Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs Fennel
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Betterment |  Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Account fee | $0Lower | $4.99 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC | FINRA, SIPC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile app, Web |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Betterment scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Betterment offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member.
- Regulators: only Fennel offers FINRA.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Fennel: $0 vs $10.
- Account fee is lower at Betterment: $0 vs $4.99.
- Markets: only Betterment offers Bonds.
- Account types: only Betterment offers Roth IRA.
- 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.
Fennel
Fennel is a US retirement app built around an IRA, with stock trades at $0. It suits US investors saving for retirement from a phone, and not UK or European readers who want local markets or a cash savings option.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherManagement fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.1Commission-free commission free trading and a $0 minimum deposit, against an account fee of $4.99 that is above the site median of €0. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.5 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Betterment | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Betterment | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
Choosing between them
Pick Betterment if offer, account fee, markets, and account types matter most.
Pick Fennel if minimum deposit matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 33 of 490 | 88 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 6 of 85 | 19 of 85 |
| IRA providers | 4 of 43 | 14 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | FENNEL FINANCIALS LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2008 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | Fennel | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10at the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $4.99above the median | $0 |
| Interest on cash | 3.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 99 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
Fennel
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so entry costs sit at the floor of the market.
- A minimum deposit of $0 lets an account start from a small sum.
- Regulators listed are FINRA and SIPC, with investor protection at SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, so there is no taxable brokerage account on offer.
- Markets stop at stocks and etfs, where CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- There is no live chat, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
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
Fennel
Who it suits
- US investors opening or holding an IRA, since the account types are ira.
- Investors trading shares and exchange traded funds from a phone, since the platforms are mobile app and web.
- Readers starting with a small amount, since the minimum deposit is $0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for CFI users who want forex, contracts for difference or crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Not for readers who would rather hold no account fee, as the eToro account fee is $0 against Fennel's $4.99.
- Not for Vantage users who want a stated starting level, since Vantage asks for $5 and Fennel asks for $0.
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 | Fennel |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
Fennel
What does Fennel charge for trading and holding?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the pricing model is commission free. The account fee is $4.99, above the site median of €0, and the minimum deposit is $0. Trading costs therefore sit at the floor of the market while the account charge is higher than most brands listed here.
Is my money protected at Fennel?+
Regulators listed for Fennel are FINRA and SIPC, and the membership record shows SIPC member 70779. Investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The legal entity behind the brand is FENNEL FINANCIALS LLC, and the headquarters country is the US.
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