Best Picks
Best Digital Investing Platforms
A ranked provider comparison for investors choosing among automated portfolios, long-term accounts, and different cost and service models.
The Short Answer
The strongest digital investing platform depends on the job. Fidelity Go leads on small-balance cost, while Vanguard and Wealthfront pair low percentage fees with different strengths. Betterment offers flexible goal planning. Schwab removes the direct advisory fee, while Merrill and E*TRADE add established brokerage relationships at higher published rates.
At a Glance
Platform Comparison
Published terms as of 2026-10-09
Our Standard
What We Compared
- Total cost at realistic account balances
- Minimum funding requirements
- Portfolio construction and investment access
- Automation, rebalancing, and tax features
- Human support and service limits
- Conflicts, required cash, and affiliated products
Detailed Assessment
Fidelity Go
Best for: Low-balance automated investing
A strong starting point for investors who want automation without an advisory charge on balances below $25,000.
- Minimum
- $0 to open; $10 to begin investing
- Fees
- $0 advisory fee below $25,000; 0.35% annually at $25,000 and above
- Account access
- Taxable, IRA, HSA, and eligible retirement accounts
Strengths
- No advisory charge below $25,000
- Automatic portfolio management and rebalancing
- Financial coaching becomes available at $25,000
Considerations
- The 0.35% advisory fee begins when the account reaches $25,000
- Portfolios use Fidelity mutual funds selected for the program
Sources: official provider information
Vanguard Digital Advisor
Best for: Low-cost index-focused automation
A disciplined automated option for investors who value a low published cost and Vanguard's index-investing approach.
- Minimum
- $100
- Fees
- Approximately $15 to $16 annually per $10,000 invested
- Account access
- Eligible taxable and retirement accounts
Strengths
- Low published annual advisory cost
- Automated fund and ETF portfolio management
- Retirement and goal-planning tools
Considerations
- This is a digital service without a dedicated human advisor
- Underlying fund expenses remain part of the investor's total cost
Sources: official provider information
Wealthfront Automated Investing
Best for: Tax-aware software automation
A software-first option for investors who want automatic rebalancing, portfolio customization, and tax-aware features in eligible accounts.
- Minimum
- $500
- Fees
- 0.25% annual advisory fee
- Account access
- Taxable, IRA, trust, and 529 accounts
Strengths
- Clear 0.25% advisory fee
- Automatic rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting features
- Broad portfolio customization
Considerations
- The service requires a $500 starting balance
- Investors who want ongoing human advice may prefer a hybrid service
Sources: official provider information, official provider information
Betterment
Best for: Goal-based automated investing
A flexible goal-based service with no required minimum, but small accounts should calculate the percentage impact of the monthly fee.
- Minimum
- No required minimum balance
- Fees
- 0.25% annually or $5 per month, depending on balance and recurring deposits
- Account access
- Taxable, IRA, joint, trust, HSA, and selected retirement accounts
Strengths
- No required minimum balance
- Goal-based portfolios and automatic rebalancing
- Multiple taxable and retirement account choices
Considerations
- Accounts below $24,000 without at least $200 in monthly recurring deposits pay $5 per month
- Fund-level expenses apply in addition to the service fee
Sources: official provider information, official provider information
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Best for: No-advisory-fee automation at $5,000 and above
A no-advisory-fee automated portfolio for investors who meet the minimum and understand the program's required cash allocation.
- Minimum
- $5,000
- Fees
- No advisory fee; underlying ETF expenses apply
- Account access
- Eligible taxable, IRA, and trust accounts
Strengths
- No advisory fee or program commission
- Automatic monitoring and rebalancing
- Tax-loss harvesting is available for eligible balances of $50,000 or more
Considerations
- Every portfolio includes a cash allocation
- Schwab earns revenue from affiliated ETFs, third-party services, and program cash
Sources: official provider information, official provider information
Merrill Guided Investing
Best for: Goal-based management inside a Merrill relationship
A professionally managed option for investors who value Merrill's goal-based portfolios and connection to the wider Bank of America relationship more than the lowest advisory fee.
- Minimum
- $1,000 for growth-focused strategies; $50,000 for income-focused strategies
- Fees
- 0.45% annual program fee without an advisor
- Account access
- Eligible taxable and retirement accounts
Strengths
- Portfolio strategies developed by Merrill's Chief Investment Office
- Automatic monitoring and rebalancing
- Lower minimum for growth-focused strategies than Schwab Intelligent Portfolios
Considerations
- The 0.45% program fee is higher than the standard fees in this comparison
- Income-focused strategies carry a $50,000 minimum
- The separate Guided Investing with Advisor program costs 0.85% annually
Sources: official provider information, official provider information
E*TRADE Core Portfolios
Best for: ETF automation with a $500 starting minimum
A practical middle-ground option for investors who want a low starting minimum, ETF portfolios, and support from an established brokerage without paying for an assigned advisor.
- Minimum
- $500 to begin; $450 maintenance minimum
- Fees
- 0.30% annual advisory fee; underlying fund expenses are separate
- Account access
- Most eligible retail brokerage and retirement accounts with a U.S. address
Strengths
- $500 initial investment minimum
- Daily monitoring with automatic rebalancing when the portfolio drifts
- Tax-loss harvesting is available for eligible taxable accounts
Considerations
- The 0.30% advisory fee is higher than Vanguard and Wealthfront
- No individual financial advisor or portfolio manager is assigned
- Fund expenses are charged in addition to the advisory fee
Sources: official provider information, official provider information