If you are deciding between investing apps, Acorns and SoFi have probably both landed on your list, and for good reason. Both let you start with just a few dollars, build a diversified portfolio, and manage your money in one easy-to-use app. They are built around different ideas about how investing should work.
Acorns is an automated investing app designed to grow your money quietly in the background of everyday life. SoFi is a broader money platform that bundles do-it-yourself trading, a robo-advisor, banking, and loans under one login. The right choice mostly comes down to how hands-on you want to be, and what else you want your app to do. Here is a clear, balanced look at how the two stack up.
What's the difference between Acorns and SoFi?
Acorns and SoFi both let you start investing with a few dollars, but they solve different problems. Acorns uses a subscription-based model that’s built around hands-off investing and money habits for the whole family. SoFi is a robo-advisor that pairs do-it-yourself trading with full-service banking and lending, all in one app.
Acorns leans more into automation, with Round-Ups® that invest your spare change and expert-built portfolios that run in the background. SoFi leans into breadth, with active trading, checking and savings, a credit card, and personal, student, and home loans. Acorns is not a lender, but SoFi is. That single difference shapes almost everything else about the two apps.
Acorns vs. SoFi at a glance
Here is how the two platforms compare on the things most people care about when choosing.
| Feature | Acorns | SoFi |
| Cost | Flat subscription: $3, $6, or $12/month. No commissions or percentage charges. | $0 commissions on self-directed trades; 0.25%/year on automated portfolios. No subscription. |
| Minimum to start | $5 to start investing | $0 to open Active Investing (fractional shares from $5); $50 for Automated Investing |
| Investing style | Automated and hands-off (Round-Ups®, Recurring Investments) | Self-directed trading, plus an optional robo-advisor |
| Portfolios | Expert-built ETF portfolios (Vanguard, BlackRock/iShares); Custom Portfolios on Gold | SoFi-branded ETF portfolios, or pick individual stocks, ETFs, and options |
| Retirement (IRA) | Acorns Later, with a 1% match (Silver) or 3% match (Gold) during your first year | IRAs with a 1% contribution match |
| Investing for kids | Acorns Early Invest (UGMA/UTMA) on Gold, with a 1% match, plus the kids' app and debit card | Not offered |
| Banking | Acorns Checking; Emergency Savings with a high APY (Silver and Gold) | Checking, savings, loans, and a credit card |
| Advisor access | No financial advisor access | Free 30-minute CFP session (more with SoFi Plus) |
| Tax-loss harvesting | No | No |
| Crypto | Bitcoin-linked ETF only (up to 5% of your portfolio) | Direct crypto trading (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and more) |
| Protections | SIPC-protection up to $500,000; FDIC-insured up to $250,000 | SIPC-protection up to $500,000; FDIC-insured up to $250,000 |
| Outgoing transfer | $35 per ETF | $100 (ACATS) |
How the costs compare
Acorns charges a flat monthly subscription of $3, $6, or $12, while SoFi charges $0 commissions on self-directed trades plus a 0.25% annual fee on its automated portfolios. So SoFi can cost less at small balances, while Acorns' flat subscription gets cheaper, as a percentage of your money, if your balance grows.
Here is the balanced version of the math. Acorns Bronze costs $36 a year. A 0.25% advisory fee also works out to $36 a year once you have about $14,400 invested. Below that balance, a flat subscription is a bigger slice of a small account, so SoFi's percentage fee can be the cheaper option. Above it, the flat subscription charge keeps shrinking as a share of your money: at $50,000, Acorns Bronze works out to roughly 0.07% a year. The same crossover happens higher up for the other Acorns plans, near $28,800 on Silver and $57,600 on Gold.
One thing to keep in mind on both sides: each app also passes along the expense ratios of the ETFs inside your portfolio, which vary by fund, so the subscription or advisory charge is not the whole cost. If you want to see how a flat subscription compares with percentage-based robo-advisors more broadly, our Acorns vs. Betterment and Wealthfront breakdown digs into that math.
How each app approaches investing
Acorns is designed to invest for you automatically, while SoFi gives you the tools to invest yourself, with a robo-advisor available if you want it.
With Acorns, there’s automated tools that help do the heavy lifting. Round-Ups® round up your everyday purchases and invest the difference, Recurring Investments let you add a set amount on a schedule, and your money flows into a diversified portfolio of ETFs from providers like Vanguard and BlackRock (iShares) that is built and managed for you. On Gold, Custom Portfolios let you add individual stocks and ETFs on top of that managed portfolio, and you can put up to 5% into a Bitcoin-linked ETF if you want a little crypto exposure. On average, customers have invested about $45 a month on average with Round-Ups®.
SoFi takes the opposite starting point. SoFi Active Investing lets you pick individual stocks, ETFs, and options, buy fractional shares starting at $5, and trade crypto directly. If you’d rather not choose, SoFi Automated Investing builds and rebalances a portfolio for you for that 0.25% fee. In short, SoFi gives you more control if you want to be more hands-on, and Acorns is built so you can invest in the background.
Retirement and investing for the future
Both Acorns and SoFi offer IRAs and a contribution match. Acorns offers a 1% match on Silver and 3% match on Gold for new contributions made during your first year. SoFi includes a 1% IRA match.
Acorns also helps you invest for retirement with Acorns Later. After answering a few questions, Acorns recommends either a Traditional, Roth, or SEP account based on your situation. SoFi offers the same IRA types inside its broader platform, with its 1% match. Both can take advantage of potential tax benefits, and with either one, the real win is starting early and contributing consistently.
Investing for your kids
This is one area where the two apps diverge: Acorns lets you invest for the kids in your life, while SoFi doesn't currently offer a kids' investing option.
Acorns Gold includes Acorns Early Invest, a custodial (UGMA/UTMA) account that comes with a 1% match when you invest for your kids, plus Acorns Early, the smart money app and debit card made for kids. As of June 2026, SoFi doesn't currently offer a kids' investing product, so if giving the kids in your life a head start matters to you, this is a clear point in Acorns' favor, and it is part of why Acorns is built to work for the whole family.
Banking, loans, and the wider ecosystem
SoFi's biggest edge is breadth. It offers checking, savings, loans, and a credit card alongside investing, plus free access to a Certified Financial Planner. Acorns offers Acorns Checking, Emergency Savings with a high APY on Silver and Gold, and Money Manager (Acorns Gold), but Acorns is not a lender.
If you want your loans, credit card, and investment accounts to live under one login, SoFi's all-in-one approach is convenient, and the free CFP session is a nice addition that most apps don’t offer. Acorns takes a narrower but tightly connected path. Acorns Checking lets you automatically move money between your savings and investments, while Emergency Savings (Silver and Gold) earns a high APY. Money Manager automatically splits your money across investing, saving, and spending.
Safety and account protection
Both Acorns and SoFi protect your money the same way. Brokerage accounts are SIPC-protected up to $500,000, and bank accounts are FDIC-insured up to $250,000.
Both companies are registered with the SEC, offer brokerage accounts through FINRA-member broker-dealers, and use encryption and fraud protection to keep your account secure. You can read more about what SIPC protection does and does not cover before you choose.
Which app is the right fit for you?
Acorns is the stronger fit if you want investing to happen automatically, prefer a simple flat subscription, and want your kids' and retirement accounts in one place. SoFi is the stronger fit if you want to actively trade and manage your own investments, or if you want banking, loans, and investing under one login with access to a financial planner.
Consider Acorns if you:
- Want to tap into automated tools like Round-Ups® and Recurring Investments
- Plan to invest for the kids in your life
- Prefer a flat, predictable subscription over a percentage fee
- Want simple banking with a high APY Emergency Savings
Consider SoFi if you:
- Want to actively trade and manage your own investments
- Already bank or borrow with SoFi and want everything in one app
- Want access to a Certified Financial Planner
- Want to trade crypto directly
The bottom line
The choice comes down to how you want to invest. If you want a self-directed trading platform wrapped inside a full bank, SoFi is a strong pick. If you would rather invest in the background, with retirement and your kids' futures handled in the same place, Acorns could be a better fit.
Considering Acorns? Start investing with Acorns.
You can also compare Acorns vs. Robinhood if a commission-free trading app is also on your list, or explore Acorns Later to start investing for retirement.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Acorns and SoFi?
Acorns is an investing app that uses a subscription-based model. It’s built for hands-off investing and the whole family. SoFi is a robo-advisor that pairs do-it-yourself trading with full-service banking and lending, all in one app. Acorns wants to help you start investing and stay invested while SoFi wants to be your single app for everything money.
Is Acorns or SoFi better for beginners?
Both are beginner-friendly, just in different ways. Acorns is a natural fit if you want investing to happen automatically in the background. SoFi suits beginners who want to trade and manage their own investments.
Which is the better robo-advisor?
Both build and rebalance a diversified ETF portfolio for you, so it comes down to what you want around it. Acorns is fully automated and bundles Round-Ups® and banking in, so your saving, investing, and spending run together in one app. SoFi's robo-advisor costs 0.25% a year and includes access to a Certified Financial Planner. Neither offers tax-loss harvesting.
Can I invest for my kids or for retirement with Acorns or SoFi?
Both offer IRAs for retirement, but only Acorns lets you invest for your kids. Acorns Gold includes Acorns Early Invest, a custodial account with a 1% match, while SoFi doesn't currently offer a kids' investing product. For retirement, Acorns Later adds a 1% match on Silver and a 3% match on Gold during your first year, and SoFi adds a 1% IRA match.
This material has been presented for informational and educational purposes only. The views expressed in the articles above are generalized and may not be appropriate for all investors. The information contained in this article should not be construed as, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or hold, an interest in any security or investment product. There is no guarantee that past performance will recur or result in a positive outcome. Carefully consider your financial situation, including investment objective, time horizon, risk tolerance, and fees prior to making any investment decisions. No level of diversification or asset allocation can ensure profits or guarantee against losses. Article contributors are not affiliated with Acorns Advisers, LLC. and do not provide investment advice to Acorns’ customers. Acorns is not engaged in rendering tax, legal or accounting advice. Please consult a qualified professional for this type of service.
For informational purposes only. This is solely intended to provide notification of an available product or service. This is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or roll over any asset, adopt an investment strategy, or use a particular account type. This information does not consider the specific investment objectives, tax and financial conditions or particular needs of any specific person. Investors should discuss their specific situation with their financial professional.
Investment advisory products and services offered by Acorns Advisers, LLC (“Acorns”), an SEC Registered Investment Adviser. Brokerage products and services are provided by Acorns Securities, LLC, an SEC registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC.
Acorns Securities, LLC is a member of SIPC. Securities in the account are protected up to $500,000. For details, please see www.sipc.org. SIPC does not protect against market risk, which is the risk inherent in a fluctuating market.
Acorns Invest is an individual investment account which invests in a portfolio of ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) recommended to customers based on their responses to the Acorns investor profile questionnaire.
Acorns Later is an Individual retirement account consisting of a Traditional, ROTH or a SEP IRA selected for customers based on investor profile questionnaire answers.
Acorns Early Invest is an UTMA/UGMA investment account managed by an adult custodian until the minor beneficiary reaches the selected age of transfer, at which point the minor assumes control of the account assets. Money in a custodial account is the property of the minor.
Custom Portfolios are non-discretionary investment advisory accounts, managed by the customer. Custom Portfolios are available only to Acorns Gold customers with an open Acorns Invest Account and are not available as a stand alone account. Custom portfolios are not instant trading. Customers wanting more control over order placement and execution may need to consider alternative investment platforms before adding a Custom Portfolio account. This is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or hold, an interest in any security or investment product. Acorns Advisers does not provide investment advice with regard to orders directed in a Custom Portfolio.
Acorns is not a bank. Acorns Emergency Savings is a demand deposit account. Acorns Visa™ debit cards and banking services are issued and provided by Lincoln Savings Bank and nbkc bank, Members FDIC.
Acorns Early® is not a bank. Kids aged 6-18. Cards are issued by nbkc bank, Member FDIC, under license from Visa USA. Inc. or by Community Federal Savings Bank, member FDIC, pursuant to license by Mastercard International. Charges apply (min. $8/mo) until cancelled. Terms & Limits apply. Two subscriptions offered: Acorns Early Lite and Acorns Gold.
Spare change invested with Round-Ups® is transferred from your linked funding source (checking account) to your Acorns Invest account when activated. Round-Up investments from an external account will be processed when your Pending Round-Ups reach or exceed $5.
Acorns customers who use Round-Ups have invested an average of $45 per month as of 07/31/2025.
Comparison figures for SoFi are based on publicly available information from SoFi's published fee schedule, help center, and third-party reviews, currently at the time of publication. SoFi is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Acorns. Pricing, fees, account minimums, and features for both platforms are subject to change; verify current details with each provider before opening an account.
Acorns does not provide access to invest directly in Bitcoin. Bitcoin exposure is provided to Acorns customers through an ETF that invests in Bitcoin futures. They are considered high-risk investments given the speculative and volatile nature. Investments in Bitcoin ETFs may not be appropriate for all investors and should only be utilized by those who understand and accept those risks. Investors seeking direct exposure to the price of bitcoin should consider a different investment. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the fund carefully before investing. Investment policies, management fees and other information can be found in the individual ETF’s prospectus. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest.
The ETFs comprising the Acorns portfolios charge fees and expenses that will reduce a customer’s return. Investors should read each fund's prospectus and consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the funds carefully before investing. Investment policies, management fees and other information can be found in the individual ETF’s prospectus.
Effective March 26, 2025, customers who open an Acorns Gold or Acorns Silver subscription plan or upgrades to an Acorns Gold or Silver subscription plan can opt into the Acorns Later Match feature and receive either a 3% or 1% IRA match, respectively, on new contributions made to an Acorns Later account during the first year subscribed to these subscription plans. New customers in these subscription plans are automatically eligible for the Later Match feature at the applicable 3% and 1% match rate on all contributions made during the first subscription year. All Later funds for customers must be held in an Acorns Later account for at least four years to keep the earned IRA match and all or a portion of IRA Match may be subject to recapture by Acorns if customer downgrades to a Subscription Plan with a lower monthly fee. See full terms and conditions. Terms and conditions applicable to those who opened an Acorns Gold or Acorns Silver subscription plan before March 26, 2025 and opted into Later Match are unchanged.
Customers in the Acorns Gold Subscription Plan (through either the Acorns or Acorns Early App) are automatically eligible for a 1% "Early Invest Match" promotion on deposits by the Customer of up to $7,000 a year per Early Invest Account. All funds must be held in the applicable Acorns Early Invest Account for at least four years of the Early Invest Match deposit date or until the beneficiary reaches the applicable Age of Transfer, whichever is earlier. The Early Invest Match will be subject to recapture by Acorns if funds are withdrawn from the Early Invest Account during the four year period, up to the amount for which a 1% Early Invest Match was received. The Early Invest Match will also be subject to recapture if a customer downgrades to a Subscription Plan with a lower monthly fee within this period. See full terms and conditions.
Automatic investing does not ensure a profit or protect against losses. It involves continuous investing regardless of fluctuating price levels.
