Betterment review

Betterment takes the top spot because it pairs no minimum balance with a 0.25% annual fee that most savers can reach with a $200 monthly auto-deposit. Without that deposit and under $24,000, the fee is a flat $5 a month, so small idle accounts pay more in percentage terms. The fee covers expert-built ETF portfolios, automatic rebalancing and reinvesting, and tax-loss harvesting, and Betterment's pricing page says balances above $1 million get tiered discounts down to 0.10%. Investors who want people as well as software can move to Premium at 0.65% a year once they hold $100,000. Account types include traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs and a Solo 401(k), and a Cash Reserve account listed 3.50% variable APY as of September 21, 2026. Two costs to watch: the $5 floor on small balances and a $75 fee per account when you transfer out. We compared documented features and published prices, not live returns.

Who it is for

Hands-off investors starting with a small balance

Price

$5 per month under $24,000 without $200+ in monthly deposits, otherwise 0.25% per year; Premium 0.65% per year.

Fees are $5/month or 0.25% annually for investing accounts, and 0.65% annually for our Premium plan.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Expert-built, globally diversified ETF portfolios with automatic trading, rebalancing and reinvesting
• Tax-loss harvesting and other tax-saving technology included in the fee
• Fee drops to 0.15% on balances from $1 million to $2 million and 0.10% above $2 million
• Premium plan at 0.65% adds access to financial experts from $100,000
• Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs, Solo 401(k)s and a Cash Reserve account

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No minimum balance to open an automated investing account
• Strength: $200 a month in recurring deposits is enough to switch from the $5 monthly fee to 0.25% a year
• Strength: Fee discounts above $1 million apply automatically
• Weakness: The $5 monthly fee equals 0.6% a year on a $10,000 balance with no recurring deposit
• Weakness: Betterment Securities charges $75 to transfer an investing account out
• Weakness: Premium needs $100,000 in eligible investments

Key facts

• Advisory fee: $5/month or 0.25% per year
• Premium: 0.65% per year, $100,000 minimum
• Minimum balance: None
• Outbound transfer fee: $75 per account

Where it ranks

Betterment is No. 1 in our Best Robo Advisors verdict.