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Head to head

Betterment vs Wealthfront

The same six questions asked of each one, side by side.

AttributeLowest ongoing costBettermentAlternativeWealthfront
Starting price$5 a month flat on balances under $24,000, switching to 0.25% a year with a $200+ monthly recurring deposit or once your balance reaches $24,000. Premium is 0.65% a year and requires $100,000 invested.0.25% a year on Automated Investing — roughly $3.18 a month on a $15,000 balance. The Stock Investing Account has no advisory fee and no commissions. The Cash Account has no monthly fee.
Free tierNoNo
Ease of startScored 4/5Running in an hourScored 4/5Running in an hour
Fit for solo / small teamScored 5/5Made for one personScored 5/5Made for one person
Switching costMediumLow
Best forPeople who want their investing automated — rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting and diversification handled without them thinking about it.Hands-off investors who want automation plus a competitive cash account, without exit fees if they change their mind later.
Worth knowing side by side
Renews higherNoNo
Worst forSmall balances without regular deposits. The $5 monthly flat fee on a $2,000 balance works out to 3% a year, far above the headline rate.People starting with very little. Automated Investing requires $500 to open, where some competitors start at a dollar.
Skip it ifYou are happy buying an index fund yourself. Doing that at a low-cost broker avoids the management fee entirely.You want human financial advice. Wealthfront is deliberately software-only, with no advisor to call.
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Why Betterment is flagged here

Hands-off investing at 0.25% a year, with a $75 charge on the way out. It has the lowest ongoing cost of the tools compared here. We compare on the price you keep paying, not the introductory rate — a plan advertised cheaply that renews higher is ranked on its renewal price. Read the methodology.

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