💡 Quick Verdict
Acorns is the best app for beginners who want to start investing without thinking about it. The round-up feature turns everyday purchases into investments automatically. It's truly set-and-forget. The monthly fee ($3-5) can eat into small balances, so it's best once you have $500+ invested.
✅ Pros
- Automatic round-up investing
- Diversified portfolios
- Set it and forget it
- Found Money partner rewards
- Retirement accounts (IRAs)
- Educational content
❌ Cons
- Monthly fee ($3-5)
- Fee hurts small balances
- Limited investment choices
- No individual stocks
- Can't customize portfolios much
- Slow customer support
What is Acorns?
Acorns is a micro-investing app that automatically invests your spare change. When you buy a $3.50 coffee, Acorns rounds up to $4 and invests the $0.50. Founded in 2012, it now has over 10 million users and offers checking accounts, retirement accounts, and family plans.
Learn more about app safety in our Safe Finance Guide.
Round-Ups
Invest spare change
Smart Portfolios
Diversified ETFs
Acorns Checking
Debit card included
Acorns Early
Invest for kids
Who Should Use Acorns?
Acorns is ideal for:
- Complete investing beginners
- People who want automatic investing
- Those who struggle to save manually
- Parents wanting to invest for kids
Acorns might NOT be for you if:
- Those who want to pick individual stocks
- People with very small balances (<$500)
- Active traders
- Those who want free investing
Not sure if Acorns is right for you? Take our quiz for a personalized recommendation.
Acorns vs Competitors
Acorns vs Robinhood
Robinhood: Robinhood is free and offers individual stocks. Acorns is better for completely hands-off beginners.
Acorns vs Stash
Similar pricing and features. Stash offers individual stocks; Acorns is more automated.
Acorns vs SoFi
SoFi: SoFi Invest is free and offers more options. Acorns is simpler with better automation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Acorns cost?
Acorns Lite: $3/month (investing only). Acorns Personal: $5/month (adds checking & retirement). Acorns Premium: $9/month (adds family investing).
Is Acorns worth it for small amounts?
The $3-5 monthly fee can significantly impact small balances. It's most worthwhile once you have $500+ invested.
How do Acorns round-ups work?
Link a debit/credit card. Purchases are rounded to the next dollar, and round-ups are invested when they reach $5.
What does Acorns invest in?
Diversified portfolios of ETFs covering stocks and bonds. You choose risk level (Conservative to Aggressive); Acorns handles the rest.
Can I withdraw from Acorns anytime?
Yes, you can withdraw anytime. It takes 3-5 business days to reach your bank account.
Ready to Try Acorns?
See if Acorns is the right fit for your financial journey