10 Best Alternative Investments in 2026

Alternative investments have moved from the fringes of portfolio theory to the mainstream. What was once an asset class reserved for endowments, pension funds, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals is now accessible to anyone with a few hundred dollars and an internet connection.

The numbers tell the story: alternative investment platforms have collectively raised over $50 billion from retail investors since 2020, spanning real estate, private credit, farmland, art, wine, venture capital, and more. The appeal is straightforward — diversification beyond stocks and bonds, potentially higher returns, and access to asset classes with low correlation to public markets.

What Are Alternative Investments?

"Alternative investments" is a broad category encompassing any asset that falls outside traditional stocks, bonds, and cash. The most common types include:

• Real estate: Commercial and residential properties, REITs, and real estate debt
• Private credit: Direct lending to businesses or real estate borrowers
• Farmland: Agricultural land leased to farmers or operated for crop production
• Art & collectibles: Blue-chip artwork, wine, sports cards, and other physical collectibles
• Private equity & venture capital: Direct investment in private companies at various stages
• Precious metals & commodities: Gold, silver, and other physical commodities
• Music royalties & litigation finance: Income-producing assets tied to creative works or legal settlements

Each category has its own risk-return profile, liquidity characteristics, and minimum investment requirements. No single platform covers everything, which is why most investors use multiple platforms to build a diversified alternatives allocation.

How We Ranked These Platforms

Our editorial team independently evaluates every platform across five equally weighted dimensions:

1. Fees (20%): Total cost of investing, including management fees, performance fees, and any hidden charges
2. Minimum Investment (20%): How accessible the platform is for new and small investors
3. Returns & Track Record (20%): Historical performance, time in market, and consistency
4. Transparency (20%): Quality of reporting, fee disclosures, and investor communications
5. Ease of Use (20%): Account setup, dashboard, mobile experience, and customer support

We do not accept payment for rankings or inflate scores for affiliate relationships. Platforms pay us when you click through and create an account (affiliate commissions), but this has zero influence on our editorial scores.

How Much Should You Allocate to Alternatives?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but most financial advisors suggest allocating 5-20% of your overall portfolio to alternatives, depending on your age, risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and investment horizon.

A conservative approach might start at 5% and gradually increase as you become familiar with the asset classes and platforms. Remember that most alternative investments are illiquid — only invest money you genuinely won't need for 3-10 years.

Here are the 10 best alternative investment platforms in 2026.