Robo-Advisor Review

Betterment Review (2026)

Betterment is the most polished all-round robo-advisor: strong goal planning, solid tax optimization, and no minimum to start. It is the safe default for hands-off investors.

By Wealthy Pot · Last updated September 2026

TypeStandalone
Advisory fee0.25%/yr (or $5/mo under $24k without a $200+ recurring deposit)
Account minimum$0
Tax-loss harvestingYes
Best forHands-off investors who want goal-based automation with no minimum to start
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Pros

  • Goal-based planning that is genuinely easy to use
  • Automatic tax-loss harvesting
  • No minimum to open
  • Optional access to human CFPs on a premium tier

Cons

  • The flat monthly fee stings on very small balances without recurring deposits
  • Less control than a self-directed account

Who Betterment is for

Best for hands-off investors who want a portfolio built around specific goals and are happy to let software (and optionally a human advisor) run it.

Fees & minimum

Betterment charges 0.25%/yr (or $5/mo under $24k without a $200+ recurring deposit), with an account minimum of $0. Tax-loss harvesting: available.

The bottom line

Betterment is the most polished all-round robo-advisor: strong goal planning, solid tax optimization, and no minimum to start. It is the safe default for hands-off investors. Main drawback: the flat $5/mo can be pricey on very small balances without recurring deposits.

Compare Betterment with…

See how Betterment stacks up in our robo-advisors comparison.

We summarize hands-on assessment, not user reviews. Advisory fees and account minimums change often and are re-checked against Betterment's official page. Some outbound links may be affiliate links — that never affects which services we include or how we rate them. Nothing here is investment advice.