Select up to 4 software tools to compare side by side — pricing, features, pros and cons. Find the best fit for your needs with detailed side-by-side comparisons.
Verdict
For new investors with small balances, Fidelity Go is the most accessible option — zero management fees under $25,000 and no account minimum. Betterment and Wealthfront charge 0.25%/yr but offer tax-loss harvesting and broader features. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has a $5,000 minimum and a mandatory cash allocation that creates drag on returns.
⚠ Not Financial Advice
The information on this page is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute personalized investment advice, a recommendation, or an endorsement of any specific investment product or strategy. Past performance does not guarantee future results. All investment decisions involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. You should consult a qualified financial advisor or investment professional before making any investment decisions. Fee structures, account minimums, and platform features are subject to change — verify current terms directly with each provider before opening an account.
Select tools:
Feature
Betterment
Wealthfront
Starting Price
From $0.25/mo
From $0.25/mo
Digital Standard (%/yr)
$0.25/yr
$0.25/yr
Digital Flat (under $20k)
$4/mo
—
Premium (%/yr)
$0.65/yr
—
Best For
Freelancers
Freelancers
Regions
US
US
Platforms
Web, Ios, Android
Web, Ios, Android
Key Features
•Goal-based investing with separate portfolios for different goals (retirement, emergency, home, etc.)
•Tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts (Standard tier)
•Socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios using ESG-screened ETFs
•Flat $4/month fee option for balances under $20,000
•Automated portfolio management at 0.25% annual fee
•Tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts at all balance levels
•Direct indexing (individual stock holdings) for accounts over $100,000 — enables holding-level tax-loss harvesting
•Automated bond ladder for fixed-income allocation
Pros
+No account minimum — start investing with any amount
+Flat $4/month option for smaller balances is more cost-effective than percentage-based fees for accounts under ~$19,000
+Tax-loss harvesting included at the standard tier — a feature some competitors (Fidelity Go) lack entirely
+Direct indexing for accounts over $100,000 provides more granular tax-loss harvesting than any competitor at the same price tier
+Automated bond ladder is unique — structures fixed-income allocation through individual bonds rather than bond ETFs
+Commission-free stock and ETF trading gives flexibility beyond pure robo-advisor allocation
Cons
−Premium tier requires $100,000 minimum for CFP access — not accessible to most users
−No 401(k) integration for holistic retirement planning within the platform
−Percentage fee (0.25%) above $25,000 is not zero-fee like Schwab or Fidelity Go under $25k
−No human advisor access at any tier — portfolio management is fully automated with digital-only support
−$500 account minimum is higher than the $0 minimum offered by Betterment and Fidelity Go
−No flat-fee pricing option — 0.25% on all balances means small accounts pay proportionally more than at Betterment ($4/mo) or Fidelity Go (free under $25k)