Stash review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Stash suits US beginners who want a retirement pot built from a phone rather than a wide market. Trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is free, but the account fee of $144 a year is the price of that simplicity.
Key facts
- Best for
- Phone-first retirement saving for US beginners, priced by subscription rather than commission.
- Minimum deposit
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Stock trade fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account fee
- $144 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- SEC, FINRA (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account types
- IRA, Roth-IRA (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Stash Investments LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Fractional shares, Mobile app
- Pricing model
- Commission-free
- Audience
- Beginners
- Official website
- stash.com
Robo-advisors
- Management fee
- $108 to $144 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Minimum investment
- $5 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- SEC, FINRA (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account types
- IRA, Roth-IRA (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Portfolio types
- ETF (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- Stash Investments LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2015 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so small orders carry no per-trade charge.
- The portfolio option is an etf portfolio alongside ira and roth ira accounts, which keeps retirement saving in one place.
- Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and fractional shares spread small contributions across holdings.
- Regulated by SEC and FINRA, with client investments listed under SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- The account fee of $144 a year leaves Stash at 134 of 138 brands on that measure, while eToro lists $0.
- Support runs on help centre only, so questions about a retirement account are left to articles.
- Trading is limited to stocks and etfs with an etf portfolio, so there is no forex, crypto or CFD route.
Who it suits
- US beginners who want a retirement account, a phone app and a small starting amount rather than a wide market.
- Long-term savers content to hold stocks and etfs and an etf portfolio without picking markets themselves.
- Readers who weigh regulation first, since Stash is registered with SEC and FINRA in the US.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want forex, crypto or CFDs, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Anyone put off by a yearly charge, as eToro lists $0 for its account.
- Readers who prefer a provider with a published entry figure, such as Vantage at $5, rather than a free minimum deposit.
How your money is protected
Stash is a US broker regulated by SEC and FINRA, and its disclosures list SIPC up to USD 500,000 as the protection that applies to client investments. Both regulators are US bodies, so the cover on offer is a US arrangement rather than a UK or European scheme, which is worth weighing for readers shopping across markets. The stated figure is a limit, not a promise of return.
The company behind it
Stash is run by Stash Investments LLC, headquartered in the United States and founded in 2015. It is a US business serving US retirement accounts, and its support runs on help centre only, so help arrives as articles rather than a person on the phone. Questions about the retirement account itself are left to that help centre and the app.
How Stash compares
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Where Stash is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- SEC, checked September 26, 2026
- Licence in United States
- FINRA, checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much does Stash cost to run?+
Running the plan costs a management fee of $108 to $144 a year, and the account fee is $144. Stock trades cost $0 and the model is commission-free, so the charge sits with the subscription rather than the order. The site median account fee is €0, so Stash sits at the dear end of the table.
How much do I need to start?+
The minimum deposit is free, and the minimum investment is $5, so an account can be opened at a size that suits a monthly habit rather than a lump sum. Stash ranks 1 of 213 brands on this measure, against a site median of €4.64.
Who regulates Stash, and is my money protected?+
Stash is regulated by SEC and FINRA, and its disclosures list SIPC up to USD 500,000 as the protection on client investments. Both regulators are US bodies, so the arrangement is a US one, and a reader in the UK or Europe is comparing it with a different protection regime. The stated figure is a limit on client holdings.
What can I buy on Stash?+
The market list is stocks and etfs, and the managed option is an etf portfolio. There is no forex, crypto or CFD trading listed, so anyone who wants those markets has to look elsewhere: CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex on the same kind of retail account.
What can I use to trade on Stash?+
Access runs through Web, iOS and Android, and the feature list includes fractional shares and a mobile app, so a small monthly contribution can be spread across holdings without buying whole shares. The commission-free model then applies on top of each order.
Which retirement accounts are on offer?+
The account types listed are ira and roth ira, both US retirement wrappers, and the account fee of $144 a year is what you pay to keep one running. A general investment account is not in the list, so a taxable holding alongside a pension wrapper means a second provider.
Who is Stash built for?+
The stated audience is beginners, and the design centres on US savers building a retirement pot from a phone. It suits readers who accept a flat yearly charge in exchange for simplicity. Across brokers, a median of 70.15% of retail accounts lose money, and for beginner-focused brands the figure is 74%.
Sources
- tradingplatforms.com/compare/stash-vs-robinhood checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“both designed for beginner traders who want to buy and sell stocks, ETFs”
- stash.com/about checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Headquarters
“2015 Stash launched”
- stash.com/disclosures checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Investor protection, Legal entity, Regulators, Support channels, Licences
“owned and operated by Stash Investments LLC”
- stash.com/invest checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account types, Features, Markets, Platforms
“traditional or Roth IRA - it is part of your subscription”
- stash.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account fee, Management fee, Minimum deposit, Minimum investment, Pricing model, Portfolio types, Stock trade fee
“just a flat monthly subscription ($12 per month) for access - The Stash Plan”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Inactivity fee, Retail accounts that lose money.
Stash
Phone-first retirement saving for US beginners, priced by subscription rather than commission.