Wealthfront review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
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.
Key facts
- Best for
- US beginners who want one app for automated portfolios and cash
- Management fee
- 0.25%↗
- Minimum investment
- $500↗
- Regulators
- SIPC↗
- Investor protection
- SIPC up to USD 500,000↗
- Account types
- IRA, Roth-IRA, Joint↗
- Portfolio types
- ETF, ESG, Cash↗
- Legal entity
- WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC↗
- Headquarters
- United States↗
- Founded
- 2011↗
- Support channels
- Email, Phone, Help-centre↗
- Official website
- wealthfront.com
Brokers
Pros and cons
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
- Access on Web, iOS app and Android app, so investing and cash sit in the same place
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 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%
Where it sits among rivals
On management fee, Wealthfront sits at 18 of 49 brands compared, and that fee of 0.25% is under the 0.35% median across the site. On minimum investment it ranks 54 of 82, since the managed portfolio asks for $500 while self-directed share dealing starts at $1.
Who runs it
The brokerage is WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC, and it is a SIPC member in the US. Support runs on email, phone and help centre. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in the US, so accounts and the cash product are built for a US customer rather than a UK one.
How Wealthfront compares
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 8.9
Wealthfront vs eToro9.2 vs 9.2No management fee at 0%, aimed at self-directed trading rather than automated portfolios
9.2 vs 8.7
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.6
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.3
9.2 vs 9.5
9.2 vs 9.4
9.2 vs 9.4
Wealthfront vs Empower Personal Dashboard9.2 vs 9.3A management fee of 0% on managed accounts, an alternative for anyone weighing a no-fee managed platform
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.3
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.2
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.1
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 9.0
9.2 vs 8.9
9.2 vs 8.6
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.5
9.2 vs 8.4
9.2 vs 8.2- 9.2 vs 8.0
Where Wealthfront is available
- Available
- United States
- Licence in United States
- SIPC (SIPC member 68534), checked September 26, 2026
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
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.
Is my money protected?+
Cash held in the cash account is covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000. Investments are covered by SIPC up to USD 500,000 through SIPC, the US protection scheme named in the licences. The two cover different sides of the account.
Can I get my money out quickly?+
Withdrawals are free and instant, around the clock, with no fee for taking money out. There is no charge for a withdrawal, and the cash rate is variable, so it can move over time rather than being fixed for a term.
What rate do I get on the cash account?+
The cash account pays a variable rate, with a headline rate of 3.55% to 4.45% and a cash interest rate of 3.55%. Because it is variable, the figure can change. There is a monthly fee of $0 on the account.
Which accounts can I open?+
Account types include ira, roth ira and joint, so retirement and shared accounts are available alongside individual ones. Portfolios cover etf, esg and cash, which gives a choice of automated approaches rather than a single strategy.
Which markets can I trade in?+
Markets cover stocks, etfs and bonds. Dealing is commission-free, and the app offers fractional shares, so you can hold a slice of a share. Access is through Web, iOS app and Android app.
Who is Wealthfront aimed at?+
The stated audience is beginners, and support runs on email, phone and help centre. The company is based in the US and registered with SIPC in the US, so the accounts are built for US customers.
Sources
- sipc.org/list-of-members checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Investor protection, Legal entity, Regulators, Licences
“reportingFileNumber=68534; name=WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC”
- reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov/reports/ADV/148456/PDF/148456... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Deposit protection
- wealthfront.com/cash checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Access terms, Account kind, Headline rate, Monthly fee
“Free 24/7 instant withdrawals; it's your money, so you can withdraw it whenever you want, with no fees”
- wealthfront.com checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account types, Founded, Platforms
“Explore supported account types: Taxable Accounts (Personal, Joint, Trust); Retirement Accounts (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP)”
- wealthfront.com/cash checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Account fee, Interest on cash, Deposit and withdrawal fees
“Zero account fees - Cash Account”
- wealthfront.com/investing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Minimum investment
“As little as $500, this account helps you start investing the right way.”
- wealthfront.com/legal checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Rate type
“The cash balance in the Cash Account is swept to one or more banks (the program banks) where it earns a variable rate of interest”
- wealthfront.com/legal/disclosure checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Portfolio types
“Wealthfront uses low cost, index-based exchange traded funds (ETFs) in its Classic Portfolio”
- wealthfront.com/legal/terms checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Support channels
“Wealthfront Advisers LLC 261 Hamilton Ave Palo Alto, CA 94301”
- wealthfront.com/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Management fee
“Our advisory fee for the Automated Investing Account is simple - just 0.25% annually.”
- wealthfront.com/stock-investing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Features, Markets, Minimum deposit, Pricing model, Stock trade fee
“Can I buy fractional shares with the Stock Investing Account?”
Compiled from 11 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.