Software · head to head
Investopedia Stock Simulator vs Acorns
The short version
- Only Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Investopedia Stock Simulator market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education; Acorns a flat monthly subscription regardless of balance, so $3 a month on Bronze is a heavy percentage on a small account
- They diverge on capability: Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Acorns covers Round-up investing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Investopedia Stock Simulator and Acorns actually diverge.
| Attribute | Investopedia Stock Simulator | Acorns |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2012 |
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 Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Virtual stock trading
- Real-time market data
- Educational resources
- Market data
Only in Acorns
- Round-up investing
- Automated investing
- Recurring investments
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- IOS support
- Android support
Both cover
- Portfolio management
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Budget Managementnot Acorns
- Expense Trackingnot Acorns
- Investment Trackingnot Acorns
Acorns
- Automated investing of spare change from everyday purchasesnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Retirement saving through Acorns Later IRA accountsnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Checking and high-yield savings alongside investingnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Custodial investing and debit cards for children through Acorns Earlynot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Earning cashback that is invested rather than bankednot Investopedia Stock Simulator
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education
- Limited order type support compared to modern trading platforms
- Simplified fill simulation does not replicate real trading execution
- Platform has not received significant updates in many years
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
Pricing, plan by plan
Investopedia Stock Simulator
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Investopedia Stock Simulator review.
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
Which should you pick?
Choose Investopedia Stock Simulator if
- You need virtual stock trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time market data.
Choose Acorns if
- You need round-up investing.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want automated investing.
Questions people ask
- Is Investopedia Stock Simulator or Acorns better?
- Neither clearly leads. Investopedia Stock Simulator starts at Free and Acorns at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Investopedia Stock Simulator or Acorns?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Investopedia Stock Simulator and On request for Acorns.
- Does Investopedia Stock Simulator or Acorns run on more platforms?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator runs on Web. Acorns runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Investopedia Stock Simulator for free?
- Yes. Investopedia Stock Simulator has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Acorns starts at On request.
- What is Investopedia Stock Simulator best used for?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Acorns is typically brought in for.
- What can Investopedia Stock Simulator do that Acorns cannot?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Real-time market data, Educational resources, Market data. Acorns covers Round-up investing, Automated investing, Recurring investments, Bank accounts. Both handle Portfolio management, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Investopedia Stock Simulator: Is the Investopedia Stock Simulator free?
Yes, the Investopedia Stock Simulator is completely free to use after creating an account. No real funds are required for simulated trading.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What is included in the simulator?
Users receive a $100,000 virtual portfolio to trade stocks, with integrated educational content including articles, tutorials, and a financial dictionary for learning investing.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What are the limitations of the Investopedia Simulator?
The simulator uses delayed market data (typically 15-20 minutes), has limited order type support, simplified fill simulation, and has not received proper updates in many years.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: Can you compete with other traders?
Yes, you can join existing games or create custom games with configurable rules including options, margin trading, and adjustable commission rates, competing with thousands of Investopedia traders.
Source