Gifting

The gift that grows with them.

Share one link. Grandparents, family and friends give to your child’s investment account in a minute. No app needed.

Get Started See how it works

Best Custodial Accounts of 2026

No app for givers.
Pay with PayPal.
A note with every gift.

unest.co/gift/dylan

Give to Dylan’s futureDylan’s UNest account

“Dylan’s birthday is coming up! Instead of more toys, we’re saving for his future. Thank you for being part of it.”

Sarah, Dylan’s mom

Choose an amount

$10$25$50Other

Add a note for DylanHappy birthday, buddy! Love, Grandma.

Give with PayPalNo app or UNest account needed. Pay with PayPal, or with a card as a PayPal guest. Your gift goes into Dylan’s account.

For parents

Set it up once. Share it for every occasion.

1
Open the account.
Answer a few questions. Open a custodial account for each child in minutes.
2
Connect PayPal and get your link.
Connect your PayPal account to receive gifts. Each child gets a personal gift page with a photo and a short note.
3
Share it.
Text it, post it or print it. Every gift lands in your child’s account.

Get Started

For grandparents and relatives

Giving takes a minute. You don’t need an app.

Open the link the parents sent. Pick an amount. Add a note. Pay with PayPal, or with a card as a PayPal guest. That’s it.

Where does the money go?
Into the child’s custodial investment account. It belongs to the child, and a parent manages it until they’re grown.
Is it safe?
Yes. Gifts are paid through PayPal, and accounts are held at Apex Clearing Corporation, a member of FINRA and SIPC.
Can I see it grow?
The parents see every gift in the app, with your note attached.

Holiday season

A gift that grows.

A toy gets outgrown. A gift to your child's account is invested, so it has years to grow. See what family gifts could add up to by age 18.

Gift amount$50

Gifts per year2 gifts

Your child's ageNewborn

Get your gift link See the full calculator

This holiday's $50$185hypothetical value at 18

$100 a year$3,745hypothetical value at 18

Age 1Age 18

Gifts from family$1,800
Hypothetical growth$1,945

Hypothetical illustration only. Assumes gifts are invested once a year and earn an 8% annual return for an aggressive portfolio, before fees, taxes and inflation. Investments can lose value. Actual results will vary. It is for informational purposes only, does not reflect actual investment results and is not a guarantee of future performance.

FAQs

Gifting questions, answered.

Is there a fee to give?

A $1.53 processing fee applies to each gift. Givers never need an app or a UNest account.

How long does a gift take to arrive?

Gifts usually reach the child’s account within a few business days. Parents see the gift and note in the app right away.

Can givers set up a recurring gift?

Not yet, but it's coming soon. For now, givers can use your gift link as often as they like.

Can I have a gift link for each of my kids?

Yes. Each child has their own account and their own gift link.

Is a gift to a custodial account taxable?

Most family gifts are small enough that no gift tax applies: in 2026, one person can give a child up to $19,000 a year ($38,000 for a married couple) without federal gift tax. Gifts above that limit may need to be reported by the giver. UNest does not provide tax advice.

What happens to the money when my child grows up?

The account becomes theirs at the age of majority set by your state, usually 18 to 25. You choose it when you open the account, and it can’t be changed later. Until then, you manage it for their benefit.

Best Custodial Accounts of 2026