Zoya App Review 2026: The Best Halal Stock Screener? (Honest Analysis)
Quick verdict: Zoya is the most popular halal stock screening app among US Muslims (100,000+ users, 4.8/5 rating) — and for good reason. Its AAOIFI-based screening, ETF breakdowns, and compliance alerts solve the exact problem Muslim investors face: knowing whether a stock is halal without a finance degree. The free tier is genuinely useful; premium is worth it only if you screen often.
What Is Zoya?
Zoya is a mobile app (iOS + Android) built specifically to answer one question: is this stock halal? Type any ticker — AAPL, TSLA, MSFT — and it returns a Shariah compliance verdict with the reasoning behind it.
It was created to take the guesswork out of halal investing. Instead of manually calculating debt ratios from annual reports (which is what scholars expect you to do), the app does the screening for you using established methodologies.
How Zoya’s Screening Works
Zoya uses the AAOIFI methodology by default — the same standard we explained in our guide to halal stock investing:
- Business screen: Is the company’s core activity halal? (No alcohol, gambling, conventional banking, etc.)
- Debt ratio: Interest-bearing debt ÷ market cap — must be under 30%
- Liquidity ratio: Cash + interest securities ÷ market cap — under 30%
- Impure income: Non-permissible income ÷ revenue — under 5%
Premium subscribers can also view results under other index methodologies. Each stock gets an in-depth compliance report showing why it passed or failed — which is educational, not just a green/red light.
Key Features (What You Actually Get)
- Stock screening: Thousands of US stocks and ETFs, free basic ratings
- ETF/mutual fund X-ray: See the Shariah status of every holding inside an ETF — critical, because a “halal-looking” fund can hide non-compliant stocks
- Compliance alerts: Email notifications when a stock you follow changes status (companies drift in and out of compliance as their finances change)
- Portfolio tracking: Connect your brokerage to monitor your holdings’ compliance automatically
- In-app trading: Trade through your existing broker without leaving Zoya; fractional shares from $1
- Zakat tools: Import holdings to automate zakat calculation, and donate directly through the app
Pricing: Free vs Premium
| Free | Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Basic compliance ratings | ✅ (limited searches) | ✅ unlimited |
| In-depth reports | Limited | ✅ |
| ETF holding breakdowns | Limited | ✅ |
| Compliance alerts | ❌ | ✅ |
| Purification calculator | ❌ | ✅ |
| Indicative price | Free | ~$10–15/month (varies; annual plans cheaper) |
My take: Start free. If you hold more than a handful of stocks or want the alerts and purification tools, premium pays for itself in saved research time. (Zoya has a referral program — check for a current offer before subscribing.)
Zoya vs Musaffa: Which Screener Wins?
| Zoya | Musaffa | |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | AAOIFI (default) | AAOIFI |
| Coverage | US stocks + ETFs | Global markets |
| Platforms | iOS + Android | Web + mobile |
| Languages | English only | Multiple |
| Best for | US investors | International investors |
For a US-based Muslim investor, Zoya’s depth on American stocks and ETFs wins. If you invest in international markets, Musaffa’s global coverage matters more. Many serious investors use both — when they disagree, the cautious approach is to follow the stricter verdict.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
– Easiest halal screener to use — no finance background needed
– ETF X-ray feature is genuinely unique and valuable
– Compliance-change alerts (stocks drift; this catches it)
– 100,000+ users and 4.8/5 rating = battle-tested
– Built-in zakat calculation and donation
Cons:
– Free tier limits searches (you’ll hit the wall fast)
– English only
– Screening is only as good as the data — always spot-check big decisions
– Premium cost adds up if you only hold 2–3 stocks
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Use Zoya
Use it if: you pick individual stocks, hold US equities, or want to verify what’s inside your ETFs.
Skip it if: you only hold a halal ETF like SPUS/HLAL (already screened — save your money) or you invest exclusively outside the US (try Musaffa instead).
The Scholar’s Note
An app doesn’t replace scholarship — it implements scholarship. Zoya applies AAOIFI criteria mechanically and well, but methodologies differ (market-cap vs. total-assets denominators change results), and no app captures every scholarly nuance. Use it as a research tool, understand the criteria from our halal investing guide, and consult a scholar for genuinely ambiguous cases.
FAQs
Is Zoya free?
Partially — basic screening is free with limited searches. Full features (unlimited screening, alerts, purification calculator) require premium (~$10–15/month).
Is Zoya accurate?
It applies AAOIFI methodology to public financial data, which is the scholarly standard. Results can differ from other screeners using different methodologies — that’s normal scholarly variation, not error.
Does Zoya work for ETFs?
Yes — and this is its killer feature. It breaks down every holding inside an ETF by compliance status.
Who founded Zoya?
Zoya was founded by Saad Malik and has grown to 100,000+ investors, with partnerships including MENA brokerage amana for real-time Shariah screening.
Can Zoya calculate my zakat?
Yes — premium includes zakat calculation on your imported holdings, plus in-app donation to zakat-eligible charities.
Final Verdict
For US Muslims who buy individual stocks, Zoya is the best halal screener available — the combination of AAOIFI methodology, ETF X-rays, and compliance alerts has no equal right now. Start with the free tier; upgrade if you outgrow it.
Disclaimer: Educational purposes only — not a fatwa or financial advice. App features and pricing change; verify current details before subscribing. This article may contain referral links.
About the author: Zakariya Shafi — Dars-e-Nizami (Wifaq-ul-Madaris), M.Phil (BZU Multan), 15 years teaching Islamic studies, 10 years in dawah. Writes on Islamic finance and fiqh for Western Muslims.
