Acorns vs Betterment
By Itai Varochik | Updated 2026
Quick Verdict
Overall Winner: Betterment (4.5/5)
We tested Acorns and Betterment side-by-side. Betterment comes out ahead overall, but Acorns may be better for specific use cases.
Score Breakdown
| Criteria | Acorns | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 6.5/10 | 8/10 |
| Ease of Use | 9.5/10 | 9/10 |
| Value for Money | 6.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Customer Support | 7/10 | 8/10 |
| Overall | 7/10 | 8.5/10 |
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Acorns | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Round-Ups | Yes | No |
| Recurring Investments | Yes | No |
| Acorns Later | Yes | No |
| Acorns Earn | Yes | No |
| Acorns Spend | Yes | No |
| Found Money | Yes | No |
| Diversified Portfolios | Yes | No |
| Educational Content | Yes | No |
| Automated Investing | No | Yes |
| Tax-Loss Harvesting | No | Yes |
| Goal Planning | No | Yes |
| SRI Portfolios | No | Yes |
| Cash Reserve | No | Yes |
| Financial Advice | No | Yes |
| Automatic Rebalancing | No | Yes |
Pricing Comparison
Acorns: $3 – $12/mo
Betterment: 0.25%/year
Acorns Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easiest way to start investing
- Round-ups create automatic investing habit
- Retirement accounts included
- Found Money bonuses from shopping
- No percentage-based fees
Cons
- Flat fee expensive for small balances
- No individual stock selection
- Limited customization
- Round-ups alone build wealth slowly
- No tax-loss harvesting
Betterment Pros & Cons
Pros
- No minimum deposit required to start investing, making it accessible for beginners.
- Industry-leading automated tax-loss harvesting significantly boosts after-tax returns.
- Offers diverse socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios to align with personal values.
- High-yield Cash Reserve account with competitive APY and FDIC insurance.
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface simplifies financial planning and tracking.
- Goal-based investing framework helps users visualize and achieve financial milestones.
Cons
- Does not support direct trading of individual stocks or ETFs, limiting active investor control.
- Access to a human financial advisor requires a substantial $100,000 minimum balance for the Premium plan.
- Limited customization options for investment portfolios beyond pre-set allocations.
- No cryptocurrency investment options are currently available.
Key Specifications
| Spec | Acorns | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 3.8/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Pricing | $3 – $12/mo | 0.25%/year |
| Year Founded | 2012 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Irvine, CA | New York, NY |
| Employees | N/A | 400+ |
| Best For Region | N/A | United States |
| Cash Account APY | N/A | 4.00%+ |
Our Verdict
Betterment wins overall. Choose Acorns if you value Investing beginners seeking an easy entry point into the market with minimal effort.. Choose Betterment if you prioritize Hands-off investors wanting automated, diversified portfolios..
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acorns better than Betterment?
Based on our testing, Betterment scores higher with a rating of 4.5/5 compared to Acorns's 3.8/5. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs.
What is the main difference between Acorns and Betterment?
Acorns is known for: Micro-investing app that rounds up purchases to invest spare change, with retirement accounts, banking, and rewards.. Betterment is known for: America's largest independent robo-advisor with automated investing and tax optimization..
Which is cheaper, Acorns or Betterment?
Acorns pricing: $3 – $12/mo. Betterment pricing: 0.25%/year.
Can I use Acorns and Betterment together?
While both tools serve similar purposes in the Robo-Advisors category, some users do use complementary features from both platforms.
What are the pros of Acorns?
Easiest way to start investing. Round-ups create automatic investing habit. Retirement accounts included
What are the pros of Betterment?
No minimum deposit required to start investing, making it accessible for beginners.. Industry-leading automated tax-loss harvesting significantly boosts after-tax returns.. Offers diverse socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios to align with personal values.
Which robo-advisors should I choose?
Choose Acorns if you value Investing beginners seeking an easy entry point into the market with minimal effort.. Choose Betterment if you prioritize Hands-off investors wanting automated, diversified portfolios..