Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs JPMorgan Chase
Where Betterment and JPMorgan Chase differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $10Lower | $25,000 |
| 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 IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Crypto |
| Management fee | 0.25% | 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 9.3.
- 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 JPMorgan Chase offers FINRA.
- Minimum investment is lower at Betterment: $10 vs $25,000.
- Account types: only JPMorgan Chase offers Joint.
- Portfolio types: only Betterment offers ESG, Cash.
- Support channels: only Betterment offers Email, 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.
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase takes a stock trade fee of $0 and an account fee of $0, and the account is a retirement wrapper rather than a trading-only platform. It suits beginners and existing Chase customers who want low costs, though the portfolio service needs $25,000 and support runs on phone and help centre only.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherManagement fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.0 |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Portfolio types | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| ESG | Yes | No |
| Cash | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
Which one suits you
Pick Betterment if cost, offer, minimum investment, and portfolio types matter most.
Pick JPMorgan Chase if account types matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 33 of 490 | 64 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 6 of 85 | 15 of 85 |
| Robo-advisors | 9 of 153 | 18 of 153 |
| IRA providers | 4 of 43 | 12 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2008 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, CryptoCovers more |
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 12.25% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | $25 wire fee |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Chase Mobile app, Chase.com |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.35% |
| Minimum investment | $10below the median | $25,000highest 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
JPMorgan Chase
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0.
- Investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- The account list covers ira, roth ira and joint, so retirement and joint investors are served directly.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no chat or email channel listed.
- Money moving out by wire costs $25 wire fee.
- An options contract costs $0.65 and margin borrowing is charged at 12.25%, so the commission free model covers share trades rather than every action.
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
JPMorgan Chase
Who it suits
- People new to investing: the stated audience is beginners.
- Retirement and joint investors, since the account types cover ira, roth ira and joint.
- Investors who want options and crypto in one account, since the feature set includes fractional shares, options and mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Forex and CFD traders: CFI (stocks, etfs and forex) and eToro (stocks, etfs and forex) list markets that the JPMorgan Chase list of stocks, etfs and options does not.
- Futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so a broader instrument set sits in a single account.
- Anyone starting a managed portfolio with a small sum: Vantage takes $5, while the JPMorgan Chase portfolio account asks $25,000.
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
JPMorgan Chase
Current offer
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash bonus: up to $1,000
Open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money by 10/21/2026; fund within 45 days, maintain to 90 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Betterment | JPMorgan Chase |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
JPMorgan Chase
How much does it cost to trade stocks?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0, so a simple buy and hold account starts with no charge on either side. The pricing model is listed as commission free, and nothing per trade is added on top.
What do options and margin cost?+
An options contract costs $0.65, and borrowing on margin is charged at 12.25%. Those are the places a fee appears, which makes share and fund orders the cheapest actions in the account. Anyone trading options or using margin should read both figures before committing money.
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