Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs M1
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Betterment |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25% | 0%Lower |
| Minimum investment | $10Lower | $10,000 |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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 9.0.
- Regulators: only Betterment offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member.
- Founded is lower at Betterment: 2008 vs 2015.
- Management fee is lower at M1: 0% vs 0.25%.
- Minimum investment is lower at Betterment: $10 vs $10,000.
- Account types: only M1 offers Joint.
- Portfolio types: only Betterment offers ESG.
- Support channels: only Betterment offers Phone, 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.
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Management fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.0Costs carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Portfolio types | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| ETF | Yes | Yes |
| ESG | Yes | No |
| Cash | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 51906 | SIPC SIPC member 69670 |
Available in 1 country for both.
Pick Betterment if, pick M1 if
Pick Betterment if offer, trust, minimum investment, regulators, and portfolio types matter most.
Pick M1 if management fee and account types matter most.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 42 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 7 of 86 | 29 of 86 |
| Robo-advisors | 10 of 151 | 55 of 151 |
| IRA providers | 4 of 43 | 21 of 43 |
Where these facts come from
Betterment
- betterment.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
M1
- m1.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2008Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | Betterment | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
| Interest on cash | 3.5%Higher | 3.35% |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25%below the median | 0%lowest quarter | 0.345% |
| Minimum investment | $10below the median | $10,000highest quarter | $300 |
Median across 86 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
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
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
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
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 | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
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