Can you buy stocks on Acorns?

Buying stocks on Acorns

This article answers the practical search: "can you buy stocks on acorns" and explains, in plain terms, what kinds of securities Acorns actually lets users own. If you want to know whether Acorns supports buying individual company shares, how fractional investing works on the platform, and what alternatives exist if you prefer direct stock picking, this guide walks through the details, account types, fees, tax considerations, limitations, and next steps.

As of 2026-01-21, according to Acorns Help Center, Acorns is primarily an ETF-based robo-advisor and micro-investing app; it does not provide a traditional self-directed order ticket for buying individual company stocks on the platform. This article summarizes how Acorns structures investments, how fractional shares work for its ETF allocations, and what investors should consider if they want direct stock ownership.

Overview of Acorns as an investing platform

Acorns is a mobile-first micro- and robo-investing service designed for beginner investors and people who want automated saving and investing. Its core proposition is to make regular investing simple by turning small amounts of money into diversified portfolios that are managed automatically.

Key features and business model:

• Automated micro-investing: Acorns collects small amounts from everyday spending and deposits them into an investment account. The most well-known feature is Round-Ups, which invests spare change.
• Expert-built portfolios: Instead of letting users pick individual stocks, Acorns assigns one of several model portfolios built from exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and similar pooled investments. Portfolios are organized by risk profile.
• Recurring deposits and automation: Users can set recurring transfers, one-time deposits, or use Round-Ups together with recurring plans to dollar-cost average into a portfolio.
• Target user: People who prefer low-effort, automated investing and who may be new to the markets or have limited capital to start.

Acorns markets itself to savers and new investors who value automation and diversification over active trading.

What you can buy on Acorns — ETFs, funds, and fractional shares

When answering "can you buy stocks on acorns" it helps to be precise: Acorns does not sell individual company shares through a self-directed trading interface. Instead, Acorns builds and maintains portfolios that buy ETFs and other pooled investment vehicles.

What Acorns actually purchases for user accounts:

• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Broad market ETFs are the primary instruments used in Acorns portfolios. Those ETFs are often provided by large asset managers and track indexes or market segments.
• Pooled funds and fixed-income ETFs: Portfolios can include bond ETFs and other funds to achieve diversification across asset classes.
• Fractional shares of the ETFs used in portfolios: Acorns purchases ETFs in dollar amounts on behalf of users. Because users often invest small sums, Acorns allocates money in fractions of ETF shares rather than only whole share purchases.

Important detail: If you want a direct position in a specific company (for example, Apple, Alphabet, or Tesla), Acorns does not offer an on-platform function to pick and place an individual stock trade in your account. Any exposure to specific companies can occur only indirectly through the ETFs or funds that the Acorns portfolios hold.

Fractional shares and micro-investing on Acorns

Fractional-share investing is central to the Acorns experience. The platform turns small contributions into fractional ownership of ETF shares so that even a few dollars can be invested.

How fractional investing works on Acorns:

• Dollar-based orders: When your Round-Ups, one-time deposit, or recurring transfer hits the funding threshold, Acorns places a dollar-based buy into the portfolio. The purchase is executed as an allocation across the selected ETFs, often resulting in fractional shares of each ETF.
• Aggregated execution: For operational efficiency, Acorns may aggregate orders and execute trades in blocks for many users, then allocate fractional positions to individual accounts.
• Reinvestment and compounding: Dividends and distributions from ETFs are generally reinvested into the portfolio, further increasing fractional holdings over time.

Fractional ETF ownership allows users to benefit from diversification with very small balances, which is the micro-investing model's main appeal.

Can you buy individual stocks on Acorns?

Short answer to the search query "can you buy stocks on acorns": No, Acorns does not provide a conventional self-directed trading marketplace where you can place buy or sell orders for individual company stocks. Users cannot log in and select an individual ticker to buy whole or fractional shares of that single company through an on-platform ticket.

Expanded explanation:

• Managed portfolios only: Acorns offers managed portfolios comprised of ETFs and similar pooled securities. The platform selects the ETFs and the allocation according to your chosen portfolio and risk profile.
• Indirect exposure via ETFs: If an ETF held by Acorns’ portfolios contains shares of a particular company, you have indirect exposure to that company proportional to the ETF’s weight for that holding. But you do not directly own the company shares nor control the ETF's holdings or weightings.
• No user-directed stock picks: There is no feature to pick individual equities, customize portfolio holdings at the security level, or place market/limit orders for single-company stocks on Acorns’ standard Invest, Later, or Early accounts.

Because of this design, the direct answer to "can you buy stocks on acorns" for investors who want to pick companies themselves is: not on the platform in the traditional, self-directed sense.

Account types and how they affect what you can buy

Acorns offers several account types to meet common goals. Across account types, the investment vehicle remains the managed portfolio of ETFs rather than an on-platform stock order ticket.

Common Acorns account variants and their implications:

• Invest (taxable brokerage): This is the standard brokerage account where users hold their portfolio of ETFs. The account is a taxable brokerage relationship in which securities are held in custody for the user. You cannot select individual company stocks in this account.
• Later (retirement IRA accounts): Acorns offers Traditional and Roth IRA options. These accounts hold the same managed ETF-style portfolios but have retirement-specific tax treatment and contribution/withdrawal rules. Direct stock selection is not supported inside these IRAs via Acorns.
• Early (custodial accounts for minors): A custodial account allows a parent or guardian to invest on behalf of a minor using Acorns' portfolios. Holdings remain portfolio-based and built from ETFs.

Across these account types, what you can buy remains anchored to ETF and pooled fund ownership. The account wrapper (taxable vs IRA vs custodial) affects tax treatment and withdrawal rules, not the availability of direct stock orders.

How investing with Acorns works (features that affect stock exposure)

Acorns offers features designed to automate the saving and investing process. Each feature shapes how and when your capital is allocated into ETFs, which in turn shapes any indirect exposure to individual company stocks.

Key product features:

• Round-Ups: When enabled, Acorns rounds eligible debit or credit card purchases up to the next whole dollar and allocates the difference to your investment account. For example, a $3.45 purchase can create a $0.55 Round-Up. Those small amounts accumulate and are invested in your portfolio, resulting in fractional ETF shares.
• Recurring transfers: Users can set daily, weekly, or monthly transfers. These create steady dollar-based buys into your portfolio, smoothing timing risk.
• One-time deposits: A manual deposit is converted into portfolio ETF allocations at the next execution.
• Automatic rebalancing: Acorns periodically rebalances portfolios to maintain target allocations across ETFs. This process buys and sells within the ETF lineup but does not permit trades in underlying individual stocks.
• Dividend reinvestment: Dividends and distributions from ETFs are typically reinvested back into the portfolio ETFs, increasing fractional ownership.

Operational note: Because Acorns manages many small dollar-based allocations, trade execution may be batched and not immediate, which differs from real-time market orders used by some self-directed brokerages.

Fees, minimums, and protections

Fees and minimums can change over time. Below is a general summary of the common fee and protection themes you should evaluate when asking "can you buy stocks on acorns" and considering whether Acorns fits your needs.

Fees and subscription tiers:

• Subscription model: Acorns typically uses a subscription-based fee rather than charging per-trade commissions. The subscription fee covers account services and the automated investing features.
• Fee impact: For very small account balances, a flat monthly subscription can represent a higher percentage drag on returns versus percentage-based or commission-free models. Evaluate fees relative to your expected account size.

Minimums and operational thresholds:

• Round-Ups threshold and deposit posting: Round-Ups and other small contributions may be aggregated and invested once they meet operational thresholds. This avoids micro-trades for extremely small amounts.
• No required minimum for account opening in many cases: Part of Acorns’ appeal is the low barrier to entry. Practical minimums are effectively tied to how quickly your Round-Ups accumulate.

Protections and custody:

• Brokerage custody: Acorns’ investment accounts are held in custody by a brokerage/custodian designated in Acorns’ disclosures. Accounts are subject to standard brokerage practices and investor protections.
• SIPC-like protections: Accounts held at a registered brokerage are typically eligible for investor protection against broker-dealer failure under applicable protections (for example, SIPC in the U.S.). Users should review Acorns’ current account custody and protection disclosures for exact details and limits.

Important: Always consult the latest Acorns terms and disclosures within your account for precise fee schedules, custodial arrangements, and protection limits.

Tax treatment and reporting

Tax treatment depends on the account type and the transactions that occur within it. Below are the general tax considerations relevant to users wondering "can you buy stocks on acorns" and how Acorns’ structure affects tax outcomes.

Taxable Invest accounts:

• Capital gains and losses: Selling holdings in a taxable account can trigger capital gains or losses. Since Acorns uses ETFs, sales of ETF shares (including partial fractional positions) result in realized gains or losses for tax reporting.
• Dividends and distributions: Dividends paid by ETFs are reported as ordinary income or qualified dividends depending on the underlying holdings and timing. Acorns typically sends year-end tax documents summarizing dividend income and capital transactions.

Retirement (Later) accounts:

• IRA rules apply: Traditional and Roth IRAs under Acorns follow standard retirement account tax rules. Withdrawals, contributions, and required minimum distributions are subject to those tax laws.

Reporting and documentation:

• 1099s and tax forms: For taxable accounts, Acorns provides tax forms that detail dividend income, sale proceeds, and other reportable events. For retirement accounts, the platform provides documentation consistent with IRA custody rules.

If you need specific tax advice, consult a qualified tax professional and review Acorns’ most recent tax documentation.

Limitations and implications for investors

Answering "can you buy stocks on acorns" also requires understanding the trade-offs of Acorns’ model. The platform’s benefits come with limitations that are important if you want to own individual stocks or pursue active strategies.

Key limitations:

• No direct stock selection: You cannot pick individual company tickers for purchase within Acorns’ standard accounts.
• Limited customization: You can typically choose a risk profile or portfolio but not adjust holdings at the single-security level.
• Less control over timing and execution: Because Acorns executes dollar-based orders that may be batched, immediate intra-day execution or specific order types (limit orders, stop-loss orders) are not available.
• Voting rights and direct ownership: Holding fractional ETF shares means you own shares of the ETF, not the underlying companies directly. Voting rights for company matters are exercised by the ETF issuer or custodian, not by individual ETF fractional owners directly.
• Active strategies and tax-loss harvesting: Advanced active trading strategies and fine-grained tax strategies are generally outside Acorns’ scope. Some robo-advisors do offer tax-loss harvesting, but availability varies by platform and account type.

Implications for investors who want individual stock ownership:

• If you want direct ownership, you should consider a self-directed brokerage account elsewhere that permits individual equity trades and provides the specific order types you need.
• If you want diversification and automation, Acorns’ ETF-based portfolios may be a better fit.

Alternatives if you want to buy individual stocks

If the answer to "can you buy stocks on acorns" is unsatisfactory because you want to choose individual companies, you can open a self-directed brokerage account elsewhere. These alternatives typically allow:

• Direct purchases of individual equities (whole or fractional) with market or limit orders.
• Access to a wider set of financial instruments, such as single-stock options, direct stock purchase plans, or OTC securities (availability varies).
• More control over execution timing and order types.

When considering alternatives, prioritize platforms with clear fee schedules, solid custody protections, and a user experience that suits your trading style. If you are exploring web3 wallets or crypto trading alongside equities, consider Bitget and the Bitget Wallet for integrated crypto services and secure custody when applicable. For purely stock-focused self-directed trading, choose a regulated brokerage that supports individual equity trading.

Buying shares of Acorns the company (distinct question)

Some readers may wonder whether they can buy shares of Acorns the company itself. This is a different question from "can you buy stocks on acorns" as a platform user.

Clarification:

• Platform trading vs corporate equity: Using Acorns to invest in ETFs is not the same as buying shares of Acorns, Inc. If Acorns is publicly traded, acquiring stock in Acorns the company would require buying that ticker on a public exchange through a brokerage that supports trading that stock.
• Private company shares: If Acorns is privately held or its shares are not widely available, you may only acquire equity through private secondary markets, venture platforms, or by participating in an offering—none of which are functions of the consumer robo-advisor product.

Always distinguish between owning the product’s managed funds and owning equity in the company that operates the product.

Frequently asked questions

Q: Can I pick specific companies to buy on Acorns?

A: No. If you are asking "can you buy stocks on acorns" meaning individual company shares, Acorns does not support user-directed purchases of single-company stocks. Investments are made into portfolios of ETFs and funds chosen by the platform.

Q: Can I get fractional shares on Acorns?

A: Yes. When you invest on Acorns, your dollar contributions are allocated across portfolio ETFs and often result in fractional ETF shares. This fractional ownership is what allows micro-investing.

Q: Are my investments insured?

A: Accounts held at registered broker-dealers are normally eligible for standard brokerage protections—customers should review Acorns’ current custody and protection disclosures to confirm which protections (such as SIPC coverage) apply.

Q: How quickly are contributions invested?

A: Contributions from Round-Ups, recurring transfers, and one-time deposits may be aggregated and invested according to Acorns’ operational schedule. Execution may not be instantaneous and can be batched.

Q: Will I receive tax documents?

A: Yes. Taxable accounts receive tax documents summarizing dividends and sales. Retirement accounts follow IRA reporting rules. Consult Acorns’ tax guidance for details.

See also / Related topics

• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs): How they work and why robo-advisors use them.
• Fractional shares: Mechanisms and implications for ownership and voting rights.
• Robo-advisors vs self-directed brokerages: Trade-offs in control and convenience.
• Taxable brokerage vs IRA accounts: Key differences in tax treatment and rules.
• Bitget Wallet and custody solutions: For users exploring crypto alongside investing.

References

• Acorns Help Center — "How to Invest in Stocks" (Acorns Help/Support pages) — product guidance. As of 2026-01-21, according to Acorns Help Center, the platform structures investing through managed ETF-based portfolios rather than an on-platform individual stock trading ticket.
• Acorns Help Center — "Fractional Shares" and "How to Start Investing With Little Money" — documentation about dollar-based investing and fractional ETF allocations.
• Acorns Help Center — "Investment Account (Acorns Invest)" and "How to Trade Stocks" — information differentiating managed portfolio investing from self-directed trading.

For up-to-date specifics, fees, and legal disclosures, consult Acorns’ current product pages and custodial disclosures inside your account.

Practical next steps — if you still want to buy individual stocks

1. Decide whether you want direct control or prefer automated diversification.
2. If you want direct control, open a self-directed brokerage account that supports individual stock orders and the order types you need.
3. If you want to combine crypto and equities in a broader financial plan, consider secure custody solutions such as Bitget Wallet for digital assets and a regulated brokerage for equities.
4. Keep costs and minimums in mind: compare commission structures, subscription fees, and protection limits.

Further exploration: If you liked Acorns’ automation but still want occasional individual stock purchases, many investors use a separate self-directed brokerage for stock picking while keeping automated savings in a robo-advisor account.

Final notes and guidance

If your primary question is "can you buy stocks on acorns" meaning individual company shares, the clear product-level answer is no: Acorns offers ETF- and fund-based managed portfolios and fractional ownership of those pooled securities rather than a self-directed stock trading ticket. That design serves beginners and micro-investors who prioritize automation and diversification.

If you want active, self-directed ownership of individual companies, choose a brokerage that supports individual stock trades and the precise trading tools you need. If your interest includes crypto or Web3 custody, consider Bitget and Bitget Wallet as options for secure digital-asset management and integrated services.

Explore more: review Acorns’ official help pages within your account for the latest details, and compare features, fees, and protections before changing or opening accounts.

This article is informational and not investment advice. Check platform disclosures and consult a licensed advisor for personalized guidance.