When I was first asked to review this app, I was not looking to use a new investment app for my stock trading as I already use Charles Schwab's mobile app and thought it worked just fine. In fact, I agreed reluctantly, after all, what could a new investment app from a company I never heard of offer that I didn’t already have from a well-known investment company. I could not have been more wrong.

Webull has the usual information that any investment app would include: graphical data about a stock, information on ETFs and stocks, and links to articles about that stock. The app is also properly secure with standard two-factor authentication and a pattern lock to prevent other people with access to your phone from accessing your account. It also requires a passport or a driver's license, as well as one's SSN in order to open an account and to deposit funds. I was pleased to see how seriously the company takes safety and security.  However, what immediately impressed me was that stock prices are updated in real-time without needing to refresh the app page which is very useful for someone who is an active trader.  Despite this continuous updating of real time data, the app runs very smoothly.

Of course I need to mention Webull’s zero commission which encourages its users to actually invest in stocks. The app also has a Community area where users can comment about the stock you are looking at which, while common on investment sites,  I have not seen nearly as often on investment apps. Charles Schwab's, for instance, does not have this feature.

I was particularly impressed with the customization options for charts. In fact, when reviewing a stock’s price history, I appreciated the ability to view a stock's lifetime value; I have not seen this nifty feature on other sites and apps. But that was only one of numerous customization options for the charts. Virtually any option I could think of was a possibility. Webull really seems to have put in great effort to ensure that users had the ability to analyze data on individual stocks in any way the user wants. In addition to all of the above, the more basic features users have come to expect weren’t forgotten either. For example, Webull gives users the option to turn on alerts for when a stock reaches a specific price set by the user. Those new to investing may wonder why that’s so important, but this would obviously be critical for anyone who is looking to buy or sell a stock at a specific price but doesn't have the time to constantly track their stock all day long.

While I’ve come to like the app, it’s certainly not perfect and I do see room for improvement. One of the few negatives I have is that I am not a big fan of the user interface of the app. I realize this is subjective and what I dislike, others may love, but in my opinion, I found it to be very basic. Yet at the same time, there were moments where my screen felt very cluttered and overwhelming . While that’s fairly understandable being that it is an app with so much functionality, it still took away from my full enjoyment . Additionally, the tabs on the app are represented by just an icon rather than a label to tell you what it is. If you are new or an infrequent user like myself, it will take you a while to learn what these icons represent, in order to effectively and quickly navigate the app. While I realize space is at a premium on a phone, I would still recommend they add a label that tells the user what an icon means . Either underneath the icon like they do for many of the functions on the app or when the user holds their finger on the icon like some other apps have to explain a function. That would be very useful.

Webull also does not allow for trading forex or have any support for trading options, so if you are interested in either of those, you will have to look elsewhere. For me, I don't pay enough attention to foreign exchanges or have much interest in trading options, so a broker that focuses so successfully on trading stocks on the NYSE and cryptocurrencies is perfect.

I’ve left my favorite part about this app for last. Webull has a paper trading option which works like a free stock market game within its system. With this function, inexperienced investors can practice and learn more about investing with some hands-on experience without using their real money. It is also great for experienced investors because Webull hosts competitions and offers cash prizes for winners on the app. If I didn't love this app before, I'm really impressed now.

Webull may not be the only solution out there to tout all these tools, but many of those features are simply missing from the competing products that I’ve seen. Quite frankly, they shouldn’t be.  This online stock trading app takes everything an investment app should have and expands on it, but it also combines a little of a mobile gaming element to it that works seamlessly and makes perfect sense for what it is.

If you are interested in trying out Webull, it’s easy to get started.You can download the app from their website on either an Android or Apple mobile phone for full broker functionality. They also have apps for Windows, Macs, and web browsers with just trading functionality, but remember, once downloaded, you have to open an account using your actual personal information and a photo ID along with a way to fund the account in order to make trades. Then, you are all set to start trading which is fairly easy. Just search up the stock or cryptocurrency you want to buy or sell. Click the trade button on the bottom of the screen. Choose which kind of transaction you want to make, the quantity, the order type, the time-in-force, and whether you want to trade in extended hours. Then, finalize the trade with a click.

You can also get a bonus right now if you open an account and deposit S100 or more. Doing so gets you a free stock valued between $8-$1000.