Stash costs $12 a month, or about $9 if you pay for the year through their annual discount promotion. This review covers what that subscription includes, who gets the most from it, and how to claim $25 when you invest your first $5*.
The short answer is yes for new investors who want a plan and guidance in one app and will add money every month. The sections below show what the subscription includes and who gets the most from it.
One plan with a brokerage account, a retirement account, a managed Smart Portfolio, accounts for kids, and a Stock-Back® Debit Card1 that pays rewards in stock2.
Get my $25 →Invest $5 to earn it · cancel any time · terms applyThe 60-second answer
Stash is worth it if you are a new investor who wants one app to build your plan, show you the next step, and keep you investing every month. One $12 subscription includes a brokerage account, a retirement account with a 3% match3, and a Stock-Back®Card that pays rewards in stock2, and paying yearly brings the price to about $9 a month.
Stash’s pricing page also offers a 7-day trial.
| Stash at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Price | $12 a month, or $108 billed yearly |
| Minimum to start | $5 or less, no investing minimum |
| Bonus | $25 in cash when you invest $5 through this link. It must stay in your account for 90 days. Terms apply |
| Accounts | Personal brokerage, Smart Portfolio, Roth and Traditional IRA, custodial |
| Retirement match | 3%, up to $225 a year |
| Stock-Back Card | 1% back in stock, up to $10 a month |
| Rating | 4.5 out of 5 |
Is Stash legit?
Stash is a legitimate, regulated company. Stash Investments LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser, which gives it a fiduciary duty, a legal obligation to act in your best interest. Stash reports more than 1 million active subscribers and more than $5 billion in assets managed.
Your stocks and ETFs are not held by Stash itself. Apex Clearing Corporation, a separate broker-dealer and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) member, holds them, and SIPC covers up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash, if the broker fails.
As with any investment, your holdings can lose value, and SIPC does not cover market losses.
Uninvested funds in Stash accounts are enrolled in the Apex FDIC-insured Sweep Program. Deposits to the Sweep Program are insured up to $250,000 per customer, per FDIC-insured bank. Once funds are swept to participating banks, they are no longer protected by SIPC.
Stash is not a bank. The banking account and the Stock-Back Card are provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
The app holds 4.7 stars from about 311,000 ratings on the App Store as of October 11, 2026.
Feel safe starting small?Start with $5 and get $25SEC registered adviser · through this link · terms applyStart →
Who Stash is for
Here is how Stash fits three kinds of investors.
The first-time investor
You have wanted to start investing for some time, but you are unsure what to buy and a blank brokerage screen does not help. Stash asks about your goals, builds a plan, and shows you the next step.
Verdict: subscribe, pay yearly, and set an automatic deposit on day one.
The retirement saver
You contribute $300 a month or more toward retirement. Stash adds a 3% match on IRA contributions3, worth up to $225 a year, so $3,600 contributed over a year earns $108, which equals the yearly price. Rewards are subject to an Early Removal Fee as defined in the terms and conditions.
Verdict: subscribe if this is long-term money you will not touch.
The small account you plan to build
You are starting with about $500. Stash works best when you add money every month, and the $25 bonus through this link gives a small account a head start. The bonus must stay in your account for 90 days.
Verdict: a good fit if you will add money every month.
What is Stash and how does it work?
Stash is an investing app with a single $12 a month subscription, called The Stash Plan, that gives you a personalized plan, a brokerage account, a retirement account, and a debit card that pays rewards in stock. The plan includes the following.
- Personal portfolio. A brokerage account in which you choose from thousands of stocks and ETFs and can buy fractional shares with $5 or less.
- Smart Portfolio. Stash’s robo-advisor, which builds a diversified mix for your risk level and rebalances it for you.
- Retirement account. A Roth or Traditional IRA with the 3% match3.
- Accounts for kids. Custodial accounts you manage, with the money belonging to the child at the age of majority.
- Stock-Back® Card1. A debit card that pays rewards in stock.
- Guidance. A personalized plan and Money Coach, an AI tool that answers questions around the clock.
- Extras. Budgeting tools, recurring transfers, and round-ups on card purchases4.
Stash is built for long-term investing, with orders placed in four trading windows each weekday.
Next stepGet your plan and $25 when you invest $5Through this link · cancel any time · terms applyGet my $25 →
How much does the Stash subscription cost?
Stash costs $12 a month. Stash has a single plan, and paying yearly brings the price to $108, which works out to about $9 a month and can save around $36 a year.
What the $12 covers
- A personalized plan and guidance, including Money Coach
- A personal brokerage account
- Smart Portfolio, Stash’s managed portfolio
- A Roth or Traditional IRA with the 3% match3
- Custodial accounts for kids
- The Stock-Back® Card1
- Banking through Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC
Three other Stash fees are worth knowing:
- Smart Portfolio adds 0.25% a year once that portfolio reaches $1,000, which is $12.50 a year on $5,000, on top of the subscription. Managed retirement accounts pay the 0.25% at any balance.
- ETFs carry their own fund expenses. Every broker passes these on, and they are built into the fund’s price.
- Moving your account to another broker costs $100 per account.
Because the price is flat, Stash delivers the most value when you invest regularly and let your balance grow.
What can earn the fee back
| Perk | How it works | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| IRA match | 3% of what you contribute, so $3,600 in a year earns $108 | $225 a year |
| Stock-Back Card | 1% back in stock on card spending | $120 a year |
Rewards arrive as stock or account credits, and their value can fall after you receive them.
The match applies to contributions to a Stash retirement account. If you will fund the IRA or want the plan, pay yearly.
Does the math work for you?Invest $5 and get $25$25 is about two months of the $12 fee · through this link · terms applyGet my $25 →
The Stock-Back Card
The Stock-Back Card earns 1% back in stock, with bonuses including 3% on qualifying streaming purchases. The 1% rate and bonuses share a $10 monthly cap. After that, purchases keep earning at least 0.125% back.
This is a debit card, not a credit card, and it is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Stash says the account has no overdraft fees and no minimum balance fees, and it lists more than 55,000 ATMs with no fee5. You start earning once you have the card and at least $1 in the banking account.
Our assessment. The card is a useful extra on spending you already do, and it helps earn back part of the fee.
Want rewards in stock?See the Stock-Back CardIncluded in the $12 plan · rewards capped at $10 a monthSee the card →
Stash vs Acorns, Robinhood, and Fidelity
| App | What it costs | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
 Stash | $12 a month, or $108 billed yearly | Beginners who want guidance, their own stock picks, and an IRA in one app |
 Acorns | $4, $8, or $12 a month | Hands-off round-up investing |
 Robinhood | $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. Gold is $5 a month and optional. | Self-directed trading |
 Fidelity | $0 commissions. No account fees. | Self-directed investing |
Prices from each company’s own site, checked as of this update.
Stash vs Acorns. Acorns Bronze is $4 a month for a managed portfolio and round-ups. Picking your own stocks and ETFs on Acorns needs its $12 plan, the same price as Stash, where that is included.
Stash vs Robinhood. Robinhood charges no commission on stocks and ETFs and sells fractional shares from $1. Stash adds a personalized plan, a retirement match, and guidance on what to do next.
Stash vs Fidelity. Fidelity charges $0 commissions, has no account fees, and sells fractional shares from $1. Stash adds the structure and guidance that help a new investor get started.
In short. If you want a plan, your own picks and a retirement match in one app, that is Stash.
The pick for guided beginnersStart with Stash and get $25Invest $5 through this link · terms applyStart →
What to know before you sign up
These are the terms worth knowing before you open an account.
- The price is a flat monthly subscription of $12, or $108 billed yearly.
- Smart Portfolio adds 0.25% a year once that portfolio reaches $1,000.
- The retirement match has a four-year holding period, and Stash can charge 3% of contributions withdrawn earlier.
- Closing the plan sells the investments in your taxable account, which can create a tax bill, or you can transfer them out for $100 per account.
- Trades run in four windows each weekday.
Stash’s pricing page offers a 7-day trial, so check the signup screen for when the first charge lands. You can cancel any time, and if you prepay the year and then cancel, Stash’s terms refund the unused months, less the month you cancel in and a $0.50 administrative charge.
Ready to try it?Start small and see if it fitsStart with $5 or less · cancel any timeStart →
The bottom line: is Stash worth it?
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Stash is worth $12 a month for a beginner who wants a plan, will add money every month, and will use the retirement match or the card to earn part of the fee back. Paying yearly lowers the price to $108.
Use it if: you are new to investing, you want guidance, and you will make deposits every month.
Get my $25 →Open an account and invest $5 · terms applyDisclosure: Investment advisory services offered by Stash Investments LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Holdings and performance are hypothetical. *Offer is subject to T&Cs
How to get started
An account only starts working for you once it is funded. These steps take you from signup to your first investment.
- Open Stash through this link and tap Get my $25, then answer the questions about your goals so Stash can build your plan.
- Choose your billing: $108 yearly or $12 monthly. Check the signup screen for the day the first charge lands.
- Link your bank account.
- Invest $5, which is all it takes to earn the $25 through this link.
- Turn on auto-invest with an amount and schedule you can sustain.
- Open the retirement account if the match is your reason for joining, and add the Stock-Back® Card1.
The first deposit is the hardest step, so keep it small and make it today.
Ready to start?Invest $5, get $25Through this link · takes a few minutes · terms applyGet my $25 →
How to cancel
You can cancel any time, in the app or at Stash.com. Before you do, take these steps:
- Link an outside bank account.
- Wait for recent deposits to clear, which can take up to 6 business days.
- Turn off direct deposit and any recurring transfers.
Then open your plan settings, select “Cancel my plan,” and follow the prompts.
What happens to your investments. Stash sells what is in your taxable account and sends the cash to your linked bank. Closing can take up to 10 business days, and selling can create a tax bill. To keep your investments, request a transfer to another broker instead, which costs $100 per account.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Stash is worth $12 a month, or $108 billed yearly, for a new investor who wants guidance and will add money every month. The subscription includes a brokerage account, an IRA with a 3% match, Smart Portfolio, and the Stock-Back® Card1.
Stash gives you $25 when you open an account through the link on this page and invest at least $5. The $25 is cash, must stay in your account for 90 days, and is limited to one per person. IRAs and custodial accounts do not qualify, and terms apply.
Yes. Stash is a real, regulated company: Stash Investments LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser with a fiduciary duty to act in your best interest.
Your investments with Stash are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, an SIPC member, and SIPC covers up to $500,000, including $250,000 in cash, if the broker fails. Banking is provided by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. SIPC does not cover market losses, so your investments can still lose value.
You can make money with Stash, and you can lose money, because stock and ETF prices rise and fall and nothing is guaranteed.
Stash costs $12 a month and includes picking your own stocks and ETFs. Acorns starts at $4 a month for a managed portfolio and round-ups, and its plan with individual stocks is $12. Choose Stash if you want your own picks with guidance in one plan.
Stash closes your accounts and sells the investments in your taxable account, which can create a tax bill. To keep them, transfer to another broker for $100 per account.
No, Stash is not a bank. The banking account and the Stock-Back Card come from Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC. Investments are not FDIC insured and may lose value.
Paid client testimonial. Not representative of all clients and not a guarantee. View important disclosures. Compensation may create incentive. Not representative of all client and not a guarantee. See Apple App Store and Google Play reviews. See conflict disclosures at https://www.mymillennialguide.com/disclaimer/
*Offer is subject to T&Cs
1 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.
2 Stock rewards earned with the Stash Stock-Back® Debit Mastercard® are fulfilled by Stash Investments LLC and subject to Terms and Conditions. To earn stock, you must use your card for a qualifying purchase. You are responsible for the standard fees and expenses reflected in the pricing of the investments you earn, as well as any applicable ancillary service fees. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC, including investment rewards paid via the Stash Stock-Back program, are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value. Cash withdrawals, money orders, prepaid cards, and person-to-person (P2P) payments do not qualify. If you make a qualifying purchase at a merchant that is not publicly traded or not available on Stash, you will receive your reward in an ETF or other eligible investment from a list available on Stash.
3 3% retirement account match given only on net contributions completed within a given month and available only on eligible contributions, up to your annual limit. Rewards are subject to an Early Removal Fee as defined in the terms and conditions. See Terms and Conditions for details.
4 This Program is subject to terms and conditions. In order to participate, a user must comply with all eligibility requirements and make a qualifying purchase with their Stock-Back® Card. All funds used for this Program will be taken from your Stash Banking account.
5 Fee-free transactions are available at any Allpoint ATM. See the app for locations. Out-of-network ATM fees may apply. For a complete list of fees, see the Deposit Account Agreement.
A Smart Portfolio is an account that Stash has full authority to manage. Stash-Managed Portfolios with balances of $1,000 or more, calculated daily, are subject to an additional fee of 0.25% of the account balance charged every three months.
Stash’s AI Money Coach provides general guidance based on your personal information available to Stash. It does not reflect your complete financial situation. Responses may be incomplete or inaccurate and should not be your sole source of financial guidance.
MeiggsMedia rankings and ratings are independently determined using proprietary algorithms and subjective methodologies that consider factors including consumer interest, user engagement, product features, promotions and pricing, and user feedback. Rankings may be personalized, are subject to change, and are updated regularly. Stash is an advertising partner of MeiggsMedia, but does not determine or modify MeiggsMedia’s rankings or ratings.
