Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs Empower Personal Dashboard
Betterment vs Empower Personal Dashboard: the differences
| Compare |  Betterment |  Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | 0%Lower |
| Minimum investment | $10 | $0Lower |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Betterment scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Management fee is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: 0% vs 0.25%.
- Minimum investment is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: $0 vs $10.
- Account types: only Betterment offers Roth IRA.
- Portfolio types: only Betterment offers ESG, Crypto.
- Support channels: only Betterment offers Chat.
Our verdict on each
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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US savers who want a managed retirement account without a fee attached. The management fee is 0% and the minimum investment is $0, so the cost side is as light as it gets. It fits people who would rather set it and leave it than trade.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Management fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.9HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0 and minimum investment $0 sit at the free end of costs. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.7 | Not confirmed |
Choosing between them
Pick Betterment if offer, account types, and portfolio types matter most.
Pick Empower Personal Dashboard if cost, management fee, and minimum investment matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 33 of 490 | 12 of 490 |
| Robo-advisors | 9 of 153 | 3 of 153 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | Empower Advisory Group, LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2008 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Funds |
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25%below the median | 0%lowest quarter | 0.35% |
| Minimum investment | $10below the median | $0lowest quarter | $100 |
Median across 67 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Management fee of 0% and an account fee of $0, so nothing leaves the balance each year.
- Minimum investment of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0, so a small first contribution is enough.
- Stock trades cost $0 across stocks, etfs and funds, with managed portfolios in ETF and cash styles.
Cons
- The account type is an IRA, so it is a retirement account rather than a general dealing account.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and funds, with no crypto, options or forex added on.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so there is no live chat for quick questions.
Who each suits
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
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US savers building a retirement account who want it run for them at no annual charge.
- People who prefer ETF and cash portfolios over picking their own shares.
- Long-term investors content with a conventional asset range.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the managed portfolios start at $500.
- Vivid Standard, which charges a management fee of 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Axos Invest, where managed portfolios start at $100.
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 | Betterment | Empower Personal Dashboard |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
The management fee is 0% and the account fee is $0, so nothing is taken out of the balance for holding or running the account. Trading is separate, and the stock trade fee is $0, which keeps running costs thin overall.
Is there a minimum to get started?+
The minimum investment is $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so you can begin with a small amount rather than waiting for a large balance. That makes it a practical first step for anyone building a retirement pot gradually.
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