Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs tastytrade
Where Betterment and tastytrade differ
| Compare |  Betterment |  tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| 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, Joint |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile, Desktop, Web |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
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.
- Minimum deposit is lower at tastytrade: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only Betterment offers Bonds.
- Markets: only tastytrade offers Forex, Options, Futures.
- Account types: only Betterment offers Roth IRA.
- Account types: only tastytrade offers Joint.
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.
tastytrade
tastytrade suits traders who want options, futures and crypto in the same account as shares and ETFs, and it suits anyone starting small. The minimum deposit is $0, share dealing costs $0 a trade, and options cost $1 a contract, so the bill grows only if you trade derivatives.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherManagement fee of 0.25% and no account fee, with a minimum investment of $10. | 9.1The commission free model keeps equity dealing cheap, but the options contract fee of $1 is the line heavy option traders watch. |
| Offer | 9.7Higher | 9.4 |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 8.6 |
What each covers
| Markets | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 42 of 471 | 150 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 7 of 86 | 32 of 86 |
| IRA providers | 4 of 43 | 23 of 43 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 51906 | SIPC SIPC member 69649 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
Betterment
- betterment.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
tastytrade
- tastytrade.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | TASTYTRADE INC |
| 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 | tastytrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $10below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| 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
tastytrade
Pros
- Share dealing costs $0 a trade, and the account opens from $0.
- All of stocks, etfs and forex sit under the same account.
- Protection is recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000, with membership logged as SIPC member 69649.
Cons
- Options cost $1 a contract, so regular contract buyers pay more than occasional ones.
- The recorded account types under ira and joint are an IRA and a joint account.
- In the stock comparison, 72.03% of retail accounts lose money.
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
tastytrade
Who it suits
- Traders who want options and futures in the same account as shares and ETFs.
- Anyone starting small, since the minimum deposit is $0.
- People saving into an IRA who also want crypto and forex nearby.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro if you want CFDs listed alongside the core markets: stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI if you want the shorter list in stocks, etfs and forex, which ends at crypto.
- Vantage if you would rather start above the floor, since its minimum deposit is $5.
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 | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
tastytrade
Is there a minimum deposit to open a tastytrade account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded with whatever you want to start on. Share dealing then costs $0 a trade, which keeps the running cost close to the opening balance.
What does an options contract cost?+
Options are charged per contract at $1. If you buy options often, that fee becomes the main line you track, while share dealing stays at $0. Traders who touch options now and then will feel it far less than regular contract buyers.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Betterment vs Frec
- Betterment vs Ally Bank
- Betterment vs Titan
- Betterment vs Axos Invest
- Betterment vs Trading 212
- Betterment vs VT Markets
- Betterment vs Webull
- Betterment vs Fintual
- Betterment vs Global Prime
- Betterment vs Tradier
- Betterment vs TradeStation
- Betterment vs Wealthsimple
- Betterment vs Firstrade
- Betterment vs AJ Bell
- Betterment vs TradeZero
- Betterment vs Freetrade
- Betterment vs Stash
- Betterment vs ActivTrades
- Betterment vs XTB
- tastytrade vs NAGA
- Betterment vs UNest
- Betterment vs eToro
- tastytrade vs Mintos
- Betterment vs Bitpanda
- Betterment vs Revolut
- Betterment vs Empower Personal Dashboard
- Betterment vs Robinhood
- Betterment vs Kraken
- tastytrade vs EBC Financial Group
- Betterment vs Traders Place
- Betterment vs Revolut UK