Betterment review

What Betterment offers.

Betterment builds and rebalances a portfolio for you, with tax-loss harvesting and goal-based accounts. Check the current advisory fee and what the underlying funds cost.

Our ranking

#5 of 5 in Investment Companies

Service type

Automated investing

Best for

A managed portfolio for a flat percentage

Pricing

Check current terms with the company

Website

betterment.com

Last reviewed

October 2026

Betterment pros and cons

Betterment costs, terms, and who qualifies

A brokerage gives you the tools and leaves the decisions to you. A robo-advisor builds and rebalances a portfolio for a fee. An adviser can go wider into planning. Compare like with like.

Before you commit to Betterment, ask for today’s terms in writing for the exact product or service you want. Pin down every one-time and recurring charge, who qualifies, which states are covered, and how you cancel or get out.

Who Betterment is for

Betterment belongs on your list if you’re looking at automated investing. Start with the fit above, then put its written terms next to the other companies in this category before you commit.

When someone else may be the better pick

Zero commissions is not zero cost. Look at advisory fees, fund expense ratios, options and margin pricing, what they pay on idle cash, and what it costs to transfer out.

The advisory fee plus fund expenses is your real cost. If that doesn’t suit you, look at the alternatives below before you go any further.

What to ask Betterment

1. Do I want to run the portfolio or hand it off?
2. What does the account cost per year, every fee included?
3. Which account types and investments can I hold?
4. Can I get the full agreement and today’s terms in writing?

How we reviewed Betterment

We keep what a company says about itself separate from what we could verify. A company only gets a score once we’ve confirmed its identity, current terms, and real costs and run it through the category’s research process. Until then, no number.