Best Robo-Advisors (2026)

Automate your investing with top robo-advisors for passive portfolio management.

5 tools tested | Updated monthly | Independent reviews

Buyer's Guide

Robo-advisors are ideal for investors who want professional portfolio management without the high fees of traditional advisors. Betterment and Wealthfront dominate the market. Key differentiators: management fees, tax-loss harvesting capabilities, account minimums, financial planning tools, and access to human advisors. Investors with $100K+ should consider Wealthfront's direct indexing for superior tax optimization.

All Robo-Advisors Reviewed

Betterment

Rating: 4.5/5 | Editor's Choice | Pricing: 0.25%/year

America's largest independent robo-advisor with automated investing and tax optimization.

  • No minimum deposit required to start investing, making it accessible for beginners.
  • Industry-leading automated tax-loss harvesting significantly boosts after-tax returns.
  • Offers diverse socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios to align with personal values.

Wealthfront

Rating: 4.5/5 | Pricing: 0.25%/year

Robo-advisor with direct indexing, financial planning, and high-yield cash account.

  • Automated tax-loss harvesting from $500
  • Low 0.25% annual advisory fee
  • Path financial planning tool

Ellevest

Rating: 4.2/5 | Pricing: From $12/mo

Robo-advisor designed for women with goal-based investing and impact portfolios.

  • Women-focused algorithms
  • Impact investing options
  • Financial coaching

M1 Finance

Rating: 4.2/5 | Pricing: Free (M1 Plus: $125/yr)

Free automated investing with custom portfolio Pies.

  • Zero management fees
  • Custom Pies
  • Fractional shares

Acorns

Rating: 3.9/5 | Pricing: $3 – $12/mo

Micro-investing app that rounds up spare change.

  • Automated 'Round-Up' investing simplifies saving spare change and makes investing effortless.
  • No minimum balance required to start investing, making it highly accessible for beginners.
  • Integrated IRA retirement accounts (Acorns Later) provide a simple pathway for long-term financial planning.

Popular Comparisons

Our Testing Methodology

We evaluate robo-advisors by opening funded accounts, tracking real portfolio performance over 12+ months, measuring tax-loss harvesting efficiency, analyzing asset allocation methodology, and testing financial planning tools. Fee structures are compared on a total cost basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best robo-advisors in 2026?

Based on our testing, Betterment is our top pick with a rating of 4.5/5.

How do we evaluate robo-advisors?

We evaluate robo-advisors by opening funded accounts, tracking real portfolio performance over 12+ months, measuring tax-loss harvesting efficiency, analyzing asset allocation methodology, and testing financial planning tools. Fee structures are compared on a total cost basis.

Are your robo-advisors reviews independent?

Yes. While we may earn affiliate commissions, our editorial team tests every product independently. Ratings are never influenced by commercial relationships.

How often are reviews updated?

We re-test and update our robo-advisors reviews at least quarterly to ensure accuracy.

How does Betterment compare to Wealthfront?

Betterment (4.5/5) and Wealthfront (4.5/5) are both top-rated. Read our detailed comparison for a side-by-side breakdown.