How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (2024)

Table of Contents
To start out, you need an email address and a secure password. Acorns will also let you create a four-digit passcode to log in on your phone. Then you link your bank account and any credit or debit cards you want. Linking cards is key to Acorns' "round-ups" feature, where it invests your spare change for you. Acorns has to ask you certain investor questions before you get started. Cruttenden says the team spent two and a half years making sure the financial back-end was solid. Acorns enlisted the help of Dr. Harry Markowitz, the Nobel Laureate and pioneer of "modern portfolio theory," to help build the different portfolios. Acorns will ask you a set of questions about your life and give you a recommendation of which portfolio to choose from. This was the one Acorns selected for me (though you can change it whenever you want, depending on how much risk you would like). Then you start off with an initial investment. In order for Acorns to start investing your account must reach a $5 threshold. Acorns costs $1 per month for accounts less than $5,000, or 0.25% per year on those over that. But if you are a student, or are 18-23 years old, it is free. This is what the menu looks like in Acorns. And these are the things Acorns recommends you do to get the most out of your account. To set up a deposit, just select whether you want it to be a one-time thing or you want it to occur daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also withdraw money any time you want, without paying a penalty. Though it will take 5-7 business days to show up in your checking account. You can also select round-ups, either automatic or manual. Every time the total of your roundups hits $5, it invests. If you don't want to wait, you can have your checking account make up the difference between $5 and your round-ups and "invest now." Now let's take a look at your portfolio. In Acorns, you don't choose individual stocks, but rather, risk profiles. This one is "aggressive." An aggressive portfolio means that you have high risk, but high upside potential. Here is a "moderate" one. Acorns is showing me that with an average monthly deposit of $100, the projected value of my account will be $17,107 by the time I'm 36, having made over $5,000. Here's the projected value at 43 on that same "moderate" portfolio. If you ever want to change your portfolio, it only takes a few clicks. Once you have begun investing, Acorns will show you how your account is doing, allowing you to review time periods including one day, one month, six months, one year, and all time. This wasn't a good day. But overall, my account has made 3% in less than a month. Acorns also shows you a breakdown of what you are invested in by dollar... ...percentage... And lastly, if you invite friends to Acorns, you'll each get $5 when they invest. FAQs

US Markets Loading... h m s

Chevron icon It indicates an expandable section or menu, or sometimes previous / next navigation options. HOMEPAGE

Newsletters

Subscribe

Tech

Nathan McAlone

2016-03-23T14:11:21Z

Acorns is an app that was designed for a singleunderlyingpurpose: to make investing a small decision instead of a big one, cofounder Jeff Cruttenden tells Business Insider.

Advertisem*nt

Cruttenden wanted to make it easy for people, primarily those who were younger,to start investing a little at a time. To do that,Cruttenden built Acorns in a way that distills investing down to a decision of "how much" you want to invest and "how much risk" you want to take.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (1)

Acorns

There are two ways you can invest money in Acorns. First, you can make a lump sum or recurring deposit. Simply select how much money you want to invest and transfer it from your bank. The second way is "round-ups."After you connect debit or credit cards, you can set Acorns to "round up" your purchases and invest the difference — if you spend $8.46 on lunch,Acorns will invest the $0.54.

Then you select how much risk you want to take, and Acorns invests the money into low-costexchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Here's what it's like to use Acorns:

Advertisem*nt

To start out, you need an email address and a secure password. Acorns will also let you create a four-digit passcode to log in on your phone.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (2)

Business Insider

Then you link your bank account and any credit or debit cards you want. Linking cards is key to Acorns' "round-ups" feature, where it invests your spare change for you.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (3)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Acorns has to ask you certain investor questions before you get started. Cruttenden says the team spent two and a half years making sure the financial back-end was solid.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (4)

Business Insider

Acorns enlisted the help of Dr. Harry Markowitz, the Nobel Laureate and pioneer of "modern portfolio theory," to help build the different portfolios.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (5)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Acorns will ask you a set of questions about your life and give you a recommendation of which portfolio to choose from.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (6)

Business Insider

This was the one Acorns selected for me (though you can change it whenever you want, depending on how much risk you would like).

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (7)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Then you start off with an initial investment. In order for Acorns to start investing your account must reach a $5 threshold. Acorns costs $1 per month for accounts less than $5,000, or 0.25% per year on those over that. But if you are a student, or are 18-23 years old, it is free.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (8)

Business Insider

This is what the menu looks like in Acorns.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (9)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

And these are the things Acorns recommends you do to get the most out of your account.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (10)

Business Insider

To set up a deposit, just select whether you want it to be a one-time thing or you want it to occur daily, weekly, or monthly. You can also withdraw money any time you want, without paying a penalty. Though it will take 5-7 business days to show up in your checking account.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (11)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

You can also select round-ups, either automatic or manual. Every time the total of your roundups hits $5, it invests.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (12)

Business Insider

If you don't want to wait, you can have your checking account make up the difference between $5 and your round-ups and "invest now."

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (13)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Now let's take a look at your portfolio. In Acorns, you don't choose individual stocks, but rather, risk profiles. This one is "aggressive." An aggressive portfolio means that you have high risk, but high upside potential.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (14)

Business Insider

Here is a "moderate" one. Acorns is showing me that with an average monthly deposit of $100, the projected value of my account will be $17,107 by the time I'm 36, having made over $5,000.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (15)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Here's the projected value at 43 on that same "moderate" portfolio.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (16)

Business Insider

If you ever want to change your portfolio, it only takes a few clicks.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (17)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

Once you have begun investing, Acorns will show you how your account is doing, allowing you to review time periods including one day, one month, six months, one year, and all time.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (18)

Business Insider

This wasn't a good day.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (19)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

But overall, my account has made 3% in less than a month.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (20)

Business Insider

Acorns also shows you a breakdown of what you are invested in by dollar...

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (21)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

...percentage...

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (22)

Business Insider

Advertisem*nt

And lastly, if you invite friends to Acorns, you'll each get $5 when they invest.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (23)

Business Insider

Read next

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (24)

NEW LOOK

Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Read preview

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (25)

Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go.

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (26)

Apps

Advertisem*nt

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio (2024)

FAQs

How to use Acorns, the app that helps you easily turn your spare change into an investment portfolio? ›

Acorns offers investing and banking all in one place. When investors also open a banking account, they can easily set up automatic Round-Ups investing. This means that when investors make a purchase with their Acorns debit card, the spare change amount will automatically be invested in real time.

How do I invest spare change in Acorns? ›

With Acorns Round-Ups®, we'll help you invest the spare change from your everyday purchases. Say you buy groceries for $30.45. We'll automatically round it up to $31.00, and invest $0.55 in your future. Think of it as investing small amounts regularly, in the background of life.

How to use the Acorns app effectively? ›

How to make money on Acorns
  1. Get started while you're in school. “The best time to start investing was ten years ago. ...
  2. Automate – add small and consistent amounts of money monthly. ...
  3. Boost your round-ups. ...
  4. Use Acorns Earn. ...
  5. Download the Acorns extension. ...
  6. Use Acorns Spend Smart Deposit. ...
  7. Use credit cards with rewards points.

How does acorn work for beginners? ›

Its main micro-investing feature allows budding investors to start small by investing the spare change from their everyday purchases. For example, when you purchase a coffee for $3.75, Acorns rounds up to the nearest dollar and invests the spare $0.25 cents into the market.

How to invest in spare change? ›

Acorns was chosen as the best money-saving app for investing spare change thanks to its Round-Ups feature, which automatically rounds your purchases up to the nearest dollar and invests the difference into a diversified portfolio of low-cost index ETFs.

How does acorn spare change work? ›

Acorns encourages users to invest their spare change by rounding up a purchase to the next dollar and investing the difference. Through the Acorns mobile app, the company links to its clients' bank accounts to save and invest the spare change automatically.

Does Acorns invest spare change work? ›

Once Round-Ups® Investments are on, and your spending accounts are linked, we'll start rounding up your spare change from everyday purchases. Remember: We transfer your Round-Ups® Investments from your linked checking account once they add up to at least $5.

Is Acorns worth it for beginners? ›

The bottom line: If you want to make the most of your spare change and get the occasional retailer kickback, there's really no better place to do that than Acorns. The automatic roundups at Acorns make saving and investing easy, and most investors will be surprised by how quickly those pennies accumulate.

Is Acorns a good investment app for beginners? ›

Acorns is one of the best investment apps for beginners and hand-off investors who want to start investing but are overwhelmed by the choices with other investing apps. This simple and easy-to-use platform offers a low investment minimum, portfolio diversification, and beginner-friendly charting tools.

Are Acorns really worth it? ›

Is Acorns Worth it? Acorns charges monthly membership fees, starting at $3 per month. Even though it is a very easy way to get started investing, if you don't make enough purchases each month to round up and set aside enough money, the monthly fee could outweigh the benefit.

What is the 50 30 20 rule on Acorns? ›

50% for essential spending. 30% for flexible spending. 20% for financial goals.

How do you make money fast on Acorn? ›

Get Bonus Investments with Acorns Earn

Earn money on groceries, gas, and other stuff you're already buying. First, make sure to link the credit or debit card to your Acorns Invest account. Then every time you shop with a selected retailer, that company will add a percentage back into your Acorns Invest account.

How much should I initially invest in Acorns? ›

You can start small with as little as $5. Given time, the little amounts you're able to squirrel away in an investment account can have the opportunity to grow.

What is the best spare change app? ›

Since there's already a notion that you need a ton of money to start investing, money-saving apps like Acorns and Stash debunk that myth easily. With Acorns, there's no minimum to open an account and you can start investing with just $5; with Stash, you can start investing with just $0.01.

What is better than Acorns? ›

We cover some of the best apps like Acorns that you can use to save money and put your investing on autopilot.
  • Chime. Get started with Chime. Chime review. ...
  • Oportune. Get started with Oportun. Oportun review. ...
  • Qapital. Get started with Qapital. Qapital review. ...
  • UNest. Get started with UNest. ...
  • Betterment. Get started with Betterment.

What is the best app to invest change? ›

Acorns helps you invest and save for your future. With nearly $4,000,000,000 in Round-Ups® invested and counting, we are an ultimate investing & money-saving app. Get started in minutes, and give your money a chance to grow.

Should I put my savings in Acorns? ›

The bottom line: If you want to make the most of your spare change and get the occasional retailer kickback, there's really no better place to do that than Acorns. The automatic roundups at Acorns make saving and investing easy, and most investors will be surprised by how quickly those pennies accumulate.

Can you make money on Acorns? ›

Acorns is not a side hustle or money-making app that pays you. Think of it as a tool to grow the money you already have with consistent saving and investing. Generally, you'll earn money from your investments and by making qualifying purchases if you link your card to the Acorns account.

How much money should I put into Acorns? ›

Decide how much to invest

Because investing carries risk, it's generally recommended you have an emergency fund with three to six months living expenses on hand. From there, many experts recommend the 50/30/20 rule - with 20% of your take home pay allocated towards saving and investing for financial goals.

Does Acorns save or invest the money for you? ›

Acorns Checking Real-Time Round-Ups® invests small amounts of money from purchases made using an Acorns Checking account into the client's Acorns Investment account. A properly suggested portfolio recommendation is dependent upon current and accurate financial and risk profiles.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Prof. Nancy Dach

Last Updated:

Views: 5867

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Prof. Nancy Dach

Birthday: 1993-08-23

Address: 569 Waelchi Ports, South Blainebury, LA 11589

Phone: +9958996486049

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Web surfing, Scuba diving, Mountaineering, Writing, Sailing, Dance, Blacksmithing

Introduction: My name is Prof. Nancy Dach, I am a lively, joyous, courageous, lovely, tender, charming, open person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.