Best Acorns App Alternatives

Starting your journey to financial freedom doesn’t need to be scary. Even small steps in savings and investments can lead to big changes in the future. Apps such as Acorns help promote small positive shifts in your financial outlook. The idea behind micro-saving and micro-investing is that small amounts can lead to larger changes down the road. For the best success, you need to know about the best Acorns app alternatives.

If you are just beginning your investing journey, consider Acorns as well as Acorns alternatives to better understand the opportunities available to you. These alternatives can help with micro-savings and micro-investing to achieve a brighter and more financially secure future. 

Quick Look at the Best Acorns App Alternatives:

• Best for Investing in IPOs: SoFi
• Best for Trading Ideas: Public.com
• Best for Robo Investing: M1 Finance
• Best for Intermediate Investors: Webull
• Best for Beginners: Robinhood
• Best for Long-Term Investors: Roundly X

The Best Acorns App Alternatives

Micro investing and micro saving can help build a foundation for your financial future. Apps that focus on smaller investments and smaller savings can be ideal for the starting investor. Research options and see if alternatives to Acorns are right for you. Acorns is a great app to consider and is relatively well-known as it’s commonly seen as a top contender for investing. However, it’s a good idea to explore available options and alternatives before investing. In addition, there is no guarantee of how an investment will perform. 

Before investing in an app that specializes in growing and saving spare change, consider other essential areas of saving that are priorities. For example, you want to be sure you’ve built an emergency fund. 

SoFi

SoFi Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI) offers a smartphone app that’s ideal for beginners because of lower fees. The app provides a wide range of activities such as membership benefits, personalized career advice and financial planning.  

The app provides a variety of membership benefits such as membership special rates on loans as well as access to an online community. In addition, members receive faster entry at the SoFi Stadium as well as access to the SoFi Members Lounge. Members also have access to informative online events.

SoFi Invest allows users to trade crypto, stocks and ETFs. In addition, the app offers both automated and active investing options. It claims that you can buy or sell stocks without the hassle of commission. A large draw for micro investing also comes from the ability for interested investors to purchase stock fractions, which are pieces of a share of stock that cost less to obtain than a full share of stock. SoFi Invest also works to keep members informed by providing news updates. A new exciting option is that you can also now invest in certain IPOs. However, SoFi Invest lacks a wide range of investment options. 

Public.com

Public encourages learning and offers helpful tools and content to better inform the curious and beginning investor. It’s offered for free and allows you to purchase fractional shares. The app allows a range of investments such as stocks, fractional shares of stocks and cryptocurrency.

However, the app does not offer a way to manage the account online, and the investment options could be larger. 

M1 Finance

M1 Finance offers an alternative approach to micro-investing and micro saving by using robo advisors. A robo-advisory is a type of financial advisor that uses a minimum amount of human intervention. M1 Finance offers commission-free options and includes a feature that helps investors better understand the market by showing sectors split into visual pies. In addition, the application allows you to invest automatically and even offers high-yield checking. However, the application is not ideal for active traders and investors.

Webull

Webull is relatively new to the finance world, having begun less than a decade ago. It offers a wide range of investment options that range from stocks, ETFs and crypto. Webull provides additional benefits such as extended hours of trading and multiple account types. Webull is available for desktop and smartphones. Opening an account is relatively fast and allows you the opportunity to start trading more quickly. In addition, Webull does not require a minimum deposit, which makes it an attractive option for the beginning investor. 

One drawback is that there is no live chat option. 

Robinhood

Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOD) remains competitive as it offers commission-free trading and does not require an account minimum. To encourage new users, Robinhood offers new users a free stock. The app allows investors to purchase fractional shares and provides an intuitive design. In addition, Robinhood does allow certain IPO investing. 

One drawback if you trade cryptocurrencies is that you aren’t able to transfer crypto out of your Robinhood account into a wallet. In addition, Robinhood does not offer other account options such as retirement accounts.

RoundlyX

Roundly focuses on cryptocurrency investing and allows for expedited purchases. It offers roundups and works best for investors who are more interested in focusing on the long run. Round-ups are generally when you round up spare change and that rounded up spare change can eventually add up to cryptocurrency or stock purchases. You can view your investments on a simple dashboard to gain a more intuitive understanding of your finances. Depending on preference, investments can be made automatically or manually. 

Unlike other apps, RoundlyX charges a monthly $1 fee. 

The Benefits of Micro Saving and Micro Investing

Micro-saving and micro-investing offer helpful benefits to the new investor. It’s a good way to start creating financial accountability habits. Options such as rounding and automatic investing can help in the long run when combined with additional financial savings and accounts. When investing, remember the saying that you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket. 

Simplicity: Micro investing and micro saving are attractive because they are often simple to achieve and execute. You can begin to see the larger picture as you hit small goals along the way. 

Affordable investments: Micro investing can help young investors gain much-needed experience and confidence before stepping into larger investing activities. Micro investing is an excellent idea because it allows you the opportunity to use small amounts of money and turn it into a more substantial investment that has the potential to grow over time.

Automated account management: Automated account management can prove beneficial for the busy young professional or university student who wants to begin saving and investing but doesn’t have the time. Before opening an automatic investing account, understand how these accounts work while measuring your level of risk tolerance. In investing, there is no guarantee of how a particular investment will perform. 

Perfect for kids and young professionals: These apps can help a younger person gain confidence in investing and saving. Saving accounts can be an excellent stepping stone for a young and curious future investor. However, especially for the beginner, it is advised to work with a financial professional while learning about finances to help prevent losses. 

Drawbacks of Financial Apps

Although financial apps offer a heightened sense of freedom, it can be difficult to juggle all the new terms and concepts while learning about saving and investing. If you are uncertain, consult with a financial professional before opening and using an app. 

You may need more information than the app can provide because apps are designed to be quick and easy, but that’s not always what an investor needs. Apps might make investing feel simple or less substantial given their easy design and structure. Investing is a serious endeavor with impactful consequences and should be handled in a thoughtful manner. Take the time to learn and research before each investment. 

Sometimes, apps might not offer the amount of information on certain investments that you would like, so alternative sites and sources of information can prove beneficial. New investors have access to lots of information, so learn as much as possible from credible platforms and tools.

Automation might lull you into a false sense of security because those types of trades and accounts might seem easy, but they still require attention. Although automation can offer some peace of mind, it should not replace your own diligence. Make it a point to frequently check your automated settings and understand the possible risks involved with automation. 

Frequently Asked Questions