Robo-Advisors Compared
A side-by-side look at 8 robo-advisors. The two numbers that matter most are the advisory fee and the account minimum, and because some robos are free at small balances, the cheapest option changes with how much you invest. Filter and sort to find the one that fits your balance and goals.
Fees checked October 19, 2026
A robo-advisor builds and manages a diversified portfolio for you, automatically, for a percentage of your balance or a flat monthly fee. Which costs least depends on your balance; it depends on your balance, whether you want tax-loss harvesting or human advisors, and whether you already bank with a big broker. The table below compares 8 robos on fees, minimums, and tax features. We focus on the services, not investment tips. Nothing here is investment advice.
Compare robo-advisors
| Robo-advisor | Type | Advisory fee | Account min | Tax-loss harvesting | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BettermentBettermentTax-loss harvesting | Standalone | $5/mo under $24k (unless $200+/mo deposits), else 0.25%/yr; Premium 0.65% | $0 ($10 first deposit) | Yes | Goal-based automated investing with tax-loss harvesting and no account minimum |
| WealthfrontWealthfrontTax-loss harvesting | Standalone | 0.25%/yr (Bond Ladder 0.15%, S&P 500 Direct 0.09%) | $500 | Yes | Automated investing with tax-loss harvesting from $500 and direct indexing from $100,000 |
| Fidelity GoFidelity (Strategic Advisers LLC)Tax-loss harvesting | Broker-owned | $0 under $25k, then 0.35%/yr on the whole balance | $0 ($10 to start investing) | Yes | Balances under $25,000 that want management with no advisory fee |
| Schwab Intelligent PortfoliosCharles SchwabTax-loss harvesting | Broker-owned | $0 advisory fee; 6% to 30% held in cash at Schwab Bank | $5,000 | Yes | Schwab clients with $5,000+ who accept a cash allocation in place of an advisory fee |
| Vanguard Digital AdvisorThe Vanguard GroupTax-loss harvesting | Broker-owned | 0.20%/yr index or 0.25% active (gross; less after fund credits); first 90 days free | $100 | Yes | Investors who want Vanguard index ETFs managed for about 0.20% a year, starting at $100 |
| SoFi Automated InvestingSoFi (SoFi Wealth LLC) | Standalone | 0.25%/yr (since Nov 2024) | $0 ($50 to start investing) | No | SoFi members who want a simple managed portfolio inside the SoFi app |
| M1M1 (M1 Advisory Services LLC) | Hybrid | $0 (advisory fee waived through Dec 31, 2027) + $3/mo platform fee under $10k | $100 ($500 for IRAs) | No | Investors who build their own target portfolio ("pie") and want deposits invested automatically |
| AcornsAcorns | Micro-investing | $4, $8 or $12 a month (Bronze / Silver / Gold) for sign-ups since Aug 17, 2026 | $0 (most start at $5) | No | Beginners who invest spare change and small recurring amounts and want checking and savings in the same app |
No robo-advisors match those filters.
What a year costs at three balances
Advisory fee plus typical fund expenses for one year, rounded to the dollar, from each firm's published fee rules and fund costs, read on October 19, 2026. "+ funds" means the firm does not publish fund costs we could verify, or you pick the funds.
| Robo | $5,000 | $25,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Betterment | $63 to $67 | $75 to $95 | $300 to $380 |
| Wealthfront | $13 + funds | $63 + funds | $250 + funds |
| Fidelity Go | $0 | $88 | $350 |
| Schwab Intelligent Portfolios | $1 to $8 | $5 to $38 | $20 to $150 |
| Vanguard Digital Advisor | $12 to $14 | $58 to $68 | $230 to $270 |
| SoFi Automated Investing | $13 + funds | $63 + funds | $250 + funds |
| M1 | $36 + funds | $0 + funds | $0 + funds |
| Acorns | $50 to $52 | $56 to $66 | $78 to $118 |
Hypothetical, balance held flat. Betterment assumes no recurring deposits ($5 a month under $24,000); Acorns uses Bronze at $4 a month; Schwab charges no advisory fee but keeps 6% to 30% in cash; Vanguard uses the 0.20% gross fee (the net fee is lower); M1's advisory fee is waived through 2027.
How to choose a robo-advisor
- Under $25,000? Fidelity Go charges no advisory fee below $25,000 and uses Flex funds with 0.00% expenses; then 0.35% on the whole balance.
- Tax-loss harvesting? Betterment and Wealthfront offer it with no stated minimum in taxable accounts; Schwab from $50,000; Fidelity Go from $25,000; Vanguard Digital Advisor includes it; SoFi, M1 and Acorns do not.
- No advisory fee at all? Schwab Intelligent Portfolios charges none but needs $5,000 and holds 6% to 30% in cash at Schwab Bank.
- A person to talk to? Betterment Premium (0.65%, $100,000 minimum) includes CFP access; Fidelity Go adds coaching calls from $25,000. Wealthfront, Vanguard Digital Advisor, M1 and Acorns have no human advice in these services.
- Small amounts and spare change? Acorns charges a flat $4 to $12 a month, which is a large share of a small balance; M1 lets you build your own portfolio and charges $3 a month under $10,000.
Drawbacks to weigh
A robo-advisor is not a full financial plan. The questionnaire covers goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance, but not estate planning, stock options, or complex tax situations. The advisory fee is still a percentage of your balance, so it grows as your account grows. And if you want to talk through decisions with a person, check whether a human advisor tier is included or costs extra.
Prefer to pick your own funds instead? Compare low-cost index funds in our ETF comparisons, choose a home for the account in our online brokers comparison, and project growth with the free compound interest calculator.
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Deciding between two specific robo-advisors? These head-to-head breakdowns go deeper:
How we compare
We read each firm's Form ADV brochure and Form CRS filed with the SEC, its pricing and help pages and the fund documents, quote every fact from those sources and link them in each review. We did not open accounts or run hands-on tests, and we do not score robos with stars. Cost figures are our arithmetic. We re-check fees about once a month. We do not earn a commission from any robo-advisor on this page. Nothing here is investment advice.