Robo-advisor Reviews 2024 | Bankrate (2024)

If you're in the market for a robo-advisor, read our reviews to help determine which robo-advisor is for you.

BettermentRating: 5 stars out of 55.0Bankrate ScoreBetterment offers a high level of service and features across every aspect of its robo-advisor, from its core investment management to low-cost funds to premium features such as tax-loss harvesting. You can also upgrade your service if you need unlimited access to human advisors, and get access to a feature-rich cash management account, too.
Axos InvestRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreAxos Managed Portfolios offers a strong robo-advisor service with some premium features, all at a reasonable price. Clients also receive a wide choice of funds, including socially responsible funds, though the associated cash management account forces clients to jump through some hoops to receive what is only a mediocre interest rate.
Interactive AdvisorsRating: 4.5 stars out of 54.5Bankrate ScoreInteractive Advisors has upped its game this year, with new features such as tax-loss harvesting that put it among the top robo-advisors. That’s on top of one of the widest range of investing choices, low-cost funds and low overall fees. As strong as all these features are, though, the robo-advisor doesn’t offer access to human advisors, not unusual among robo-advisors.
SigFigRating: 3 stars out of 53.0Bankrate ScoreSigFig keeps costs low whether it’s account fees, fund fees or the annual management fee. You’ll also get access to human advisors and benefit from automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting. But the lack of a cash management account and relatively high account minimums may cause some investors to look elsewhere.
E-Trade Core PortfoliosRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreE-Trade Core Portfolios offers a capable robo-advisor, one that may work best for customers looking to keep their accounts with the broker while having someone do the investing for them. Clients will get low-cost funds as well as less-common choices such as socially responsible funds, though the service doesn’t offer tax-loss harvesting or many tools.
Titan InvestRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreTitan offers something unusual in the robo-advisor space: Titan combines its own actively managed investments with passively managed ETFs, something no other major robo-advisor does. It also hedges those portfolios, does not charge a management fee for the passive funds – a rarity among rivals – and has a low minimum, making it easy to get started.
Morgan Stanley Access InvestingRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreFor younger investors looking to invest based on their values or certain themes, Morgan Stanley’s Access Investing provides a suitable option among robo-advisors. Investors can choose between impact portfolios that focus on environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues, market-tracking portfolios that minimize fees and performance-based portfolios that attempt to outperform through active management.
J.P. Morgan Automated InvestingRating: 3 stars out of 53.0Bankrate ScoreJ.P. Morgan Automated Investing provides portfolio management services with automatic rebalancing and may be a good fit for existing J.P. Morgan customers. But you’ll also pay above-average management fees and have limited account types to choose from. There’s also no tax strategy included in the offering.
Vanguard Digital AdvisorRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreVanguard Digital Advisors keeps it simple: an investment portfolio comprised of four funds at a low all-in price, and then adds on helpful tools and educational components. The combination should do well for clients who don’t need a robo-advisor to provide everything under the sun but want competent investment management from a proven and knowledgeable leader.
Fidelity GoRating: 4.5 stars out of 54.5Bankrate ScoreFidelity Go offers a solid robo-advisor offering that beginning and cost-conscious investors will especially appreciate. However, investors looking for features such as tax-loss harvesting or comprehensive goal planning may be disappointed.
Personal CapitalRating: 4 stars out of 54.0Bankrate ScorePersonal Capital customers will get an experience that more closely resembles that of a traditional financial advisor than a robo-advisor, but you’ll need at least $100,000 to get started. You’ll also get a comprehensive tax strategy to help minimize what you owe to Uncle Sam. But this higher level of service does come at an above average cost compared to the rest of the robo-advisor industry.
StashRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreStash’s managed portfolios might appeal to small investors who are looking to save as they spend, but the monthly fees can be high for investors who don’t have a large balance built up and there are only a few types of accounts available.
M1 FinanceRating: 4.5 stars out of 54.5Bankrate ScoreM1 Finance takes some of the best of what brokers and robo-advisors do and mixes it into a new service that provides automated investing in a fully customizable portfolio – all for no cost. If you want to take it up a notch, you can pay an additional fee and receive a host of upgraded features, including one of the best cash management accounts out there.
WealthfrontRating: 5 stars out of 55.0Bankrate ScoreWealthfront offers a strong lineup of features – sophisticated portfolio management using low-cost funds – that showcase why it’s one of the leading independent robo-advisors. It provides a strong cash management account, a robust planning tool and premium features such as tax-loss harvesting that may more than pay back your annual fee.
EllevestRating: 3 stars out of 53.0Bankrate ScoreEllevest brings a competent and well-considered robo-advisor, pitching itself to women, whose financial needs are traditionally underserved. But don’t think it won’t work for anyone who needs nuanced investment management, since it offers low-cost funds, socially responsible funds and – unlike most rivals – a flat monthly fee, making it advantageous for those with more to invest.
Schwab Intelligent PortfoliosRating: 5 stars out of 55.0Bankrate ScoreSchwab Intelligent Portfolios provides a top robo-advisor experience that should be a good fit for many investors. The basic plan comes with no management fee and a low-cost portfolio, plus you’ll get Schwab’s top-notch customer support and easy-to-use platform. The premium plan comes with unlimited access to human financial advisors, but both plans come with above-average account minimums and tax-loss harvesting isn’t an option until you reach at least $50,000 in assets.
AcornsRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreAcorns is a good choice for new investors who are starting with small sums of money, allowing customers to build a diversified portfolio with just a few dollars. However, the fees are above average for small account values, though they’ll decline as your portfolio grows, and you won’t find any tax strategy as part of the robo-advisor offering.
Wells Fargo Intuitive InvestorRating: 4 stars out of 54.0Bankrate ScoreWells Fargo Intuitive Investor is a solid robo offering that gives customers easy access to human financial advisors at no additional cost along with tax-loss harvesting that can help you save on taxes. However, the management fee is above average unless you’re an existing Wells Fargo banking customer.
Ally Invest Managed PortfoliosRating: 4 stars out of 54.0Bankrate ScoreAlly Invest Robo Portfolios are a good option for new investors who pay particular attention to costs. Existing Ally clients may also appreciate having all their finances in one place. Unfortunately, Ally doesn’t offer tax-loss harvesting or provide human advisors to help with those especially difficult questions.
Merrill Guided InvestingRating: 3.5 stars out of 53.5Bankrate ScoreMerrill Guided Investing offers a credible investing service for Bank of America customers, but its high management fee makes it less attractive among a competitive field of robo-advisors. Merrill offers several positives, including access to human advisors and low-cost investment funds, but premium features such as tax-loss harvesting are missing.
SoFi Automated InvestingRating: 4.5 stars out of 54.5Bankrate ScoreSoFi Automated Investing gives cost-conscious investors a solid robo-advisor offering that comes with access to human financial advisors at no additional cost. But the lack of tax-loss harvesting and no socially responsible investing options may cause more sophisticated investors to look elsewhere.
Marcus InvestRating: 4 stars out of 54.0Bankrate ScoreMarcus Invest offers the core feature of a robo-advisor – portfolio management – and then adds some twists, such as several portfolio types, all for a cost-competitive fee. It’s a great add-on for current Marcus customers, though some features of higher-end robo-advisors such as tax-loss harvesting and an expansive toolset are missing.
EmpowerRating: 4 stars out of 54.0Bankrate ScorePersonal Capital customers will get an experience that more closely resembles that of a traditional financial advisor than a robo-advisor, but you’ll need at least $100,000 to get started. You’ll also get a comprehensive tax strategy to help minimize what you owe to Uncle Sam. But this higher level of service does come at an above average cost compared to the rest of the robo-advisor industry.

Review methodology

Bankrate evaluates brokers and robo-advisors on factors that matter to individual investors, including commissions, account fees, available securities, trading platforms, research and many more. After weighting these objective measures according to their importance, we then systematically score the brokers and robo-advisors and scale the data to ensure that you are seeing the top options among a field of high-quality companies. Read our full methodology.

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Robo-advisor Reviews 2024 | Bankrate (2024)

FAQs

Which robo-advisor has the best performance? ›

Best Robo-Advisors for April 2024
  • Best Overall, Best for Goal Planning, Best for Portfolio Construction, Best for Portfolio Management: Wealthfront.
  • Best for Beginners, Best for Cash Management, Best for Tax-Loss Harvesting, Best for Crypto Portfolio Selection: Betterment.
  • Best for Low Costs: SoFi Automated Investing.

What is the average return on a robo-advisor? ›

Robo-advisor performance is one way to understand the value of digital advice. Learn how fees, enhanced features, and investment options can also be key considerations. Five-year returns from most robo-advisors range from 2%–5% per year.

Do millionaires use robo-advisors? ›

Nearly 7 in 10 Millennial millionaires have some money in robos or automated portfolios. Moreover, nearly 20% of Millennial and Gen Z households who know the investment products they own have some money in robos versus only 13% of Gen X and only 2% of Boomer+ households (Boomers and older).

Is it worth paying for a robo-advisor? ›

For some, the simplicity, accessibility, and lower costs make them a very appealing choice. However, for those desiring more personalized service and sophisticated investment strategies, a human financial advisor may be worth the additional cost.

What is the biggest downfall of robo-advisors? ›

Real estate, commodities, emerging market stocks, precious metals, and digital assets offer investors additional avenues to increase diversification and generate yield—particularly during times of high inflation. The problem is that most robo-advisors do not offer comprehensive exposure to these assets.

Do robo-advisors outperform the S&P 500? ›

Robo-advisors often build portfolios using a mix of various index funds. But depending on the asset class mix and the particular index funds selected, a robo-advisor may underperform or outperform a broad equity index like the S&P 500.

Are robo-advisors worth it long term? ›

While a robo-advisor can be efficient in managing your investing decisions, a human advisor may be best for more complex decisions like helping you choose the right student loan repayment plan or comparing compensation packages for a new job. Cost: If cost is a factor, robo-advisors typically win out here.

Can you trust robo-advisors? ›

On the surface, robo-advising is just as safe as working with a human financial advisor. A robo-advisor's platform may include biases or errors that prevent it from achieving the best investment returns, but then again, humans are also subject to mistakes.

How risky are robo-advisors? ›

2 Cybersecurity threats. Another risk of using robo-advisors is that they may be vulnerable to cyberattacks that compromise your data and assets. Robo-advisors store and process large amounts of sensitive information, such as your identity, bank accounts, portfolio holdings, and transactions.

What are 2 cons negatives to using a robo-advisor? ›

The generic cons of Robo Advisors are that they don't offer many options for investor flexibility. They tend to not follow traditional advisory services, since there is a lack of human interaction.

Should I use a robo-advisor or invest myself? ›

Self-directed investing offers more control and the potential for higher returns, but requires a significant time investment and a solid understanding of financial markets. Robo-advisors provide an automated, low-effort investing experience, but may limit your investment options and come with their own set of fees.

Is a robo-advisor better than a human financial advisor? ›

If you require a high level of personalized service and direct management of your investments, a traditional human advisor might be better suited to your needs. Conversely, if cost and simplicity are your primary concerns, a robo-advisor might be the better choice.

What is a good return for a robo-advisor? ›

But according to the Robo Report, the five-year returns (2017 to 2022) from most robo-advisors range from 2% to 5% per year. And Wealthfront, one of the best robo-advisors available, also states that customers can expect about a 4% to 6% return per year, depending on their risk tolerance.

Are robo-advisors good for retirees? ›

A robo-advisor can help ease the burden of managing your portfolio as you transition to retirement—and help you figure out how to tap your assets in tax-smart ways.

Can you withdraw money from a robo-advisor? ›

You can withdraw your balance at any time, subject to minimum account requirements. Typically, the withdrawal process takes between 3-5 business days to be completed. If you wish to keep your Robo-Advisor account active, you'll be unable to withdraw any amount that would result in your balance dropping below $100.

Does Wealthfront outperform the S&P 500? ›

In 2022, the Wealthfront Smart Beta strategy outperformed its benchmark by 4.71%. Figure 4 shows the total return of each factor portfolio over the full comparison period, along with the total return of the S&P 500.

Is betterment better than Wealthfront? ›

Account Services Verdict: Tie

Betterment has two choices for your cash management and ATM fee reimbursem*nts and offers a slightly higher interest rate for new customers. Wealthfront has a large ATM network along with the ability to pay bills with its cash account while investors will enjoy paying $0 in fees.

Which robo-advisors have tax-loss harvesting? ›

Best Robo-Advisors With Tax-Loss Harvesting at a Glance
  • Wealthfront – Best for Goals-Based Investing.
  • Betterment – Best for Beginners.
  • Empower – Best for Net Worth Tracking.
  • Axos Invest – Best for Self-Directed Trading.

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