Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Finhabits vs M1
Finhabits vs M1: the differences
| Compare |  Finhabits |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 1% | 0%Lower |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) | SIPC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF | ETF, Cash, CryptoCovers more |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $10,000 |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- M1 scores higher overall: 9.0 vs 8.5.
- Regulators: only Finhabits offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
- Regulators: only M1 offers SIPC.
- Management fee is lower at M1: 0% vs 1%.
- Account types: only M1 offers Joint.
- Portfolio types: only M1 offers Cash, Crypto.
- Support channels: only Finhabits offers Email, Phone.
Our verdict on each
Finhabits
Finhabits is a US robo-advisor built for beginners, opening at a minimum deposit of $0 and running managed stocks and etfs portfolios under US regulation. The trade-off is the $120 account fee, which sits on top of the 1% management fee.
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 | Finhabits | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.1Management fee of 1% against a 0.35% median here, plus an account fee of $120 and a minimum deposit of $0. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.0HigherCosts carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 8.7Higher | 8.6 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Finhabits | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 213 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 48 of 86 | 29 of 86 |
| Robo-advisors | 93 of 151 | 55 of 151 |
| IRA providers | 26 of 43 | 21 of 43 |
Cost in a real example
10,000 invested for a year
Finhabits
100
1% of 10,000
M1
0
0% of 10,000
M1 comes out 100 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Finhabits | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Finhabits, Inc. | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2015 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | Finhabits | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $120 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs | Stocks, ETFs, CryptoCovers more |
| Features | Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.35% |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Finhabits | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 1%highest quarter | 0%lowest quarter | 0.345% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $10,000highest quarter | $300 |
Median across 86 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Finhabits
Pros
- Regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, with investor protection listed as SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is easy to reach.
- The portfolio build is etf focused, with picks made for you across stocks and etfs.
Cons
- The $120 account fee is the sting, sitting on top of the 1% management fee.
- The range is limited to stocks and etfs, so there is no wider asset choice.
- Account types come down to ira and roth ira options at a brand based in the United States.
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
Finhabits
Who it suits
- US beginners, since the service is built for beginners.
- Savers who want the holdings chosen for them across stocks and etfs.
- People already investing for retirement, matching the ira and roth ira list.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want to pay nothing on management can start with eToro, where the fee is 0%.
- Anyone after a wider fee band should look at Vivid Standard, at 0.5% to 1.5%.
- Investors who treat the protection scheme as the deciding factor can also check Axos Invest, which names SIPC.
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.
Country by country
| Country | Finhabits | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Finhabits
What does Finhabits cost to run an account?+
Finhabits charges a management fee of 1% on the portfolio and an account fee of $120. The account fee is the part to watch, since it is a flat charge on top of the percentage. The median management fee across the robo-advisors compared here is 0.35%.
How much do I need to put in before I can start?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so there is no floor to clear before saving begins. Accounts come as ira and roth ira options, which decides the wrapper you hold. The listed feature is mobile app, so the app is the main way in.
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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