Vanguard Digital Advisor review

Vanguard Digital Advisor offers the lowest gross fee of the paid services here: 0.20% a year for an index portfolio or 0.25% for an active one, and Vanguard says that gross fee is reduced by a credit of revenue it earns from the funds. Enrollment needs only $100 in a retail Vanguard Brokerage Account, or $5 for eligible 401(k) accounts, and the advisory fee is waived for the first billing period, generally 90 days. The service is goal based: it builds a retirement plan first and adjusts holdings when you add goals. It rebalances when the portfolio drifts more than 5% from its recommended allocation, and includes a debt calculator, goal optimizer, emergency fund tool and tax-loss harvesting at no extra cost. The limits are that it is fully digital with no advisor calls, it uses Vanguard funds only, and you need US residency. For a retirement saver who likes Vanguard's index approach, it is the cheapest managed option with a fee.

Who it is for

Retirement savers who want Vanguard index funds

Price

Gross advisory fee 0.20% per year for index portfolios or 0.25% for active, reduced by fund revenue credit; $100 to enroll.

Digital Advisor charges brokerage accounts an annual gross advisory fee in the amount of 0.20% for an index portfolio options or 0.25% for an active portfolio option.
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Index portfolio at a 0.20% gross annual advisory fee, active portfolio at 0.25%
• Advisory fee waived for the first billing period, generally 90 days
• Rebalancing when the portfolio drifts more than 5% from the target
• Debt calculator, goal optimizer and emergency fund tool
• Tax-loss harvesting at no additional cost

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: $100 minimum per Vanguard Brokerage Account, and $5 for eligible 401(k) accounts
• Strength: Lowest gross fee among the fee-charging robo advisors on this list
• Strength: Planning tools for debt, goals and emergency funds come with the service
• Weakness: Requires a retail Vanguard Brokerage Account and US residency or an APO/FPO/DPO address
• Weakness: Rebalances on a 5% drift trigger rather than continuously
• Weakness: Portfolios are built from Vanguard funds only

Key facts

• Advisory fee: 0.20% index, 0.25% active (gross)
• Minimum: $100 per brokerage account
• Fee waiver: First billing period, about 90 days
• Rebalancing: When drift exceeds 5%

Where it ranks

Vanguard Digital Advisor is No. 4 in our Best Robo Advisors verdict.