Robo-advisors have made hands-off investing genuinely accessible, but picking the right one still matters — especially when fees compound against your returns over a decade. Fidelity Go and Betterment are two of the most popular options in 2026, yet they take noticeably different approaches to pricing, features, and who they’re designed for.
This comparison breaks down exactly what you get with each platform so you can make a call without wading through marketing copy.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Fidelity Go | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | 0% (under $25K) / 0.35% (over $25K) | 0.25% + $10/mo (under $20K) / 0.40% Premium |
| Account minimum | $10 | $10 |
| Tax-loss harvesting | Yes (over $25K) | Yes (all accounts) |
| Human advisor access | Yes (over $25K) | Yes (Premium / à la carte) |
| Traditional & Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Joint & trust accounts | No | Yes |
| Crypto exposure | No | Yes (via Betterment Crypto) |
| Socially responsible investing | No | Yes (SRI portfolios) |
| 529 / 401(k) | No | Yes (through employers) |
| Cash management account | Yes | Yes |
Fee Structures in Detail
Fidelity Go
Fidelity Go’s pricing has a tiered structure that tilts heavily in your favor at smaller balances:
- Under $25,000: No advisory fee whatsoever. Fidelity absorbs the cost.
- $25,000 and above: 0.35% annual advisory fee, which includes unlimited access to a team of Fidelity financial advisors.
The underlying funds are Fidelity Flex mutual funds — Fidelity’s own zero-expense-ratio funds. So the 0.35% at higher balances is roughly all you pay. That’s genuinely competitive.
The catch: that $25K threshold is a meaningful inflection point. Below it, you’re getting a solid free service. Above it, 0.35% is reasonable but not the cheapest available.
Betterment
Betterment’s pricing is more layered:
- Digital plan: 0.25% annually. However, if your balance is under $20,000 and you don’t have a recurring deposit of at least $250/month set up, you’ll pay a flat $10/month instead (which is 0.12% annually on a $10K balance — worse than the percentage fee at small balances).
- Premium plan: 0.40% annually, requires $100,000 minimum, includes unlimited calls with CFPs.
The underlying ETFs carry their own expense ratios (typically 0.07%–0.15% for core portfolios), adding a small layer on top of the advisory fee.
What You Actually Pay at Different Portfolio Sizes
Real numbers help more than percentages. Here’s what each platform costs annually at common balance points, assuming no monthly-minimum exemption issue with Betterment:
| Portfolio Size | Fidelity Go | Betterment Digital |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $0 | $25 (0.25%) |
| $25,000 | $0 → $87.50 at threshold | $62.50 |
| $50,000 | $175 | $125 |
| $100,000 | $350 | $250 |
At $50K and $100K, Betterment Digital is actually cheaper than Fidelity Go. At $25K and under, Fidelity Go wins outright — nothing beats free.
Investment Approach
Fidelity Go
Fidelity Go builds your portfolio from its own Fidelity Flex funds. These are low-cost index funds that track broadly diversified benchmarks — U.S. stocks, international stocks, and bonds. The allocation is determined by a short risk questionnaire.
You don’t choose your funds and can’t customize the mix beyond your risk tolerance answer. It’s deliberately simple. Fidelity periodically rebalances the portfolio automatically.
Betterment
Betterment uses ETFs from providers like Vanguard, iShares, and Goldman Sachs. The default “Core” portfolio is a globally diversified stock and bond mix. But Betterment also offers:
- Goldman Sachs Smart Beta portfolio
- BlackRock Target Income bond-heavy portfolios
- Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) portfolios — broad SRI, climate-focused, and social-impact options
- Betterment Crypto — a separate crypto portfolio product (held with Gemini)
If you want more control over the flavor of your portfolio without doing active stock-picking, Betterment gives you more levers to pull.
Tax-Loss Harvesting
Both platforms offer tax-loss harvesting, but with different eligibility rules.
Fidelity Go: TLH kicks in once your balance crosses $25,000. Below that threshold, you don’t get it.
Betterment: Tax-loss harvesting is available on all taxable accounts regardless of balance. Even a $500 account gets it (though the practical impact at tiny balances is minimal). Betterment also offers Tax-Coordinated Portfolio, which places assets in the most tax-efficient account type when you hold both taxable and tax-advantaged accounts at Betterment.
For investors with taxable (non-retirement) accounts, Betterment’s approach is more accessible and more sophisticated.
Access to Human Financial Advisors
Fidelity Go
At $25,000+, you get unlimited access to Fidelity’s team of financial coaches and advisors included in the 0.35% fee. These are actual humans who can discuss your full financial picture — not just your Fidelity Go account. This is a strong differentiator if you want occasional guidance without booking separate paid appointments.
Betterment
Human advisor access depends on your tier:
- Premium ($100K+): Unlimited calls with CFP professionals, included in the 0.40% fee.
- Digital (under $100K): You can purchase one-time 45-minute advice packages for $299–$399 depending on the topic (retirement planning, marriage and family, etc.).
If human guidance is important to you, Fidelity Go delivers it at a lower cost ($25K+ at 0.35%) compared to Betterment’s $100K Premium threshold.
Account Types
Fidelity Go supports:
- Individual taxable brokerage
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA
Betterment supports:
- Individual taxable brokerage
- Joint taxable accounts
- Trust accounts
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- SEP IRA
- Inherited IRA
- 401(k) (through employer partnerships)
- 529 college savings (through external providers)
If you need a joint account, a trust, or any account type beyond the basics, Betterment is significantly more flexible. Fidelity Go is limited to single-owner accounts.
User Experience
Both apps are clean and easy to navigate, but they have different personalities.
Fidelity Go feels like a simplified layer on top of Fidelity’s broader brokerage. If you already have a Fidelity account (very common for people whose 401(k) is through Fidelity), setting up Fidelity Go is frictionless — everything lives under one login. The experience is functional and reliable without being flashy.
Betterment has a purpose-built robo-advisor interface that’s arguably more polished for the goal-based investing workflow it promotes. You set goals (retirement, emergency fund, general wealth building), and the app tracks you toward each one separately. The goal visualization and progress tracking feel more intentional than Fidelity Go’s simpler dashboard.
Neither platform will frustrate you. It largely comes down to whether you prefer Betterment’s goal-centric view or Fidelity’s one-stop-shop integration.
Who Should Choose Fidelity Go?
Fidelity Go is a strong fit if:
- You’re starting with under $25,000 and want zero fees while you build. No other major robo-advisor offers a fully free managed service at this balance level.
- You already have a Fidelity account — consolidating under one login reduces friction and simplifies your financial picture.
- You want human advisor access at a relatively low balance — $25K to unlock advisor access at 0.35% is a reasonable deal.
- You want simplicity — one portfolio type, automatic rebalancing, done. If you don’t want to think about portfolio customization, Fidelity Go keeps it clean.
For more on Fidelity Go’s exact cost structure at different balance points, see our Fidelity Go pricing breakdown for 2026.
Who Should Choose Betterment?
Betterment makes more sense if:
- You want tax-loss harvesting from day one in a taxable account, regardless of balance.
- You need joint accounts or trust accounts — Fidelity Go doesn’t offer these.
- You’re interested in SRI or crypto as part of your investment approach.
- You have $50K–$100K+ and want a lower fee — Betterment Digital at 0.25% beats Fidelity Go’s 0.35%.
- You want goal-based tracking across multiple financial objectives simultaneously.
- You’re self-employed and need a SEP-IRA or want a rollover from an employer plan.
If you’re also weighing other robo-advisor options, it’s worth checking how Wealthfront’s fees in 2026 stack up — Wealthfront charges a flat 0.25% with no premium tier and a strong tax-optimization feature set.
FAQ
Does Fidelity Go have tax-loss harvesting?
Yes, but only for accounts over $25,000. Betterment offers tax-loss harvesting at all balance levels in taxable accounts.
Is Betterment safe?
Betterment is SEC-registered and FINRA member. Cash in Betterment’s checking and savings products is FDIC-insured up to applicable limits. Investments are covered by SIPC protection up to $500,000. It’s been operating since 2008 and has over $45 billion in assets under management.
Can I use both Fidelity Go and Betterment?
Yes, there’s no rule against using both. Some investors use Fidelity Go for a traditional IRA (taking advantage of the free tier) while using Betterment for a taxable account where they want tax-loss harvesting and SRI options. That said, managing two robo-advisors adds some complexity.
Which is better for beginners?
Both are solid picks for beginners — that’s what they’re designed for. Fidelity Go’s free tier and simpler interface may be less overwhelming if you’re new to investing. Betterment’s goal-based structure can be helpful for people who want to organize savings around specific targets. See our guide to the best investing apps for beginners in 2026 for a broader look at beginner-friendly options.
Verdict
Choose Fidelity Go if you’re starting out with under $25,000 and want a zero-fee managed portfolio, or if you already bank and invest with Fidelity and want simplicity.
Choose Betterment if you have a taxable account and want tax-loss harvesting from the start, need joint or trust accounts, want SRI or crypto options, or plan to grow beyond $50K where Betterment’s 0.25% fee is cheaper than Fidelity Go’s 0.35%.
Neither platform is objectively “better” — they’re targeting slightly different investor profiles. Fidelity Go wins on cost at low balances and on human advisor access at mid-range balances. Betterment wins on features, account variety, and fee efficiency at higher balances.
The practical question: if you’re under $25K and want set-it-and-forget-it with no fees, Fidelity Go is hard to argue against. If you have a taxable account and a balance above $50K, Betterment’s fee structure and tax tools pull ahead.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All fees and features are based on publicly available information as of August 2026 and may have changed. Verify current terms directly with each provider before opening an account.