Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Empower Personal Dashboard vs Wealthfront
Empower Personal Dashboard
Higher score in this comparison
Wealthfront
Where Empower Personal Dashboard and Wealthfront differ
| Compare | Empower Personal DashboardReviewVisitVisit | WealthfrontReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%Lower | 0.25% |
| Minimum investment | $0Lower | $500 |
| Account types | IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | SIPC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
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
- Empower Personal Dashboard scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Wealthfront: 2011 vs 2014.
- Management fee is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: 0% vs 0.25%.
- Minimum investment is lower at Empower Personal Dashboard: $0 vs $500.
- Account types: only Wealthfront offers Roth IRA, Joint.
- Portfolio types: only Wealthfront offers ESG.
Our verdict on each
Empower Personal Dashboard
Empower Personal Dashboard suits US households that want cash and investments in one place, paying a variable headline rate of 3.5% and asking for a minimum deposit of $0. Deposits sit under FDIC up to USD 250,000, and the dashboard moves money with the ease of a checking account.
Wealthfront
Wealthfront suits US savers who want automated investing and a cash account in one place, with a management fee of 0.25% and no dealing charge on stocks. Costs stay low against robo rivals, though the accounts serve the US market only.
Score breakdown
| Area | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 10.0HigherManagement fee 0%, account fee $0, stock trade fee $0, minimum investment $0. | 9.1Management fee of 0.25% on robo portfolios, $0 for commission-free share dealing, $0 and $0 on cash |
| Offer | 8.7 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.1Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 68534 |
Available in 1 country for both.
What we checked
Empower Personal Dashboard
- empower.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Wealthfront
- wealthfront.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 18 of 1492 | 321 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 11 of 658 | 216 of 658 |
| Cash management accounts | 4 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
| Investing | 22 of 654 | 142 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 13 of 358 | 102 of 358 |
| Robo-advisors | 2 of 154 | 36 of 154 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Empower Advisory Group, LLC | WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.5% | 3.55% to 4.45%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $1 |
| Deposit protection | FDIC up to USD 250,000 | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Access terms | Easy access like a checking account; deposit and withdraw through the Empower Dashboard via website and mobile app | Free 24/7 instant withdrawals, withdraw any time with no fees |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Account kind | Cash management | Cash management |
Brokers
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | $0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Features | Mobile app | Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free instant withdrawals |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, iOS app, Android app |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.55% |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0%lowest quarter | 0.25%below the median | 0.35% |
| Minimum investment | $0lowest quarter | $500at the median | $500 |
Median across 86 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Empower Personal Dashboard
Pros
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, so help is a phone call or an email away.
- The cash side sits under FDIC up to USD 250,000.
- Access suits everyday money: deposits and withdrawals run through the dashboard itself.
Cons
- The rate type is variable, so the 3.5% headline can move rather than being fixed for a term.
- Markets are limited to stocks, etfs and funds, with no foreign exchange, crypto or bond trading listed.
- Investing money carries risk: the share of retail accounts that lose money is 70.15%.
Wealthfront
Pros
- Management fee of 0.25% sits below the site median of 0.35%
- Commission-free share dealing at $0, with fractional shares in the app
- Cash account with a variable rate, a monthly fee of $0 and free instant withdrawals
Cons
- A management fee of 0.25% still applies, so returns are capped by cost
- The managed portfolio needs a minimum investment of $500
- Markets cover stocks, etfs and bonds, with no derivatives or share dealing outside listed asset types
Who each suits
Empower Personal Dashboard
Who it suits
- US households who want a cash balance alongside a ira account in one place.
- Investors comfortable with a focused list of stocks, etfs and funds held in etf and cash.
- People who value phone and email help, since support runs on email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers after a UK or European savings account: Empower is headquartered in the United States, and PiggyVest quotes its minimum investment as NGN 5,000 in another currency.
- Anyone who wants a stated entry floor before investing: eToro asks $500 and Axos Invest $100, against $0 here.
- People trading forex, crypto or bonds: the market list here is stocks, etfs and funds, so eToro or Axos Invest are the comparisons to read for wider classes.
Wealthfront
Who it suits
- US beginners who want automated portfolios set up with a minimum investment of $500
- Savers who want a variable-rate cash account with 3.55% and free instant withdrawals
- IRA holders, since account types include ira, roth ira and joint
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, where the management fee is 0% and the focus is trading rather than managed portfolios
- Axos Invest, where the minimum investment is $100 and the range sits in a robo portfolio
- Empower Personal Dashboard, where the management fee is 0%
Current offers
Wealthfront
Current offer
Bonus
Cash Account APY Boost: up to 4.45% APY (3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026)
APY Boost applies up to a $150,000 balance; 3.55% base APY as of 09/18/2026, provided by program banks and subject to change; funds held at program banks
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Empower Personal Dashboard | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
Questions about each
Empower Personal Dashboard
What does Empower Personal Dashboard charge?+
None of the listed fees apply. The management fee is 0%, the account fee $0, the monthly fee $0 and a stock trade costs $0. The pricing model is commission free and low fees, so the charge does not scale with the size of the holding.
Is the money in my account protected?+
The cash side is covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000, which applies to deposits rather than investments. Anything in the investment account carries market risk, and across the site the share of retail accounts that lose money sits at 70.15%. Keep emergency cash in the deposit account.
Wealthfront
What does Wealthfront charge to manage my money?+
The advisory fee is 0.25% a year on automated portfolios, which sits below the site median of 0.35%. Self-directed share dealing is separate and commission-free at $0. There is no separate account charge, with an account fee of $0.
How much do I need to start investing?+
The managed portfolio needs a minimum investment of $500. If you would rather pick shares yourself, buying starts from a minimum deposit of $1. Fractional shares are offered in the app, so a small sum can still be spread.
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Empower Personal Dashboard
Wealthfront