12 Best Robo-Advisors in 2026
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Best robo-advisors are:
Empower - Best for long term investing
Interactive Advisors - Best Desktop Trading Platform
E*Trade - Best For The Low Spread Trading
Wealthfront - Best for receiving passive income
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios - lowest minimum deposit brokers
For many investors, managing a portfolio personally is not a simple task. It requires ongoing market monitoring and thorough research, both of which can be time-consuming. Enter robo-advisors, an attractive option for those lacking experience or the hours needed to actively oversee their holdings. By using algorithms to build and manage portfolios, these digital services provide a more hands-off approach while still applying core investment principles.
In this article, we evaluate some of the top robo-advisors currently available. Each platform is assessed based on criteria such as associated fees, minimum account sizes, account features, and investment choices. We explore the distinguishing qualities of each to help investors determine which may be the best fit depending on their budget and risk tolerance.
Top 12 Robo-Advisors Comparison
| Brokers | Minimum Investment | Management Fee | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Empower | $100,000 | 0.89% for investments below $1-M, while 0.49% for above it | 1. Unlimited withdrawals and deposit, as well as direct deposit services |
$100 | Between 0.8% to 1.5% per year | 1. The Socially Responsible Investing tool blocks companies that don’t share the same values as you | |
$0 | $0 for stocks, $0.65 per contract for Options | 1. Comes with two mobile applications, as well as a desktop version with more robust capabilities | |
$500 | 0.25% | 1. Extend several promotions like your first $5,000 investment is free from fees | |
$5,000 | 0% | 1. Various educational resources to expand your knowledge on investing | |
$100 | 0% | 1. Cash management tool that allows you to borrow money for capital | |
Betterment | $0 | 0.25% for a digital account and 0.40% for the premium plan | 1. Offers customizable Core, Smart Beta, and Retirement Income for all users2. Automates deposit based on your preferred schedule |
$0 | 0% | 1. Trading available for cryptocurrency and other digital assets | |
Ellevest | $0 | $1 to $9 per month depending on the plan you select | 1. Accounts for women’s unique financial issues like reduction in pay after child-birth or longer life |
Vanguard Digital Advisor | $3,000 | 0.15% per year | 1. Provides planning for non-retirement investments like starting a college fund or buying a new home |
Acorns Investment | $0 | Between $3 to $5 per month, depending on the plan selected | 1. An automated savings tool to take care of your earnings |
Ally Invest Managed Portfolios | $100 | 0% for a cash managed portfolio | 1. A goal tracker helps you stay updated with your plans and objectives |
Empower
Empower is another of the best robo-advisors available, especially those who can accommodate its high minimum requirement when starting. It offers users all the basic bank-like functions, but also adds several financial planning tools, including tax strategies, cash flow analysis, and retirement planner, among others.
Needless to say, they have one of the most comprehensive list of services available.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Their minimum requirement to open an account is quite high at $100,000. They make up for it, though, with an affordable management fee of 0.89%. This number decreases further to 0.49% for investments about $1-M.
Distinguishing Features:
The retirement planning function is really useful, particularly for those considering it in the coming years. It even includes your expected Social Security income received on a monthly basis.
Special Promotions:
Empower has a promo of free wealth management for six months when you sign up and put in at least $250,000.
Interactive Advisors
Among the options available today, Interactive Advisors offers one of the widest range of portfolios, which includes stocks and among others. They also extend supplementary services like cash management, goal-setting, as well as a socially responsible investing tool to avoid unethical industries, and prioritize firms that share the same values as you.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Interactive Advisors charges an annual management fee of portfolios between 0.8% to 1.5%, which is paid on a monthly basis. Thankfully, they have a cost breakdown tool to provide you with an actual estimate.
Furthermore, there is a $100 minimum investment requirement for all new traders. For us, this is a pretty fair amount that balances the risks and rewards of investing.
Distinguishing Features:
What sets them apart from most robo-advisors is their social responsibility function. It’s a really useful tool, particular for individuals with a strong moral compass and choose to boycott controversial companies that are into animal testing, tobacco, alcohol, fossil fuel, and hazardous waste.
Special Promotions:
The most they offer is low management fees and no minimum investment requirement.
E*Trade
This company began their journey in 2019 as one of the first firms to transition to commission-free trading. One reason for E*Trade’s success is its revolutionary trading platform. They have provided users with two mobile applications and a desktop version. On them, you’ll find various resources to help you trade like an expert.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
E*Trade doesn’t charge a management fee or require a minimum investment amount for basic products like stocks and ETFs. Bonds and Futures, however, have a corresponding fee.
Distinguishing Features:
They offer a wide range of resources, including pre-set scans, analytics from various countries, webinars, online courses, and videos.
Special Promotions:
Cash-back rewards can be availed whenever you open and fund your account. The bonuses will depend on the amount you initially deposit.
Wealthfront
Besides automated trading, Wealthfront allows its users to pay bills through this platform, track expenses, in-app check deposits, and unlimited wire transfers. Its wide range of product offers are also beneficial for those looking to diversify their portfolio.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Their minimum amount to start trading is a bit high at $500, which means it is better suited for intermediate traders than beginners. It does make up to this by charging only a standard flat fee of 0.25% for managing your account.
Distinguishing Features:
Wealthfront’s most unique feature is their ability to receive check payments through the mobile app. This way, you don't have to physically deposit it anymore.
Special Promotions:
For new clients, their initial $5,000 investment will be free from any fees.
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Generally speaking, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios is an affordable robo-advisor option that won’t sacrifice quality. It provides access to a vast range of asset classes, stemming from its over 50 ETFs. Unfortunately, it lacks a lot of the other services the most firms offer.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios has no management fee, but does require an initial investment of $5,000 for the regular account, and $25,000 for the premium version. This is enough to scare away most traders, especially those who prioritize their long-term flexibility.
Distinguishing Features:
Besides their round-the-clock customer service hotline, they also have a tax-loss harvesting tool - as well as other analytics tools - that help you protect your earnings.
Special Promotions:
As of now, sadly, there are no promotions to report.
M1 Finance
The range of services that they extend to their customers is very helpful. This includes M1 Borrow, which allows users to lend up to 35% of their fund balance. There are also auto-deposit and withdrawal functions that can be linked to external accounts. Finally, M1 Finance operates like a bank, too, extending credit card and cash flow options to all its clients.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
M1 Finance has no management fee, but requires a $100 minimum deposit to start trading. Nevertheless, interested users can choose to upgrade the system they use by paying an annual subscription fee of $125.
Distinguishing Features:
They have more than 80 different tailored portfolios to serve as your guide when trading. For beginners, this is crucial to help them build a solid strategy.
Special Promotions:
Like most robo-advisors, M1 Finance has several cash-back promotions when opening and depositing money to your account.
Betterment
Betterment is one of the largest robo-advisors, managing approximately $27-billion in assets. Likewise, they offer a wide range of services, too, which includes bank-like functions such as making real-time transfers, a debit card, and an option to open a checking account. These can be automated as well.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
This firm has two major plans; digital and premium. The first has no minimum amount requirement, but charges an annual fee of 0.25%. On the other hand, the premium plan requires a $100,000 minimum, and has an annual fee of 0.4%. You can choose which one you prefer depending on how serious you are in investing.
Distinguishing Features:
The tax-loss harvesting tools helps users reduce their potential tax payments, while maximizing profits.
Special Promotions:
Betterment has offered to waive their management fees, depending on the initial amount invested. These vary in terms of length, and can be viewed on their website.
Sofi Invest
Due to its low fees and user-friendly features, Sofi Invest is an ideal choice for newbies with zero experience. Their robo-advisor portfolios have been built by certified financial planners, which you can select depending on your risk appetite and existing budget. This even includes up to 17 types of cryptocurrency.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
There is neither a minimum investment amount, nor any management fees being charged, except for crypto investments, which has a 1.25% surcharge. Not bad, especially since this is a relatively new venture that holds a lot of risk.
Distinguishing Features:
Sofi Invest provides complete access to its team of financial advisors, helping you prepare for retirement or increase your portfolio exponentially, at no additional charge. Visit their website for more details on this.
Special Promotions:
They offer a welcome bonus for your first-time crypto purchase. Additionally, Sofi Invest has a referral program and an active investment promotion, each with its corresponding perks.
Ellevest
What most people don’t realize is women face a very different set of financial obstacles. Aside from the monetary repercussions felt after giving birth, based on statistics, they also tend to live longer. This means that maximizing their savings becomes even more important.
Ellevest is one of the few robo-advisors that include gender differences in their algorithm. Add in its other services like goal-setting and consultations with trusted financial advisors, and you instantly have a platform that’s pretty comprehensive.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
If you’re planning to use the private wealth account, you won’t have to worry about reaching a minimum amount when starting. They do, however, charge a small management fee ranging from $1 to $9 per month.
Distinguishing Features:
Being given access to different training modules, calculators, and analytics tools will help you understand all the key information before making a decision.
Special Promotions:
Currently, they do not offer any special promotions to would-be users.
Vanguard Digital Advisor
The Vanguard Group, a conglomerate that manages Vanguard Digital Advisor, was established in 1970, has one of the largest portfolios of mutual funds. About fifty years later, they launched their fully-automated investing service.
Currently, they still consider themselves in the pilot stage. But they do allow traders to withdraw, deposit, and calculate their debt without any issues. These may seem limited now, though they are expected to introduce more updates.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Their fees are approximately 0.15% per year. However, they do require a minimum deposit of $3,000.
Distinguishing Features:
Vanguard Digital Advisor’s financial planning capabilities is what makes them so unique. They help individuals plan for retirement or to anticipate any upcoming expenditures. Several tools are likewise present to help you through this process.
Special Promotions:
No promotions to report as of now.
Acorns Investment
Compared to other robo-advisors, Acorns Investment’s services are a bit limited. They offer only the basic functions. However, because of its budget-friendly prices, they have become a popular robo-advisor in today’s market.
They do provide automatic rebalancing when fluctuations in the economy occur, or there are sudden shifts in your portfolio.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
Monthly fees range from $3 to $5 without requiring a minimum amount when opening an account.
Distinguishing Features:
Two features instantly come to mind when speaking about Acorns Investment. First is a savings tool that automatically reinvests spare change. Then, there’s a built-in job finder powered by ZipRecruiter for those seeking new career opportunities.
Special Promotions:
Apart from a $10 sign-up bonus, they also have several cash-back rewards programs for all loyal customers at over 350 retail partners.
Ally Invest Managed Portfolios
Customers of Ally Bank may diversify their assets by opening an account with Ally Invest Managed Portfolios. This way, you’ll have a one-stop-shop that holds your entire portfolio. In terms of services, you can make one-time deposits, set up monthly transfers, and withdrawals whenever you need it.
Commissions, Assets, and Minimum Amount:
They don’t charge a management fee, but do require a minimum amount of $100 before opening an account. Just remember that this platform requires that 30% of your assets be held in cash.
Distinguishing Features:
The goal tracking function is really helpful to make sure you are up-to-speed with all your financial objectives. Sames goes for the wealth-forecasting tool.
Special Promotions:
No promotions are available at this time.
What is a robo-advisory service and how does it work?
A robo-advisory service is an automated investment platform that uses algorithms to create, manage, and optimize investment portfolios with minimal human involvement. After answering a questionnaire about your financial goals, investment horizon, income, and risk tolerance, the robo-advisor recommends a suitable portfolio and manages it on your behalf.
Most robo-advisors invest through diversified portfolios of ETFs, stocks, bonds, and other assets. They continuously monitor allocations, automatically rebalance portfolios when market movements create imbalances, and in some cases apply tax-optimization strategies. This allows investors to access professional portfolio management at a fraction of the cost of traditional financial advisors.
Key features of robo-advisory services include:
Automated portfolio construction based on your risk profile;
Diversification across multiple asset classes;
Automatic portfolio rebalancing;
Goal-based investing for retirement, wealth building, or income generation;
Lower fees compared to traditional financial advisors;
Access to educational resources and, in some cases, human financial advisors.
Robo-advisors have become increasingly popular because they combine accessibility, low fees, and data-driven decision-making. While investment results are never guaranteed, reputable robo-advisors operate under regulated financial institutions and use established portfolio management principles based on modern investment theory. Many platforms also offer access to human advisors for more complex financial questions, creating a hybrid model that combines automation with professional guidance.
For beginners, robo-advisors provide a simple way to start investing without needing extensive market knowledge. For experienced investors, they offer a convenient solution for long-term wealth management, retirement planning, and maintaining diversified portfolios with minimal ongoing effort.
Best brokers for robo-advisor investing in 2026
Choosing a broker with robo-advisor services involves more than comparing platforms. Investors should assess account minimums, advisory fees, portfolio features, access to financial planning tools, and the level of automation each service provides.
The table below highlights brokers that offer robo-advisor solutions and compares their key conditions, helping investors find an option that fits their budget, investment goals, and preferred level of support.
| Trading.com USA | ZForex | Plus500 | OANDA | FOREX.com | Venom by Cobra Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Tradable assets |
69 | 80 | 2800 | 129 | 5500 | No |
|
Trading bots (EAs) |
Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
|
Min. deposit, $ |
50 | 10 | 100 | No | 100 | 5000 |
|
Max. leverage |
1:50 | 1:1000 | 1:300 | 1:200 | 1:50 | 1:4 |
|
Standard EUR/USD spread |
1.1 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.4 |
|
Copy trading |
No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
|
TU overall score |
8.8 | 7.89 | 7.54 | 6.87 | 6.82 | 6.79 |
|
Open an account |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk.
|
Go to broker 80% of retail CFD accounts lose money. |
Go to broker Your capital is at risk. |
Study review | Study review |
Are Robo-Advisors Safe? Are they Legit?
Even though this technology is still relatively new, several traders are beginning to fully trust this practice. After all, the advice it gives is based on empirical data, practices of existing individuals, and their respective portfolios.
In any case, most companies will still provide the option to speak to an actual human. So when you encounter any issues, someone would always be ready to help.
How do Robo-Advisors Work?
Robo-Advisors are run by algorithms, which are based upon a person’s character, risk appetite, goals, objectives, and other personal information. They use this to know where and how much to invest, or even gauge whether a particular deal will be good for you.
To increase its overall credibility, robo-advisors include several pre-screened portfolios and actual input from seasoned financial planners.
Choose a robo-advisor based on your actual investing needs
I think robo-advisors work best when they are matched to the investor’s actual goals rather than chosen by brand name alone. Some platforms are better suited to long-term portfolio management, while others stand out for lower fees, planning tools, or access to additional features such as cash management and tax optimization. For me, the key question is not which robo-advisor looks most advanced, but which one fits the investor’s starting capital, time horizon, and need for support.
I also see robo-advisors as a practical entry point for investors who want structure without having to manage every decision themselves. That said, automation should not replace due diligence. Fees, minimum deposit requirements, portfolio flexibility, and access to human advice still matter. In my view, the strongest robo-advisor is the one that combines simple portfolio management with transparent costs and tools that remain useful as the investor’s needs change.
Conclusion
Robo-advisors have fundamentally reshaped the investing landscape by making professional, data-driven portfolio management accessible to a broader range of investors. Whether you’re beginning your investment journey with platforms like Betterment or Sofi Invest that offer no minimums and low fees, or seeking comprehensive long-term planning through firms like Empower, these digital advisors strike a powerful balance between automation and customization. The most important takeaway is that the best robo-advisor isn’t just the one with the most features, but the one aligned with your unique goals, risk profile, and budget. As the technology matures, investors now enjoy greater convenience, transparency, and the ability to stay hands-off without sacrificing smart, diversified strategies—redefining what it means to invest wisely in the digital age.
FAQs
What factors should investors consider when choosing a robo-advisor?
How do management fees impact the returns of robo-advisor portfolios?
What types of investment accounts can be managed by robo-advisors?
Can investors customize their portfolios or investment strategies with robo-advisors?
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Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income.
Dr. BJ Johnson is a PhD in English Language and an editor with over 15 years of experience. He earned his degree in English Language in the U.S and the UK.
Mirjan Hipolito is a journalist and news editor at Traders Union. She is an expert crypto writer with five years of experience in the financial markets.
A brokerage fee, also known as a commission, is a fee charged by a brokerage or financial institution for facilitating and executing financial transactions on behalf of clients. Brokerage fees are typically associated with services related to buying or selling assets such as stocks, bonds, commodities, or mutual funds.
A wire transfer is a method of electronic funds transfer in which money is sent from one bank or financial institution to another, typically across international or domestic boundaries. It involves the sender providing their bank with specific instructions, including the recipient's bank details and the amount to be transferred, and the funds are then electronically moved from the sender's account to the recipient's account.
Forex trading, short for foreign exchange trading, is the practice of buying and selling currencies in the global foreign exchange market with the aim of profiting from fluctuations in exchange rates. Traders speculate on whether one currency will rise or fall in value relative to another currency and make trading decisions accordingly. However, beware that trading carries risks, and you can lose your whole capital.
Copy trading is an investing tactic where traders replicate the trading strategies of more experienced traders, automatically mirroring their trades in their own accounts to potentially achieve similar results.
A futures contract is a standardized financial agreement between two parties to buy or sell an underlying asset, such as a commodity, currency, or financial instrument, at a predetermined price on a specified future date. Futures contracts are commonly used in financial markets to hedge against price fluctuations, speculate on future price movements, or gain exposure to various assets.
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- Forex
- Crypto
- Robo-Advisors Comparison
- Empower
- Interactive Advisors
- E*Trade
- Wealthfront
- Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
- M1 Finance
- Betterment
- Sofi Invest
- Ellevest
- Vanguard Digital Advisor
- Acorns Investment
- Ally Invest Managed Portfolios
- A Robo-Advisory Service
- Best brokers for robo-advisor investing
- Are Robo-Advisors Safe?
- How do They Work?
- Expert opinion
- Conclusion
- FAQs
