Stash Invest Review

Stash app aims to make the process of selecting investments quick and easy for beginners. Invest with as little as $5.

Pros & Cons

Investing used to look a lot different than it does today. Back in the not-too-distant past, barriers to entry were high. You had to be an investing-pro to be successful.

And you couldn’t get in the game unless you had deep pockets.  Most people didn’t meet these qualifications, so they sat on the sidelines while the rich got richer.

Thankfully, that’s no longer the case.  Now, anyone (yes, we mean anyone) can invest regardless of income, status, or investing prowess.

How?  Through digital investing platforms like Stash. 

What Is Stash?

Stash is a digital investing platform that boasts zero trading fees, no investing minimums, and an extensive suite of educational tools built with new investors in mind.

You do need a subscription to use this service, but plans start at just $3 a month. Stash launched in 2015 with a mission to provide financial opportunity for all. It’s been making waves in the investing industry ever since. 

As of 2024, it has over 6 million users and $3B in assets under management(4). 84% of people who use Stash are first-time investors.

How Does It Work?

Investing can seem intimidating and complicated. But not with Stash.  When you open your account, you’re asked a series of questions like: 

1. How much investing experience do you have? (none at all, a little, a moderate amount, and so on). 
2. What type of investor are you when it comes to risk? (conservative, moderate, or aggressive). 
3. How soon do you need your money? (less than a year, 2 to 5 years, or 5+ years).

Stash will then suggest potential securities based on your answers. From there, you can add stocks and ETFs to your portfolio working towards diversified just the way you like it. 

And don’t worry... If you’re not sure what you should invest in, Stash will offer personalized guidance to help you decide.

The Stash Way: Stash’s Investing Philosophy

Stash has a simple three-part investing philosophy that helps even the most novice beginners invest with confidence.

Here it is in a nutshell: 

1. Think long-term. Smart investors don’t typically try to time the market. Instead, they choose quality investments and hang on to them for a while.
2. Invest regularly. Stash believes in the power of investing regularly. Even small amounts can add up to a lot over time. So even if you can only afford to save $10 a week, consider it. It could pay off in the long-run. 
3. Stay diversified. Stash offers 3,800+ stocks and ETFs to keep your portfolio diversified. Plus, you can invest in fractional shares.

If you’re an investor who shares this same philosophy, you can enjoy the extra perks that come with Stash.

What Securities Can You Buy Through Stash?

Stash offers two types of securities: stocks, crypto, and ETFs.  It's stocks cover a range of sectors including energy, finance, health care, real estate, utilities, and more.

It also offers fractional shares, so you don’t have to spend all your hard-earned dollars on one share of expensive stock (unless you really want to).  

Stash has over 260 ETFs covering everything from bonds, commodities, missions and causes, global companies, and more.  Its' ETFs are broken up by values, so you can easily spot which ones you want to invest in.

Love to shop? You could go for the Retail Therapy ETF and invest in several companies that sell clothes, food, and travel.

Think of yourself as a real estate mogul? You could try out the Real Estate Tycoon ETF and you can get the benefits of being a landlord without all the headaches.

Are you eco-friendly? You can invest in the Combat Carbon ETF and you can support big and small companies that actively work to reduce their carbon footprints.

And this is just a small sample of all the ETFs available on Stash’s platform.

Pricing & Fees

Stash charges zero trading or commission fees - and $5 is all it takes to get started.  You need a monthly subscription to use the platform, but plans range from $3 to $9 a month depending on your needs.

This chart breaks down the cost and features of each plan:

So, if you want a basic Stash investment account only, can pay $3 a month for the Growth plan.  But if you’re a more experienced investor looking to open up a custodial account for your kid, you may want the $9 plan. 

Account Types

Stash offers access to a slew of financial accounts, including individual, retirement, and even banking accounts.

Let’s take a look at each.

Investment Accounts

There are three major investment accounts you can open with Stash:  

• Personal investment accounts. Open a taxable investment account with the Stash Growth or Stash+ subscription and you can start investing in all the companies you know and love. 
• Retirement accounts. Open a traditional or Roth IRA with a Stash Growth or Stash+ subscription and you can take advantage of special tax benefits.
• Custodial accounts. Those with a Stash+ subscription can help their kids get a jump start later in life with a custodial account. Once your child turns 18, they can use the money for school or any other expense.

If you’re unsure which account you need, Stash will ask you questions to help you decide. 

Who Is Stash Best For?

If you fall into one of these three categories, you may find Stash’s features extra appealing: 

• First-time investors. Stash Invest has countless resources to help you learn the ropes and teach you how to invest with confidence - and the smart portfolio feature can remove otherwise tricky decisions.
• Hands-off investors. Thanks to automated saving and investing tools, you can build wealth without ever having to lift a finger.
• Long-term investors. Stash believes in a buy-and-hold investing philosophy. If you agree, this platform may be right for you.

Unique Features

Let’s do a deep dive into what makes Stash so unique. It has several noteworthy features, but here are the top 5.  

Fractional Shares

Auto-Stash: Set Schedule

Auto-Stash: Round-Ups

Stash Learn

Stash Alternatives

Should You Open a Stash Account?

Is Stash legit? Absolutely.  Can you make real money investing through this platform? You definitely could!  But Stash takes the long-term, automatic approach to investing.

It believes in the buy-and-hold way of investing—not the time-the-market strategy used by some investors.  If you’re an active trader who buys and sells often, Stash may not be for you. 

But if you’re looking for a platform that can teach you how to invest, help you automate the whole process, and offer you access to a banking account that gets direct deposits up to 2 days early, then give Stash a try. 

You can get started today with as little as $5 and with fractional shares, you can invest in large companies you know and love without breaking the bank.

Have questions about Stash we didn’t answer in this review? Drop them in the comments below. 

Paid non-client endorsement. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. View important disclosures.

Nothing in this material should be construed as an offer, recommendation, or solicitation to buy or sell any security. All investments are subject to risk and may lose value.

Stash offers access to investment and banking accounts under each subscription plan. Each type of account is subject to different regulations and limitations. Stash Monthly Subscription Wrap Fee starts at $3/month. You’ll also bear the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of ETFs, plus fees for various ancillary services charged by Stash and/or the Custodian. Please see the Advisory Agreement for details. Other fees apply to the bank account. Please see the Deposit Account Agreement. Ancillary fees charged by Stash and/or its custodian are not included in the subscription fee.

Stash Banking services provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. The Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® is issued by Stride Bank pursuant to license from Mastercard International. Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated. Any earned stock rewards will be held in your Stash Invest account. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC and are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.

All rewards earned through use of the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® will be fulfilled by Stash Investments LLC and are subject to Terms and Conditions. You will bear the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of the investments that you earn, plus fees for various ancillary services charged by Stash. In order to earn stock in the program, the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard must be used to make a qualifying purchase. Stock rewards that are paid to participating customers via the Stash Stock Back program, are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.

1 Early access to direct deposit funds depends on when the payor sends the payment file. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.