Robo-Advisor Fee Comparison Tool — Find the Lowest-Cost Platform
Compare net returns across Betterment, Wealthfront, Vanguard, SoFi, and Schwab robo-advisors. See how management fees reduce your portfolio over 5–30 years.
Robo-Advisor Net Return Formula
Each robo-advisor is compared using net compounding, where the annual management fee reduces the effective annual return on a monthly basis.
Most robo-advisors also invest in ETFs with their own expense ratios (typically 0.05–0.25%), which are not reflected in the stated management fee but further reduce net returns. Platforms like Schwab Intelligent Portfolios have no advisory fee but earn from ETF expense ratios and a required cash allocation.
How to Use the Robo-Advisor Comparison Tool
Enter your initial investment
Input your starting balance. Note that Betterment and Wealthfront have no minimum; Vanguard Digital requires $3,000.
Set annual contributions
Enter how much you plan to add per year. The tool divides this into monthly contributions for accurate compounding.
Enter the gross annual return
Use a realistic market return assumption (6–8% for diversified portfolios). This is before any advisory fees.
Choose your time horizon
Select 5, 10, 20, or 30 years. Fee differences compound dramatically over longer periods.
Compare platforms
Results rank all 5 robo-advisors by final net value and show total fees paid to each.
Real-World Scenario Example
"Investing $50,000 with $6,000 annual contributions at 7% gross return over 20 years."
Inputs
Result
SoFi (0% fee): ~$405,000. Vanguard Digital (0.20%): ~$388,000. Betterment/Wealthfront (0.25%): ~$383,000. Total fee difference: ~$22,000.
Important Disclaimer
Fee structures and investment returns are estimates. Actual fees vary by account type, balance tier, and platform updates. This tool is for comparison purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Related Calculators
Index Fund Fee Drag Calculator
Quantify the true cost of your index fund's expense ratio over decades. Compare gross vs net returns and see the total dollar drag fees impose on your retirement savings.
Compound Interest Calculator
Calculate how your savings or investments grow over time with compound interest, including the effect of regular monthly contributions and different compounding frequencies.
Roth vs Traditional IRA Calculator
Determine which IRA wins based on your current vs retirement tax rate. Compare after-tax retirement values and see the break-even tax rate for your specific situation.