Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Axos Invest vs Betterment
What sets them apart
| Compare | Axos Invest ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $100 | $10Lower |
| Regulators | SIPC | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPCCovers more |
| Account types | Joint, Roth IRA, IRACovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25% |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Betterment scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only Betterment offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member.
- Minimum investment is lower at Betterment: $10 vs $100.
- Account types: only Axos Invest offers Joint.
- Portfolio types: only Betterment offers ESG, Cash, Crypto.
- Support channels: only Betterment offers Phone, Email.
Our verdict on each
Axos Invest
Axos Invest suits US savers who want a managed ETF portfolio alongside self-directed trading in one account. It earns its place on protection, with SIPC up to USD 500,000, while the options contract fee of $0.80 is the cost to watch if you trade options often.
Betterment
Betterment suits US savers who want a robo-managed IRA with a flat, low management fee and SIPC cover. It charges a management fee of 0.25%, sits mid-table among robo-advisors on that fee, and offers only IRA and Roth IRA accounts, so UK and European readers may look elsewhere.
Score breakdown
| Area | Axos Invest | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7The $100 entry point sits above the €25 site median, and the ranking on minimum investment is 43 of 82. | 9.3HigherManagement fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.7Higher |
| Trust | 8.7 | 9.7Higher |
Which one suits you
Pick Axos Invest if account types matter most.
Pick Betterment if cost, offer, trust, minimum investment, regulators, and portfolio types matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Axos Invest | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 172 of 471 | 42 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 69 of 151 | 10 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Axos Invest | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | AXOS INVEST LLC | MTG LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2008 |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Axos Invest | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds |
| Features | Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.80 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | No fees |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.5% |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Axos Invest | Betterment | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.25%below the median | 0.345% |
| Minimum investment | $100below the median | $10below the median | $300 |
Median across 86 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Axos Invest
Pros
- One platform covers the managed portfolio and self-directed dealing across stocks, etfs and options.
- The managed range is ETF based, listed as etf, so diversification comes from funds rather than hand-picked shares.
- A mobile app is included, listed under mobile app, for checking the portfolio away from a desktop.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed for account questions.
- Account choice stops at joint, roth ira and ira, so the wrappers offered by some rivals are not part of the platform.
- The managed entry point of $100 sits above the €25 site median, and options add $0.80 a contract on top.
Betterment
Pros
- A management fee of 0.25% sits below the robo-advisor median of 0.35%
- An account fee of $0 and a deposit and withdrawal charge listed as No fees
- Covered by SIPC protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000
Cons
- Account types run only to ira and roth ira, so there is no taxable or ISA-style account for UK and European readers
- A management fee of 0.25% still ranks 18 of 49 brands, so cheaper robo-advisors exist
- Markets cover only stocks, etfs and bonds, with no forex, options or crypto trading
Who each suits
Axos Invest
Who it suits
- US savers who want retirement wrappers, since the platform lists joint, roth ira and ira.
- Readers who keep trading costs down, since stock trades cost $0 and the pricing model is commission free.
- Couples investing together, since a joint account forms part of joint, roth ira and ira.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to begin with no outlay, since Acorns Checking asks $0.
- Readers who prefer a smaller euro ticket, since Vivid Standard opens at €2.
Betterment
Who it suits
- US savers who want a robo-managed IRA or Roth IRA
- People starting small, with a minimum investment of $10
- Investors who want automated portfolios of etf, esg and cash
Who should look elsewhere
- UK and European readers, since account types cover only ira and roth ira
- Active traders wanting forex, options or crypto beyond the stocks, etfs and bonds it lists
- Anyone seeking a management fee of 0% as at eToro
Current offers
Betterment
Current offer
Bonus
Invest and earn up to $2,000: up to $2,000
Terms apply; new customers only; open any individual investing account and make a deposit
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
0.75% APY boost on Cash Reserve: 0.75% APY boost, 4.25% variable APY on balances up to $1M
New clients with a qualifying deposit; guaranteed through February 15; base variable APY 3.50% as of 9/21/2026; $10 min deposit for base APY
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Discounted mortgage rate through Rate partnership: up to 0.75% off
Via partnership with Rate; terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Axos Invest | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Axos Invest
What does it cost to trade stocks and options on Axos Invest?+
Axos Invest charges $0 for a stock trade on the self-directed side, and the pricing model is listed as commission free. Options carry a contract fee of $0.80, so a strategy leaning on options pays more per trade than one that only buys shares and funds.
How much do I need to start a managed portfolio?+
The managed portfolios start at $100, so a single transfer of that size opens the account. That is lighter than eToro, which asks $500 for its portfolios, and it leaves room to add money in stages rather than committing a large sum on day one.
Betterment
How much does Betterment charge to manage my money?+
The annual management fee is 0.25%, taken as a percentage of the portfolio. That sits below the robo-advisor median of 0.35%, and Betterment ranks 18 of 49 brands on this measure. There is no separate account charge, listed as $0.
Is my money protected if Betterment fails?+
Stated protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000, and Betterment appears on the SIPC member register as SIPC member 51906. The cover applies to cash in the brokerage account if the broker-dealer fails, and the legal entity named is MTG LLC. Portfolio market values are not protected by the scheme.
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