Wealthfront pioneered robo-advising, but now free alternatives offer the same automated investing without the ongoing fees.
Each app below addresses a specific gap in Wealthfront's offering. We picked them based on real user review patterns and feature differentiation.
Betterment offers similar automated investing with the added option of human financial advisor access. Goal-based investing helps you visualize progress toward specific targets like retirement, a house, or education funding with clear projections.
Explore Betterment data →M1 Finance lets you create visual portfolio "pies" with custom allocations across stocks and ETFs, then automatically rebalances and invests. With no management fees and fractional shares, it offers Wealthfront-like automation with full portfolio control.
Explore M1 Finance data →Vanguard Digital Advisor brings the trusted Vanguard brand to automated investing with access to Vanguard's legendary low-cost index funds. The 0.20% advisory fee is lower than Wealthfront, and the Vanguard reputation provides unmatched trust for long-term investors.
Explore Vanguard Digital Advisor data →Schwab Intelligent Portfolios offers truly free automated investing with no advisory fees, commissions, or account service fees. The trade-off is a higher minimum investment and a cash allocation that benefits Schwab, but the zero-fee model saves significantly over time.
Explore Schwab Intelligent Portfolios data →Acorns makes investing effortless by rounding up everyday purchases and investing the spare change. The simple approach removes decision paralysis and builds investing habits gradually. Additional features include retirement accounts, banking, and family investing.
Explore Acorns data →SoFi Invest offers automated and active investing with no management fees on the automated portfolio. The broader SoFi ecosystem provides banking, loans, and insurance in one platform, with member benefits like career coaching and financial planning.
Explore SoFi Invest data →We compared robo-advisors on fee structures, investment options, tax optimization features, and customer satisfaction to find the best Wealthfront alternatives.
For beginners who would not invest otherwise, the fee is reasonable. However, M1 Finance offers similar automation for free, and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios charges no advisory fee. For portfolios over $100,000, the 0.25% fee exceeds $250/year, making free alternatives increasingly attractive.
Yes. M1 Finance offers free automated investing with custom portfolios. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios charges no advisory fee with a $5,000 minimum. SoFi Invest provides free automated portfolios with no minimum. The era of paying for basic robo-advisory is ending.
Acorns is the easiest entry point with round-up investing. Betterment offers excellent goal-based planning. SoFi Invest has no minimum and free automated investing. For pure simplicity, Acorns wins, but for long-term growth, M1 Finance or Betterment provide more robust platforms.
Yes, M1 Finance, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, and SoFi Invest all offer free automated investing. Each has different strengths in customization, minimums, and additional features. Visit AppVulture to compare investing apps and find the right platform for your financial goals.
Visual Discovery and Inspiration alternatives.
Productivity and Task Management alternatives.
Productivity alternatives.
Productivity alternatives.