How to Micro-Invest and Make Money with the Acorns App (2024)

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Written byCory Stillman

Last Updated: August 25, 2021

1. Create an Acorns account. Download the Acorns app, or go to https://www.acorns.com/ to start making money with Acorns. Acorns simply requires an e-mail address and password to get started.

   • You must be a U.S. resident and 18 years or older to make money with Acorns.

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   Determine your financial goals. When you get started with Acorns, the app will act as your personal financial advisor, asking you a series of questions to help determine your financial goals. Acorns will then generate an investment portfolio unique to you and your financial interests.^[1]

   • Acorns is a robo-investor, which means your investments will be largely automated. You can set your risk profile, however, to decide whether or not you'd like Acorns to be aggressive or conservative on your behalf.
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   Invest your spare change by rounding up your transactions. When you sign up for Acorns, you will link your account to your bank account. Acorns will then round up your transactions, investing the spare change in your investment portfolio.

   • In addition to your spare change, you can also invest a small daily amount. This amount can be as little as $5, and as high as $7,000.
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   Develop your financial literacy. Acorns offers several resources to help expand your financial literacy. Acorns' easy-to-read guides answer questions like "What's the difference between stocks and bonds?" or "What is an IRA?"^[2]

   • In conjunction with CNBC, Acorns also publishes a digital magazine called Grow, which shares news, tips, and tricks on topics like investing, saving, and borrowing.

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   Acorns Earn grants you extra cash at 350+ participating retailers. These retailers include Walmart, Sephora, Nike, and Expedia, among others. Simply browse the app for bonus investments and select one of them prior to checking out at an applicable retailer.^[3]

   • Be sure to download the Acorns Chrome Extension, which automatically scans the website you are on for potential earning opportunities.
   • Extra income earned via Acorns Earn typically processes in 60-120 days.^[4]
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   Refer a friend and get a free $5 investment. When you get a friend to sign up with Acorns, both of you receive an additional $5 investment. Simply send them your personalized referral link. Once your friend's account is approved, you will both receive your $5 reward.

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   Start your job hunt with Acorns. The Acorns app tracks hiring opportunities in your area, and offers additional information on hiring trends. Check out the in-app job board for job listings in your area, and even link directly to job applications!

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   Acorns Lite is a great way to get started. The Lite plan is the cheapest plan Acorns offers. For just $1/month, you get your own Acorns investment account.^[5]

   • Acorns partners with over 350 companies to grant their customers bonus investments, earning you extra bang for your buck.

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   Acorns Personal is the best value available. In addition to an investment account, a Personal plan gets you a retirement and a checking account.

   • An Acorns checking account grants you a debit card as well, which can be used at over 55,000 ATMs nationwide.
   • The Acorns checking account features no account fees, and expands your bonus investments up to 10%.
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   Acorns Family is perfect for families. Acorns Family offers everything included in the Acorns Personal plan, in addition to an investment account tailored specifically to kids. Multiple children can share an account at no extra cost, and the account can be opened in under 3 minutes.^[6]

   • The Acorns investment account for kids operates on automatic recurring investments, teaching kids how to invest while also simplifying the process.

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   Betterment offers a more robust investing experience. If you want the versatility of multiple investing accounts, and would like to minimize your overall taxes, Betterment is a better option than Acorns.^[7]

   • Betterment's management fee is 0.25% for its standard account, which is likely to be a much larger amount than Acorns' flat monthly fee.^[8]
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   Stash will appeal to DIY investors. If you'd prefer greater control over your investment portfolio, Stash will help you learn the ropes of investing before handing you the reigns.

   • Stash also helps you focus on Socially Responsible Investing, making it ideal for those who may have thematic interests for their investment portfolio.
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   Robinhood is great for investment pros. If you are already confident in your financial literacy, Robinhood is the way to go. The app allows you to trade without paying any commission fees, and now even offers cryptocurrency as well. Robinhood does not have any educational features, however, so it can be intimidating to newcomers.

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