Fully automated investing across diversified index ETFs, with daily tax-loss harvesting at the account level.
The sensible choice for savers who want to set it and forget it, forever.
Strengths
Daily tax-loss harvesting
Diversified ETF allocation
High-yield cash account option
Clean, opinionated UX
Tradeoffs
0.25% advisory fee
$500 minimum to start
No human advisor tier
Who it's for
The saver who wants to automate the investing decision entirely and optimize tax efficiency in a taxable account. Our default pick.
A brokerage that rejected payment-for-order-flow and built around transparency.
Fractional index ETFs mean you can start with a single dollar, not a round lot.
Strengths
Fractional shares from $1
No payment-for-order-flow
Clean mobile interface
Recurring investment plans
Tradeoffs
Self-directed, no advisor
No automated rebalancing
Social feed can be a distraction
Who it's for
The DIY investor who wants to pick a few index ETFs (VOO, VTI, SCHD) and dollar-cost-average in without commissions.
Build a custom "pie" of index ETFs at whatever weights you like. M1 handles fractional buys and
automatic rebalancing on every deposit. For the saver who wants control without chores.
Strengths
Custom portfolio allocation
Automatic rebalancing
Fractional share support
Dynamic deposit distribution
Tradeoffs
$100 minimum to start
Trades execute in windows, not real-time
No tax-loss harvesting on free tier
Who it's for
The reader who has a thesis ("60% US index, 20% international, 20% bonds") and wants the platform to enforce it every month.
The original robo-advisor. Pick a goal (retirement, house, general), answer a few questions,
and Betterment builds a diversified index-ETF portfolio with automated rebalancing.
Strengths
$0 minimum
Goal-based planning tools
Tax-loss harvesting
Optional premium tier with human advisors
Tradeoffs
0.25% advisory fee
Less flexibility than DIY brokerages
Who it's for
The beginner who wants gentle hand-holding, a clear goal view, and the option to add a human advisor later.
Investing tucked inside a larger banking relationship. Fractional shares, an automated "Robo" option,
and an ecosystem that handles banking, loans, and investing under one login.
Strengths
$0 minimum, $0 commissions
Fractional shares from $5
Banking + investing integration
Automated "Robo" option available
Tradeoffs
Smaller ETF selection than pure brokerages
Feature breadth can feel diluted
Who it's for
The reader who wants one app for checking, savings, and index investing — and is willing to trade a little depth for the consolidation.
The robo tier of a seventy-five-year-old brokerage. Portfolios built with Fidelity Flex funds that
carry no underlying expense ratio — you pay one advisory fee and nothing else.
Strengths
Zero-expense-ratio Flex funds
Free for balances under $25,000
Trust of a seventy-five-year-old firm
Tradeoffs
0.35% fee above $25k (higher than Betterment/Wealthfront)
Only invests in Fidelity Flex funds
No tax-loss harvesting
Who it's for
The reader who prizes institutional trust and has a smaller balance — Fidelity Go is genuinely free under $25k.
Each broker above pays Index Instead a one-time commission when you open a funded account through our link.
Typical range: $50–$200, depending on broker and funding amount.
This does not affect the order we list them in. We ranked them by fit, not by payout.
Wealthfront pays us about the same as Public and M1; Betterment slightly less; Fidelity varies.
We did not include brokers whose business model we disagree with — high-fee active-managed funds, crypto-primary platforms,
or payday-loan adjacent services. We curate, and we will say so.
Nothing here is financial advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Index investing does not protect against loss in declining markets.