Simple, transparent pricing
Backer Basic is great for most families, but consider Backer Pro if you plan to contribute to multiple 529 accounts.
Backer Basic
$0 to register and no subscription fees
- Enroll in top-rated 529 or connect your own
- Open or link unlimited 529 plans
- $1.99 platform fee per contribution / gift
Backer Pro
- Enroll in top-rated 529 or connect your own
- Open or link unlimited 529 plans
- No platform fees on your contributions / gifts
- Priority customer support
Both plans include
529 investment advice
Tax-free investment growth
Easy-to-share gifting pages
8%+ projected growth
Automated contributions / gifts
iOS and Android mobile apps
Want to see how much you can save? Try our savings calculator. 👇
Savings calculator
Play with the numbers to watch your projected savings stack up.
Your monthly savings goal
$50
Gifts each year from family & friends
$750
Your kid's age
Your contributions
$11,800
Family & friends
$13,500
Investment gains
$28,709
Your projected savings in 18 years
$54,009
$54,009
Projected value
in 18 years
Your contributions
$11,800
Family and friends
$13,500
Investment gains
$28,709
$54,009
Projected value
in 18 years
Unlike financial advisors who charge a percentage of your assets, we think you shouldn't be penalized for saving more. That's why you'll only ever pay a simple, flat fee – no matter how much you save.
Every Backer plan includes:
Tax-free investing
Top-tier 529 plans
Grow your savings tax-free with projected growth of 8% per year
Easy setup
Set up your 529 in 5 minutes - no expensive financial advisor needed
Curated investment plans
We'll suggest a plan that matches your goals and saving style
Save together
529 gifting
Family and friends can add money to your child’s education fund
Easy-to-share gifting page
Create a custom gifting page that will inspire your backers to contribute
Milestone reminders
Send your backers reminders of special days through the year
Easy to save
Automated saving
Set up automated monthly contributions or add funds any time
A savings app
Manage your funds at backer.com or with our iOS and Android apps
Fund dashboard
Track your fund's growth and see your projected savings
Security you can bank on
When you're saving for the future, you need to know that your money is safe. Security is our top priority.
Have questions? Contact us.
SEC-registered
As an SEC-registered investment adviser, we have a fiduciary duty to protect your money and privacy.
Serious security
We use the strongest available browser encryption and secure servers monitored 24/7/365.
State-run programs
Your 529 investments are managed in a government-sponsored account that you can access at any time.
See why families love saving with Backer
Backer families save more when they save together.
We really needed to start saving for our baby. I love that family members can make contributions. Instead of giving the baby gifts or monetary gifts they can just make a contribution towards their college fund. It makes me feel comfortable knowing we are saving for his future.
@andrea_mrllo
We really needed to start saving for our baby. I love that family members can make contributions. Instead of giving the baby gifts or monetary gifts they can just make a contribution towards their college fund. It makes me feel comfortable knowing we are saving for his future.
@andrea_mrllo“I love using Backer to help my sister save for her daughter's college education.”
Instead of gifting my niece another toy that she's ultimately going to get bored of at some point, I prefer helping to save for her future. I will definitely open my own Backer account when I have a kid someday. Highly recommend!
It is hard to save but I believe in asking for help, so I asked friends and family to help and we are doing it as a team. Let’s give our kids the freedom to decide what they wanna do.
@thecarlinfamilyWhy should I use Backer?
Backer is the easiest way to save for college with help from family and friends. We'll help you invest your savings tax-free with a 529 Savings Plan, a government-sponsored account that works like a retirement account for your kid's education. All the experts agree: a 529 plan is the smart way to avoid future student debt.
With Backer, it's quick and easy to involve family and friends. These “backers” can contribute to your kid's education fund and stay involved as your child gets closer to college. Our most active customers save 4x more by building a team of backers for their kids.
What are backers and how do I invite them?
Anyone who wants to help you save can join your fund as a backer. We see lots of grandparents, uncles/aunts, and even family friends or the child's mentors at school and through other activities.
Yout'll be able to send them an invitation or share your fund link directly with anyone who wants to help you save.
What if I decide Backer is not for me?
We'll be sad to lose you, but you'll be able to keep the 529 plan we helped you open or we'll help you roll it over to another provider. If you leave Backer, you will lose the ability to access and manage your 529 plan via our website and mobile apps, as well as the fund page where your backers can help you save, your Backer contribution history, and all of our other features. We'll welcome any feedback you have for how we can improve and will always welcome you back if you change your mind.
Have more questions? Get in touch.
Give Backer a try
Get a head start on college costs for a kid you love by saving together, tax-free.
Get started