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9 best robo-advisors for affordable, automated portfolio management

Our picks of the best robo-advisors for automated investing and portfolio management.

With the global push to advance artificial intelligence (AI), it’s no surprise that robo-advisors are also growing in popularity.

They’re straightforward, affordable and take much of the legwork out of investing — building, monitoring and rebalancing your portfolio over time, all on your behalf.

And they’re expected to reach upwards of $1.8 trillion in assets under management (AUM) in 2024.(1)

You’re about to see some the best robo-advisors on the market. We used an unbiased rating system to determine these picks, considering everything from costs and fees to account minimums to portfolio mix and more.

With that, it’s time to reveal our picks of the best robo-advisors.

9 best robo-advisors

Why trust Finder

  • 10+ robo-advisors reviewed and rated by our team of experts
  • Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering seven categories
  • 20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics

We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.

Best overall – Wealthfront

Wealthfront

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$500
Signup bonusGet $50

Betterment

Betterment

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$10
Signup bonusN/A

SoFi Automated Investing

SoFi® Automated

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusN/A

Acorns

Acorns

4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet a $20 bonus

Titan

Titan

4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$500
Signup bonusN/A

Schwab Intelligent Portfolio

Schwab Intelligent Portfolios

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$5,000
Signup bonusN/A

Vanguard Digital Advisor

Vanguard Digital Advisor

3.8
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$3,000
Signup bonusN/A

Fidelity Go

Fidelity Go

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$10
Signup bonusN/A

E*TRADE Core Portfolios

E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Stock trade fee$0
Minimum deposit$0
Signup bonusGet up to $1,000
terms apply

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Our methodology: How we choose the best robo-advisors

Finder’s investments experts review 13 robo-advisors available on the market to narrow down the best platforms for automated investing and portfolio management.

We analyze each platform based on 45 key metrics we collect directly from brokers and assess each provider’s performance based on seven different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then score and rank each provider depending on how it performs in each category.

How we weigh the overall rating

CategoryWeighting
Costs and fees40%
Account minimum7%
Account types5%
Portfolio mix20%
Customer support5%
Mobile app ratings and security2.5%
Features and amenities18%
Cash management account2.5%

We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.

What to look for when choosing the best robo-advisor

Finder’s picks for the best robo-advisors are meant to provide you with a starting point for finding the right option for your investing goals. That said, it’s important to consider your personal preference and individual investing goals too.

Consider the following factors when comparing your options:

  • Fees. From advisory fees to account transfer fees, it’s important to understand the cost to invest. Most robo-advisors don’t charge separate trading fees, but be mindful of any back-end fees for having account, such as wire transfer fees and account transfer fees.
  • Minimum deposit requirements. Many robo-advisors let you get started with as little as $1, while others require several thousand dollars.
  • Portfolio mix. Most robo-advisors build portfolios of ETFs, but which ETFs? Are you content with just US equity and fixed income exposure or do you also want exposure to crypto and international equities?
  • Account types. Consider your investment needs and whether you want to invest through a taxable brokerage account or individual retirement account (IRA), or both. If you’re only interested in investing through an IRA, tax-loss harvesting capabilities won’t matter — the strategy isn’t useful in retirement accounts because you can’t deduct the losses.(2)
  • Mobile app reviews. Mobile trading is more popular than ever, allowing you to trade and invest from anywhere. Check out what current or previous customers say about the platform’s functionality.
  • Cash management options.Robo-advisors that offer cash management accounts can let you earn interest on your uninvested cash.

Compare and find the broker that's right for you

Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a And want to Consider this
Beginner investor Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device Best stock trading apps
Beginner investor Trade and invest with as few fees as possible Best discount stock brokers
Beginner investor Outsource portfolio management automatically and at a low cost Best robo-advisors
Beginner investor Gain exposure to multiple assets like stocks, bonds or gold through a single fund Best ETF brokers
Experienced investor Get an overall idea of providers on the market and what they're best for Best brokerage accounts
Experienced investor Invest internationally in stocks, ETFs and other assets Best international stock brokers
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement with upfront tax benefits Best (traditional) IRA
Retirement saver of any experience level Save for retirement and enjoy tax-free withdrawals Best Roth IRA
Investor of any experience level Diversify with low-cost index funds Best brokerage accounts for index funds 2024

Frequently asked questions

How do I open a robo-advisor account?

Open a robo-advisor account in minutes with any broker that offers automated investing services. The application process is very similar to opening a self-directed investing account.

Can you lose money with a robo-advisor?

Yes, you can lose money with a robo-advisor. Most robo-advisors build portfolios of ETFs, which can lose value.

Which robo-advisor is best?

Betterment is the best robo-advisor according to Finder’s analysis because it offers numerous curated portfolio options, a high-yield cash account and access to a human advisor

Is investing with robo-advisor worth it?

Investing with a robo-advisor may be worth it if you want to outsource portfolio management at a lower cost than what you’d pay a traditional human advisor. Robo-advisors automate portfolio selection and rebalancing and can be an effective way to invest in low-cost ETFs passively.

What is the average rate of return for a robo-advisor?

There is no one average rate of return for a robo-advisor because each robo-advisor employs different investing approaches and strategies.

Do robo-advisors beat the S&P 500?

Robo-advisors that employ active investment strategies may potentially beat the S&P 500.

Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Editor, Investments

Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions. Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio

Matt's expertise
Matt has written 206 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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