Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs Kraken
Where Betterment and Kraken differ
| Compare |  Betterment |  Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $1Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 10x |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
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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, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Kraken is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Kraken: $1 vs $10.
- Markets: only Betterment offers Bonds.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex, Crypto, Futures.
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.
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Management fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.3Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Betterment | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 51906 | SIPC SIPC member 71030 |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020 |
Which one suits you
Pick Betterment if offer and trust matter most.
Pick Kraken if minimum deposit matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Betterment | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 42 of 471 | 21 of 471 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Betterment | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Also worth a look
ActivTrades has minimum deposit at $0, against $10 for Betterment and $1 for Kraken.
ActivTrades reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Experienced |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2008 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | Kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10below the median | $1below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Interest on cash | 3.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 134 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
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
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
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €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 | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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