Stash charges $3/month and combines a fractional share brokerage, IRA account, and banking with Stock-Back rewards in a single app. Unlike Acorns (which uses round-ups and a hands-off portfolio), Stash lets you choose your own ETFs and individual stocks from a curated selection. It is aimed at beginner investors who want to build knowledge while building a portfolio. The $3/month fee is the same as Acorns and M1 Premium, making the comparison between these apps a question of features rather than price.
Stash at a Glance (2026)
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee | $3/month (one plan) |
| Account minimum | $0 to open; $0.01 to invest |
| Investment options | ETFs, individual stocks (300+ choices), fractional shares |
| Portfolio automation | Auto-Stash recurring deposits; no full automation |
| Tax-loss harvesting | No |
| Round-up investing | No (Acorns has this; Stash does not) |
| Accounts offered | Taxable, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA |
| Banking | Stash banking account (debit card with Stock-Back rewards) |
| Stock-Back rewards | Fractional shares on every Stash card purchase |
| Kids accounts | Custodial accounts through Stash Kids (requires $3/mo) |
Stash Fees: $3/Month Explained
Like Acorns, Stash charges a flat $3/month = $36/year for all features. There is no tiered pricing:
| Portfolio Size | Annual Fee | As % of Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $36 | 7.2% |
| $1,000 | $36 | 3.6% |
| $5,000 | $36 | 0.72% |
| $14,400 | $36 | 0.25% (break-even vs Betterment) |
| $25,000 | $36 | 0.14% |
| $50,000 | $36 | 0.07% |
Above $14,400, Stash costs less in absolute dollars than Betterment (0.25%). But Betterment offers tax-loss harvesting, goal planning, and a more polished platform at that balance level.
Plus underlying ETF expense ratios — Stash’s fund selection includes ETFs with expense ratios of 0.03–0.50%, depending on your choices. The ETFs you pick matter; some “theme” ETFs carry higher costs.
Investment Options: What You Can Buy on Stash
Stash offers a curated selection of 300+ investment options including:
ETFs by theme:
- “Clean & Green” (clean energy ETF)
- “American Innovators” (technology ETF)
- “Do the Right Thing” (ESG ETF)
- “Roll With Buffett” (Berkshire Hathaway focus)
- Standard index ETFs (S&P 500, total market, international)
Individual stocks:
- Large-cap US stocks (Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, etc.)
- Fractional shares available — invest any dollar amount
IRA selections: Same universe of ETFs and stocks available inside Roth and Traditional IRAs.
The themed ETF branding is Stash’s way of making investing approachable for beginners who might not know what a “total stock market ETF” is, but understands “Clean Energy.”
Stock-Back Rewards: Stash’s Key Differentiator
Stock-Back is Stash’s debit card rewards program:
- Every purchase with the Stash debit card earns fractional shares
- Brand-specific rewards: spending at Nike earns Nike stock; spending at a grocery store earns a grocery index ETF
- Rate: typically 0.125% of your purchase (lower than top cashback cards)
- No annual fee beyond the $3/month Stash subscription
Example: You spend $500/month on the Stash card. At 0.125%, you earn $0.625 in stock per month = $7.50/year in fractional shares.
This is a meaningful engagement tool — watching your fractional shares accumulate creates investment habit — but the financial value is modest compared to a 2% cashback credit card.
No Round-Ups: Key Difference From Acorns
Unlike Acorns, Stash does not offer round-up investing. If you want spare change automatically invested after every purchase, Acorns is the better choice. Stash’s equivalent is its Auto-Stash feature: automatic recurring deposits on a schedule you set (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly). This is less automatic than Acorns’ round-ups but more predictable.
Stash IRA Accounts
Stash includes Roth and Traditional IRA accounts in the $3/month plan:
| Account | 2026 Limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA | $7,000 ($8,000 age 50+) | Included in $3/month |
| Traditional IRA | $7,000 ($8,000 age 50+) | Included in $3/month |
Unlike Acorns (which auto-selects a portfolio for your IRA), Stash lets you choose your own funds inside your IRA — the same curated ETF and stock selection available in taxable accounts.
Stash vs Acorns vs Betterment
| Stash | Acorns | Betterment | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fee | $3/month | $3/month | 0.25%/yr |
| Portfolio control | Yes (curated) | No | No (risk score) |
| Round-ups | No | Yes | No |
| Stock-Back rewards | Yes | Found Money | No |
| Tax-loss harvesting | No | No | Yes |
| Custodial accounts | Yes | Yes | No |
| Break-even vs Betterment | $14,400 | $14,400 | N/A |
Who Stash Is Best For
Strong match:
- Beginners who want to learn about individual stocks and ETFs while investing small amounts
- Those who prefer choosing their own investments vs. a fully automated portfolio
- Users who want Stock-Back debit rewards on everyday spending
- Investors who want Roth or Traditional IRA with stock-picking ability at $3/month
- Parents who want custodial accounts for children
Consider alternatives if:
- You want round-up investing → Acorns
- Your balance is above $14,400 and you want tax-loss harvesting → Betterment or Wealthfront
- You want $0 fee → Fidelity Go (IRA under $25K) or M1 Finance Basic
- You want a fully automated hands-off portfolio → Betterment
Related Guides
- Acorns vs Stash 2026
- Acorns Review 2026
- Betterment Review 2026
- Best Robo-Advisors 2026
- Best Robo-Advisors & Financial Advisors 2026
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