Automated micro-investing platform that rounds up purchases and invests spare change.
Beginner investors, savers, and people who prefer passive automated investing without active trading decisions
Commission-free brokerage enabling trading in stocks, options, crypto, and fractional shares.
Active traders, experienced investors, and those wanting control over their portfolio with no trading fees or account minimums
Acorns is an automated micro-investing app focused on saving and portfolio management through round-ups, while Robinhood is a commission-free trading platform emphasizing active trading in stocks, options, and crypto. Acorns suits passive investors seeking automation, whereas Robinhood appeals to active traders wanting control.
Both platforms serve legitimate but different investment philosophies. Acorns excels for beginners wanting automated, hands-off wealth building with built-in savings habits, while Robinhood provides cost-free active trading with advanced tools for self-directed investors. Your choice depends on whether you prefer passive automation (Acorns) or active control (Robinhood).
Choose Acorns if
Beginner investors, savers, and people who prefer passive automated investing without active trading decisions
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| Metric | Acorns | Robinhood | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Account Fee(USD) | $1-5 (tiered subscription) | $0 | — |
| Commission Per Trade(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Estimated User Base (2026)(millions) | 3-4 million |
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Choose Robinhood if
Active traders, experienced investors, and those wanting control over their portfolio with no trading fees or account minimums
| 22+ million |
| -84% |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | Free | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | None | — |
| Funded Customers(millions) | 27.2 (Jan 2026) | 27.2 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $324.4 (Jan 2026) | $324.4 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Limited (basic IRA options) | Limited (basic IRA options) | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 (iOS) | 4.8/5 (iOS) | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Limited | Limited | — |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | $4.5B | $4.5B | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 | — |
| Quarterly Trading Volume(USD Billions) | $22.9B (Jan 2026, crypto only) | $22.9B (Jan 2026, crypto only) | — |
| Net Deposits Growth (Recent)(USD Billions) | $4.5B (January 2026) | $4.5B (January 2026) | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated May 2026.
Acorns
Automated micro-investing and savings
Robinhood
Self-directed commission-free trading
Acorns
Passive, algorithm-managed portfolios
Robinhood
Active, user-controlled trading🏆
Acorns
$0 (round-ups only)
Robinhood
$0
Acorns
$1-5/month depending on tier
Robinhood
Free (no monthly fees)🏆
Acorns
Stocks, ETFs, bonds (limited)
Robinhood
Stocks, options, crypto, fractional shares🏆
Acorns
Basic tutorials and content
Robinhood
Extensive research tools and market data🏆
Acorns
Core feature included🏆
Robinhood
Not available
Acorns
Beginners and passive savers
Robinhood
Active traders and experienced investors
Acorns is generally better for complete beginners because it automates investing through round-ups and requires no trading knowledge. Robinhood suits those wanting to learn active trading with no commission friction, but requires more investment knowledge and discipline to avoid overtrading.
Dive deeper with these curated resources
| Attribute | Acorns | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Account Fee(USD) | $1-5 (tiered subscription) | $0 |
| Commission Per Trade(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | None | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $0 |
| Portfolio Management | Automated (robo-advisor) | Self-directed |
| Fractional Shares Available | No | Yes (from $1) |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Full support (20+ coins) | — |
| AI/Digital Planning Tools | Emerging tools | — |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Limited/Not primary focus | Full support (50+ cryptocurrencies) |
| Options Trading Available | No | Yes (with approval) |
| Estimated User Base (2026)(millions) | 3-4 million | 22+ million |
| Funded Customers(millions) | 27.2 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $324.4 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Products(count) | Extensive with global expansion 2026 | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Limited (basic IRA options) | — |
| International Trading(availability) | Limited, expanding in 2026 | — |
| Options Trading(availability) | Available | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Limited | — |
| Research Tools Quality(tier) | Basic charting and market data | — |
| Research Tools Depth | Basic | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 (iOS) | — |
| Professional Advisory Available(boolean) | No | — |
| Account Types Available | Trading & crypto accounts | — |
| Commission on Stock Trading | Free | — |
| Fee Efficiency for Small Trades(Relative Cost) | Lower fees on small crypto buys | — |
| Fee Efficiency for Large Trades(Relative Cost) | Less efficient for large orders | — |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | $4.5B | — |
| Mobile App Experience | Best-in-class for beginners | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Trading Availability(Hours/Week) | 24/5 with crypto focus | — |
| Quarterly Trading Volume(USD Billions) | $22.9B (Jan 2026, crypto only) | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Millions (exact 2026 figure undisclosed) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Assets Available(Count) | Limited selection | — |
| Asset Classes Offered(Types) | Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, prediction markets | — |
| Net Deposits Growth (Recent)(USD Billions) | $4.5B (January 2026) | — |
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes