What can I do about this clause?

{'method': 'IN_APP', 'recipient': 'https://support.acorns.com/', 'difficulty': 'EASY', 'action_type': 'CANCEL_SUBSCRIPTION', 'instructions': 'If Acorns notifies you of a fee increase you do not accept, cancel your subscription through the Acorns app settings or by contacting support at support.acorns.com before the effective date of the fee change to avoid being charged the higher amount.', 'deadline_days': None, 'deadline_hours': None}

Which regulatory agencies enforce this type of clause?

{'agency': 'FTC', 'reason': "The FTC's updated 2024 Negative Option Rule and Section 5 authority apply to subscription fee changes implemented through continued-use acceptance mechanisms.", 'complaint_url': 'https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/'}, {'agency': 'CFPB', 'reason': 'The CFPB has authority over fee disclosure practices in consumer financial product subscription agreements under UDAAP standards.', 'complaint_url': 'https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/'}

What is the severity of this clause?

ConductAtlas classifies this Subscription Fee Structure clause as medium severity. Severity reflects the magnitude of rights affected, the breadth of users impacted, and the degree of discretion the platform retains.

Subscription Fee Structure — Acorns

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What it is

Acorns charges a monthly fee based on your plan, and they can increase that fee at any time — continuing to use the app means you agree to pay the new amount.

Consumer impact (what this means for users)

Acorns can raise your monthly subscription fee and your continued use of the app counts as acceptance of the higher fee, even if you did not actively consent — this is particularly impactful for users with small account balances where fees represent a high percentage of invested assets.

What you can do

⚠️ These actions may provide transparency or partial mitigation but may not fully address the underlying issue. Effectiveness varies by jurisdiction and individual circumstances.

Cancel Subscription

If Acorns notifies you of a fee increase you do not accept, cancel your subscription through the Acorns app settings or by contacting support at support.acorns.com before the effective date of the fee change to avoid being charged the higher amount.

Cross-platform context

See how other platforms handle Subscription Fee Structure and similar clauses.

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Why it matters (compliance & risk perspective)

Monthly subscription fees on small investment balances can represent a disproportionately high percentage cost — for example, a $3/month fee on a $100 balance equals a 36% annual cost — which significantly affects investment returns.

View original clause language

Acorns charges a monthly subscription fee for use of its Services. The fee is based on the subscription plan you select. Acorns reserves the right to change its subscription fees upon notice to you. Your continued use of the Services after any fee change constitutes your acceptance of the new fee.

Institutional analysis (Compliance & legal intelligence)

(1) REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: Subscription fee changes in investment adviser agreements are regulated under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and FINRA rules, which require clear disclosure of fees in Form ADV Part 2A. The FTC Act Section 5 and CFPB UDAAP standards apply to the continued-use acceptance mechanism for fee increases. The SEC's Reg BI requires broker-dealers to consider the cost of their services when making recommendations. (2)

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Applicable agencies

FTC

The FTC's updated 2024 Negative Option Rule and Section 5 authority apply to subscription fee changes implemented through continued-use acceptance mechanisms.
File a complaint →
CFPB

The CFPB has authority over fee disclosure practices in consumer financial product subscription agreements under UDAAP standards.
File a complaint →

Provision details

Document information

Document

Acorns Terms of Service

Entity

Acorns

Document last updated

April 29, 2026

Tracking information

First tracked

April 18, 2026

Last verified

April 18, 2026

Record ID

CA-P-002888

Document ID

CA-D-00171

Evidence Provenance

Source URL

https://www.acorns.com/terms/

Wayback Machine

View archived versions →

SHA-256

3556a6294c711a9f21e9724c15204e0cd4633d587f15678cae73f7e8ac9a9bb4

Verified

✓ Snapshot stored ✓ Change verified

How to Cite

ConductAtlas Policy Archive
Entity: Acorns | Document: Acorns Terms of Service | Record: CA-P-002888
Captured: 2026-04-18 10:31:41 UTC | SHA-256: 3556a6294c711a9f…
URL: https://conductatlas.com/platform/acorns/acorns-terms-of-service/subscription-fee-structure/
Accessed: May 2, 2026

Classification

Severity

Medium

Subscription Fee Structure