Betterment vs Fidelity Go (2026)
Fidelity Go charges no advisory fee on accounts under $25,000 and 0.35% on the whole balance from there, using Flex funds that are sold if you move to another firm. Betterment charges 0.25% a year, or $5 a month under $24,000 without a $200 monthly deposit, and offers tax-loss harvesting with no stated balance threshold.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 19, 2026
| Feature | Betterment | Fidelity Go |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Standalone | Broker-owned |
| Advisory fee | $5/mo under $24k (unless $200+/mo deposits), else 0.25%/yr; Premium 0.65% | $0 under $25k, then 0.35%/yr on the whole balance |
| Year cost on $5,000 | $62.50 to $66.50 | $0 |
| Year cost on $25,000 | $75 to $95 | $87.50 |
| Year cost on $100,000 | $300 to $380 | $350 |
| Account minimum | $0 ($10 first deposit) | $0 ($10 to start investing) |
| Tax-loss harvesting | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Goal-based automated investing with tax-loss harvesting and no account minimum | Balances under $25,000 that want management with no advisory fee |
Year-cost rows are our arithmetic: advisory fee plus typical fund expenses, balance held flat for a year, using each firm's published fee rules. Hypothetical, not a quote.
Key differences
The two fee lines sit close together but work differently. Fidelity Go charges $0 while an account is under $25,000, then 0.35% on the whole balance, not only the part above. Betterment charges $5 a month under $24,000 unless you set a $200+ monthly recurring deposit, and 0.25% otherwise. Hypothetically, at $20,000 with no recurring deposit, Betterment costs $60 a year and Fidelity Go $0. At $30,000, Betterment costs $30,000 x 0.25% = $75 and Fidelity Go $30,000 x 0.35% = $105. Fidelity Go bills each account on its own, so two $20,000 accounts pay $0.
Leaving works differently. Fidelity Go holds Fidelity Flex funds, which show 0.00% expenses "with limited exceptions" but can only be held in Fidelity fee-based accounts, so moving to another firm means they are sold, which can create taxable gains in a taxable account. Betterment charges $75 for each full or partial transfer to another brokerage firm, and its Core portfolio funds cost 0.05% to 0.13% a year. Since May 2026 Betterment also keeps about 0.5% of managed portfolios in cash that earns no interest.
At Fidelity Go, tax-loss harvesting and human help both depend on balance: harvesting in taxable accounts and unlimited phone coaching with a team of Fidelity advisors switch on once an account reaches $25,000, and harvesting stops if it falls below. Betterment's harvesting is optional on taxable accounts with no stated threshold, while its human advice, CFP professionals by call and video, needs Premium at 0.65% and $100,000. Both offer HSAs and SEP IRAs. Betterment has a $9 million SEC order from April 2023; Fidelity's adviser reported no material disciplinary events in its March 2026 brochure.
Where Betterment wins
- No minimum balance and a $10 first deposit
- Optional tax-loss harvesting and Tax Coordination, with no balance threshold stated
- 0.25% at any balance with a $200+ monthly recurring deposit
- CFP professionals on Premium from $100,000
- Lower rates on balances above $1 million (0.15%, then 0.10%)
Where Fidelity Go wins
- $0 advisory fee for every account under $25,000
- Flex index funds such as FDFIX and FIBUX list 0.00% total annual operating expenses
- No minimum to open; investing starts at $10
- HSA and SEP IRA are eligible account types
- Unlimited phone coaching from $25,000 at no extra fee
Which should you choose?
Pick Betterment if
- You invest every month and can set a recurring deposit of $200 or more, so the 0.25% fee applies at any balance.
- You hold a taxable account and want optional tax-loss harvesting with no stated balance threshold.
- You have $100,000 or more and want calls with CFP professionals for 0.65% a year.
- You want an HSA or Solo 401(k) managed in the same place as your IRA.
Pick Fidelity Go if
- You have under $25,000 to invest and want it managed with no advisory fee and 0.00% fund expenses on the Flex index funds.
- You want a managed IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA or HSA with no minimum to open.
- You already bank or invest at Fidelity and want the managed account next to your other accounts.
- You have $25,000 or more in one account and want phone coaching included in the 0.35% fee.
Betterment vs Fidelity Go: FAQ
Is Fidelity Go cheaper than Betterment on $25,000?
On the advisory fee, no. At $25,000 Fidelity Go charges 0.35% on the whole balance, $87.50 a year, with Flex funds at 0.00% (limited exceptions). Betterment charges 0.25%, $62.50, plus Core fund costs of $25,000 x 0.05% to 0.13% = $12.50 to $32.50, so $75 to $95 in total. Below $25,000 Fidelity Go charges no advisory fee.
Which does tax-loss harvesting, Betterment or Fidelity Go?
Both, in taxable accounts. Betterment offers it as an option with no balance threshold stated. Fidelity Go harvests only in taxable accounts with at least $25,000 invested and stops if the account falls below $25,000. Neither firm promises tax savings.
Which has human advice?
Fidelity Go includes unlimited phone coaching with a team of Fidelity advisors once one account reaches $25,000, at no extra fee. Betterment offers calls and video with CFP professionals only on Premium, at 0.65% a year with $100,000 in eligible investments.
Compare these against every option in our robo-advisors comparison.
We summarize each company's published terms and pricing, not user reviews or our own testing. Facts come from our full reviews of both services, each checked against the firm's own fee pages and SEC filings on October 19, 2026 with every source listed. We do not earn a commission from either service. Nothing here is investment advice.