---
title: "Wealthfront vs Betterment Statistics 2026: AUM, Fees, and Account Data"
date: 2026-05-14
author: "Barry Elad"
featured_image: "https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wealthfront-vs-betterment-statistics.jpg"
categories:
  - name: "Fintech"
    url: "/fintech.md"
tags:
  - name: "Statistics"
    url: "/tag/statistics.md"
---

# Wealthfront vs Betterment Statistics 2026: AUM, Fees, and Account Data

Wealthfront reports 1.4M+ trusted clients and $95B+ in client funds. Betterment’s reported assets under management (AUM) of $65 Billion+ is as of 10/21/2025, with 1 Million+ customers as of 8/19/2025, including checking and investing clients. Combined disclosures put platform assets above $160 billion across the two largest US standalone [robo-advisers](https://coinlaw.io/robo-advisors-market-statistics/). Advisory services at Betterment are provided by Betterment LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Wealthfront Advisers LLC is the investment adviser to the plan. Both firms therefore operate under the SEC RIA framework, owing fiduciary duty under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The data below covers nine disclosed dimensions: AUM, management fees, account minimums, tax-loss harvesting coverage, portfolio composition, cash management, bond portfolios, retirement accounts, and regulatory standing.

CoinLaw’s coverage of automated investing platforms documents a consistent pattern: as adoption grows, fee compression accelerates and feature breadth, not headline pricing, becomes the differentiator. Wealthfront and Betterment illustrate that pattern at scale.

## Key Takeaways

- [Wealthfront](https://coinlaw.io/wealthfront-statistics/) manages over **$95 billion** in client funds across more than **1.4 million** trusted clients (per /investing, May 5, 2026). Wealthfront reports 1.4M+ trusted clients and $95B+ in client funds.
- [Betterment](https://coinlaw.io/betterment-statistics/) manages over **$65 billion** in AUM across more than **1 million** customers (AUM as of 10/21/2025; customer count as of 8/19/2025). Betterment’s reported assets under management (AUM) of $65 Billion+ is as of 10/21/2025, with a reported customer count of 1 Million+ as of 8/19/2025, including checking and investing clients.
- Combined platform assets exceed **$160 billion** across more than **2.4 million** clients. Combining $95B+ Wealthfront client funds with $65B+ Betterment AUM across 1.4M+ Wealthfront clients and 1M+ Betterment customers yields a combined-platform average expressed in thousands per client. The derivation produces a per-client average near $66,667, a figure neither firm publishes individually.
- Wealthfront charges a flat **0.25%** advisory fee with a **$500** minimum on the Automated Investing Account; Betterment charges **0.25%** Digital (or $5/month below the $24,000 threshold) and **0.65%** Premium with a **$100,000** minimum. Wealthfront’s advisory fee for the Automated Investing Account is just 0.25% annually, with a $500 deposit referenced in an example notification. Betterment’s Digital Plan base price is $5/month with automatic conversion to 0.25% annually once you reach $24,000 or more, while the Premium Plan requires a minimum eligible investment balance of $100,000 and features 0.65% on the first $1M.
- Wealthfront offers Direct Indexing for accounts at **$100,000** and above; Betterment applies Tax Loss Harvesting+ across all taxable accounts. For accounts exceeding $100,000, Wealthfront clients can incorporate direct indexing, which replaces US equities ETFs with the individual stocks and completion ETFs that make up a large portion of the total US equity market.
- Wealthfront Cash Account pays up to **4.20% APY** with up to **$8 million** FDIC coverage across **32 program banks**; Betterment Cash Reserve pays up to **4.00% APY** with **$4 million** FDIC individual coverage across **25 program banks**. Wealthfront earns up to 4.20% APY with up to $8M FDIC insurance through program banks, spanning up to 32 program banks. Betterment Cash Reserve earns 3.25% APY (variable) base rate, with an additional 0.75% APY boost for new customers for three months, bringing the total to 4.00% APY, and is FDIC-insured up to $8 million (joint) or $4 million (individual) across 25 program banks.
- Wealthfront offers a **529** college savings plan administered by the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada at **0.39%** to **0.45%** all-in; Betterment does not offer a 529 plan. Wealthfront offers a 529 college savings account administered by the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada, with total fees ranging from 0.39% to 0.45%.

## Editor’s Choice

- Wealthfront client funds: over **$95 billion** as of May 5, 2026.
- Betterment AUM: over **$65 billion** as of 10/21/2025.
- Wealthfront client count: over **1.4 million** trusted clients.
- Betterment customer count: over **1 million** as of 8/19/2025, including checking and investing clients.
- Wealthfront flat advisory fee: **0.25%** annually on the Automated Investing Account.
- Betterment Premium fee: **0.65%** on the first $1M (0.25% Digital base + 0.40% Premium addition).
- Betterment tax-loss harvesting coverage: nearly **70%** of customers using TLH covered their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings. Betterment reports that nearly 70% of customers using tax-loss harvesting covered their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings.

## Recent Developments

- **May 2026**: Wealthfront publishes Classic Automated Investing Account annualized returns of **28.95%** (1-year), **9.61%** (5-year), and **11.27%** (10-year) as of May 5, 2026. Wealthfront reports annualized returns of 28.95% (1-year), 9.61% (5-year), and 11.27% (10-year) as of May 5, 2026.
- **May 2026**: Wealthfront Cash Account base APY sits at **3.30%** with up to **4.20%** all-in via the new-client and direct-deposit boosts, backed by up to **$8 million** FDIC coverage across **32 program banks**. Wealthfront earns up to 4.20% APY with a 3.30% Base Annual Percentage Yield (APY) plus optional boosts.
- **April 2026**: Wealthfront Automated Bond Portfolio reports total return since inception (03/30/2023) of **17.47%** and 12-month performance of **4.82%** as of April 7, 2026. As of April 7, 2026, the portfolio showed total return since inception (03/30/2023): 17.47% with 12-month performance: 4.82%.
- **May 2026**: Betterment Cash Reserve advertises a **3.25%** variable base APY plus a **0.75%** boost for new customers for three months, reaching **4.00%** all-in across **25 program banks,** including Wells Fargo, Barclays Bank Delaware, CIBC Bank USA, Morgan Stanley Bank, and Truist. Betterment partners with 25 institutions, including Wells Fargo, Barclays Bank Delaware, CIBC Bank USA, Morgan Stanley Bank, Truist Bank, and others.
- **October 2025**: Betterment’s reported assets under management (AUM) of $65 Billion+ is as of 10/21/2025, with a reported customer count of 1 Million+ as of 8/19/2025, including checking and investing clients.

## Methodology

Data drawn from each platform’s public product pages was captured on 2026-05-07. Wealthfront figures cite /investing, /pricing, /cash, /automated-bond-portfolio, and /college, with the as-of dates each page publishes. Betterment’s reported assets under management (AUM) of $65 Billion+ is as of 10/21/2025, with a reported customer count of 1 Million+ as of 8/19/2025. Regulatory standing references each adviser’s SEC IAPD record. Refresh cadence: republished quarterly, or sooner when either platform updates its disclosed AUM, fee schedule, or APY.

## Wealthfront vs Betterment AUM and Client Count

- Wealthfront discloses over **$95 billion** in client funds across more than **1.4 million** trusted clients as of May 5, 2026.
- Betterment discloses over **$65 billion** in AUM as of 10/21/2025 and over **1 million** customers as of 8/19/2025.
- Wealthfront’s client count is roughly **1.4x** the size of Betterment’s customer base, while client funds run about **1.46x** Betterment’s AUM.
- Betterment’s customer count includes both checking and investing clients per the /about disclosure.
- Wealthfront’s AUM as of May 5, 2026, sits roughly **6 months** ahead of Betterment’s last disclosed AUM date (10/21/2025).
- Both platforms publish their headline AUM figures prominently on a public product page, allowing third-party verification without paywalls or filings.

PlatformAUM (USD)Client / Customer CountAs-Of DateDisclosed OnWealthfront$95 billion+1.4 million+May 5, 2026wealthfront.com/investingBetterment$65 billion+1 million+AUM 10/21/2025; customers 8/19/2025betterment.com/about*Source: Wealthfront /investing; Betterment /about*

## Average Account Size and Combined-Platform Metrics

- Combined disclosed assets reach over **$160 billion** across more than **2.4 million** clients.
- Combining $95B+ Wealthfront client funds with $65B+ Betterment AUM across 1.4M+ Wealthfront clients plus 1M+ Betterment customers yields the cross-platform average expressed in thousands per client. Applied to those public inputs, the derivation lands near $66,667 per account, a figure neither firm publishes individually.
- Direct Indexing eligibility at Wealthfront ($100,000+) sits well above the derived average, suggesting most accounts use the Classic strategy. For accounts exceeding $100,000, Wealthfront clients can incorporate direct indexing.
- Betterment’s Premium tier minimum ($100,000) likewise sits above the derived combined average, putting most customers in the Digital tier. Betterment’s Premium Plan requires a minimum eligible investment balance of $100,000.

MetricWealthfrontBettermentCombinedDisclosed assets$95 billion+$65 billion+$160 billion+Client / customer count1.4 million+1 million+2.4 million+Derived average account sizen/an/a~$66,667Primary tier above averageDirect Indexing ($100k+)Premium ($100k+)n/a*Source: Wealthfront /investing; Betterment /about; CoinLaw derivation*

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Management Fees

- Wealthfront charges a flat **0.25%** annual advisory fee on the Automated Investing Account, with a **$3.18** monthly cost example shown for a $15,000 account. Wealthfront’s advisory fee for the Automated Investing Account is simple, just 0.25% annually, and for a $15,000 account, the calculation shows a $3.18 monthly cost at the 0.25% annual rate.
- Betterment Digital sets a base price of $5/month that converts to **0.25%** annually once a household reaches **$24,000** or more across investing accounts, or sets up **$200** or more in recurring monthly deposits. Betterment’s Digital Plan base price is $5/month with automatic conversion to 0.25% annually once you reach $24,000 or more across your Betterment investing accounts or set up $200 or more in recurring monthly deposits.
- Betterment Premium charges **0.65%** on the first $1M, broken down as **0.25%** Digital base plus an additional **0.40%** Premium fee. Betterment’s Premium Plan features 0.65% on the first $1M, with the structure including 0.25% Digital Plan base fee and an additional 0.40% Premium fee.
- Betterment household balances above $1 million receive tiered reductions: **0.15%** annual fee for the $1 million to $2 million tier, and **0.10%** annual fee on the portion above $2 million. Households exceeding $1 million receive tiered reductions: 0.15% (15 bps) annual fee for the $1 million to $2 million tier, and 0.10% (10 bps) annual fee on the portion above $2 million.
- Wealthfront’s Stock Investing Account charges no advisory or management fees and starts at **$1**. Wealthfront’s Stock Investing Account allows fractional shares with no commissions, a $1 minimum to get started, and clients can invest in companies they love without the advisory or management fees.
- At a $100,000 balance, Wealthfront’s flat 0.25% costs **$250** per year while Betterment Premium at 0.65% costs **$650** per year on the same balance, resulting in a derived $400 annual delta.
- For accounts under $24,000 with no recurring deposit setup, Betterment Digital’s flat $60/year ($5 × 12) can exceed Wealthfront’s percentage-based fee at small balances.

> **By the numbers:** Combined disclosures from Wealthfront /investing ($95B+, 1.4M+ clients) and Betterment /about ($65B+, 1M+ customers) yield over **$160 billion** in cross-platform assets and a derived average account size of roughly **$66,667**, a figure neither firm publishes individually. The derivation positions both platforms in the mass-affluent tier rather than ultra-high-net-worth.

![Wealthfront vs Betterment Fees Comparison](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wealthfront-vs-betterment-fees-comparison.jpg "Wealthfront vs Betterment Fees Comparison")

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Account Minimums and Plan Tiers

- Wealthfront’s Automated Investing Account opens at **$500**, while the Stock Investing Account opens at **$1**.
- Betterment Digital opens at **$0** with no minimum balance, while Betterment Premium requires a minimum eligible investment balance of **$100,000**.
- The $500 Wealthfront automated minimum sits **500x** higher than Betterment Digital’s $0 floor for managed-portfolio access.
- Wealthfront’s $100,000 Direct Indexing threshold matches Betterment Premium’s $100,000 minimum, putting both higher-tier features at the same access point.
- Wealthfront’s Cash Account has no advisory or management fee, working as a low-friction entry point ahead of Automated Investing. Wealthfront Cash Account has zero account fees.
- Betterment Cash Reserve has no minimum balance and accepts deposits as low as **$10** for base APY. Betterment Cash Reserve has unlimited withdrawals, no fees, no minimum balance, and deposits can start as low as a $10 minimum deposit for base APY.
- For investors below $24,000 without recurring deposits, the Betterment Digital Plan is open immediately, while Wealthfront Automated Investing requires the $500 deposit threshold; both fee structures sit below the traditional industry-average management fees for human advisors, and the AI-powered robo trading segment continues consolidating around this 0.25-0.40% pricing band.

PlanMinimum to OpenNotesWealthfront Automated Investing$500Flat 0.25% advisory feeWealthfront Stock Investing$1No advisory feeWealthfront Cash AccountNone disclosedZero account feesBetterment Digital$0$5/month or 0.25%Betterment Premium$100,0000.65% on first $1MBetterment Cash ReserveNone ($10 for base APY)No fees*Source: Wealthfront /pricing, /cash; Betterment /pricing, /cash-reserve*

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Tax-Loss Harvesting Coverage

- Wealthfront’s Classic Tax-Loss Harvesting strategy reports the ability to typically cover the annual fee more than **6x** over for Automated Investing clients using the Classic portfolio. Wealthfront’s Tax-Loss Harvesting strategy can typically cover their annual fee more than 6x over, for Automated Investing clients using the Classic portfolio.
- Wealthfront’s broader tax-optimization estimates suggest TLH has covered the advisory fee more than 7x across the platform, factoring in Direct Indexing accounts at $100,000 and above. Wealthfront’s tax-loss harvesting estimates suggest have covered our advisory fee more than 7x over.
- Betterment’s TLH+ applies across all taxable accounts with no minimum, with nearly **70%** of customers using tax-loss harvesting covering their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings.
- Betterment notes that losses can offset unlimited capital gains and up to $3,000 of regular income per year. Both platforms operate under the same IRS $3,000 ordinary-income offset cap that governs all US taxable accounts.
- Betterment coordinates investment placement across taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, positioning high-tax bonds in IRAs and low-tax stocks in taxable accounts. Betterment positions high-tax bonds in IRAs and low-tax stocks in taxable investing to reduce the overall tax burden.
- Betterment also previews estimated taxes upfront when customers transfer, change allocations, or withdraw, supporting tax-informed decisions. Betterment shows estimated taxes upfront when you transfer, change your allocation, or withdraw to enable tax-informed decision-making.
- Betterment qualifies the feature with a disclosure that the firm does not provide tax advice, and TLH is not suitable for all investors.

> **Key finding:** Betterment reports that nearly 70% of customers using tax-loss harvesting covered their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings. Wealthfront’s tax-loss harvesting estimates suggest have covered our advisory fee more than 7x over. Betterment notes that losses can offset unlimited capital gains and up to $3,000 of regular income per year, the IRS structural cap that governs all US taxable accounts.

StrategyEligibilityScopeNotable DetailWealthfront Classic TLHAny Automated Investing clientTaxable accountsReported to cover fee more than 6xWealthfront Direct IndexingAccounts at $100,000 and aboveUS equities replaced with individual stocksAdds stock-level harvestingBetterment TLH+All taxable accounts ($0 minimum)Across all Betterment ETFsNearly 70% of users covered fees*Source: Wealthfront /investing, /pricing; Betterment /tax-loss-harvesting*

## Wealthfront Portfolio Strategies

- Wealthfront’s Classic Automated Investing portfolio uses a globally diversified mix of low-cost index funds. Wealthfront’s portfolio is a globally diversified portfolio utilizing low-cost index funds.
- Direct Indexing replaces US equities ETFs with the individual stocks and completion ETFs that make up a large portion of the total US equity market for accounts at **$100,000** and above.
- Clients can change allocation weights and add, remove, and swap ETFs of their choosing within the Classic Automated Investing portfolio. Wealthfront clients can change allocation weights and even add, remove and swap ETFs of their choosing.
- The Classic portfolio is described as keeping returns steady in volatile markets through automated management. The Classic Automated Investing Account automatically manages investments and keeps your returns steady in volatile markets.
- Wealthfront emphasizes human support alongside automation, with certified professionals available to answer client questions. Wealthfront states that sometimes, it’s just easier to talk to a person, offering certified professionals standing by to answer your questions.
- Direct Indexing adds tax-loss harvesting at the individual-stock level, layering on top of the ETF-level Classic TLH.
- Wealthfront’s customizable allocation weights set it apart from purely model-driven peers, and the company’s headcount and platform reach show up in our [Wealthfront employee count data](https://coinlaw.io/how-many-people-work-at-wealthfront/) breakdown.

![Investment Minimums By Strategy](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/investment-minimums-by-strategy.jpg "Investment Minimums by Strategy")

## Betterment Portfolio Strategies

- Betterment’s Core Portfolio offers a well-diversified, low-cost mix of ETFs holding thousands of stocks and bonds globally. Betterment’s Core Portfolio is well-diversified, low-cost, and built for long-term investing, featuring a broad collection of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) made of thousands of stocks and bonds from around the world.
- The Socially Responsible Investing line splits into Broad Impact, Climate Impact, and Social Impact portfolios, each tilting holdings toward different ESG dimensions. Betterment’s Broad Impact invests in companies that rank highly on environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria, while Climate Impact invests in companies with lower carbon emissions and the funding of green projects, and Social Impact provides globally diversified exposure with a greater focus on companies actively working toward social equity and gender diversity.
- The Innovative Technology portfolio focuses on high-growth companies that use or develop emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, alternative finance, clean energy, manufacturing, and biotechnology. Betterment’s Innovative Technology portfolio is a well-diversified global portfolio focused on high-growth companies that use or develop emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, alternative finance, clean energy, manufacturing, biotechnology and more.
- Goldman Sachs Smart Beta targets companies with the potential to outperform the broader market over the long term, with higher exposure to risk. Betterment’s Goldman Sachs Smart Beta targets companies that have the potential to outperform the broader market over the long term, are diverse and relatively low-cost, but with higher exposure to risk.
- BlackRock Target Income is a **100%** bond portfolio with multiple income yields designed to protect against stock market volatility. Betterment’s [BlackRock](https://coinlaw.io/blackrock-statistics/) Target Income is a **100%** bond portfolio with different income yields to help protect you against stock market volatility.
- For Core and Socially Responsible options, Betterment provides **101** possible stock-to-bond allocations. Betterment notes that for Core portfolio strategy and socially responsible investing options, we provide 101 possible stock-to-bond allocations.
- The 101-allocation grid lets customers tune risk in **1%** increments from all-bond to all-stock, a finer gradient than most managed alternatives, and the breadth of bond ETF coverage exceeds typical incumbent platforms tracked in our [Fidelity platform statistics](https://coinlaw.io/fidelity-statistics/).

PortfolioManager / ThemeAllocation FlexibilityCoreBetterment in-house, broad ETF mix101 stock-to-bond allocationsSocially Responsible (Broad / Climate / Social)ESG tilt101 stock-to-bond allocationsInnovative TechnologyHigh-growth tech-themedTilted growthGoldman Sachs Smart BetaGoldman Sachs factor tiltHigher risk exposureBlackRock Target IncomeBlackRock 100% bondIncome-yield focused*Source: Betterment /portfolio*

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Cash Management APY and FDIC Coverage

- Wealthfront Cash Account pays a **3.30%** base APY plus optional boosts: a **0.65%** boost for new clients for 3 months on up to **$150,000**, plus a **0.25%** boost with direct deposit and investments. Wealthfront earns a 3.30% Base Annual Percentage Yield (APY) plus optional boosts, with a 0.65% APY boost for 3 months on up to $150,000 for new clients, while those with direct deposit and investments gain an additional 0.25% APY increase, with no expiration date or balance limit.
- The all-in Wealthfront APY peaks at **4.20%** when both boosts apply.
- Betterment Cash Reserve pays a **3.25%** variable base APY with a **0.75%** boost for new customers for three months, reaching **4.00%** all-in during the promotional period.
- Wealthfront extends FDIC coverage up to **$8 million** for individual accounts and **$16 million** for joint accounts across up to **32 program banks**. Wealthfront’s deposits receive coverage of up to $8M FDIC insurance through program banks for individual accounts, or $16 million for joint accounts, spanning across up to 32 program banks.
- Betterment extends FDIC coverage up to **$8 million** for joint accounts and **$4 million** for individual accounts across **25 program banks,** including Wells Fargo, Barclays Bank Delaware, CIBC Bank USA, Morgan Stanley Bank, and Truist. Betterment’s eligible cash is FDIC-insured up to $8 million (joint) or $4 million (individual) at program banks.
- Wealthfront’s individual-account FDIC ceiling is **2x** Betterment’s ($8M vs $4M); program-bank count is **1.28x** ($32 vs $25).
- Wealthfront’s account adds **19,000+ free ATMs** nationwide and reimburses up to $7.50 each on 2 out-of-network ATM fees per month. Wealthfront’s Cash Account offers 19,000+ free ATMs nationwide plus 2 fees per month at out-of-network ATMs reimbursed up to $7.50 each.

> **Why it matters:** Wealthfront’s deposits receive coverage of up to $8M FDIC insurance through program banks for individual accounts, spanning across up to 32 program banks. Betterment’s eligible cash is FDIC-insured up to $4 million (individual) at 25 program banks. For high-balance cash sleeves, the ceiling delta translates to roughly $4 million of additional pass-through coverage before uninsured-deposit risk re-emerges.

![Wealthfront vs Betterment FDIC Insurance Limits](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wealthfront-vs-betterment-fdic-insurance-limits.jpg "Wealthfront vs Betterment FDIC Insurance Limits")

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Bond Portfolio Options

- Wealthfront’s Automated Bond Portfolio holds four bond ETF types: short-term Treasury, long-term Treasury, US corporate, and floating rate. Wealthfront’s bond portfolio includes four types of bond ETFs: short-term treasury, long-term treasury, US corporate, and floating rate.
- Short-term Treasury ETF holdings are described as tax advantaged and include US Treasury bonds maturing within three years; the long-term counterpart includes Treasuries maturing in 10 years or more, also marked as tax advantaged. Wealthfront’s short-term treasury ETF includes bonds issued by the US Treasury that mature within three years, while the long-term counterpart includes bonds issued by the US Treasury that mature in 10 years or more, also marked as tax advantaged.
- Total return since inception (03/30/2023) sits at **17.47%**, with 12-month performance of **4.82%** as of April 7, 2026.
- Wealthfront’s blended SEC yield calculation weights yields across the four bond ETFs and subtracts the **0.25%** advisory fee. Wealthfront’s blended calculation takes the weighted average of the yields on the funds in the portfolio, minus the 0.25% advisory fee.
- The Automated Bond Portfolio carries the same **0.25%** annual advisory fee as the Automated Investing Account. Wealthfront’s Automated Bond Portfolio charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee.
- Betterment’s BlackRock Target Income operates as a **100%** bond portfolio with multiple income yields and is positioned to protect against stock market volatility.
- Betterment’s bond exposure also lives within Core and SRI portfolios via the 101 stock-to-bond allocations described in its portfolio strategy page.

Bond StrategyPlatformCompositionDisclosed PerformanceAutomated Bond PortfolioWealthfront4 bond ETFs (short / long Treasury, corporate, floating rate)17.47% since 03/30/2023; 4.82% 12-monthBlackRock Target IncomeBetterment100% bond portfolioPer-allocation yields disclosed in portfolio methodologyCore / SRI bond sleeveBettermentBond share within 101 stock-to-bond allocationsTunable per allocation*Source: Wealthfront /automated-bond-portfolio; Betterment /portfolio*

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Retirement Accounts and 529 Plan

- Both platforms offer Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA accounts.
- Wealthfront layers a **529** college savings plan on top of its IRA lineup, administered by the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada.
- Wealthfront’s 529 plan all-in fees range from **0.39%** to **0.45%,** including administration and portfolio expense ratios, on top of the **0.25%** annual management fee. Wealthfront’s 529 management fee is 0.25% annually, with total fees ranging from 0.39% to 0.45% when including administration and portfolio expense ratios.
- The Wealthfront 529 is open to residents of any state with no income limits for contributors and allows **$10,000** per year for primary school use. Wealthfront’s 529 plan is open to residents of any state (no income limits for contributors) and allows $10K per year you can use for primary school.
- The 529 plan provides automatic risk reduction as the beneficiary approaches college, plus flexible beneficiary changes and rollovers from other 529 plans. Wealthfront’s 529 plan provides Automatic risk reduction as your child approaches college, includes Flexible beneficiary changes, and allows account transfers from other 529 plans.
- Betterment offers Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA accounts referenced on its pricing page, but does not offer a 529 college savings plan. Betterment references multiple retirement options, including traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA accounts.
- Trust accounts are also referenced in Betterment’s pricing page footer navigation.

> **Worth noting:** Wealthfront’s 529 plan is administered by the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada at total fees ranging from 0.39% to 0.45%, open to residents of any state with no income limits for contributors. Betterment offers no 529 product, leaving education-savings customers to use a third-party 529 alongside Betterment’s IRA accounts.

Account TypeWealthfrontBettermentTraditional IRAYesYesRoth IRAYesYesSEP IRAYesYes529 PlanYes (Nevada-administered, 0.39% to 0.45% all-in)NoTrust AccountNot emphasizedYes (referenced in footer)*Source: Wealthfront /college, /pricing; Betterment /pricing*

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Published Returns

- Wealthfront’s Classic Automated Investing Account reports **28.95%** 1-year, **9.61%** 5-year, and **11.27%** 10-year annualized returns as of May 5, 2026.
- Wealthfront’s Automated Bond Portfolio reports **17.47%** total return since inception (03/30/2023) and **4.82%** 12-month performance as of April 7, 2026.
- Betterment publishes per-portfolio and per-allocation return methodology rather than a single platform-wide headline figure, with returns varying across the **101** stock-to-bond allocations on Core and SRI.
- Wealthfront’s headline returns reflect the Classic strategy with its low-cost index ETF mix; Direct Indexing returns may differ at the individual-stock level. Past performance does not predict future returns. Headline figures reflect specific strategies and date windows; readers comparing real-world outcomes should review each platform’s allocation-level disclosures rather than rely on summary numbers alone.
- Betterment’s published methodology emphasizes long-term, diversified exposure across the Core and SRI portfolios over short-term return chasing.
- Both platforms disclose performance in compliance with SEC marketing-rule requirements applicable to RIAs.

![Wealthfront Investment Returns By Strategy](https://coinlaw.io/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wealthfront-investment-returns-by-strategy.jpg "Wealthfront Investment Returns by Strategy")

## Wealthfront vs Betterment Regulatory Standing

- Betterment notes that Advisory services are provided by Betterment LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser.
- Wealthfront Advisers LLC is the investment adviser to the plan.
- Both firms, therefore, owe fiduciary duty to clients under the Investment Advisers Act of **1940**, with Form ADV Parts 1 and 2A available via SEC IAPD at adviserinfo.sec.gov.
- Betterment’s brokerage operations run through Betterment Securities and Apex Clearing Corporation. Betterment’s brokerage services come through Betterment Securities and Apex Clearing Corporation.
- Betterment Checking operates through Betterment Financial LLC in partnership with NBKC Bank.
- Wealthfront’s cash sweep program runs through Wealthfront Brokerage LLC across the FDIC program-bank network.
- Sarah Levy is Betterment’s Chief Executive Officer per the /about disclosure. Sarah Levy is the Chief Executive Officer.
- The crisis-to-license pattern documented across CoinLaw’s [SEC and CFTC enforcement data](https://coinlaw.io/sec-and-cftc-regulations-on-cryptocurrencies-statistics/) puts continued SEC oversight at the center of robo-adviser supervision.

ItemWealthfrontBettermentAdviser entityWealthfront Advisers LLCBetterment LLCRegistrationSEC-registered RIASEC-registered RIAFiduciary dutyInvestment Advisers Act of 1940Investment Advisers Act of 1940Brokerage entityWealthfront Brokerage LLCBetterment Securities + Apex ClearingBanking partnerProgram-bank networknbkc bank (Betterment Checking)CEO disclosed on /aboutNot in captured excerptsSarah Levy*Source: Wealthfront /investing, /cash; Betterment /about; SEC IAPD adviserinfo.sec.gov*

## Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

**Which is cheaper, Wealthfront or Betterment?**Wealthfront’s advisory fee for the Automated Investing Account is 0.25% annually. Betterment’s Digital Plan base price is $5/month with automatic conversion to 0.25% annually once you reach $24,000 or more, while Premium requires a minimum eligible investment balance of $100,000 and features 0.65% on the first $1M. At $100,000, Wealthfront’s flat 0.25% costs $250/year vs Betterment Premium’s $650/year on the same balance.

 

**What is the minimum to invest with Wealthfront vs Betterment?**Wealthfront’s Automated Investing Account requires a $500 minimum deposit, while the Stock Investing Account opens at $1. Betterment Digital has no minimum balance; Betterment Premium requires $100,000. Betterment Cash Reserve has no minimum balance and accepts deposits as low as $10 for base APY.

 

**Does Betterment have a 529 plan?**Betterment does not offer a 529 college savings plan. Wealthfront offers a 529 plan administered by the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada, with total fees from 0.39% to 0.45%, open to residents of any state with no income limits for contributors, allowing $10,000 per year for primary school use.

 

**Which has better tax-loss harvesting, Wealthfront or Betterment?**Wealthfront’s Classic Tax-Loss Harvesting can typically cover the annual advisory fee more than 6x for Automated Investing clients. For accounts above $100,000, Direct Indexing adds stock-level harvesting. Betterment’s TLH+ applies across all taxable accounts with no minimum; nearly 70% of customers using TLH covered their taxable advisory fees through estimated tax savings.

 

**Which robo-advisor has a higher cash account APY?**Wealthfront Cash Account pays up to 4.20% APY (3.30% base plus boosts) with FDIC coverage up to $8 million for individual accounts across 32 program banks. Betterment Cash Reserve pays up to 4.00% APY (3.25% base plus a 0.75% new-customer boost) with FDIC coverage up to $4 million for individual accounts across 25 program banks.

 

**Are Wealthfront and Betterment SEC-registered?**Yes. Betterment LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser providing advisory services, with brokerage through Betterment Securities and Apex Clearing Corporation. Wealthfront Advisers LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Both firms operate under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 with a fiduciary duty to clients; Form ADV Parts 1 and 2A are publicly available via SEC IAPD at adviserinfo.sec.gov.

 

 

## Conclusion

Combined disclosures from Wealthfront and Betterment now cover over **$160 billion** in assets across more than **2.4 million** clients, anchoring the standalone US robo-advice category at the mass-affluent tier with a derived average account size near **$66,667**. The two platforms compete on different vectors: Wealthfront wins on the FDIC pass-through ceiling ($8 million individual vs $4 million), the **529** plan, and the Direct Indexing tax overlay; Betterment wins on the **$0** starting minimum, the **101**-allocation grid across Core and SRI, and the named institutional sub-portfolios from BlackRock and Goldman Sachs.

Both firms remain SEC-registered investment advisers under the Investment Advisers Act of **1940**, with fiduciary duty disclosures and Form ADV records publicly searchable via SEC IAPD. The pattern across CoinLaw’s coverage of more than **2,400** finance and [crypto articles](https://coinlaw.io/crypto/) holds here too: as adoption grows in regulated wrappers, fee compression accelerates while feature breadth, not headline pricing, becomes the differentiator. Readers prioritizing **529** access, higher FDIC ceilings, or Direct Indexing tax overlays find one platform offers them; readers prioritizing **$0** entry, granular allocation tuning, or named sub-portfolios find the other. Headline AUM, fees, minimums, and APYs continue to update on each platform’s public product pages, and this comparison will be republished as those disclosures change this year.