Best Apps to Automatically Invest Spare Change
No need to be gentle, you should all know me by now, I don’t mince words. Let’s do this (no filter) There is lots of coin left from those daily coffee or grocery store runs in the morning? What if you could invest that change without ever missing it? Enter the world of the best apps that invest your spare change for you – yeah, micro‑investing apps that round up your purchases, and invest the difference into diversified portfolios.
No more excuses of “I don’t have enough.” You can turn loose change into a thriving portfolio with these — while you’re literally living day to day. Here’s the tea: The best apps to invest spare change may be able to spin pocket change into a low-maintenance cash cow.
Are you willing to beat your coffee drops to a bone? Okay, we need to get back on track and get into this week’s list of best of automatic spare‑change investing app options.
Table of Contents
- What Is Micro‑Investing & How Does It Work
- Top Apps to Automatically Invest Spare Change
Acorns
Stash
Wealthsimple
M1 Finance
Qapital Raiz (for Aussies)
3. How to Choose the Right App
4. Tips to Maximize Round-Up Investing
5. Final Thoughts
6. FAQ
1. What Is Micro‑Investing & How Does It Work?
MICRO-INVESTING Micro-investing is a way for the average consumer to invest tiny sums on a regular basis — even if you have just $5 to invest fare thee well, fat cat — without running up big commissions or high fees. They hook up to your credit or debit cards and then automatically “round up” each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing that spare change in E.T.F.s or in fractions of shares in a broad swath of stocks. These nickels and dimes also accumulate — and compound.
2. Top Apps to Automatically Invest Spare Change
1. Stash (For Total Control) Stash is a neat app because it’s all about helping you focus on those small investments — in fact, you can only invest in increments of $5.
Acorns
The Round‑Ups include: rounding up your purchases to the nearest dollar, and investing the spare change.
Bonus features: Found Money (cashback) retirement/kids accounts Bitcoin ETF available YesOptional 9) Acorns I really think Acorns is a lot of noise for something that offers little return for the money.
Pricing: $3-9/mo, individual, retirement, banking, tiers.
Why it’s lit: SIPC‑ and FDIC‑insured, built‑in safety net, and all‑in‑one investing + checking. Download at Apple App Store
Stash
Offers round‑ups and Smart-Stash automation.
Invest in fractional shares of stocks and ETFs with no fees, starting at just $1.
Subscriptions: $1 a month starter, $3 a month growth, $9 a month stash+ (includes IRA and custodial accounts).
Why Stash: Some automatic investing, plus your own selection of stocks. Download at the App Store.
Wealthsimple
Robo-advisor with an auto Roundup.
No minimums; annual fee 0.4–0.5%.
Comes with live advisor supportETFFund Portfolios are diversified. I haven’t tried Wealthsimple so cannot vouch for it.
M1 Finance
Plop your pie on a stand and, if you wish, also auto‑invest some spare change toward your desired asset allocation.
Fractional shares and auto‑rebalance included.
No mgmt fees (earns from margin/subscriptions).
Best for those looking for robo‑efficiency and customizability. — I have not beta’d M1 Finance and therefore am not taking a stand on the recid not to stand for promotionation front.
Qapital
Throw in savings rules and automatic triggers to your gamified “if-this-then-that”.
Good for people who enjoy gaming saving/investing. I don’t have experience with Qapital so can’t speak personally about it.
Raiz (Australia)
Automated round‑ups into ETF portfolios; includes crypto, real estate picks.
Great for Aussies looking for micro‑investing with local stocks.
3. How to Choose the Right App
| Feature | Acorns | Stash | Wealthsimple | M1 Finance | Qapital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automation |  Strong |
Strong |
Moderate |
Custom pies |
Gamified rules |
| Fees | $3–9/mo + ETF | $1–9/mo | 0.4–0.5% AUM | Free + paid tiers | Free + bank fees |
| Account types | Taxable, IRA, kids | Taxable, IRA, custodial | Taxable, IRA | Taxable, IRA, spend | Savings only |
| Fractional shares | Yes |
Yes |
Through ETFs | Yes |
No |
If you want an all-in-one rounding + banking + investing combo, you might go with Acorns.
Give Stash a try for handpicked stocks and round‑ups.
Opt for Wealthsimple if you want access to advisors and robo ETFs.
If you want automated portfolios tailored to your needs, you can check out M1 Finance.
Select Qapital if you like game‑style automation and rules.
4. Tips to Maximize Round‑Up Investing
- Provide multipliers (such as 2x or 5x round‑ups) to accelerate growth — as Acorns does.
- Link them all together so every swipe can be oversized hustle.
- Involve automatic deposits — monthly auto contributions can reduce investment timing.
- Watch fees as a percentage of return: Just a few fees can punish small balances the most.
- Take advantage of Found Money/bonus programs if you have them (Acorns, Raiz).
Closing Summary
The best apps for investing your spare change automatically divide up trying to build wealth into baby‑step units. Whether you are a noob robot (Acorns, Qapital), like a little bit of control (Stash and M1) or want an actual robot to recommend things (Wealthsimple), there’s a money squirrel tool to fit your vibe. Start small, stick with it, and let compounding do its job — your future self will thank you.
FAQ
Q: Do these apps carry risk? Q: Is value praised?
Q: Are spare‑change apps safe? A: They’re all SIPC‑insured, and are regulated in some degree, whether it’s by the SEC, FCA or ASIC.”
Q: What about going broke because of fees on my money? A: If your balance will be ≤ $1,000, you would be correct to speculate that a flat monthly fee (say $3) would surpass growth. Evaluate fee-to-balance ratio.
Q: Can I withdraw anytime? A: Yes — with most apps, you can withdraw your money quickly; however, ETFs might take a tad longer (1-3 business days to settle).
Q: What’s “fractional shares”? A: Buying partial shares of a stock/ETF, which means all of your cents go into the specific asset you selected.
Authoritative Sources
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- Investopedia on micro-investing investopedia.com
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- Investopedia review of Acorns investopedia.com
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- Young Finances on top automatic investing apps youngfinances.com
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- Wikipedia/Wealthsimple, Qapital, Stash, M1 Finance
Internal Links:
How to Start Investing (and why you don’t need to be afraid)
How to Fearlessly Start Investing with Just $100
Index Funds vs. ETFs: Which Is Better for Your Portfolio?
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