Stash Review
Stash is a trading platform based out of New York. The company has over 6 million users and offers its services via both its web platform and its mobile app. One of the perks that make Stash stand out from other investment apps is that it enables users to invest very small amounts. The platform is targeted at beginners at investing, and it provides online banking and advisory services as well.
Pros
- Low minimum starting investment – you can start building your investment portfolio incrementally over time with a starting investment with any dollar amount.
- Buy fractional shares – if you find a stock too expensive of if you want to diversify your portfolio, you can buy as little as 0.05% of the stock.
- Low monthly fee – fees start from just $3 per month for investment accounts with under $5000. Monthly fees go up to $9 for accounts with larger sums.
- Life insurance coverage1 – get $1000 coverage on the Growth monthly plan. Get $10,000 coverage on the Stash+ monthly plan.
Cons
- Long waiting time before you can withdraw bonus funds – if you earn bonuses such as from referrals, you must wait 90 days before you can cash out.
- Limited selection of stocks you can buy – the platform only enables you to invest in less than 4000 companies and less than 100 different ETFs.
Jump to: Full Review
Compare to Other Investment Apps
Fundrise
Invest in real estate properties with a $10 minimum initial investment
Historical annual return varies from 8.8% to 12.4% (2019 – 9.47%)
Low annual fees: advisory – 0.15%; management fee – 0.85%
Public App
Manage your portfolio of stocks, ETFs, and crypto investments – all in one place
Over 5000 stocks and ETFs to choose from (dividend stocks available)
Follow other investors, see their portfolios, and exchange ideas
Acorns
Invest your spare change in a diversified portfolio built by experts
Expect up to 7.5% annually returns with plans starting from $3 a month
Earn bonus investments from 350+ Acorns Earn partners
What Is Stash?
Stash is a multi-purpose finance app that allows users to consolidate their banking, investment, and financial advisory services. The company has been around since 2015 and has over six million users. Stash operates through a subscription-based model, and users pay a monthly fee to access the platform’s features.
The company currently has over $2 billion in assets under management. Its headquarters are in New York. As of January 2022, the company has received over $450 million in venture capitalist funding.
How Does Stash Work?
Stash allows users to invest in thousands of different stocks and ETFs starting with any dollar amount with fractional investing. Fractional investing allows you to buy a part of a stock and is a tool for investors who do not want to invest too much in an expensive stock.
Now, you can also buy cryptocurrency2 in your Personal Portfolio with Stash.
Stash also provides Robo-advisory services with its Smart Portfolio feature. This feature allows you to invest in a personalized portfolio tailored to your risk appetite and preferences. The company automatically rebalances your portfolio whenever you add or remove cash from your account, enabling you to invest conveniently.
Who Is Stash Best for?
Stash is suitable for investors of all skill levels. The app provides different features for different types of investors. Beginner investors can benefit from the convenience of the Smart Portfolio feature and the many free educational resources available.
Veteran investors can also use the platform to manage their investments. If you know which assets you want to invest in, you can customize your investments and choose the specific stocks and ETFs you want to buy or sell.
How Much Can You Earn With Stash?
Your earnings with Stash will depend on the particular assets that you choose to invest in. If you select your own investments, the performance of the asset will affect your earnings. For example, if the value of the asset you purchase increases by 10%, you will earn 10% of the amount you invested in the asset.
With the Smart Portfolio feature, Stash helps you maximize your earnings and minimize risk by diversifying your investments into over 4,000 stocks and ETFs.
Stash Fees: How Much Does It Cost to Invest With Stash?
Depending on the plan you opt for, the fees you will need to pay may vary. Stash offers two different pricing plans that each offers unique features. Keep in mind that crypto trading fees will vary based on your subscription plan. For Stash Growth customers, the fee is 1% per transaction and for Stash+ customers, the fee is 0.8% per transaction. This transaction fee will be deducted from the total amount of each crypto transaction. It will cover execution, custodial, and account maintenance costs in connection with your crypto account and is not part of your Stash Subscription fee.
| Plan | Cost | Features | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth | $3 per month | Roth or traditional retirement account (IRA) | Beginner investors |
| Stash+ | $9 per month | Metal banking card, custodial accounts, and exclusive market reports | Long-term investors |
Stash Features: What Does Stash Offer?
Variety of Account Types
Stash offers different account types, each with unique features that cater to the differing needs of its investors.
Some of the account types you can create with Stash include:
- Stash Banking accounts3 allow users to manage their funds online, enjoy early paydays4, and get a Stash Stock-Back® Card4 with rewards5.
- Personal investment accounts enable users to select suitable investments with the guidance of a Stash advisor.
- Retirement accounts – you can create a Roth IRA account to avoid paying taxes or a traditional IRA account to deduct contributions from your taxable earned income.
- Custodial accounts allow users to invest on behalf of their children, who can take over the accounts once they come of age.
Portfolio Builder
The portfolio builder feature allows users to create a personalized portfolio of the stock and ETFs they want to trade. Stash provides suggestions on ETFs for beginners and enables users to choose from over 1,800 different assets, making it an ideal app for both beginner and veteran investors.
Investment Management Tools
Stash provides users with cutting-edge tools to better manage their investments.
Some of the different tools you can access include:
- Retirement Calculator: a tool that allows users to determine how much to invest each month depending on the lifestyle they want after retirement.
- Automatic Reinvestment of Dividends (DRIP): a function that allows you to automatically reinvest any dividends you receive.
Stash Requirements
The requirements to open a Stash account include:
- At least four dollars ($4) – $3 for your monthly subscription fee and at least $1 to put in your Personal investment account.
- Own a bank account with a US bank
- Have a social security number
- Have US citizenship, a Green Card, or certain visas
- Be 18 or over
Stash Payout Terms and Options?
Withdrawing funds from your Stash account is a relatively simple process. You will need to start by selling your assets and waiting for the holding period to be over.
You can then request a transfer of your funds to your linked bank account. It typically takes one to five business days for your funds to appear in your bank account.
Note that you can only withdraw referral and promotional funds after they have been in your account for at least 90 days.
Stash Risks: Is Stash Safe to Invest With?
Stash insures all debit accounts with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to the regulatory limits of $250,000. Thus, you do not need to worry about losing your investments of up to $250,000.
In addition, Stash is a Registered Investment Adviser with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), making it a safe and legitimate platform to invest your funds.
How Does Stash Protect Your Money?
Stash also uses various security features to help its users protect their funds from fraud and theft.
Some of these features include:
- 256-bit encryption
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- Biometric recognition
- Access control
- PCI DSS compliance
Stash also provides tips on its website to help its users secure their accounts. You can browse these password security, web safety, and equipment security tips on the Stash website.
Stash Reviews: Is Stash Legit?
| Review Website | Stash Review |
|---|---|
| Apple App Store | 4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Google Play Store | 4.1 out of 5 stars |
| Trustpilot | 1.9 out of 5 stars |
Stash is a legitimate platform that you can use to invest your funds and grow your wealth. The platform has received mostly positive reviews from its users.
Many users have praised the app for how easy it is to use and to set up automatic investments. In addition, reviewers were also generally satisfied with the app’s portfolio-building features that allowed them to invest in stocks for the long run.
Some users were also unhappy that the platform provided limited ways for them to find historical data on their investments.
What Are the Stash Pros & Cons?
Stash Pros
- Start investing with any dollar amount.
- Set up recurring weekly or monthly deposits.
- Only $3 monthly fee or $9 monthly fee.
Stash Cons
- The platform provides limited market data and analysis to help you make investment decisions.
- There are occasional bugs with the recurring deposits.
How Good Is Stash Support and Knowledge Base?
Stash has a comprehensive knowledge base on its website that you can access to find answers to many frequently asked questions. If you encounter any issues when using the platform, you can access this knowledge base to get help.
If you still have any other questions, you can contact the platform’s customer service via the live chat feature on the website or within the app.
Stash Review Verdict: Is Stash Worth It?
Stash is one of the best investment platforms on the market you can use to grow your wealth. The platform provides users with access to over 1,800 different stocks and ETFs that they can trade.
Stash is also ideal for both beginner and veteran investors. The platform allows users to trade fractional shares, allowing them to diversify their investments without committing a large sum to a single stock. You can also set up recurring investments, allowing you to save for long-term goals such as retirement.
Moreover, the platform is also affordable to use, and the cheapest plan starts from just $3 per month.
How to Sign Up With Stash?
Step 1: Create an Account
You can create a Stash account by visiting the website or downloading the app on your mobile device. When creating an account, you will need to provide your legal and personal information.
You will also need to answer up to ten questions regarding your current financial situation.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
After creating your account, you will need to verify your identity. You will be able to do so by uploading your legal documents.
Step 3: Choose a Plan
After you have verified your identity and created your account, you can then choose a plan. If you are a beginner investor, you can start with the Growth plan. As you become more familiar with investing, you can then upgrade to the Stash+ plan.
Sites Like Stash
| Company | Stash | Acorns | Fundrise | Public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Logo | 
|
|
|
|
| Service Fees | $3 to $9 per month | From $3 per month | 1% | No fees |
| Min. Investment | Any dollar amount | $5 | $10 | $1 |
| Best For | Fractional investing | Spare change | Real estate | Stocks and ETFs |
Stash vs. Acorns
Acorns Summary
- Low account fees from just $3 per month
- Get $5 in your account for referrals
- Low minimum starting investment amount
- High average return on investments of 7.5%
Acorns is one of Stash’s main competitors if you are looking for a mobile investing app. However, unlike Stash, Acorns offers the additional feature of Round-Up investing. With this feature, Acorns rounds up your spending to the nearest dollar and helps you invest the difference.
Acorns also offers different pricing plans compared to Stash. Acorns’ plans start from $3 to $5, whereas Stash’s plans start from $3 to $9.
Moreover, Acorns also has a limited selection of just five portfolios that you can choose from.
Stash vs. Fundrise
Fundrise Summary
- Low minimum starting investment of $10
- High historical returns of 8.8% to 12.4%
- 1% of management fees
- Diverse portfolios of up to 16 investments
Unlike Stash, Fundrise is a platform that specializes in real estate investments. Fundrise owns and operates private real estate investment trusts (REITs). You can invest in these REITs by joining Fundrise as a member.
By investing in REITs, you can earn returns on your investments in the form of capital gains when the properties in the REIT increase in value. You can also earn dividends if the properties in the REIT make a profit. Thus, Fundrise is a good alternative to Stash if you want to have a source of passive income.
Stash vs. Public
Public App Summary
- Invest in stocks, ETFs, and crypto
- $0 commission fees for any stock trades
- Over 100 articles to learn about investing
- Low 1-2% commission for crypto trades
Public is one of the most popular investment platforms that you can use to grow your wealth. The platform provides in-depth stock market analyses to help you make better investment decisions. Both platforms also allow users to buy fractional shares.
However, the main difference between Stash and Public is that Public does not charge any transaction fees or account maintenance fees. Thus, if you are looking for a free alternative to Stash, Public is a good platform to consider.
Other Sites Like Stash
Alternative Investment Sites
Personal Capital
M1finance
Stash
Farmtogether
Rocket Dollar
Betterment
Webull
Blooom
Stash App FAQ
Is Stash good for making money?
Stash can be a good app for making money. However, the platform caters more to long-term investments and you may lose money in the short term. Thus, if you are looking for a way to make money fast, Stash may not be suitable for you.
What banks work with Stash?
Stash works with most major US banks. You can visit the Stash website to check if the company supports your bank.
Is Stash good for beginners?
Stash is a great platform for beginner investors because of its low fees. The platform also has one of the best knowledge bases, allowing you to learn more about how to invest and use the app.
Can you cancel Stash at any time?
You can cancel your Stash subscription at any time. However, note that you can currently only close your account via the website.
What ATM can I use for my Stash debit card?
Stash works with over 19,000 ATMs within the Allpoint ATM network. You can use the ATM locator on the Stash website to find a fee-free ATM6 in your area.
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. Cryptocurrency trading and execution services are provided by Apex Crypto LLC (NMLS ID 1828849) through a software license agreement between Apex Crypto LLC and Stash Financial, Inc. Apex Crypto is not a registered broker-dealer or a member of SIPC or FINRA and is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department. Cryptocurrencies are not securities and are not FDIC or SIPC insured. Advisory products and services are offered through Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Cryptocurrency is a highly volatile investment; please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved before trading crypto. Visit apexcrypto.com/legal. 1 Group life insurance coverage provided through Avibra, Inc. Stash is a paid partner of Avibra. Only individuals who opened Stash accounts after 11/6/20, aged 18-54 and who are residents of one of the 50 U.S. states or DC are eligible for group life insurance coverage, subject to availability. Individuals with certain pre-existing medical conditions may not be eligible for the full coverage above, but may instead receive less coverage. All insurance products are subject to state availability, issue limitations and contractual terms and conditions, any of which may change at any time and without notice. Please see Terms and Conditions for full details. Stash may receive compensation from business partners in connection with certain promotions in which Stash refers clients to such partners for the purchase of non-investment consumer products or services. Clients are, however, not required to purchase the products and services Stash promotes. 2 Your cash and securities are held in your brokerage account at Apex Clearing, and your cryptocurrencies are held in your crypto account at Apex Crypto. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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. 6 Get fee-free transactions at any Allpoint ATM, see the app for location details, otherwise out-of-network ATM fees may apply. For a complete list of fees please see the Deposit Account Agreement for details. Offer is subject to T&Cs Stash does not monitor whether a customer is eligible for a particular type of IRA, or a tax deduction. Clients should consult with a tax advisor. Roth IRA: Withdrawals of the money (Contributions) you put in are penalty and tax free. Prior to age 59½, withdrawals of interest and earnings are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. All earnings are tax free at age 59½ or older, assuming your first contribution was more than 5 years prior. Income Eligibility applies.>. Stash has full authority to manage a “Smart Portfolio,” a discretionary managed account. Diversification and asset allocation do not guarantee a profit, nor do they eliminate the risk of loss of principal. Stash does not guarantee any level of performance or that any client will avoid losses in their account. Not all stocks pay out dividends. And there’s no guarantee any stock will pay dividends in a quarter or year. Dividends may be subject to additional taxes, and are considered taxable income. Refer to the IRS for additional info.