Acorns is an app that links to your debit or credit card, rounds up purchases to the nearest dollar, and invests the difference automatically.
I signed up for Acorns to see how it works in real life. In this review, I’ll walk you through the sign-up process, portfolio options, pricing, and my personal experience so you can decide if it’s right for you.
How Acorns Works
Once you sign up for Acorns online or through the app, you:
- Link your debit or credit card.
- Make purchases as normal.
- Acorns rounds each transaction up to the nearest dollar.
- The “spare change” is invested into a diversified portfolio.
Example of Acorns dashboard tracking your investments.
📌 Pro Tip: You can start investing with as little as $5. 👉 Open your Acorns account here and let your spare change start working for you.
Acorns Investment Portfolios
Acorns offers five portfolio types, created by Nobel Prize–winning economist Dr. Harry Markowitz. Your portfolio is chosen based on your financial goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance.
| Portfolio Type | Bonds | Stocks | Risk Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative | 80% | 20% | Low | Short-term goals, low volatility |
| Moderately Conservative | 60% | 40% | Low–Moderate | 3–5 year goals |
| Moderate | 40% | 60% | Moderate | Balanced growth |
| Moderately Aggressive | 20% | 80% | Moderate–High | Long-term growth |
| Aggressive | 0% | 100% | High | Max growth, long time horizon |
See which portfolio Acorns recommends for you →
Portfolio Visuals
Conservative (80% bonds / 20% stocks):
Moderately Conservative (60% bonds / 40% stocks):
Moderate (40% bonds / 60% stocks):
Moderately Aggressive (20% bonds / 80% stocks):
Aggressive (100% stocks):
Acorns Pricing Plans
Acorns has three tiers — Core, Later, and Spend.
1. Acorns Core – $1/month
Best for getting started with round-ups.
Sign up for Acorns Core here →
2. Acorns Later – $2/month
Everything in Core plus an IRA.
Open your Acorns Later account here →
3. Acorns Spend – $3/month
Everything in Later plus a checking account & debit card.
Pre-order your Acorns Spend card here →
Acorns Found Money® Rewards
Found Money® is a bonus investing program where partner brands invest into your account when you shop with them.
Example: Liberty Mutual deposited $5 into my account for getting a quote.
Browse current Found Money offers →
My Experience Signing Up for Acorns
I chose Acorns Core to try it out. 👉 You can start the same process here.
Who Should Use Acorns
✅ Use Acorns if:
- You want to start investing but don’t have much capital. Get started here
- You like automation and “set-and-forget” tools.
❌ Skip Acorns if:
- You’re an experienced investor with lump-sum savings.
Final Thoughts
Acorns is a great beginner-friendly investing app that helps you build the habit of investing without even thinking about it.
