Wealthfront review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
Wealthfront suits beginners who want their portfolio run for them, with a management fee of 0.25% on automated portfolios and a deposit starting at $1. Commission-free dealing at $0 and free instant withdrawals keep running costs low, though the managed minimum is higher than some rivals.
Key facts
- Best for
- Beginners who want a robo-run portfolio and a cash account in one place.
- Management fee
- 0.25% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Minimum investment
- $500 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- SIPC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account types
- IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Portfolio types
- ETF, ESG, Cash (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Official website
- wealthfront.com
Brokers
- Minimum deposit
- $1 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Stock trade fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account fee
- $0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Markets
- Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Regulators
- SIPC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Deposit and withdrawal fees
- Free instant withdrawals (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Platforms
- Web, iOS app, Android app (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Account types
- IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Interest on cash
- 3.55% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Legal entity
- WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Headquarters
- United States (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Founded
- 2011 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
- Features
- Fractional shares, Mobile app
- Pricing model
- Commission-free
- Audience
- Beginners
Pros and cons
Pros
- Trading is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0 on share dealing.
- The cash account fee is $0, and the management fee on automated portfolios is 0.25%.
- A minimum deposit of $1 and fractional shares make it easy to spread small amounts across stocks, etfs and bonds.
- Cash pays 3.55%, and instant withdrawals are free.
Cons
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, which narrows the options for anyone who wants live chat.
- Managed portfolios need $500 to open, well above the typical entry point across the brokers listed here (€25).
- Asset choice stops at stocks, etfs and bonds, so the product list suits long-term holders more than active traders.
Who it suits
- Beginners, since the audience is listed as beginners and the deposit and fee levels keep the entry small.
- US savers building retirement or shared accounts, with ira, roth ira and joint on offer.
- Long-term holders who want a robo portfolio alongside cash, reachable from Web, iOS app and Android app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who needs a lower floor for managed investing: Axos Invest starts at $100, against $500 here.
- Readers after a plan fee rather than a robo charge, since Vivid Standard charges 0.5% to 1.5%.
Safety and regulation
The brokerage entity behind the brand is WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC, and the only regulator on file is SIPC (SIPC). The stated investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. Membership sits under SIPC member 68534, a reference readers can use on the SIPC list. Protection is a matter of the scheme's stated cover, not a promise on investment returns.
How Wealthfront compares
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Where Wealthfront is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- SIPC (SIPC member 68534), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does Wealthfront charge to manage my portfolio?+
The management fee is 0.25% on automated portfolios, while the cash account fee is $0. Stock trade fees are $0, so for most readers the robo charge is the only recurring cost to weigh against a rival's plan fee.
How much do I need to get started?+
The minimum deposit is $1, so an account can be opened with a small transfer, and instant withdrawals are free if plans change. An automated portfolio needs $500 to open, which is the figure most readers should compare with other robo-advisors.
What does it cost to buy a share?+
Trading is commission-free, with a stock trade fee of $0 on share dealing. Fractional shares are offered too, so a small balance can be spread across several holdings rather than buying whole shares, and both the app and the web platform can place orders.
Is my money protected at Wealthfront?+
The regulator listed is SIPC (SIPC), and the stated investor protection is SIPC up to USD 500,000. The membership record reads SIPC member 68534, which readers can match against the SIPC list. Hold that figure against rivals rather than reading it as a return promise.
What happens to cash and withdrawals?+
The cash account charges an account fee of $0 and pays 3.55% on balances, and instant withdrawals are free, so taking money out adds nothing to the cost. Cash also sits within the portfolio options, which keeps idle money on the platform.
What can I invest in?+
The markets list covers stocks, etfs and bonds, and managed portfolios are built from etf, esg and cash. That is a focused, long-term set rather than a trading menu, so readers who want constant dealing for a living may find the product list narrow.
Which accounts can I open, and where?+
Account types are ira, roth ira and joint, so the range centres on US retirement and shared accounts. Access runs through Web, iOS app and Android app, and the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app) includes fractional shares and a mobile app, so orders do not need a desktop.
How do I get help?+
Support runs on email, phone and help centre, covering email, phone and a help centre. The brokerage entity behind the accounts is registered in the US (US), so readers in the UK or Europe should check opening hours before relying on phone support.
Sources
- sipc.org/list-of-members checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Regulators, Legal entity, Investor protection, Licences
“reportingFileNumber=68534; name=WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC”
- wealthfront.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded, Platforms, Account types
“14+ years Simplifying finances since 2011”
- wealthfront.com/cash checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit and withdrawal fees, Account fee, Interest on cash
“Free 24/7 instant withdrawals”
- wealthfront.com/investing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Minimum investment
“As little as $500, this account helps you start investing the right way.”
- wealthfront.com/legal/disclosure checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Portfolio types
“Wealthfront uses low cost, index-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) in its Classic Portfolio”
- wealthfront.com/legal/terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Support channels
“Wealthfront Advisers LLC 261 Hamilton Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301”
- wealthfront.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Management fee
“Our advisory fee for the Automated Investing Account is simple - just 0.25% annually.”
- wealthfront.com/stock-investing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Audience, Markets, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Stock trade fee
“Can I buy fractional shares with the Stock Investing Account?”
Compiled from 8 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
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