing platform for users who are looking to build their portfolios with stocks and ETFs. Offering both taxable and retirement accounts, you can build a multi-tiered wealth strategy with M1 Finance. Plus, you can take advantage of low costs and no fees!
The M1 sign up bonus is definitely one to keep your eye on! Not only does M1 Finance typically offer a very generous bonus, the promotions change throughout the year.
The current M1 Invest bonus gives users up to $250 cash in the new M1 Invest accounts.
How To Get The M1 Finance Bonus
Looking to land that $250 M1 Invest bonus? Here’s what you need to do:
- Open a new account with M1 Finance.
- Deposit at least $5,000 within the first 14 days.
- Get a bonus payout based on the amount you deposit.
There are a few other things to note about how the M1 Finance Invest bonus works. Since the bonuses tend to run quarterly, you will likely have to wait until the following quarter to see your bonus.
Additionally, the bonus amount is tiered based on the initial funding amount. If you fund your account with $5,000, you will score $25. Fund it with $50,000 plus, and you get $2,500. Of course, there are other tiers in between.
Acorns: $10 Bonus Investment
Acorns is a micro-investing app that’s perfect for beginners. We love it for its Round Up feature. This allows anyone to link their favorite card to their Acorns account. Whenever you swipe your card to shop, Acorns rounds up to the next dollar amount, allowing you to invest your spare change.
There are other features, too, that are similar to other investing platforms. You can even set up retirement accounts (like a Roth IRA!) or a custodial account through Acorns.
Anyone who gets started with Acorns can snag a $10 bonus investment. That’s one way to round up even faster!
How To Get The Acorns Bonus
To qualify for the Acorns bonus, follow these steps:
- Set up your personal Acorns account. It takes less than 5 minutes!
- Make your first investment using your account.
- Land a $10 bonus investment.
You’ll want to check out the details on their site and be aware of the $5 minimum investment requirement. As far as free stock promotions go, this is an easy one to snag!
Robinhood: 1 Free Stock Share
Robinhood is an investing platform determined to simplify investing. They prioritize the mobile experience, which means you can invest anywhere your phone goes. Take advantage of commission free trades while building your portfolio with stocks, ETFs, stock options, and even cryptocurrency.
Investors who are interested in margin accounts can gain access with a Robinhood Gold account.
Does Robinhood sound like the app for you? Robinhood gives new investors one free share of a stock after they open an account. Keep the stock or trade it down the road!
How To Get The Robinhood Bonus
Want to grab the Robinhood stock bonus? Follow these steps:
- Open a new Robinhood account (you need to be a new customer too!).
- Link your bank account.
- Get a free share valued between $3-$225.
Public: Free Stock Slice Worth Up to $300
In the world of investing platforms, Public is a veritable baby…but we like what we see! Public users agree. One feature that people absolutely rave about is the ability to share your portfolio with others. It’s like social media for money nerds!
Of course, Public isn’t just about the social side of money. You can invest in stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrency with Public. One thing that sets them apart from many other investing apps is the ability to do fractional investing with cryptocurrency, as well as other investment types.
Get started with Public as a new user, and you get rewarded with a stock slice valued between $3 and $300.
How To Get The Public Bonus
To get your free stock slice from Public, follow these steps:
- Sign up for a new Public account.
- Open a new brokerage account.
- Deposit funds into your account.
As long as you’re a new user and you follow those steps, you should qualify for their stock slice bonus. The value of the stock slice will vary.
Webull: Five Free Stocks Bonus
Webull is a well-rounded investing app that meets the needs of many investors, both new and seasoned. Users enjoy zero commissions on stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency. There are also no account minimums, which is perfect for the investor who is just getting started.
If you’re a veteran investor, you might be excited to know that margin investing is also available on Webull.
Want to get started with Webull? You can actually land a free stock bonus two different ways: when you open a new account and again when you make a deposit.
How To Get The Webull Bonus
Here’s how to qualify for your Webull bonus:
- Open a new account with Webull.
- Qualify and claim your two free stocks valued up to $300 each.
- Make a deposit to your account.
- Qualify and claim your three free stocks valued up to $3,000 each.
It is important to note that with Webull, you actually have to claim your free stocks to receive them. You have up to 30 days to do this. Then, you will receive your free stock bonus within 10 trading days.
SoFi Invest: Invest Claw Game Promotion
SoFi Invest loves zero: zero management fees, zero commissions, zero inactivity fees, zero withdrawal fees! There are both automatic and active investing options which means SoFi Invest should work for virtually all investors looking to build their portfolios with stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrency.
As an added bonus, many people already bank with SoFi banking or checking accounts. Other people have loans with them. Opening a SoFi Invest account is a great way to house all of your finances under one umbrella.
Right now, SoFi’s going big with their bonus. New users can potentially land up to $1,000 as part of the SoFi Invest bonus!
How To Get The SoFi Invest Bonus
To qualify for the SoFi Invest bonus, follow these steps:
- Download the SoFi app.
- Open a new taxable account.
- Play the Invest Claw Game promotion by grabbing a game piece.
- Choose the Stock Bit you want your game piece to be converted into.
- Wait for your Stock Bit to land in your account.
E*Trade: Up To $3,500 Bonus
E*Trade is one of the originals when it comes to online investing. And it’s stood the test of time, thanks in part to its dedication to commission fee trades. Investors can grow their portfolios with stocks, options, and ETFs. Plus, since E*Trade was recently acquired by Morgan Stanley, users can now access a full suite of banking options.
How To Get The E*Trade Bonus
Here’s how to land your E*Trade bonus:
- Open a new taxable or retirement account.
- Enter the current promo code (BONUS22).
- Fund your account within 60 days.
The amount of your bonus is based on the amount of money you fund your account with. Deposit $5,000 to receive a $50 cash credit. Jump up a few tiers to $50,000 to receive a $200 cash credit. The promo maxes out with a cash credit of $3,500 for users who fund their account with $1.5 million or more.
Free Stock Bonus FAQ
We’ve answered the question “Which apps give free stocks?” but that doesn’t mean we’ve answered all of your questions.
Whether you’re wondering about tax implications, whether or not these free stocks are actually the real deal, or anything in between, we’ve rounded up answers in our free stock bonus FAQ below.
Do I Pay Taxes On Free Stocks?
Yes. You definitely do pay taxes on free stock bonuses (just like you’ll pay taxes on other bank account bonuses).
When you receive a stock, it counts as ordinary income. The amount is based on the market value of the stock the day you receive it.
If and when you sell the stock for a profit, you will also have to pay either short-term or long-term capital gains taxes based on how long you’ve held the stock for.
What Free Stocks Can I Get?
The stock bonuses depend on the particular investing app and the specific promotion they are running. Most of the free stocks that are awarded in these bonuses are chosen at random from settled shares. That means that the value you receive–and even the stock itself–will likely differ from other customers.
For instance, Robinhood says that their stock bonuses come from the most popular companies on Robinhood but the value varies based on market fluctuations.
Are Free Stocks Really Free?
They definitely are free! Free stock and free cash bonuses can seem too good to be true. They’re definitely real and you can snag them as long as you’re willing to follow the fine print. The biggest reason people don’t end up landing these bonuses is because they’ve either had accounts in the past or they don’t make a qualifying deposit in time. So read the details carefully before you get started!
Another thing you will note about many of these bonuses is that the amounts actually vary. Some bonuses depend on the amount of money you deposit or transfer. Other bonus amounts are completely randomized, with a much greater probability of scoring a cheaper stock than a pricier one. Still, free is free and if you’re going to open an account, you might as well get rewarded for it!
Can I Sell My Free Robinhood Stock?
Yes! You can sell your free Robinhood stock. Once the stock shows up in your account, you can decide to keep it or sell it after two trading days.
Can I Get Free Stocks with No Deposit?
No. Generally, these free stock (or free cash!) promotions require you to make a qualifying deposit. It’s important to read the fine print and to also check the platform’s website from time to time as the promotions do change.