{"id":10377,"date":"2023-05-04T14:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-04T14:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/?p=10377"},"modified":"2025-06-23T17:05:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-23T17:05:13","slug":"alternative-investment-platforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wallstreetzen.com\/blog\/alternative-investment-platforms\/","title":{"rendered":"The 10 Best Alternative Investment Platforms in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Investing in the stock market is great, but it\u2019s not the only way to get a return. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, diversifying your investments outside of traditional assets can yield higher returns as well as give you a hedge against the volatility and potential risks of investing in traditional assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Until recently, you had to have a lot of cash or be well-connected to access investments like commercial real estate, high-end art, fine wine, or private equity. Now, most investors can access these assets through online platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to find the best alternative investment platforms?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this article, I reviewed over two dozen alternative investment apps and platforms (including their available assets, stated returns, fees, and platforms). Below, you\u2019ll find a comprehensive review of the top alternative investments that offer the best experience for investors, whether you’re experienced or looking for your first investment outside of the markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to find out which one is right for you:<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\n \n <\/path> <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n

FEATURED OFFER: Masterworks<\/b><\/p>\n

Want an investment that\u2019s fueled by the ultra-wealthy? Try art.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Actual results: Since 1995, contemporary art has appreciated 11.4% annually on average. That\u2019s 43% more than the S&P over the last 30 years (1995-2024). After all, there\u2019s a reason why many HNW individuals can invest almost an entire 10%+ of their wealth in art.<\/span><\/p>\n

Want in? You can invest in shares of million-dollar painting offerings with Masterworks<\/a>, the world\u2019s first art investment platform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For a limited time, you can <\/span>skip the waitlist here<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

*See important disclosures at masterworks.com\/cd<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

The 10 Best Alternative Investment Platforms in 2026:<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With a variety of assets available an varying minimums from $10 to higher-end opportunities for HNWIs, here are the best alternative investment platforms in 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Yieldstreet – The Best Alternative Investment Platform Overall<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overall Rating: \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assets: <\/strong>Real estate, art, crypto, legal, private credit, private equity, short-term notes, transportation, venture capital<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimum Investment: <\/strong>$15,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type of Investor: <\/strong>Primarily accredited<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yieldstreet<\/a> gives you a lot of bang for your buck as an alternative investment platform \u2014 you can access nearly a dozen alternative assets within one account, which features an easy-to-use dashboard and low fees (Fees range from 0% up to 2.5% annually, depending on the investment).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Pasted<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Founded in 2015, Yieldstreet has grown to become one of the best places to invest in just about anything outside of traditional markets. Available assets include crowdfunded real estate, rare artwork, cryptocurrency, private deals, venture capital, and more. A lot of this stuff used to just be available to ultra-connected investors or institutional investors. Not anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yieldstreet has invested over $4.5 billion for its investors since its founding, and has averaged 9.7% net annualized returns since then. To put that in perspective, a traditional stock\/bond “60\/40” portfolio has returned about 6.5% in the same amount of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s more, Yieldstreet offers access to markets that have historically outperformed stocks during downturns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Source: Yieldstreet <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If the variety of individual deals is too overwhelming on Yieldstreet, you may want to consider the Yieldstreet Alternative Investment fund<\/a>, which happens to be one of the few offerings accessible to both accredited and non-accredited investors. This professionally-managed fund makes it easy to diversify across multiple asset classes of alternative investments:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Yieldstreet is one of the most comprehensive and user-friendly alternative investment platforms out there \u2014 I’d recommend it to just about anyone looking to diversify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Check out Yieldstreet<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Masterworks – Invest in Fine Art<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Overall Rating: \u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Assets: <\/strong>Contemporary art<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minimum Investment: <\/strong>N\/A<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type of Investor: <\/strong>All investors<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masterworks<\/a> is the best online platform for investing in high-end contemporary art.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Pasted<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

What is it? A platform that lets both accredited and non-accredited investors diversify into high-end art offerings for a fraction of the usual cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Art can be scary because there’s less regulation in the market than, say, with publicly-traded stocks. However, platforms like Masterworks<\/a> make it easier than ever to invest in legitimate works of art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have a solid track record: Masterworks has purchased over 450 art pieces, with 23 sales so far, generating +17.6%, +17.8% and +21.5% annualized net returns for investors with representative exits (from paintings held 1+ year, not including unsold).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, investing in art is a great way to diversify your portfolio and is uncorrelated with public markets historically (\u201895-\u201924), giving investors a diversifier during upwards and downwards market volatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, investing in fine art does carry a higher degree of risk, as you must choose the pieces to invest in, and there is no guarantee of a return. Check out our complete Masterworks review<\/a> for all the details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masterworks does have a waitlist for onboarding interested investors, but you can skip the line by using the link below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
Skip the Masterworks waitlist<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* Returns are examples of those deals that represent median returns. Past performance is not indicative of future returns.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. DLP Capital – The Best Real Estate Investment Platform for Large Accounts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Minimum Investment: <\/strong>$200,000<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Real estate ranked number 1 in our list of the best alternative investments<\/a>, so let’s talk about some of the best ways to invest in it. I’ll start with an option for larger accounts \u2014 but if the price tag above scared you, don’t worry, I have more platforms to discuss (one of which has a $10 investment minimum) below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a large account and you’re interested in becoming a real estate investor but don’t necessarily want to buy property outright, DLP Capital<\/a> might be a great fit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, the $200K minimum is high, but the company’s legit. Founded in 2006, DLP has a proven track record, with thousands of investors, an inventory of 18,000 housing units, and over $5.25 billion in assets under management. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

DLP Capital<\/a> primarily serves wealthy investors, offering access to a variety of real estate funds to align with different investment strategies and objectives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n