Best Robo-Advisors for 2026, Ranked by Fee
Wealthfront if you want it fully automated, including tax-loss harvesting. If you are willing to buy one broad index fund and leave it alone, a plain Fidelity account costs less.
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Daniel Okonkwo Editor, investing and retirementDaniel covers retirement accounts and education savings, and keeps the contribution limits current each year.
A robo-advisor builds and rebalances a portfolio for you, charging an annual percentage of assets. That fee is worth paying if it stops you from making worse decisions yourself. Wealthfront is the most complete option for most investors.
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The short version
- A robo-advisor sells three things: an allocation decision, automatic rebalancing, and the discipline not to interfere, all charged as an annual percentage of your balance.
- The management fee is charged whether the portfolio rises or falls, so on a $100,000 balance every 0.10 percentage point of fee costs $100 a year regardless of performance.
- Tax-loss harvesting only applies to taxable accounts, so it is worth nothing inside an IRA or a 401(k).
- The value of harvested losses depends on your capital gains rate, and for 2026 the 15% long-term rate does not begin until $49,450 of taxable income for a single filer.
- A single broad index fund with no management fee achieves most of what a robo-advisor does, and is the right answer for anyone who will not tinker.
The verdict
Wealthfront if you want it fully automated, including tax-loss harvesting. If you are willing to buy one broad index fund and leave it alone, a plain Fidelity account costs less.
- Winner
- Best overall
Wealthfront · Automated allocation and rebalancing, with tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts.
- Winner
- Cheapest alternative
Fidelity · Not a robo-advisor, but a single index fund achieves most of the benefit with no management fee.
Our picks
1. Wealthfront, Best overall
Automated allocation and rebalancing, with tax-loss harvesting on taxable accounts.
See itWealthfront
Wealthfront
2. Fidelity, Cheapest alternative
Not a robo-advisor, but a single index fund achieves most of the benefit with no management fee.
| Product | Management fee | Minimum | Tax-loss harvesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wealthfront | 0.25% a year | $500 | Yes, daily on all balances |
| Fidelity | $0 under $25,000, then 0.35% a year | $0 to open | No |
The verdict
Wealthfront if you want it fully automated, including tax-loss harvesting. If you are willing to buy one broad index fund and leave it alone, a plain Fidelity account costs less.
How we ranked these
We compare the annual management fee, the account minimum, whether tax-loss harvesting is included, and which account types are supported.
How we ranked these
We compare the annual management fee, the account minimum, whether tax-loss harvesting is included, and which account types are supported.
Frequently asked questions
Is the fee worth it?
It buys discipline and rebalancing. If you would otherwise leave cash uninvested or sell in a downturn, it usually pays for itself.
What is tax-loss harvesting?
Selling a position at a loss to offset gains elsewhere, then buying a similar asset to stay invested. It only helps in a taxable account.
Can a robo-advisor hold my IRA?
Yes. Most support traditional, Roth and rollover IRAs alongside taxable accounts.
Can I lose money?
Yes. A robo-advisor manages allocation, not risk of loss. Portfolios fall when markets fall.
How is this different from a target-date fund?
A target-date fund does the same rebalancing inside one fund, usually for a lower fee, but with less tax optimisation.
Sources
Every figure on this page is attributed to a named source with the date it took effect. Our reviewers check them against the primary source before publication.
About our expert
Editor, investing and retirement
Experience
Daniel edits the investing and family-money desks: 401(k) and IRA limits, catch-up rules, Roth versus traditional, 529 plans and the gift-tax treatment that sits behind them.
Most of what he edits is annual-limit content, which means it is wrong for a predictable stretch of every year unless somebody is watching. He tracks the IRS release schedule so the pages move when the figures do, not weeks later.
Areas of expertise
- 401(k) and IRA
- Retirement limits
- 529 plans
- Capital gains
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