Stash vs Alva
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Stash has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $30 for Alva.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI Money Coach
- Personalised investment plan
- Managed Smart Portfolio
- Fractional stocks and ETFs
- Retirement accounts with match
- Stock-Back rewards card
- Thesis research and monitoring
- Strategy backtesting
- Always-on playbooks
- Themed market feed
- Broker execution via Alpaca, IBKR, Binance
| Feature | Stash | Alva |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Investing app with an AI money coach and managed portfolios | AI investing agent that turns theses into live market playbooks |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Free trial | Freemium |
| Starting price | $12/mo | $29.90/mo |
| Free plan | No, 7-day trial | Yes |
| Made by | Stash Financial | Alva |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Stash has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $30 for Alva.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
1 plan
Stash Plan
$12/mo
- Investing and retirement accounts
- AI Money Coach
- 3% retirement match
- $10,000 life insurance
3 plans
Free
Free
- 300 credits per day
- Unlimited playbooks
- Live execution
Pro
$29.90/mo
- 30,000 credits per month
- Private playbooks
- Early access to features
Max
$199/mo
- 200,000 credits per month
- Always-on workspace
- Faster queues and support
Prices in USD, checked Nov 5, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Stash
- One flat monthly fee
- Advice available around the clock
- Low minimum to start investing
- Monthly fee is high for small balances
- Only available in the US
- Built for long-term investing, not trading
Alva
- Generous free daily credits
- Connects to several brokers
- Flags news that challenges your thesis
- Max plan is costly
- Automated trading carries real risk
- Credit use is hard to predict
Which one should you choose?
Choose Stash if you want:
- One flat monthly fee
- Advice available around the clock
- Low minimum to start investing
Watch out: monthly fee is high for small balances.
Choose Alva if you want:
- Generous free daily credits
- Connects to several brokers
- Flags news that challenges your thesis
Watch out: max plan is costly.
Stash vs Alva FAQ
What is the difference between Stash and Alva?
Stash: Investing app with an AI money coach and managed portfolios. Alva: AI investing agent that turns theses into live market playbooks. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is Stash or Alva cheaper?
Stash has the lower starting price: about $12 a month, against $30 for Alva.
Do Stash and Alva have free plans?
Stash: No, 7-day trial. Alva: Yes.
Who makes Stash?
Stash is made by Stash Financial, based in United States.
Who makes Alva?
Alva is made by Alva.
Which should I choose, Stash or Alva?
Choose Stash if you value one flat monthly fee and advice available around the clock. Choose Alva if you value generous free daily credits and connects to several brokers.