Acorns Early Review (2025): Best Investment App for Kids and Teens? (Acorns Early Review)
Acorns Early offers parents an easy way to invest for their kids’ future through custodial accounts. It’s designed for long-term wealth building with minimal effort.
Educational Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and not financial advice.
Affiliate Disclosure: Some links may earn Beelinger a commission at no extra cost to you.
TL;DR
- Acorns Early makes it easy to invest for kids with custodial accounts, starting from as little as $5/month.
- It uses automated ETF portfolios designed for long-term growth.
- Best for parents who want a simple “set it and forget it” investing solution for their child’s future.
Table of Contents (click for details)
- Acorns Early at a Glance
- What Is Acorns Early?
- How Does Acorns Early Work?
- How to Set Up an Acorns Early Account
- Acorns Early Investment Options
- Acorns Early Features
- How Much Does Acorns Early Cost?
- Pros of Acorns Early
- Cons of Acorns Early
- Acorns Early vs. Greenlight: Which is Better for Kids?
- Acorns Early vs. 529 Plans: What’s Better for Education Savings?
- Is Acorns Early Safe?
- Who Should Use Acorns Early?
- FAQs
- Sources
Acorns Early at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Best For | Parents wanting long-term investing for kids |
| Minimum Investment | $5/month |
| Account Type | Custodial UGMA/UTMA accounts |
| Investment Style | Automated ETF portfolios |
| Fees | Monthly subscription fee (Acorns plan) |
What Is Acorns Early?
Acorns Early is an investment app designed to help parents and guardians invest money for their kids and teens through custodial accounts.
It allows you to set up UGMA or UTMA accounts, which are investment accounts held in a child’s name but managed by an adult until the child reaches adulthood.[5]
How Does Acorns Early Work?
Acorns Early works by letting you invest regularly into a diversified portfolio of ETFs on behalf of your child.
It uses automated portfolio management, so you don’t have to pick individual stocks.
How to Set Up an Acorns Early Account
You start by opening an Acorns account and selecting the Early feature to create a custodial investing account.
Then, you connect your bank account, set a recurring contribution amount, and let Acorns invest automatically.
Acorns may use third-party services (including Plaid) in connection with account linking and related services.[2]
Acorns Early Investment Options
Acorns Early uses ETF portfolios that are designed for long-term investing.
You can choose from portfolios that range from conservative to aggressive based on risk tolerance and time horizon.
Acorns Early Features
Acorns Early focuses on automated investing for kids, with tools intended to help parents build wealth on a consistent schedule.
How Much Does Acorns Early Cost?
Acorns Early is available through Acorns subscription plans, with monthly pricing depending on the plan you choose.[1]
If you’re evaluating the full membership pricing, Acorns also publishes plan-level fee disclosures (including Acorns Gold) through official documents such as its Form CRS.[4]
Pros of Acorns Early
- Easy to use, automated investing for kids
- Diversified portfolios through ETFs
- Low barrier to start investing regularly
- Good option for parents who want a hands-off approach
Cons of Acorns Early
- Monthly subscription fee may not be worth it for very small balances
- Less customization than picking individual stocks
- Custodial accounts transfer to the child at adulthood (parent loses control)
Acorns Early vs. Greenlight: Which is Better for Kids?
Acorns Early is built for parents focused on long-term investing, while Greenlight is more geared toward hands-on money management for kids (allowances, chores, and debit cards).
| Feature | Acorns Early | Greenlight |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $5-$10 (unlimited kids) | $5.99-$14.98 (per family) |
| Debit Card | No | Yes (customizable) |
| Investing | Automated ETF portfolios | Optional (kids choose stocks) |
| Chores & Allowance | No | Yes |
| Financial Education | For parents | Interactive for kids |
| Best For | Long-term wealth building | Active money management |
Acorns Early vs. 529 Plans: What’s Better for Education Savings?
Acorns Early is flexible for general investing but doesn’t have the same education-specific tax advantages that 529 plans can offer.
If you’re saving strictly for education, a 529 may be a stronger fit. If you want broader flexibility for your child’s future, a custodial account can be useful.
Is Acorns Early Safe?
Acorns emphasizes protections and safeguards such as brokerage structures and disclosure-based standards for client assets. For example, SIPC coverage is commonly referenced in brokerage contexts, and Acorns provides educational material explaining SIPC and related protections.[3]
Acorns also describes using security measures (including encryption) in the context of its platform and products.[6]
Who Should Use Acorns Early?
Acorns Early is best for parents and guardians who want a low-effort way to invest consistently for their child’s long-term future.
It’s also a good fit if you value automation and don’t want to research individual investments.
Want to make sure this fits your household?
Start by mapping what you can contribute monthly, then choose the simplest system you’ll actually stick with.
Acorns Early Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acorns Early good for kids?
Yes, Acorns Early is a good option for parents who want to invest for their kids using automated portfolios and custodial accounts.
Does Acorns Early have a debit card for kids?
No, Acorns Early does not include a debit card. It’s focused on investing rather than spending controls.
What kind of account is Acorns Early?
Acorns Early uses custodial UGMA/UTMA investment accounts held in a child’s name and managed by a parent or guardian until the child reaches adulthood.
Is Acorns Early worth it?
If you want a hands-off way to build long-term investments for your child, it can be worth it—especially if you’re already using Acorns subscription plans.
Can I withdraw money from Acorns Early?
Yes, custodial accounts can generally be liquidated, but withdrawals must be used for the benefit of the child and may have tax implications.
Does Acorns Early offer tax advantages like a 529?
No, custodial accounts don’t have the same education-focused tax benefits as 529 plans.
What happens when my child turns 18?
Custodial accounts are transferred to the child when they reach the age of majority, which depends on your state (often 18 or 21).
Is Acorns Early safe?
Acorns describes security measures and brokerage protections in its disclosures and educational resources; investors should review official materials for details.
Does Acorns Early require a minimum balance?
Acorns Early is designed to start with small recurring contributions, such as $5 per month.
The Bottom Line: Is Acorns Early Worth It in 2025?
Acorns Early is a simple, automated investing tool for parents who want to build wealth for their kids over time.
It’s best for long-term investing rather than day-to-day money teaching, and it may be most worthwhile if you value automation and plan to contribute consistently.
Sources & Further Reading
Clean links added below (numbered to match inline citations):
-
Acorns Support: How much does Acorns Early cost
-
Acorns: Privacy Policy (includes third-party providers such as Plaid)
-
Acorns Learn: Is Acorns safe? (includes SIPC educational context)
-
Acorns: Form CRS (fee and service disclosures)
-
Acorns Support: What type of account is Acorns Early (UGMA/UTMA)
-
Acorns: Banking (security and encryption statements)