What it does
Betterment provides automated investing, self-directed accounts and custom portfolios, plus retirement and cash services. Automated investing maintains the allocation for you. Custom portfolios let you choose holdings while Betterment handles rebalancing, dividend reinvestment and tax management.
Decide who selects and maintains the investments
Automated investing builds a portfolio around a financial goal and adjustable risk profile. Self-directed investing leaves selection and maintenance to you. Custom portfolios sit between those approaches: you pick stocks and ETFs and delegate ongoing administration.
Main investing prices
| Arrangement | Price and qualification |
|---|---|
| Self-directed | No trading commissions or Betterment management fee |
| Digital automated investing | US$5 monthly; switches to 0.25% annually with US$200 in qualifying recurring monthly deposits or US$24,000 in qualifying balances |
| Premium | 0.65% annually on the first US$1 million; requires US$100,000 in eligible investments and includes adviser access |
Discounts apply to eligible managed balances above US$1 million. Fund expenses remain separate, and outbound investment-account transfers cost US$75.
Get started collects personal information and helps establish goals; outside accounts can be connected for context. Applicants normally must live in the US, be at least 18 and have a permanent US address plus an SSN or ITIN. Supported territories and military exceptions have separate conditions.
Strengths
- Custom portfolios separate investment selection from ongoing administration
- Goals have adjustable risk profiles rather than one allocation for everyone
Watch out for
- Small automated balances can face the fixed US$5 monthly fee
- An outbound investing-account transfer incurs a US$75 charge
Best for
- US investors comparing several levels of portfolio automation
- Eligible households seeking adviser access alongside automated investing
Sources
- Betterment portfolio roles, goals and account setup (Oct 27, 2026)
- Betterment investing price comparison and fee conditions (Oct 27, 2026)
- Betterment eligibility and supported territories (Oct 27, 2026)