Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Ellevest vs Whitebox
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Ellevest |  Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.35% to 1.25% | 0.35% to 0.95% |
| Regulators | SEC | Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more |
| Minimum investment | $500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Whitebox scores higher overall: 8.9 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Ellevest offers SEC.
- Regulators: only Whitebox offers Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin).
- Founded is lower at Ellevest: 2014 vs 2016.
- Portfolio types: only Whitebox offers Cash.
- Support channels: only Whitebox offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Ellevest
Ellevest is a robo-advisor run by Ellevest, Inc. in the US, offering portfolios of etf and esg. What decides it for most readers is the price of entry: managed portfolios ask for a minimum investment of $500,000, with an annual management fee of 0.35% to 1.25%.
Whitebox
Whitebox is a German robo-advisor for investors who want portfolios built from ETFs and want the fee and the entry amount settled up front: a deposit of €25 and fees of 0.35% to 0.95%. It is supervised by the Bundesanstalt fuer Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin) with deposits covered by EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.5Management fee runs 0.35% to 1.25%, against 0% at eToro and 0.5% to 1.5% at Vivid Standard, with an account fee of $129. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 8.6 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.9Higher | 8.7 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed |
From lowest to highest
| Fact | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.35% to 1.25% | 0.35% to 0.95% |
Sources behind this comparison
Ellevest
- ellevest.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- production.assets.ellevest.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.ellevest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Whitebox
- whitebox.eu: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 194 of 471 | 170 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 82 of 151 | 68 of 151 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Ellevest, Inc. | Whitebox GmbH |
| Headquarters | United States | Germany |
| Founded | 2014Lower | 2016 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Brokers
| Fact | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €25 |
| Account fee | $129 | €0.35 to €0.95 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, FundsCovers more | ETFs |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ellevest | Whitebox | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.35% to 1.25%at the median | 0.35% to 0.95%at the median | 0.35 |
| Minimum investment | $500,000highest quarter | Not confirmed | $300 |
Median across 87 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Ellevest
Pros
- A minimum deposit of $0 lets you open an account without tying up money straight away.
- Regulated in the US by SEC, with listed investor protection of SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- Markets of stocks, etfs and funds and portfolios of etf and esg keep the range fund based and easy to read.
Cons
- The minimum investment of $500,000 sits well above the €25 asked across the site.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for account questions.
- An account fee of $129 adds a fixed cost beside the management fee of 0.35% to 1.25%.
Whitebox
Pros
- Fees of 0.35% to 0.95% sit below the robo-advisor median, which is 0.35%.
- The account opens at €25, so a small starting sum is enough to be invested.
- Portfolio types of etf, esg and cash give a standard, ESG and cash route through the same account.
Cons
- Only etfs are covered, so there are no individual shares or wider markets to trade.
- The charge is quoted as a range, 0.35% to 0.95%, so the top of that range costs more than the bottom for the same service.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, with no live chat among the channels.
Who each suits
Ellevest
Who it suits
- Savers who want a robo-advisor to run a portfolio of etf and esg and can meet the minimum investment of $500,000.
- IRA account holders, since ira is the account type listed.
- Investors comparing managed portfolios against cheaper entry points, such as Axos Invest at $100.
Who should look elsewhere
- Savers with small sums, because the minimum investment of $500,000 is far higher than $100 at Axos Invest.
- Traders who want to place their own orders, since the markets listed are stocks, etfs and funds and eToro is the trading alternative here.
- Anyone after a platform to place orders themselves, where eToro lists a management fee of 0%.
Whitebox
Who it suits
- Euro-area investors who want a locally regulated firm choosing and rebalancing the portfolio for them.
- First-time investors who would rather hold a set ETF strategy than choose funds themselves.
- Investors who want ESG and cash options alongside a standard ETF plan, covered by etf, esg and cash.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, for a management fee of 0% and a wider choice of markets to trade.
- Axos Invest, for readers who would rather hold their money under SIPC.
- Vivid Standard, for business plans where fees run 0.5% to 1.5%, above 0.35% to 0.95%.
Country by country
| Country | Ellevest | Whitebox |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Ellevest
What does Ellevest charge?+
The management fee runs 0.35% to 1.25%, and an account fee of $129 is listed alongside it. For comparison, eToro lists a management fee of 0% and Vivid Standard runs 0.5% to 1.5%, so Ellevest sits in between on advisory costs.
How much do I need to get started?+
Managed portfolios ask for a minimum investment of $500,000, well above the €25 most robo-advisors ask and above $100 at Axos Invest. Opening the account is lighter, since the minimum deposit is $0.
Whitebox
What does Whitebox charge to manage my money?+
The fee is 0.35% to 0.95%, charged as the management fee, and the same figure is listed as the account fee of €0.35 to €0.95. Because it is a range, the plan you pick sets where you land inside it. It is the ongoing cost of the managed portfolio, not a one-off charge.
How much money do I need to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is €25, a small entry point for a managed portfolio. The robo-advisor median for a minimum investment is €60.06, so the bar sits toward the lower end of the category. Starting small is realistic.