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SoFi Active Investing Review: Simple and Affordable Investing for Everyone

Review Updated
Alice Hoekstra
Author: Alice Hoekstra
Alice Hoekstra
Alice Hoekstra

Alice is a content strategist for Motley Fool Money, where she has worked full-time for almost five years. Throughout her five years at The Motley Fool, Alice has worked on content across a wide range of financial topics, including credit cards, brokerages, banks, mortgages, personal loans, and auto insurance, helping readers make informed decisions with confidence. Her top financial priorities are funding her world travels and giving her cat the luxurious life she deserves. When she’s not working, traveling, or watching Friends reruns, you’ll find her at the nearest concert or Broadway show.

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Nathan Alderman
Fact Checked: Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
Nathan Alderman
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Nathan Alderman has been a full-time Motley Fool employee since 2005, making errors his arch-enemies in a variety of roles including a six-year stint as the dedicated fact-checker for The Motley Fool's premium newsletter services. As Motley Fool Money's Compliance Lead, he makes sure that all the site's information is accurate and up to date, which ensures we always steer readers right and keeps various financial partners happy. A graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Nathan spends his spare time volunteering for civic causes, writing and podcasting for fun, adoring his wife, and wrangling his two very large young children.

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SoFi Active Investing is one of our top recommendations for beginner and intermediate investors. Why? It's user-friendly, low-cost, and packed with features like fractional shares and IPO investing. If you want a no-fuss platform with plenty of flexibility for your investments, SoFi could be the perfect fit. Let's dig into the details to help you decide if SoFi is right for you.

SoFi Active Investing
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Ratings Methodology
SoFi Active Investing

SoFi Active Investing

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Our Rating:

Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Bottom Line

This brokerage is a clear standout for its well-rated mobile app and 1% IRA match⁸ on rollovers and contributions. It also has unique investment offerings like IPOs, options, and fractional shares.³

Fees:

$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴

Account Minimum:

$0

Special Offer Circle with letter I in it. For full promotion terms please visit: SoFi.com/ACATterms. You must transfer at least $20,000 before April 17, 2025 and keep the investments in your SoFi Active Invest account through December 31, 2025 to be eligible for the incentive, which will be paid by January 31, 2026. SoFi does not accept cryptocurrencies and has some limitations on mutual funds and OTC stock.

1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio to SoFi Active Invest¹⁰

Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

At Motley Fool Money, brokerages are rated on a scale of one to five stars. We primarily focus on fees, available assets, and user experience; however, we also take into account features like research, education, tax-loss harvesting, and customer service. Our highest-rated brokerages generally include low fees, a diverse range of assets and account types, and useful platform features.

Our aim is to maintain a balanced best-of list featuring top-scoring brokerages from reputable brands. Ordering within lists is influenced by advertiser compensation, including featured placements at the top of a given list, but our product recommendations are NEVER influenced by advertisers. Learn more about how Motley Fool Money rates brokerage accounts.

Who should consider SoFi Active Investing?

SoFi Active Investing is designed with newer investors in mind, but is also a perfect fit for casual investors. It boasts a simple interface and low fees alongside solid investment options. If you're trying to avoid high fees while learning the ropes, this platform has your back.

SoFi Active Investing Promotions

SoFi often runs brokerage promotions for new customers. Click below to check out our SoFi promotions guide and see if you're eligible for any current offers:

SoFi Promotions

What I like about SoFi Active Investing

Commission-free trading for beginners¹

SoFi makes trading stress free by cutting out commissions on stocks and ETFs. With SoFi, you can invest without worrying about sneaky fees eating into your gains. This is one of many reasons we rate SoFi as one of the best brokerages.

While competitors like Robinhood and Webull also offer commission-free trades, SoFi stands out by offering commission-free mutual funds in addition to stocks and ETFs. Mutual funds are great for beginners since they spread your investment across many stocks, reducing risk.

IPO investment options for regular investors²

Typically, investing in IPOs requires big budgets or accreditation, but SoFi gives all its users access to new IPOs. This opens the door for newer or lower-budget investors to participate in these exciting offerings.

Even better, SoFi offers exclusive access to Ark Invest's ARK Venture Fund. This pre-IPO fund lets you invest in private companies before they go public, with a minimum investment of just $500. This is a rare opportunity and a major perk for anyone interested in IPO investing.

Fractional share investing³

Ever wanted to own a piece of Apple, Google, or Amazon but didn't have the cash for a full share? SoFi's fractional shares make it possible. You can buy just part of a share, making high-value stocks accessible to everyone. Not all brokers offer this, so it's a big win for SoFi.

Alternatives to Consider

We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.

Broker Best For Commissions Learn More
Logo for SoFi Active Investing
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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= Excellent
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Managing your finances under one roof $0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing

On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website.

Logo for Robinhood
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
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Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Logo for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low mutual fund fees. $0 per trade
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing

On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.

Downsides you should consider

No third-party research

Advanced traders might feel limited here. SoFi's focus is on simplicity, so it doesn't offer the detailed research tools that more experienced investors often rely on. If you're a beginning investor, you probably won't miss these tools. But if you're more advanced, you may want to look elsewhere.

No bonds or CDs

While SoFi's investment options are solid, it doesn't include bonds or CDs. These lower-risk investments are great for beginners who want a stable return. If you're looking for these, you might need to explore other brokers for beginners.

Is it worth the cost?

Yes, SoFi is highly affordable with no account management or trading fees.¹ Some mutual funds and ETFs have their own fees -- but these aren't charged by SoFi, and apply at any brokerage.

The main fees SoFi charges are associated with closing your account:

  • $20 for closing an IRA
  • $100 for outgoing transfers
  • $50 for selling IPO investments within 120 days

SoFi also charges a $25 inactivity fee (easily avoided by logging in every six months).

Paper statement fees apply only if email delivery fails. SoFi also charges a flat rate for margin trading, which is mostly for advanced investors.

With nearly no cost, SoFi is a top investment app for beginners. Its diverse investment options and low costs offer an excellent value for new investors.

How to open a SoFi Active Investing account

Getting started is easy. Here's how:

  1. Head to SoFi's website or download the app.
  2. Create an account and verify your identity.
  3. Link your bank account.
  4. Start trading with as little as $1 -- there's no minimum balance required.

Final thoughts

SoFi Active Investing hits the sweet spot for beginner and casual investors. No account minimum,¹ fractional shares,³ and access to IPOs² make it a standout stock app for budgets of any size. Plus, it's one of the few beginner-friendly brokers to offer mutual funds.

That said, advanced traders might want to look elsewhere for more in-depth research tools. But for most people just starting out, SoFi delivers exactly what you need.

If you think SoFi is right for you, click here to get started opening an account on SoFi's website.

FAQs

  • Yes! SoFi supports traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP IRAs, making it a good option for retirement planning.

  • No, you cannot trade cryptocurrency with SoFi.