Review Insights · App Store
Acorns: Save & Invest Money
Acorns Grow Incorporated · 954,494 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
954,494 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 46 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"money"
21 negative reviews mention this · 46% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Might work for some but not everyone. I personally think this app is a complete and utter scam I put $5 in to try it out and the next thing I know money is disappearing on almost a daily basis and I can only get back the original 5 minus tax’s so not even the full 5 so now I’m …" - Trek6379
2
"account"
14 negative reviews mention this · 30% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Closed long time checking and savings no reason. My checking and savings were suddenly placed under review leaving me unable to access my money I was told to review could take one to three business days, but no one could explain why my accounts were restricted or provide me any meaningful…" - KMacadoo
3
"scam"
11 negative reviews mention this · 24% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Might work for some but not everyone. I personally think this app is a complete and utter scam I put $5 in to try it out and the next thing I know money is disappearing on almost a daily basis and I can only get back the original 5 minus tax’s so not even the full 5 so now I’m …" - Trek6379
4
"acorns"
10 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fine investing, WORST in banking. Do not use the direct deposit feature for this company, they have been the worst when it comes to checking accounts personal banking. It takes almost two weeks just for a transfer from an external source to populate in your acorns checking;…" - SCAAAAMMM!!!
5
"company"
8 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Might work for some but not everyone. I personally think this app is a complete and utter scam I put $5 in to try it out and the next thing I know money is disappearing on almost a daily basis and I can only get back the original 5 minus tax’s so not even the full 5 so now I’m …" - Trek6379
6
"into"
8 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fine investing, WORST in banking. Do not use the direct deposit feature for this company, they have been the worst when it comes to checking accounts personal banking. It takes almost two weeks just for a transfer from an external source to populate in your acorns checking;…" - SCAAAAMMM!!!
7
"accounts"
7 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Closed long time checking and savings no reason. My checking and savings were suddenly placed under review leaving me unable to access my money I was told to review could take one to three business days, but no one could explain why my accounts were restricted or provide me any meaningful…" - KMacadoo
8
"investment"
7 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst bank and investment platform. They lie about early direct deposit times. Their transfers take longer than they state. They keep your money hostage as long as possible. The absolute worst scam app/bank/investment platform on the App Store." - Bestreviews22
9
"been"
7 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fine investing, WORST in banking. Do not use the direct deposit feature for this company, they have been the worst when it comes to checking accounts personal banking. It takes almost two weeks just for a transfer from an external source to populate in your acorns checking;…" - SCAAAAMMM!!!
10
"without"
6 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Closed long time checking and savings no reason. My checking and savings were suddenly placed under review leaving me unable to access my money I was told to review could take one to three business days, but no one could explain why my accounts were restricted or provide me any meaningful…" - KMacadoo
11
"years"
6 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Closed long time checking and savings no reason. My checking and savings were suddenly placed under review leaving me unable to access my money I was told to review could take one to three business days, but no one could explain why my accounts were restricted or provide me any meaningful…" - KMacadoo
12
"bank"
6 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Worst bank and investment platform. They lie about early direct deposit times. Their transfers take longer than they state. They keep your money hostage as long as possible. The absolute worst scam app/bank/investment platform on the App Store." - Bestreviews22
📋 All 46 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Might work for some but not everyone
I personally think this app is a complete and utter scam I put $5 in to try it out and the next thing I know money is disappearing on almost a daily basis and I can only get back the original 5 minus tax’s so not even the full 5 so now I’m out almost $60 because of this stupid roundup BS that it said nothing about when I signed up, so to the people that run this app or company I want all my money back that you’ve taken from me.
Closed long time checking and savings no reason
My checking and savings were suddenly placed under review leaving me unable to access my money I was told to review could take one to three business days, but no one could explain why my accounts were restricted or provide me any meaningful detail details. I uploaded the request requested identity documents immediately and contacted Support multiple times. Every representative was polite, but they could only tell me to wait for another department if this was a fraud prevention measure I appreciate protecting customers, however, completely restricting access to my own funds without a clear explanation or timeline is unacceptable. Customers deserve transparent, communication, especially when it involves access to their money. I hope Acorn improves how it handles account reviews and keeps customers informed throughout the process I have many times throughout the years, but I will no longer be doing so and I would not recommend based on this poor conflicting information provided and lack of professionalism.
Worst bank and investment platform
They lie about early direct deposit times. Their transfers take longer than they state. They keep your money hostage as long as possible. The absolute worst scam app/bank/investment platform on the App Store.
Fine investing, WORST in banking
Do not use the direct deposit feature for this company, they have been the worst when it comes to checking accounts personal banking. It takes almost two weeks just for a transfer from an external source to populate in your acorns checking; I understand it takes a minute for invested funds in your investment account to take a while to transfer however having to wait for transfers from an external bank account into a checking account is ridiculous to have to wait almost 2 weeks. Every bank I have had has allowed transfers from external accounts and takes from minutes to 2 days max not 2 weeks. It has caused many problems with how slow they are with moving money around, if you don’t mind having it take weeks to access money then go ahead but I have to close their checking account due to the many problems I have with it.
WARNING - Do not use Later Accounts
If you ever imagine yourself transferring/rolling over retirement accounts from Acorns to another institution, be prepared to deal with an unfathomable level of incompetence by the Acorns representatives. Over a month after initiating a transfer, dozens of calls, and several emails, $20k of mine is still lost in the void after being “successfully” transferred to my new institution according to an email from the Acorns team.
I was an Acorns customer for over eight years. I have closed my account and will never be looking back while warning others not to use their service.
I was an Acorns customer for over eight years. I have closed my account and will never be looking back while warning others not to use their service.
Too many pop-ups
Whenever I try to do something I get so many pop ups and questions. I've created a PIN multiple times, but it keeps forgetting it. It makes me set up a new one. There's so many bugs and glitches that I dont trust the app refrain further use.
Scam
Scammers
So secure, you cannot even access your own account!
Two step Verification is great, except it needs to have the ability to send to more than one phone. I have to get access codes from my spouse every time I want to login here.
Don’t start the trial
I started the trial and still have 26 days to go. I attempted to cancel & it said I had to close all accounts first and withdraw any funds. However, if I withdraw it puts me into negative balance for 30 cents which stops the cancellation process. If I cancel the withdrawal & try to make it for 30 cents less it then forces me to withdraw the entire amount. The 30 cents is the match that’s trying to cancel as well. This is the most ridiculous & frustrating cancellation of a trial ever. Oh and to top it off, because it’s an IRA you’ll get a penalty from IRS. DO NOT FALL FOR THE TRIAL-IT IS NOT WORTH ALL THIS HASSLE
Don’t trust these people with your money.
This app is one I’ve been investing into for over a year, as a minimum wage worker I really have sometimes put myself in a tough spot so I can grow financially with my savings. I felt it was worth it. The app has locked me out and customer service has been severely disappointing and unhelpful. They keep asking me to upload documents on the website you once again have to log in on! Account recovery should not be impossible. It’s not cute when you’re not being listened to WHILE your money is locked away and your account is still getting charged on a biweekly basis. Don’t give them a dime.
Scam
They take more money and don’t tell you about it go with fidelity
Review this
Asks for a review every time I open the app.
You’ll never get your money out
When I was young and dumb I set up a “later account.” When I got older I wanted to consolidate accounts (and stop paying the $3 a month fee). I’ve done everything I can think of to try and get my money out, without creating a taxable event, and it’s impossible. They don’t sync with anything, their support sucks, and make you jump through a million loopholes (some of which are impossible) to get your money out.
Save yourself the headache and don’t use it.
Save yourself the headache and don’t use it.
Worst Experience Ever
Lack of customer service. Customer service cannot answer basic questions nor provide assistance when requested. It’s always someone will email you back with 24 hours and then no one ever does. Huge disappointment and inconvenience.
Scam
They took 6,000 from my account and locked my account saying it’s under review when I tried to move my money into a higher bank account and they won’t open my account or give me my money they say 1 business day and they will send a email and never send one
Deceitful cash grab
Used Acorns years ago, and was happy with it then. Recently returned to find the app’s become just another multi-subscription tier cash grab. Everything that used to come free has been segmented into 3 different subscription tiers with little inherent value relative to price per tier. Not what it used to be.
A little disappointed
Been with acorns over two years and needed help with a 86$ dispute after having processed only one a year prior for around 100$ they gave me the run around and Suzana S (a specialist) was very i I unknowledgeable about how to read emails, and comprehend what I was saying. They wanted me to wait 90 days so I’ll just go back to chase, which I left for Acorns because I had issues funneling money between the two.
Sounds scammy
I have been using Acorns for 10+ years. I was able to grow my investment. The last two years I had to use money I fell on hard times. I changed my bank and updated the info under my account. For months I cannot log in and being asked to send bank statements and a selfie holding my ID. Meanwhile when I just called for help on 6/9/2026 attitude with the agent requiring the same scammy nonsense though she was able to see my information refused to unlock my account. There’s is no escaping this so I decided to delete the app and invest elsewhere
Don’t subscribe
When you try to cancel they make you jump through hoops…
Usesless app with useless customer service
Randomly changed my plan without saying anything and customer service is useless
Scam
Acorns is a big scam. I invested 5$ everyday and 35$ once monthly. I want to move money to a different brokerage. But acorns has made it so difficult. I had some money invested in Merrill, that transfer was so smooth. But acorns takes so long to transfer and has so many transactions and charges a bomb while transferring. I will not recommend acorns to anyone.
Referral bonus is a scam
I completed Acorns’ $1,400 “Refer 5 Friends” promotion exactly as instructed. All five of my referrals signed up and made their required investments within the promotion period. After confirming that everything was completed correctly, I waited the required amount of time for the bonus to be processed.
A month later, Acorns informed me that one of my referrals was ineligible because they supposedly did not invest within the required timeframe. However, I provided screenshots proving that the investment was made before the deadline.
After seeing the evidence, Acorns changed their explanation and claimed the referral may have been ineligible for some other reason under their terms and conditions. When I asked what that reason was, they refused to provide any details, citing privacy policies.
This experience felt extremely misleading. From my perspective, I followed all the rules, my referrals followed all the rules, and when it came time to pay out the promotion, Acorns simply declared one account ineligible without providing a clear explanation or any way to verify their decision.
The result is that Acorns received five new customers through my efforts, yet I did not receive the promotional reward that was advertised. The lack of transparency and inconsistent explanations from customer support have made it difficult for me to trust the company or participate in future promotions.
A month later, Acorns informed me that one of my referrals was ineligible because they supposedly did not invest within the required timeframe. However, I provided screenshots proving that the investment was made before the deadline.
After seeing the evidence, Acorns changed their explanation and claimed the referral may have been ineligible for some other reason under their terms and conditions. When I asked what that reason was, they refused to provide any details, citing privacy policies.
This experience felt extremely misleading. From my perspective, I followed all the rules, my referrals followed all the rules, and when it came time to pay out the promotion, Acorns simply declared one account ineligible without providing a clear explanation or any way to verify their decision.
The result is that Acorns received five new customers through my efforts, yet I did not receive the promotional reward that was advertised. The lack of transparency and inconsistent explanations from customer support have made it difficult for me to trust the company or participate in future promotions.
Takes $12 Monthly for the Investment Plan
This app doesn’t care if you save, because its model is to take your savings. It takes forever to gather a solid amount of $, and when you do the app’s investment plan takes $12 every month from the investments you “saved” (which turns into $144 every year for the company). Even if your balance is just $50, it will take $12 every month from your “saved” money. Multiply that by just a 1,000 people on this app, and the company has made $144,000 in one year from those 1,000 people. As of 2026 the app has over 10 million active users. That’s $144,000 times 10 million every year.
Back to you-if you’re someone who watches their investments to every single penny, and earn less than $50,000k per year, the $144 per year is a good amount to save on something else, like add to your toddler’s college tuition that will really grow over time, or buy tech shares instead. I would suggest instead of using this ridiculous money-grabbing app, set up a plan to save $144 every year that will grow with dividends.
Back to you-if you’re someone who watches their investments to every single penny, and earn less than $50,000k per year, the $144 per year is a good amount to save on something else, like add to your toddler’s college tuition that will really grow over time, or buy tech shares instead. I would suggest instead of using this ridiculous money-grabbing app, set up a plan to save $144 every year that will grow with dividends.
Ads too long
I was playing a game and I got an almost 3 minutes long ad of this app. And ad shouldn’t be longer than 30 seconds. Any more time gets just annoying and makes you hate the app. I downloaded this just to give it 1 star. Please talk to your marketing department and tell them to make ads not longer than 30 seconds
So disappointed
Why do you make it so difficult to change investment preferences? Can’t recommend this app!
Sketchy Investing App
Multiple complaints:
I downloaded this app and was recommended to try their referral program. This program entails you referring a few friends to join the app and start investing, and you will in turn get a bonus invested into your portfolio. This offer seemed too good to be true (SPOILER: It was). I did everything that was asked of the referral program and called the outsourced customer support team to confirm that I was going to receive the bonus. I was told everything was complete and I TRIPLE-CHECKED with the representative who said all I had to do was wait for the bonus. I did not receive my bonus for weeks and called back to then be told by a new representative that 3 of my referrals had a failed initial investment of $5. The representative tried to tell me that my referrals had insufficient funds in their bank accounts and that they had to all call customer support individually to get this resolved and that even if it was resolved, I would not get my bonus. I escalated this situation and was assigned a case number but quickly realized this was not worth my time. I was finessed and needed to just accept it. The entire process was sketchy and I would NOT recommend this app. If I could go back, I would’ve never even given it a chance.
On top of that, like many reviews already point out, this app charges you a subscription fee for the same features that so many platforms offer for free. The round-up feature is a great concept, but the fact that the subscription actually means you are often losing money instead of gaining on your investments makes this pointless.
Don’t download this app. Cash grab.
I downloaded this app and was recommended to try their referral program. This program entails you referring a few friends to join the app and start investing, and you will in turn get a bonus invested into your portfolio. This offer seemed too good to be true (SPOILER: It was). I did everything that was asked of the referral program and called the outsourced customer support team to confirm that I was going to receive the bonus. I was told everything was complete and I TRIPLE-CHECKED with the representative who said all I had to do was wait for the bonus. I did not receive my bonus for weeks and called back to then be told by a new representative that 3 of my referrals had a failed initial investment of $5. The representative tried to tell me that my referrals had insufficient funds in their bank accounts and that they had to all call customer support individually to get this resolved and that even if it was resolved, I would not get my bonus. I escalated this situation and was assigned a case number but quickly realized this was not worth my time. I was finessed and needed to just accept it. The entire process was sketchy and I would NOT recommend this app. If I could go back, I would’ve never even given it a chance.
On top of that, like many reviews already point out, this app charges you a subscription fee for the same features that so many platforms offer for free. The round-up feature is a great concept, but the fact that the subscription actually means you are often losing money instead of gaining on your investments makes this pointless.
Don’t download this app. Cash grab.
Cheats
They seem to have a tendency of Cheating their customers I’d stay clear thanks anyway.
Don’t use this at all
Acorns charges you a subscription to do the same for thing as any other free service except the subscription is about 7-15 dollars a month and it will endlessly charge you until you close the entire account, I wish I could get a refund because it will especially charge you 15$ to manage about 80c this app is pathetic just use fidelity or anything else at all
Locked me out for years while still billing me
I don’t normally leave reviews but I was locked out for years and was still billed with absolutely no communication. Highly predatory
SCAM
Invested 25 dollars and the app took 85 dollars without my approval, AVOID AT ALL COSTS
Don’t fall for it.
Waste of money I have invested over 80 dollars and in return only got 30 dollars and lost those 80dollars only tried it for 2 weeks.
Scummy onboarding
Force u to activate a trial, taking money from your bank after the first month, was advertised $20 never received
Do not put your money into this app
When I read the most recent reviews I immediately went to withdrawal and now I got hit with fees and a 10% early withdrawal fee and a 9 day waiting period is crazy
Issue with app
The current version of this app keeps telling me I have a jailbroken phone, but I have the latest iOS
Very deceitful business practices.
Our employees and I were promised many things signing up. They completely misled and lied about everything citing a provision within a clause unaware by anyone so that they didn’t have to fulfill anything owed. Upon canceling, they continued charging us a monthly service fee for 4 months again citing that a formal request of cancellation needed to be filed with a very specific email and part of the company that addresses cancellations, though we have all the emails from their corporate office acknowledging cancellation. I discourage anyone using this company for any form of investing services.
Fake
They will tell you stuff and it just not be true, they’ll give you an offer then just not pay, if you refer people they’ll just not pay you
Disappointed.
This is a very beginner friendly app, however, it doesn’t seem to have as many perks as many other apps and companies do. Im very disappointed by the lack of extra money to be earned, as well as limited cash matches. There is a hook for beginners, but nothing to actually keep investors that actually know what they’re doing interested.
If it were me, I’d offer a company match for the auto round up which would attract many more investors like me.
If it were me, I’d offer a company match for the auto round up which would attract many more investors like me.
Hard to use
I should have to go through 1million men use to do something simple
Money Stolen
Acorn’s took money out of my account without my consent or knowledge!
Son unos malditos ladrones
Me están sacando dinero mensualmente sin mi autorización y cuando voy a mirar si tengo algo de dinero en la puta aplicación me sale en cero
Scam
Horrible company, does not hold up on there end and keep your money.
Trash
Worst company charged my card 140$ and wouldn’t tell me why took my account in the app in the negative too when they took my checking account out too
GROSS INCOMPETENCE, but with our kid’s money
GROSS INCOMPETENCE, but with out kid’s money; our daughter’s account has been “locked” for a year because they can’t “verify her identity”, even though we’ve been with them since 2016, including an “Early” account for our girl. Needless to say their overseas support line is materially less than helpful. Acorns has 24 hours or we are closing ALL accounts.
This App is a Scam!
I paused the investments and the app turned them back on itself and then wants to bill me for cancelling because they keep snatching money more often they are supposed to. This app is a scam!
Not free
Not free, collecting kyc, but can not delete the account
Acorns
They charge you’re card whenever they feel like it don’t invest and don’t download this app is a scam won’t let me even cancel the plan or take my card out
Sentiment summary
94%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
3%
Negative (1-2★)