Stash Review

Beginner investors starting small

SEC FINRA SIPC

Founded 2015 · United States

Why investors choose this broker

Low $3/month entry-level subscription
No trading commissions on stocks or ETFs
Fractional shares from $0.01
Smart Portfolio automated investing with quarterly rebalancing

Review summary

Stash is a US micro-investing app offering fractional shares, ETFs, Smart Portfolio robo-advisor, IRAs, and a Stock-Back debit card on a flat monthly subscription.

Pros

Low $3/month entry-level subscription
No trading commissions on stocks or ETFs
Fractional shares from $0.01
Smart Portfolio automated investing with quarterly rebalancing
IRA match of 3% on contributions for Stash+ subscribers
Stock-Back card earns stock rewards on everyday spending
Beginner-friendly interface with investment guidance

Cons

Monthly subscription fee can be disproportionately high for small account balances
No options, futures, forex, or CFD trading
Crypto trading discontinued in December 2023
Smart Portfolio does not support IRAs or tax-loss harvesting
No human financial adviser access
$100 outgoing ACAT transfer fee
Limited advanced charting and research tools

Company background

Stash was founded in 2015 by Brandon Krieg, Ed Robinson, and David Ronick and is headquartered in New York City. The iOS app launched in October 2015 with the aim of making investing accessible to everyday Americans. By 2025 the platform reported approximately $5 billion in assets under management with more than one million paying subscribers. In February 2026, Grab Holdings announced an agreement to acquire Stash for an enterprise value of $425 million, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

Fees and pricing

Stash charges a flat monthly subscription rather than per-trade commissions. The Starter plan costs $3 per month and includes a personal brokerage account, a Smart Portfolio managed account, an IRA, the Stock-Back debit card, a 3% IRA contribution match, and educational tools. The Stash+ plan costs $12 per month and adds custodial accounts for children and enhanced debit card rewards. There are no trading commissions on stocks or ETFs and no deposit fees. Outgoing ACAT transfers to another brokerage cost $100. Instant debit card withdrawals carry a 1% fee. ETF expense ratios range from approximately 0.03% to 0.95% annually depending on the fund.

Regulation and safety

Stash Investments LLC is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Stash Capital LLC is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Client investments are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party FINRA/SIPC member, with SIPC protection up to $500,000 including up to $250,000 for cash. Uninvested cash in banking accounts is held at Stride Bank, N.A., an FDIC-insured institution.

Platform experience

Stash is available as a web app and through iOS and Android mobile apps. Users can invest in thousands of stocks and ETFs with fractional shares from $0.01. The Smart Portfolio feature provides automated investing based on goals and risk tolerance, with quarterly rebalancing when allocations drift beyond 5%. Auto-Stash enables recurring investments on a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule. Dividend reinvestment and stock round-ups further automate contributions. The Stock-Back debit card converts everyday spending into fractional share ownership. Stash does not offer advanced charting, options trading, or human financial adviser access.

Pros and cons

Stash's main advantages are its low $3/month entry price, no per-trade commissions, fractional shares from $0.01, automated Smart Portfolio investing, a 3% IRA match for Stash+ subscribers, and the Stock-Back debit card. The main drawbacks are that the monthly fee can represent a high percentage cost for very small balances, no options or futures products are available, crypto was discontinued in December 2023, Smart Portfolio does not support tax-loss harvesting or IRA accounts, and the $100 outgoing ACAT fee is relatively high.

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Trading fees & commissions

Stash charges a flat monthly subscription of $3 (Starter) or $12 (Stash+). There are no trading commissions on stocks or ETFs, and no deposit or inactivity fees. An outgoing ACAT transfer costs $100.

Fees

Item	Fee
Account	Starter: $3/month; Stash+: $12/month
Deposit	Free
Inactivity	No inactivity fee; dormant accounts may have routine maintenance fees assessed after 24 months of no activity
Withdrawal	Free for standard ACH; instant debit withdrawal 1% fee; non-Allpoint ATM $2.50
Acat Transfer	$100 per outgoing account transfer
Instant Transfer	1% fee for instant transfers

Trading platform & features

Platforms

Stash Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

Stash Investments LLC is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and Stash Capital LLC is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Client investments are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party FINRA/SIPC member, providing SIPC protection up to $500,000.

Broker FAQs

Is Stash safe?

Stash Capital LLC is a FINRA and SIPC member, and client investments are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, also a FINRA/SIPC member. SIPC protection covers securities up to $500,000, including up to $250,000 for cash. Banking deposits are held at Stride Bank, N.A., an FDIC-insured institution.

Is Stash a scam?

No. Stash Investments LLC is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser and Stash Capital LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC.

Is Stash regulated and by whom?

Yes. Stash Investments LLC is registered with the SEC as an investment adviser. Stash Capital LLC is registered with the SEC as a broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA and SIPC.

Does Stash keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Client investments are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party FINRA/SIPC member. Uninvested cash in banking accounts is held at Stride Bank, N.A., an FDIC-insured institution.

What happens to my money if Stash goes bankrupt?

Client investments held at Apex Clearing Corporation are protected by SIPC up to $500,000 in total, including up to $250,000 for cash claims. Banking deposits at Stride Bank are protected by FDIC insurance to applicable limits.

What products does Stash offer?

Stash offers individual stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, a Smart Portfolio managed account, traditional and Roth IRAs, custodial accounts for children, and a linked banking account with a Stock-Back debit card.

Does Stash offer ETFs?

Yes. Stash provides access to thousands of stocks and ETFs with no trading commissions. ETF expense ratios range from approximately 0.03% to 0.95% annually depending on the fund.

Does Stash offer fractional shares?

Yes. Stash supports fractional share purchases starting from $0.01, allowing users to invest in companies regardless of the full share price.

Does Stash offer a robo-advisor?

Yes. The Smart Portfolio feature is a managed account that automatically invests based on the user's goals and risk tolerance and rebalances quarterly when allocations drift by more than 5%. Smart Portfolio is available on both subscription plans but does not support IRAs.

Does Stash offer crypto?

No. Stash discontinued direct cryptocurrency purchases in December 2023. Exposure to Bitcoin and other digital assets may be available through ETFs listed on Stash's platform.

What does Stash charge per month?

The Starter plan costs $3 per month. The Stash+ plan costs $12 per month and adds custodial accounts and enhanced stock rewards on the debit card.

Does Stash charge trading commissions?

No. Stash does not charge commissions on stock or ETF trades. The platform generates revenue through its flat monthly subscription fee.

Is there a withdrawal fee at Stash?

Standard ACH withdrawals are free. Instant debit card withdrawals carry a 1% fee. Non-Allpoint ATM cash withdrawals cost $2.50 per transaction.

Does Stash charge an inactivity fee?

Stash does not charge a standard inactivity fee. However, accounts with no customer-initiated activity and no contact for a minimum of 24 months may be classified as dormant and subject to routine maintenance fees.

What is the ACAT transfer fee at Stash?

Stash charges $100 per account for an outgoing ACAT transfer to another brokerage.

Does Stash have a demo account?

No. Stash does not offer a paper trading or demo account.

Does Stash have a mobile app?

Yes. Stash is available on iOS via the App Store and on Android via Google Play.

Is Stash good for beginners?

Yes. Stash is designed for beginner investors, offering fractional shares from $0.01, automated Smart Portfolio investing, recurring investment scheduling, educational content, and an AI Money Coach to help users develop investing habits.

Is Stash good for long-term investing?

Stash is oriented toward long-term investing through recurring contributions, dividend reinvestment, Smart Portfolio rebalancing, and IRA accounts. It does not offer advanced trading products such as options, futures, or forex.

Bottom line

Stash suits users who want a beginner-friendly, all-in-one app for building long-term investing habits through fractional shares, automated portfolios, IRAs, and a rewards debit card on a simple flat subscription. It may not suit users who need advanced trading products such as options, futures, or forex, who want tax-loss harvesting, or whose account balance is small enough that the monthly subscription represents a disproportionate cost.

Stash

Beginner investors starting small

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.