Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Betterment vs Wise
Betterment
Higher score in this comparison
Wise
Betterment vs Wise: the differences
| Compare | BettermentReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | WiseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%Higher | 3.29% |
| Deposit protection | FDIC up to USD 250,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Access terms | Cash Reserve: no minimum balance ($10 minimum deposit), unlimited withdrawals, sweep cash held at FDIC-insured program banks up to $8M (joint) | Instant access to money and gains; transfer up to 100,000 GBP (Personal) daily without delay |
| Monthly fee | $0 | £0 |
| Minimum deposit | $10 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registered investment adviser, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Betterment Securities broker dealer member, SIPC | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Cash management).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Betterment scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Betterment: 2008 vs 2011.
- Wise is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Wise is available in 3 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Betterment: 3.5% vs 3.29%.
- Pricing model: only Betterment offers No monthly fee.
- Pricing model: only Wise offers No annual fee.
Our verdict on each
Betterment
Betterment suits US savers who want a managed portfolio and a cash sweep in the same app, charging a management fee of 0.25% on top of an account fee of $0. Cash earns a variable 3.5%, so the income side moves with policy rates, and its overall score is 7.9.
Wise
Wise suits people who hold several currencies and convert often, pairing a monthly fee of £0 with a conversion fee of 0.1% and interest of 3.29% on the balance. The weak spot is cash: free ATM withdrawals stop at £250 and the card ranks 10 of 124 on that measure.
Score breakdown
| Area | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.5HigherManagement fee of 0.25% ranks 18 of 49, and the account fee is $0. | 9.3A monthly fee of £0 and a conversion fee of 0.1% keep running costs low, and the monthly fee ranks 1 of 422. |
| Offer | 9.7 | 9.8HigherInterest of 3.29% at a variable rate, a debit card, free ATM withdrawals of £250 and support on email, chat and phone. |
| Trust | 9.9Higher | 8.7 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not confirmed | National Bank of Belgium 0713629988 BE_NBB PSD_PI BE_NBB!0713629988 |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 549300ET4IUR6RCZOL84 |
| Lithuania | Not confirmed | LT_BL PSD_EMI LT_LT_BL_304940980 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 51906 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Betterment: 1. Additional countries for Wise: 4.
Where these facts come from
Betterment
- betterment.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Wise
- wise.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 56 of 1492 | 324 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 39 of 658 | 218 of 658 |
| Cash management accounts | 8 of 46 | 11 of 46 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No annual fee |
| Legal entity | MTG LLC | Wise Europe SA |
| Headquarters | United States | Belgium |
| Founded | 2008Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre |
Brokers
| Fact | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Features | Not confirmed | Multi currency, Travel |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business, Kids |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.1% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No fees | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.5% | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | Not confirmed | £0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Betterment | Wise | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5%above the median | 3.29%below the median | 3.3% |
| Minimum deposit | $10above the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
Median across 710 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Betterment
Pros
- A single app holds a managed portfolio and a cash sweep paying a variable 3.5%.
- The management fee of 0.25% sits under the site median management fee of 0.35%.
- The monthly fee is $0 and the minimum deposit is $10, so an account that is opened and left alone carries no standing charge.
Cons
- Cash pays a variable rate of 3.5%, so the income from the sweep can be cut without warning.
- Betterment ranks 18 of 49 on management fee, so cheaper robo-advice sits on the same list.
- Account types cover ira and roth ira, which rules out a UK ISA or workplace pension wrapper for most UK readers.
Wise
Pros
- The monthly fee on the cash management account is £0, level with bunq at €0 and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card at $0, so nothing is given away on the standing charge.
- A currency conversion fee of 0.1% sits well under the site median of 1%, and the account can hold 40 currencies at the same time.
- Idle balances earn 3.29% at a variable rate while staying available, which bunq and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card do not offer in the same form.
Cons
- The free ATM allowance of £250 ranks 10 of 124, so heavy cash users get less than many rivals.
- The conversion fee of 0.1% is not free: Starling Personal Account Debit Card lists 0% on its travel card, which costs less for people who only spend abroad.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.29% earned on the balance can move instead of staying put for a set period.
Who each suits
Betterment
Who it suits
- US savers who want automated investing and a variable cash yield handled from the same app.
- First-time investors who can begin from a minimum investment of $10 without a large opening balance.
- Retirement savers who want a traditional or Roth IRA built around automatic contributions.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you would rather choose individual markets yourself, since the portfolio options here are etf, esg and cash.
- Axos Invest, whose minimum investment of $100 suits readers who want a higher entry point and a managed portfolio.
- Empower Personal Dashboard, whose management fee is 0%, for readers who put the advisory charge ahead of a managed account with a cash sweep.
Wise
Who it suits
- People paid in a single currency and spending in another, since the conversion fee is 0.1% and 40 currencies can be held side by side.
- Travellers who want a debit card with a monthly fee of £0 and interest of 3.29% left in the account.
- Households running accounts for business and kids.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, which lists 0% on its travel card, suits spenders who would rather pay no conversion charge than 0.1%.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card at $0 a month, so it answers a credit building need rather than a debit card that pays interest.
- bunq, which also charges €0 a month, gives no reason to move on price alone, so the 0.1% conversion fee and the £250 cash allowance are what separate the two.
Current offers
Betterment
Current offer
Bonus
Invest and earn up to $2,000: up to $2,000
Terms apply; new customers only; open any individual investing account and make a deposit
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
0.75% APY boost on Cash Reserve: 0.75% APY boost, 4.25% variable APY on balances up to $1M
New clients with a qualifying deposit; guaranteed through February 15; base variable APY 3.50% as of 9/21/2026; $10 min deposit for base APY
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Discount code
Discounted mortgage rate through Rate partnership: up to 0.75% off
Via partnership with Rate; terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Betterment | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Lithuania | No | Yes |
| United Kingdom | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Betterment
What does Betterment charge to run an account?+
Two figures matter. The management fee is 0.25%, charged on the portfolio, and the monthly fee is $0, with an account fee of $0. Taking money in and out carries nothing, with the deposit and withdrawal fee reading No fees. Over a year the management fee is the line that reduces the balance, since nothing else here charges for holding the account open.
How much do I need to open an account and start investing?+
The minimum investment is $10 and the minimum deposit for the cash side is $10. The site median minimum deposit is €0.88 and the median minimum investment is €25, so the floor here sits inside the normal range rather than at either extreme. Neither figure asks for a large opening balance.
Wise
What does the account cost to run?+
The monthly fee on the cash management account is £0, and the pricing runs on the no annual fee model, so there is no separate annual charge. bunq sits at €0 and Varo Believe Secured Credit Card at $0, so Wise competes on conversion pricing and the interest paid on the balance rather than on the standing fee.
How much does it cost to convert currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 0.1%, and the account can hold 40 currencies at once, so money can sit in the currency you are paid in and convert only when you spend. Starling Personal Account Debit Card lists 0% on its travel card, so a reader who never converts pays less there.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Betterment vs Wealthfront
- Betterment vs Insignis Cash
- Betterment vs Ally Bank
- Betterment vs Merrill Edge
- Betterment vs Nordnet DK
- Betterment vs Openbank
- Wise vs Betterment Cash Reserve
- Wise vs Global66
- Betterment vs Finom
- Betterment vs eToro
- Betterment vs Qonto
- Betterment vs Empower Personal Dashboard
- Betterment vs Revolut
- Betterment vs Revolut UK
- Betterment vs Lightyear
Betterment
Wise