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Best Robo-Advisors in the US (October 2026): Betterment vs Wealthfront vs Fidelity Go vs Vanguard vs Schwab, Ranked by Real Cost
The best robo-advisor depends on your balance. Under $25,000, Fidelity Go is cheapest: no advisory fee below $25,000 and you can start investing with $10. From $25,000 up, Vanguard Digital Advisor is cheapest at about 0.15% a year net, with a $100 minimum. Betterment and Wealthfront cost 0.25% but have the best features, including automatic tax-loss harvesting. Betterment charges $5 a month instead unless you hold $24,000 or deposit $200 a month. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has a $0 fee but needs $5,000 and keeps part of your money in cash, which can cost more than a fee in strong markets.
What a robo-advisor does
A robo-advisor is an online service that invests your money for you, using computer rules instead of a human advisor. You answer questions about your goals and risk tolerance, and it:
- Builds a portfolio of low-cost ETFs, usually spread across US stocks, international stocks and bonds.
- Invests every deposit automatically.
- Rebalances back to your target mix when markets move.
- Cuts taxes in some cases, through tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts.
It costs a fraction of a traditional advisor, who often charges about 1% a year.
How we ranked them
We ranked on total cost at three balances, then features. Fees were checked against each provider's pricing page in October 2026.
The comparison
| Robo-advisor | Advisory fee | Minimum | Tax-loss harvesting | Human advice |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Go | $0 under $25,000, then 0.35% | $0 ($10 to start investing) | No | Coaching from $25,000 |
| Vanguard Digital Advisor | About 0.15% net (0.20% gross, with fund fees credited) | $100 | Not the focus | Upgrade to Personal Advisor |
| Betterment | 0.25%, or $5/month below thresholds | $0 | Yes | Premium: 0.65%, $100,000 minimum |
| Wealthfront | 0.25% | $500 | Yes | No |
| Schwab Intelligent Portfolios | $0 | $5,000 | From $50,000 | Premium tier available |
Sources: provider pricing pages, October 2026. ETF expense ratios are charged separately by the funds.
What you'd actually pay
Yearly advisory fee at three balances (not including ETF expense ratios):
| Balance | Fidelity Go | Vanguard Digital | Betterment | Wealthfront | Schwab IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $5,000 | $0 | About $7.50 | $60 ($5/month) or $12.50 | $12.50 | $0 + cash drag |
| $25,000 | $87.50 | About $37.50 | $62.50 | $62.50 | $0 + cash drag |
| $100,000 | $350 | About $150 | $250 | $250 | $0 + cash drag |
Betterment's $5 monthly fee applies unless you hold $24,000 or set up $200 a month in recurring deposits. With $5,000 and a $200 monthly deposit, you'd pay the 0.25% rate, about $12.50.
1. Fidelity Go: best for small balances
No advisory fee under $25,000 is hard to beat. Fidelity Go uses Fidelity's own zero-expense-ratio funds, so small accounts can cost almost nothing. You can start investing with $10.
The catch: above $25,000 the fee jumps to 0.35%, the highest here. There's no tax-loss harvesting.
Best for: beginners starting with small amounts. Many people start here and move on later.
2. Vanguard Digital Advisor: cheapest for larger balances
Vanguard's robo charges about 0.20% but credits back the fees its own funds earn, so the net cost is roughly 0.15%. The minimum is just $100. Portfolios use Vanguard's low-cost index funds.
The catch: fewer bells and whistles. The app is basic, and there's no automated tax-loss harvesting focus.
Best for: long-term retirement savers with $25,000 or more who want the lowest cost.
3. Betterment: best features
Betterment pioneered the robo-advisor and still has the most complete package:
- Tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts.
- Goal-based planning: separate goals for retirement, a house or an emergency fund.
- Premium plan with unlimited access to certified financial planners for 0.65% (minimum $100,000).
Fees: 0.25% a year, or a $5 monthly fee instead if you hold less than $24,000 and deposit less than $200 a month. Moving your account out costs $75 per account.
Best for: people who want features and plan to deposit regularly.
4. Wealthfront: best for planning tools
Wealthfront charges a flat 0.25% with a $500 minimum. It includes tax-loss harvesting and strong financial-planning tools that project your path to goals like retirement or a home purchase. Wealthfront says its tax-loss harvesting typically covers its fee several times over for many clients, though results depend on markets and your tax situation.
Best for: tech-savvy investors who want planning and tax features in one app.
5. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios: $0 fee, with a catch
Schwab charges no advisory fee and offers tax-loss harvesting from $50,000. The minimum is $5,000.
The catch: cash drag. Every portfolio holds part of its money in cash at Schwab's bank. Schwab earns interest on that cash. In years when stocks rise, money sitting in cash misses out, and that can cost more than a 0.25% fee.
Best for: conservative investors who want some cash anyway.
Robo-advisor vs doing it yourself
A robo-advisor's main value is automation and discipline. But you can get close for less:
| Option | Typical yearly cost on $25,000 | Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Human financial advisor (about 1%) | About $250+ | None |
| Robo-advisor (0.15%–0.35%) | About $37–$88 | Very low |
| One target-date fund or all-in-one ETF | About $3–$30 in fund fees | Low |
A single target-date fund rebalances itself, just like a robo. What it doesn't do is tax-loss harvesting or goal planning. If you're comfortable picking one fund, see our best brokers for beginners. Fees compound, too: see what expense ratios really cost.
How to choose
- Starting with under $25,000: Fidelity Go.
- $25,000 or more, lowest cost: Vanguard Digital Advisor.
- You want tax-loss harvesting and features: Betterment or Wealthfront.
- You want a human planner on call: Betterment Premium.
- You're in Canada: see the best robo-advisors in Canada.
The bottom line
For most beginners, Fidelity Go is the cheapest way to start. Once your balance passes $25,000, Vanguard Digital Advisor is the lowest-cost choice, while Betterment and Wealthfront are worth their 0.25% if you'll use tax-loss harvesting. Whichever you choose, the biggest benefit is the same: your money gets invested automatically, every time, without second-guessing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best robo-advisor in 2026?
It depends on your balance. Fidelity Go is cheapest below $25,000 because it charges no advisory fee. Vanguard Digital Advisor is cheapest above that at roughly 0.15% a year net. Betterment and Wealthfront cost 0.25% but offer the best features, such as automatic tax-loss harvesting.
How much does a robo-advisor cost?
Most charge an annual advisory fee of 0% to 0.35% of your balance, plus the expense ratios of the ETFs they buy, typically 0.03% to 0.15%. On $25,000, a 0.25% fee is about $62.50 a year. A human financial advisor often charges around 1%.
Is Schwab Intelligent Portfolios really free?
It charges no advisory fee, but it requires a $5,000 minimum and keeps a portion of each portfolio in cash, which Schwab's bank earns interest on. In rising markets, that cash drag can cost more than a 0.25% fee would.
Betterment or Wealthfront: which is better?
Both charge 0.25% and offer tax-loss harvesting and automatic rebalancing. Betterment has no minimum but charges $5 a month unless you hold $24,000 or set up $200 a month in deposits, and it offers a Premium plan with human advisors. Wealthfront has a $500 minimum, a flat fee and strong planning tools.
Is a robo-advisor worth it?
For people who don't want to choose or rebalance investments themselves, yes. A robo-advisor costs far less than a human advisor and removes emotional decisions. If you're comfortable buying a single target-date fund or all-in-one ETF yourself, you can get a similar result for less.
What is tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting means selling an investment that has fallen in value to realize a loss for tax purposes, then buying a similar investment so you stay invested. The loss can offset capital gains and up to $3,000 a year of ordinary income in the US. It only helps in taxable accounts, not IRAs.
Primary sources
Data & disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not financial or investment advice. Figures reflect data available as of Oct 14, 2026, and conditions change — always confirm current pricing, rates and rules with the provider before you act. Written by Elizabeta Dimoska. See our editorial standards and disclosure.
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