Betterment vs. Wealthfront
Both robo-advisors charge 0.25% a year on most balances. The differences are at the edges: how small balances are priced, what it takes to start, and whether you can pay for a human advisor.
Disclosure: links on this page currently go straight to each provider’s own site, and we don’t earn a commission from them. If we join a provider’s affiliate program later, that will never change which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.
How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Short answer: on Nov 10, 2026, both charged a 0.25% annual advisory fee on most balances. Betterment has no minimum but charges $5 a month until you hit $24,000 or set up $200+ monthly deposits. Wealthfront needs $500 to start a taxable portfolio. Betterment Premium adds advisor access for 0.65% with $100,000.
Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Betterment automated investing | Wealthfront automated investing | |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory fee | $5/month or 0.25% a year (0.25% with $200+/month recurring deposits or a $24,000+ balance) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 0.25% a year (advisory fee) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Minimum to start | No minimum balance | $500 for a taxable Wealthfront Portfolio; $100 for later deposits |
| Human advisor option | Premium: 0.65% a year, $100,000 minimum | Not offered on the pages we read; support from its team for questions |
| Large balances | Discounts above $1 million: 0.15% on $1–2 million, 0.10% above $2 million | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Self-directed brokerage | Not compared | ETFs and stocks with no advisory fee; $1 to start |
We read Betterment’s pricing page and Wealthfront’s pricing, investing and support pages on Nov 10, 2026, plus the SEC’s investor bulletin on robo-advisers. Fund expense ratios are charged on top of advisory fees and aren’t compared here. We have no affiliate relationship with either firm.
Betterment automated investing vs Wealthfront automated investing: side-by-side
| Betterment | Wealthfront | |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory fee | $5/month or 0.25% a year (0.25% with $200+/month recurring deposits or a $24,000+ balance) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 0.25% a year (advisory fee) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Minimum to start | No minimum balance | $500 for a taxable Wealthfront Portfolio; $100 for later deposits |
| Human advisor option | Premium: 0.65% a year, $100,000 minimum | Not offered on the pages we read; support from its team for questions |
| Large balances | Discounts above $1 million: 0.15% on $1–2 million, 0.10% above $2 million | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Self-directed brokerage | Not compared | ETFs and stocks with no advisory fee; $1 to start |
What are the pros and cons?
Betterment automated investing: pros
- No minimum to start
- Premium plan with financial experts
- Fee discounts above $1 million
Betterment automated investing: cons
- $5 a month on small balances without $200+ monthly deposits
Wealthfront automated investing: pros
- One flat 0.25% advisory fee
- Separate no-advisory-fee brokerage account
Wealthfront automated investing: cons
- $500 minimum for a taxable portfolio
- No paid human-advisor tier on the pages we read
Which should you choose: Betterment automated investing or Wealthfront automated investing?
At $24,000 and up, or with $200+ in monthly deposits, both cost 0.25% a year, so choose on features. Below that, Betterment’s $5 monthly fee can cost more than Wealthfront’s 0.25% (on $5,000, 0.25% is $12.50 a year versus $60), while Wealthfront asks for $500 upfront.
Choose Betterment automated investing if…
- You’re starting with under $500 or investing a little each month
- You want the option of a human advisor later
Choose Wealthfront automated investing if…
- You can deposit $500+ and won’t automate $200 a month
- You also want a no-fee self-directed brokerage account
The advisory fee isn’t your total cost
The SEC’s investor bulletin on robo-advisers notes that if a robo-adviser uses high-cost investment products, your total costs could still be high, and suggests asking about any other costs such as ETF management fees and how the adviser is paid. It also points to each adviser’s Form ADV brochure for details on services and fees.
Who should skip this
- You’d rather pick funds yourself. A broker with $0 trades may cost less; see brokerage accounts for beginners.
- You need the money within a few years. Invested money can lose value; keep short-term cash in insured savings.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Betterment or Wealthfront?
What’s the minimum to open?
Can I talk to a human advisor?
Are these accounts FDIC-insured?
Do you earn money from either?
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.
- Betterment: Pricing (betterment.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Wealthfront: Pricing (wealthfront.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Wealthfront: Investing (wealthfront.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Wealthfront Support: Minimum to transfer and deposit (support.wealthfront.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Investor.gov (SEC): Investor Bulletin: Robo-Advisers (investor.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- SIPC: What SIPC protects (sipc.org, checked Nov 10, 2026)