Betterment vs Stash - BrokerCue
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Broker Comparison

Betterment vs Stash

Compare Betterment and Stash side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

Betterment

Betterment

Hands-off automated investors

Betterment is a US robo-advisor offering automated ETF portfolios, tax-loss harvesting, self-directed investi…

VS
Stash

Stash

Beginner investors starting small

Stash is a US micro-investing app offering fractional shares, ETFs, Smart Portfolio robo-advisor, IRAs, and a…

Head-to-head comparison

Betterment vs Stash
Feature Betterment Stash
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee No commissions for self-directed investing accounts No trading commission
Regulators SEC, FINRA, SIPC SEC, FINRA, SIPC
Best for Hands-off automated investors Beginner investors starting small
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Fractional Shares
Ready Made Portfolios
Investment Plans
Savings Vaults
-
Money Market Funds
-
Funds
-

Pros & cons

Betterment

Betterment

Pros

  • No account minimum (invest from $10)
  • No deposit, withdrawal, or inactivity fees
  • Automated tax-loss harvesting included
  • Broad portfolio options including socially responsible and crypto ETF
  • Cash Reserve earns competitive APY with FDIC insurance up to $4M
  • Self-directed investing with no commissions
  • Goal-based planning tools and portfolio rebalancing included

Cons

  • $5/month fee is relatively high on small balances (up to ~0.6% annually on $10,000)
  • $75 fee to transfer an account out to another brokerage
  • Crypto portfolio carries a 1% annual management fee
  • Premium plan requires $100,000 minimum balance
  • No dedicated human advisor - Premium uses team-based CFP model
  • No direct indexing for tax optimization
  • No demo account for practice before investing
Stash

Stash

Pros

  • Low $3/month entry-level subscription
  • No trading commissions on stocks or ETFs
  • Fractional shares from $0.01
  • Smart Portfolio automated investing with quarterly rebalancing
  • IRA match of 3% on contributions for Stash+ subscribers
  • Stock-Back card earns stock rewards on everyday spending
  • Beginner-friendly interface with investment guidance

Cons

  • Monthly subscription fee can be disproportionately high for small account balances
  • No options, futures, forex, or CFD trading
  • Crypto trading discontinued in December 2023
  • Smart Portfolio does not support IRAs or tax-loss harvesting
  • No human financial adviser access
  • $100 outgoing ACAT transfer fee
  • Limited advanced charting and research tools
Betterment

Betterment

Betterment is a US robo-advisor offering automated ETF portfolios, tax-loss harvesting, self-directed investing, and cash management with no account minimum.

Visit Betterment Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Stash

Stash

Stash is a US micro-investing app offering fractional shares, ETFs, Smart Portfolio robo-advisor, IRAs, and a Stock-Back debit card on a flat monthly subscription.

Visit Stash Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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