Software · head to head
Acorns vs Cash App
The short version
- Only Cash App has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Acorns a flat monthly subscription regardless of balance, so $3 a month on Bronze is a heavy percentage on a small account; Cash App the App Store listing states free ATM withdrawals and up to 200 dollars in free overdraft coverage on the Cash App Card are only available once a user qualifies for Green status, not to all users by default.
- They diverge on capability: Acorns covers Round-up investing, Cash App covers Money transfers.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Acorns and Cash App actually diverge.
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Acorns
- Round-up investing
- Automated investing
- Portfolio management
- Recurring investments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Web support
Only in Cash App
- Money transfers
- Direct deposit
- Bitcoin trading
- Stock investing
- Cash Card
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Acorns
- Automated investing of spare change from everyday purchasesnot Cash App
- Retirement saving through Acorns Later IRA accountsnot Cash App
- Checking and high-yield savings alongside investingnot Cash App
- Custodial investing and debit cards for children through Acorns Earlynot Cash App
- Earning cashback that is invested rather than bankednot Cash App
Cash App
- Budget Managementnot Acorns
- Expense Trackingnot Acorns
- Investment Trackingnot Acorns
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Acorns
- A flat monthly subscription regardless of balance, so $3 a month on Bronze is a heavy percentage on a small account
- The emergency savings account and the 1 percent IRA match need Silver at $6 a month
- Custom portfolios, Acorns Early for children and Money Manager are Gold tier only at $12 a month
- There is no free tier
Cash App
- The App Store listing states free ATM withdrawals and up to 200 dollars in free overdraft coverage on the Cash App Card are only available once a user qualifies for Green status, not to all users by default.
Pricing, plan by plan
Acorns
On request- Lite$4.99/month
- Round-up investing
- Automated portfolio
- Plus$9.99/month
- All Lite features
- Checking account
- Dollar-based investing
- Premier$19.99/month
- All Plus features
- Premium investing
Cash App
Free- FreeFree
- Money transfers
- Direct deposit
- Mobile app
- Cash App Investing$undefined/month
- Stock trading
- Bitcoin trading
Which should you pick?
Choose Acorns if
- You need round-up investing.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want automated investing.
Choose Cash App if
- You need money transfers.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, Android.
- You also want direct deposit.
Questions people ask
- Is Acorns or Cash App better?
- Neither clearly leads. Acorns starts at On request and Cash App at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Acorns or Cash App?
- Cash App has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Acorns and Free for Cash App.
- Does Acorns or Cash App run on more platforms?
- Acorns runs on Web, IOS, Android. Cash App runs on IOS, Android.
- Can I use Cash App for free?
- Yes. Cash App has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acorns starts at On request.
- What is Acorns best used for?
- Acorns is most often used for automated investing of spare change from everyday purchases, retirement saving through acorns later ira accounts, checking and high-yield savings alongside investing, custodial investing and debit cards for children through acorns early. Of those, automated investing of spare change from everyday purchases and retirement saving through acorns later ira accounts are not what Cash App is typically brought in for.
- What can Acorns do that Cash App cannot?
- Acorns covers Round-up investing, Automated investing, Portfolio management, Recurring investments. Cash App covers Money transfers, Direct deposit, Bitcoin trading, Stock investing. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support, Android support.