SoFi Invest Review 2026: Best Zero-Fee Investing App for Beginners & Long-Term Investors?

SoFi Invest review 2026: $0 commissions, $0 robo-advisor fees, free financial advisors, crypto, IPO access & fractional shares. Is SoFi the #1 low-cost app vs Robinhood, Webull & Acorns?

Dec 8, 2025 - 19:43
SoFi Invest Review 2026: Best Zero-Fee Investing App for Beginners & Long-Term Investors?
sofi invest review 2026

SoFi Invest Review 2026 - Is It the Best Zero-Fee Investing App This Year?

In 2026, SoFi Invest has solidified its place as one of the fastest-growing and most loved investing platforms in the United States. With over 3 million funded accounts and a reputation for combining commission-free trading, truly free robo-advising, cryptocurrency, IPO access, and human financial planners all under one sleek app. If you're exploring modern investing platforms, you may also like our detailed SoFi Checking & Savings Review on Sheynest.com.

 SoFi has become a serious threat to Robinhood, Webull, Acorns, and even traditional brokers. This in-depth SoFi Invest review for 2026 covers the latest features, real fees (or lack thereof), performance, safety, pros & cons, and who should use SoFi this year. For readers comparing budgeting and investment apps, our in-depth Acorns Review 2026 provides a great alternative to SoFi Invest.

What Is SoFi Invest in 2026?

SoFi Invest is the brokerage arm of SoFi Technologies (NASDAQ: SOFI), offering two powerful investing styles inside the same app:

  1. Active Investing - You pick your own stocks, ETFs, and crypto
  2. Automated Investing - completely hands-off robo-advisor portfolios (100% free)

Unlike most competitors, SoFi lets you seamlessly switch between self-directed trading and professional-grade automation without paying a single dollar in management or trading fees.

Key offerings include:

  • Commission-free stocks & ETFs
  • Fractional shares (“Stock Bits”) starting at $1
  • Direct cryptocurrency trading
  • Pre-IPO investment opportunities
  • Free access to certified financial planners (CFPs)
  • High-yield cash management
  • Traditional, Roth, and SEP IRAs

SoFi is built for beginners who want sophistication without complexity and for experienced investors who hate paying fees. You can also check out our comprehensive Webull Review 2026 to see how SoFi Invest compares with active-trading platforms.

SoFi Invest Availability (2026)

Country

Availability

Best Alternatives

United States

Fully available

Canada

Not available

Wealthsimple, Questrade, RBC InvestEase

United Kingdom

Not available

Trading 212, Freetrade, InvestEngine

Australia/EU

Not available

eToro, Stake, Lightyear

SoFi Invest remains U.S.-exclusive due to securities regulations.

Top SoFi Invest Features in 2026

  1. Active Investing – Commission-Free Self-Directed Trading
    Buy and sell thousands of U.S. stocks and ETFs with $0 commissions. Features include:
    • Fractional shares from $1
    • Extended-hours trading
    • Automatic dividend reinvestment
    • Clean, clean charts and watchlists
  2. Automated Investing – 100% Free Robo-Advisor
    Possibly the best deal in fintech:
    • No account minimum
    • No management fee (0.00%)
    • Automatic rebalancing & tax-loss harvesting (on taxable accounts)
    • Portfolios built from low-cost ETFs covering U.S., international, bonds, real estate, tech, and ESG

This beats Betterment (0.25%) and Wealthfront (0.25%) on price while delivering similar performance.

  1. Cryptocurrency Trading Inside the Same App
    Trade 30+ coins including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Dogecoin, and more.
    Fee: ~1.25% markup (competitive, but not the lowest).
  2. Exclusive IPO Access
    One of the few retail brokers that lets everyday investors participate in initial public offerings before they trade publicly a feature usually reserved for million-dollar clients.
  3. Free Access to Certified Financial Planners
    Unlimited calls and messages with real human CFPs at no extra cost an incredible perk that competitors charge hundreds for.
  4. SoFi Money – High-Yield Cash Management
    Earn a market-leading APY (often 4–5%+ in 2026) on uninvested cash with FDIC insurance up to $3M through partner banks.
    If you prefer mobile-first banking and investing, our latest Chime Bank Review 2026 offers insights into a top competitor in the fintech space.
  5. Retirement Accounts with All the Perks
    Open Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRAs with the same $0 fees, fractional shares, and automated options.

SoFi Invest Fees in 2026 – One of the Cheapest Platforms

Fee Type

Cost

Stock & ETF trades

$0

Options contracts

N/A

Automated portfolio management

$0

Account minimum

$0

Crypto trades

~1.25%

Inactivity or account fees

$0

SoFi remains one of the only major platforms with truly zero fees on both active and automated investing.

SoFi Invest Performance 2025–2026

SoFi’s automated portfolios delivered strong risk-adjusted returns during the 2025 tech rally and continued growth into 2026:

  • Moderate-risk portfolios: ~19–25% total return in 2025
  • Continued positive performance in 2026 despite higher interest rates
  • Slightly outperformed Acorns and matched Wealthfront/Betterment after fees (zero) fees

Active investors benefited from strong weightings in AI, semiconductor, and cloud computing leaders.

Advantages of SoFi Invest (2026)

  • Truly $0 fees across the board
  • Best-in-class free robo-advisor
  • Free human financial advisors
  • IPO and crypto access
  • Fractional shares from $1
  • High-yield cash + investing in one app
  • Beautiful, beginner-friendly design
  • Fast ACH deposits & instant buying power
  • Strong mobile + desktop experience

Disadvantages & Limitations

  • U.S. residents only
  • Crypto markup higher than Coinbase Advanced or Kraken
  • Charting tools not as advanced as Webull or Thinkorswim
  • No mutual funds or bonds (only ETFs)
  • No options trading (yet)
  • IPO investing carries extra risk and allocation isn’t guaranteed

If you’re interested in cash-advance alternatives instead of investing, explore our guide on Apps Like Brigit for flexible financial tools.

Who Should Use SoFi Invest in 2026?

Perfect for:

  • Complete beginners
  • Investors who want free automation + self-directed flexibility
  • Anyone who values human advice at no cost
  • Crypto + stock investors wanting one app
  • Long-term retirement savers
  • People consolidating banking, saving, and investing

Who Should Choose a Different Broker? Skip SoFi if you:

  • Day trade or swing trade heavily (choose Webull)
  • Want the absolute lowest crypto fees
  • Need options, futures, or forex
  • Live outside the United States
  • Prefer in-depth technical analysis tools

SoFi Invest vs Top Competitors (2026)

Feature

SoFi

Robinhood

Webull

Acorns

Stash

Stock/ETF commissions

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

Robo-advisor fee

$0

N/A

N/A

$3–$9/mo

$3–$9/mo

Free human advisors

Yes

No

No

No

No

Crypto trading

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Limited

IPO access

Yes

No

No

No

No

Fractional shares

$1 min

Yes

Yes

Yes

$5 min

Best for

All-in-one

Active traders

Charting

Round-ups

Education & rewards

 

Winner 2026: SoFi dominates for beginners and cost-conscious long-term investors.

Is SoFi Invest Safe in 2026? Absolutely:

  • Brokerage: SIPC insured up to $500,000
  • Cash: FDIC insured (up to $3 million via program banks)
  • Regulated by SEC, FINRA
  • Public company with strong transparency
  • Bank-level encryption & biometric login

No major breaches or scandals in 2025–2026.

How to Get Started With SoFi Invest (3-Minute Process)

  1. Download the SoFi app (iOS/Android) or visit sofi.com
  2. Sign up with email & phone
  3. Verify identity (SSN + ID photo)
  4. Link bank or deposit instantly
  5. Choose Active, Automated, or both
  6. Start investing — even $10 gets you going

Real User Reviews (2026)App Store: 4.8/5
Google Play: 4.7/5 Top praise:

  • “Finally an app that doesn’t nickel-and-dime you”
  • “Talking to a free CFP changed my entire strategy”
  • “Best combination of automation and control”

Common complaints:

  • “Wish crypto fees were lower”
  • “Need more advanced charts”

If you want to compare money-borrowing features across platforms, our popular Cash App Borrow Feature - Full Guide can help you make an informed choice.

Final Verdict - Is SoFi Invest Worth It in 2026?

Yes, SoFi Invest is one of the best (if not the best) investing apps for beginners, intermediate, and cost-focused investors in 2026. With zero trading fees, a truly free robo-advisor, free human advisors, crypto, IPOs, and fractional shares  SoFi delivers premium features at a price that’s impossible to beat: nothing.

If you’re in the U.S. and want a beautiful, powerful, all-in-one platform that grows with you from your first $10 investment to retirement, SoFi Invest is hard to top in 2026. Ready to start? → Join SoFi Invest today and get automated investing + human advice completely free.

 

What's Your Reaction?

like

dislike

love

funny

angry

sad

wow