Compare accounting software side by side — pricing, features, pros & cons. Find the best fit for your business with detailed comparisons of QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, FreshBooks and more.
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)