ST
4

2134 reviews

Stash Review

Best Stock-Back Card

A beginner-friendly investing app with the unique Stock-Back card that rewards your spending with fractional shares instead of cash back.

$1-$9
Monthly Fee
$0
Account Minimum
Yes
Stock-Back Card
Automatic
DRIP

Pros

  • Stock-Back debit card earns fractional shares on purchases
  • Both DIY and Smart Portfolio (automated) investing options
  • Automatic dividend reinvestment in managed accounts
  • Fractional shares let you invest any amount
  • Round-up investing available
  • No hidden fees—no overdraft, maintenance, or minimum balance fees
  • Values-based investment options available
  • Early direct deposit (up to 2 days)

Cons

  • Monthly fees can be expensive for small balances
  • No tax-loss harvesting available
  • Stock-Back rewards are modest (0.125% base rate)
  • Some ETFs have higher expense ratios than alternatives
  • Smart Portfolio not available in retirement accounts
  • Limited advanced trading features

Stock-Back Card

Stash's unique feature is the Stock-Back debit card. Instead of earning cash back or points, you earn fractional shares of stock on every purchase.

Base earnings are 0.125% (or $0.125 per $100 spent). Stash+ subscribers earn 0.25%. Certain partner merchants offer bonus rewards up to 5%.

For example, shop at a partner retailer and earn fractional shares of that company's stock. It's a novel way to build a portfolio through everyday spending.

Dividend Reinvestment (DRIP)

Dividends are automatically reinvested in Smart Portfolio, Retirement, and Custodial accounts. This helps your portfolio compound over time.

For your Personal Portfolio (DIY), you can toggle DRIP on or off in account settings. This gives you control over whether dividends reinvest or stay as cash.

Dividend reinvestment may take 3-4 business days to process.

  • Automatic DRIP in managed accounts
  • Optional DRIP toggle for DIY portfolio
  • Fractional share reinvestment
  • 3-4 day processing time
  • No fees for reinvestment

Pricing Plans

Beginner ($1/month): Basic investing, debit card with Stock-Back, financial education. Great for getting started.

Growth ($3/month): Everything in Beginner plus retirement accounts (IRA). The most popular plan.

Stash+ ($9/month): Everything in Growth plus custodial accounts for 2 kids, double Stock-Back rewards, and monthly market insights.

Smart Portfolio vs DIY

Smart Portfolio is Stash's automated option—answer questions about risk tolerance and Stash builds a diversified portfolio. Great for hands-off investing.

DIY lets you pick individual stocks and ETFs from Stash's curated selection. Values-based options include ESG and socially responsible investments.

Note: Smart Portfolio is only available in taxable brokerage accounts, not retirement accounts.

Round-Up Investing

Like Acorns, Stash offers round-up investing. Purchases on your Stock-Back debit card are rounded up, and the difference is invested.

Combined with Stock-Back rewards and automatic deposits, you have multiple ways to feed your portfolio without thinking about it.

Round-ups go to your individual investing account by default.

Banking Features

Stash includes online banking with no hidden fees—no overdraft, minimum balance, maintenance, or setup fees.

Direct deposit can arrive up to 2 days early. Access over 19,000 fee-free ATMs nationwide.

FDIC insurance protects deposits. The all-in-one approach combines banking and investing in a single app.

Fees & Costs

Transparent breakdown of all fees you might encounter.

Fee TypeCost
Beginner Plan$1/month
Growth Plan$3/month
Stash+ Plan$9/month
Account Minimum$0 ($5 to invest)
Trading Commissions$0
Dividend ReinvestmentIncluded
Stock-Back (Base)0.125%
Stock-Back (Stash+)0.25%
Overdraft Fee$0
Account Transfer Out$75

Who Stash Is Best For

Stock-Back Enthusiasts

Earn fractional shares instead of cash back on everyday purchases.

Beginners Wanting Control

Choose between automated Smart Portfolio or DIY stock picking.

Values-Based Investors

Curated options for ESG and socially responsible investing.

The Bottom Line

Stash offers a unique value proposition with its Stock-Back debit card—earning fractional shares instead of cash back. The combination of automated and DIY investing, automatic DRIP, and banking features creates a comprehensive beginner platform. However, monthly fees eat into returns for small accounts, and the lack of tax-loss harvesting puts it behind Betterment and Wealthfront for optimization. If the Stock-Back card appeals to you, Stash is worth considering. Otherwise, free brokerages offer similar features without the subscription.

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