Updated October 21, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
FutureMoney vs Wealthfront
FutureMoney
Wealthfront
Higher score in this comparison
FutureMoney vs Wealthfront: the differences
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $5Lower | $500 |
| Regulators | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | SIPC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Cash | ETF, ESG, CashCovers more |
Same on both: Management fee (0.25%), Investor protection (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
- Wealthfront scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FutureMoney offers U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Wealthfront offers SIPC.
- Founded is lower at Wealthfront: 2011 vs 2014.
- Minimum investment is lower at FutureMoney: $5 vs $500.
- Account types: only Wealthfront offers Joint.
- Portfolio types: only Wealthfront offers ESG.
- Support channels: only FutureMoney offers Chat.
- Support channels: only Wealthfront offers Phone, Help centre.
Our verdict on each
FutureMoney
FutureMoney suits savers who want flexible cash alongside automated investing, with withdrawals available on request and support through email and chat. It pays interest at 5% on a variable basis while charging 0.25% for managed portfolios, which keeps ongoing costs modest for small balances.
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 | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherCost reflects free cash account operation through fees of $0. | 9.1Management fee of 0.25% on robo portfolios, $0 for commission-free share dealing, $0 and $0 on cash |
| Offer | 8.8Offer reflects focused choice through portfolios in ETF and cash. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 8.9Trust reflects clear corporate identity as Future Money Inc.. | 9.1Higher |
What we checked
FutureMoney
- futuremoney.co: 10 facts, checked September 30, 2026
Wealthfront
- wealthfront.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 404 of 1492 | 321 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 270 of 658 | 216 of 658 |
| Cash management accounts | 12 of 46 | 10 of 46 |
| Investing | 182 of 654 | 142 of 654 |
| Robo-advisors | 48 of 154 | 36 of 154 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | Future Money Inc. | WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC |
| Headquarters | United States | United States |
| Founded | 2014 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat | Email, Phone, Help centre |
Savings
| Fact | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 5%Higher | 3.55% to 4.45% |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $1 |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | Commission free |
| Access terms | No lock-ups, request withdrawals anytime | Free 24/7 instant withdrawals, withdraw any time with no fees |
| Monthly fee | $0 | $0 |
| Account kind | Cash management | Cash management |
Brokers
| Fact | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Markets | Not confirmed | Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Funds |
| Features | Not confirmed | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| 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 | FutureMoney | Wealthfront | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0.25%below the median | 0.25%below the median | 0.35% |
| Minimum investment | $5below the median | $500at the median | $500 |
Median across 86 listed providers.
Pros and cons
FutureMoney
Pros
- Earns a rate of 5% with variable terms for flexible cash balances.
- Starts from $5, below Betterment at $10 for small beginnings.
- Charges 0.25% for managed portfolios, below Merrill Edge at 0.45% to 0.85%.
Cons
- Support runs on email and chat only, which may feel limited when you prefer phone help.
- Portfolio choice stays within ETF and cash, which may feel narrow when you want broader asset coverage.
- Supervision is through U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission only, while Interactive Brokers shows Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) across regions.
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
FutureMoney
Who it suits
- Savers who want flexible cash at 5% alongside ETF based investing.
- Beginners who want to start from $5 with steady management at 0.25%.
- Retirement savers using IRA and roth IRA for tax advantaged investing.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting broad supervision and markets with Interactive Brokers, which lists Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
- Investors wanting guided wealth tiers with Merrill Edge, which charges 0.45% to 0.85% for managed advice.
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 | FutureMoney | Wealthfront |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
FutureMoney
What fees will you pay with FutureMoney?+
You pay a management fee of 0.25% for automated portfolios, while the cash account carries fees of $0. That structure keeps regular account keeping free and leaves portfolio management as the main ongoing charge you review.
How much do you need to start investing?+
You can start automated investing from $5, which allows you to open with a very small balance. That entry point sits below Betterment at $10, so you can add funds gradually as your plans develop.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
FutureMoney
Wealthfront