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Acorns vs Vanguard

Acorns logo

Acorns

Software

Invest your spare change

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vanguard logo

Vanguard

Software

Investing for your future

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; Vanguard a 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets
  • They diverge on capability: Acorns covers Round-up investing, Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Acorns and Vanguard actually diverge.

Attributes where Acorns and Vanguard differ
AttributeAcornsVanguard
Pricing modelsubscriptiontransaction
Founded20121975

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), 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

Only in Vanguard

  • Low-cost index funds
  • Commission-free trading
  • Retirement accounts
  • Financial advisors
  • Investment accounts

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • Web support
  • 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 Vanguard
  • Retirement saving through Acorns Later IRA accountsnot Vanguard
  • Checking and high-yield savings alongside investingnot Vanguard
  • Custodial investing and debit cards for children through Acorns Earlynot Vanguard
  • Earning cashback that is invested rather than bankednot Vanguard

Vanguard

  • Holding low cost index mutual funds and ETFs for long term investingnot Acorns
  • Running IRAs and taxable brokerage accountsnot Acorns
  • Employer retirement plan participationnot 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

Vanguard

  • A 25 USD annual account service fee applies unless the account uses e-delivery, is a Cash Plus Account, is enrolled in an advisory service, or holds 1 million USD or more in qualifying assets
  • Broker assisted trades cost 25 USD each, waived only at 1 million USD in qualifying assets or with an advisory service
  • Options trades carry a 1 USD per contract fee on top of zero commission
  • Transaction fee mutual funds cost 20 USD per online trade below 1 million USD in qualifying assets, falling to 8 USD only at higher tiers
  • Outgoing wire transfers cost 10 USD unless the account is a retirement account or holds 1 million USD or more
  • Commission levels are tied to a Qualifying Assets balance, so the cheapest rates require 1 million USD or more

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

Vanguard

On request
  • Self-Directed Investor$undefined/month
    • Low-cost index funds
    • Commission-free trading
  • Advisory Services$undefined/month
    • All Self-Directed features
    • Financial advisors

Which should you pick?

Choose Acorns if

  • You need round-up investing.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want automated investing.
Acorns review

Choose Vanguard if

  • You need low-cost index funds.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want commission-free trading.
Vanguard review

Questions people ask

Is Acorns or Vanguard better?
Neither clearly leads. Acorns starts at On request and Vanguard at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Acorns or Vanguard?
Acorns starts at On request and Vanguard at On request.
Does Acorns or Vanguard run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
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 Vanguard is typically brought in for.
What can Acorns do that Vanguard cannot?
Acorns covers Round-up investing, Automated investing, Portfolio management, Recurring investments. Vanguard covers Low-cost index funds, Commission-free trading, Retirement accounts, Financial advisors. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.
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