Wealthy PotSchwab Intelligent Portfolios vs Vanguard Digital Advisor (2026)
Both are broker-owned robos aimed at long-term investors. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has no advisory fee but a cash allocation and higher minimum; Vanguard Digital Advisor charges a very low net fee using Vanguard’s own funds. Pick Schwab to avoid an explicit fee, Vanguard for the lowest all-in cost with a smaller minimum.
By Wealthy Pot · Last updated September 2026
| Feature | Schwab Intelligent Portfolios | Vanguard Digital Advisor |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Broker-owned | Broker-owned |
| Advisory fee | $0 advisory (monetized via a required cash allocation) | 0.20%/yr (index) or 0.25%/yr (active), gross; lower net after fund-fee offsets |
| Account minimum | $5,000 | $100 per Vanguard Brokerage Account |
| Tax-loss harvesting | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Best for | Schwab investors who want a no-advisory-fee robo and will tolerate a cash allocation | Cost-conscious long-term investors who want Vanguard funds managed for them |
Where Schwab Intelligent Portfolios wins
- No advisory fee
- Tax-loss harvesting available at higher balances
- Backed by Schwab’s scale and support
- Wide fund selection
Where Vanguard Digital Advisor wins
- One of the lowest all-in costs of any robo
- Uses Vanguard’s own low-fee funds
- Tax-loss harvesting included in the advisory fee
- Backed by Vanguard’s long index-investing track record
Which should you choose?
Both are broker-owned robos aimed at long-term investors. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has no advisory fee but a cash allocation and higher minimum; Vanguard Digital Advisor charges a very low net fee using Vanguard’s own funds. Pick Schwab to avoid an explicit fee, Vanguard for the lowest all-in cost with a smaller minimum.
Compare these against every option 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 each provider's official page. Some outbound links may be affiliate links — that never affects our comparisons. Nothing here is investment advice.