Investing Brokerages & Advisors

SoFi Invest® Review [2025]: Lots of Investment Options, No-Commission Trading

SoFi Invest® is an impressive investment platform with account features and asset classes you don't often see from brokerages with such low minimums and fees. It's best for beginners and hands-off investors, but it could also be well-suited to more active traders.

Updated Sept. 16, 2025
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SoFi

OUR VIEW

With low account minimums, fractional share investing1, and a well-oiled robo-advisor, SoFi Invest® is a competitive investment platform for investing newbies. But it also provides features and benefits more advanced traders are likely to appreciate, including alternative assets (alts),2 margins and options,3 and financial advising.4

The SoFi Invest® platform offers a wide variety of investment options, from traditional stocks to exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and IPO investing. We recommend it most to beginners looking for range, and you won’t feel too limited by the platform as you grow your skills and experience.

This SoFi investing review can help you decide if the platform is a good fit for you (and where to turn if not).

Pros

$50 investment minimum for Robo-Investing and $5 for active investing
Offers both beginner-friendly and intermediate investment options
Multiple retirement accounts to choose from

Cons

Not the best option for crypto trading
Limited educational resources compared to some platforms
Not ideal for serious day traders or frequent trades

What is SoFi Invest®?

SoFi Invest® at a glance

SoFi

SoFi Invest®

Minimum investment $5 minimum for active investing or fractional shares1
Asset classes Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, money market funds, IPOs, margin trading, alts
Account types available
  • Individual taxable investment accounts
  • Joint taxable investment accounts
  • Traditional IRAs
  • Roth IRAs
  • SEP IRAs
  • 401(k) to IRA rollover
Features
  • No-commission stock or ETF trades5
  • Fractional share investing1
  • IPO investing
Visit SoFi Invest®

How does SoFi Invest® work?

SoFi Invest® works much like other investment apps and brokerage firms but puts its own spin on the process.

SoFi® focuses on offering low-cost investing by not charging commissions on active trades or management fees for its investing service. While some fees do exist, SoFi Invest® has a relatively low-cost structure overall. ETFs may come with expense ratios, which is typical, no matter which investment platform you choose.

Investment options with SoFi®

Once you have a SoFi Invest® account, you can choose to invest in stocks and ETFs. You get to choose whether you want to pick your investments yourself, called active investing, or have SoFi®'s algorithms help build an investment portfolio and manage it for you.6

SoFi® also allows some investors to invest in initial public offerings (IPOs) of new stocks at IPO prices. To take advantage of this opportunity, which is not guaranteed, you must submit an indication of interest and follow specific rules to participate.

Additionally, you can invest in alternative assets via funds that cover a broad range of categories. This includes commodities, real estate, foreign currencies, and venture capital.2

When you purchase stocks with SoFi Invest®, you have the option to buy whole shares or fractional shares1. These bits typically start at $5 and are only available on certain stocks. This can be useful if you want to invest in a $200 share of stock but only have $10 to start investing.

If you're wondering how to withdraw money from SoFi Invest®, you may also be concerned about withdrawal fees. You can easily withdraw money from your account in the withdraw section of the SoFi Invest® app. SoFi Invest® does not list a fee for ACH transfers out of your account. Typically, ACH transfers don't come with fees, though SoFi® does mention that you could incur a $15 ACH return fee if a transfer is reversed by your bank.

SoFi investing fees

  • $0 stock and ETF commissions5
  • 0.25% advisory fees for robo investing7
  • $50 for the first sale of stocks obtained within 120 days of an IPO offering
  • Additional fees may apply to select assets

Who is SoFi Invest® best for?

SoFi Invest® could potentially work well for both new and experienced investors looking for a low-cost investing option. SoFi® offers solutions for people who want to choose their own investments and those who want to invest on autopilot.

To open a SoFi Invest® account, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. While most permanent residents should qualify, some won't if they maintain citizenship in what SoFi® considers a high-risk country.

As with any investing platform, SoFi Invest® won't perfectly fit every investor's needs. Active investors may want a trading platform that offers more research, trade types, and investment options. People looking for more personalized assistance may prefer working with a human financial advisor.

Maximizing your earnings with SoFi Invest®

Maximizing earnings when investing can depend on a variety of factors, including stock market performance, your personal investing goals, and investment strategies. Some rules of thumb could potentially help you when you invest, though.

  • Invest within your risk tolerance: Invest in assets where you feel comfortable with the risk level.
  • Build a diversified portfolio: This means your portfolio contains several investments, usually spread across different investment types, sectors, and companies. Diversification could potentially help mitigate some losses if one of your assets performs poorly.
  • Invest using tax-advantaged accounts: If you know you won't touch the money you invest until retirement, investing in a tax-advantaged account might help you save money on taxes now or in the future.
  • Consider talking with an investment advisor: SoFi® offers access to Certified Financial Planners. These advisors are held to fiduciary standards, which means they're required to make recommendations that are in your best interest, and they don't earn a commission by selling SoFi® products. Financial advice could give you a new perspective on how to meet your financial goals.4

The company also supports Roth and traditional IRAs if you're interested in saving for retirement.

Other investment apps to consider

While SoFi Invest® offers a wide variety of features that could fit some people's needs, it won't work for everyone. If it doesn't feel like the right fit for you, take a look at our picks for the best brokerage accounts. Traditional brokerage firms, such as Fidelity and Vanguard, may also provide the account types and financial planning services you're looking for.

Of the best investment apps, Stash and Acorns are best-suited to beginners, especially if you're looking to get started with a little money, while Robinhood will fit you best if you have a bit of experience with trading and want a snappy but intuitive platform. For investing passively with robo-advisors, we recommend Wealthfront and Betterment.

4.2
info
Robinhood Benefits
  • Buy and sell stocks 24 hours a day, 5 days a week with Robinhood's "24 Hour Market"
  • Commission-free trading (other fees may apply)
  • No account minimum
  • Trade stocks, options, ETFs, and more
  • Earn 4.00% (as of 05/03/24) APY8 on your uninvested cash with Robinhood Gold, subscription fee applies
Join Robinhood here

How to stay safe with SoFi Invest®

Taking proper precautions with any investing platform could be essential for protecting your investments. Easy ways to do this include using unique passwords for each service you use, changing those passwords often, and using two-factor authentication.

From an investing perspective, all types of investments come with risk. You could lose any money you invest. Investing appropriately based on your risk tolerance and diversifying your portfolio could help you weather market downturns.

The good news is that SoFi® does provide some protections as a SIPC member. If SoFi® fails, SIPC coverage may protect your investments for up to $500,000. It does not protect your investments from losses related to market performance, though.

FAQs

Is SoFi Invest® legit?

SoFi Invest® is a legitimate investment app you could use to invest in stocks and ETFs. The company has over 3.5 million members and is a member of FINRA and SIPC, which shows its legitimacy within the investing world. You can also receive advice from human advisors who are Certified Financial Planners. 4

Which is better, SoFi® or Robinhood?

The better platform for you will depend on your investment strategy and goals. SoFi Invest® and Robinhood offer many similar features. 

Both platforms offer no trading fees, fractional investing, and ETF investing options. If you're trying to decide which is better for you, read our full Robinhood review.

Is SoFi Invest® good for beginners?

SoFi Invest® might fit your needs as a beginner investor as long as it offers the investment options and features you want access to. If you don't have a lot of money to invest, SoFi®'s Stock Bits fractional investing could allow you to start investing with just $5. 

How to open a SoFi Invest® account

SoFi Invest® is just one of SoFi®'s many products. Even if you already have a SoFi Checking and Savings account, you may need to complete a profile or verify your information to get started with a SoFi® investing account. SoFi® also offers a self-directed IRA option, which is different from its two primary investing choices.

The process is pretty simple. SoFi® does ask for your personal information, job field, and Social Security number. This information is necessary for tax reporting and setting up your account. You'll also need to provide a way to fund the account, typically a linked bank account.

Other investment apps to consider

While SoFi Invest® offers a wide variety of features that could fit some people's needs, it won't work for everyone. If it doesn't feel like the right fit for you, take a look at our picks for the best brokerage accounts. Traditional brokerage firms, such as Fidelity and Vanguard, may also provide the account types and financial planning services you're looking for.

If you're interested in comparing the best investment apps, you may also want to consider Robinhood, Stash, Acorns, and Webull. Others may like the more hands-off approach of robo-advisors, such as Betterment and Wealthfront, offer. Ultimately, you'll need to decide which option suits your goals and needs best.

$50 investment minimum for Robo-Investing and $5 for active investing
Offers both beginner-friendly and intermediate investment options
Multiple retirement accounts to choose from
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