Save money and be informed. CreditDonkey is a personal finance comparison and reviews website. This website is made possible through financial relationships with card issuers and some of the products and services mentioned on this site. Advertiser Disclosure†

Betterment vs M1 Finance

Betterment is a great robo-advisor for beginners with low fees, good tools, and tax strategies. How does it compare to M1 Finance? Read our comparison chart below.

Betterment offers automatic investing starting at $4/month for accounts with less than $20,000. There is no fee to open an account and no minimum deposit required. All balances get automatic rebalancing, tax loss harvesting, and access to financial experts.

While M1 Finance offers free automated investing with no commissions or account fees. M1 lets you select your own investments and their automation will manage it for you. This is great for investors who want a say. The downside is that there are no human advisors. The minimum to start is just $100.

Compare Betterment with M1 Finance, side-by-side. Read on for an in-depth look, including ratings, reviews, pros and cons.

 M1 Finance
 Learn MoreVisit Site
 

Betterment

M1 Finance

SPECIAL OFFER
Compare Pricing - Learn More

Read Betterment Review

SPECIAL OFFER
M1 Investment Account - Up to $500 Bonus - Learn More

Read M1 Finance Review

 

Benefits and Features

Savings
Check
 
Stock Trading 
$0
Options Trading 
No
Annual Fee
  • Digital: 0.25% annual fee for accounts with $20,000 or more or with monthly recurring deposits of $250 or more, $4/month for accounts with less than $20,000
  • Premium: 0.40% for accounts $100,000 or more
None
Cryptocurrency Trading 
Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0
$100
Checking
No-Fee Checking
 
Mutual Fund Trading 
No
Commission Free ETFs All U.S. listed ETFs
Phone Support
Yes
Monday - Friday 9:30 am to 4 pm EST
Live Chat Support
No
No
Email Support
Yes
Yes
Human Advisors
Yes ($100k minimum)
No
Robo Advisor
Check
 
Assets Under Management
$40+ Billion
$4.5 Billion
Tax Loss Harvesting
Yes
No, but offers tax minimization features
Goal Tracker
Yes
No
Automatic Deposits
Yes
Yes
Broker Assisted Trades 
Included
Good For DIY investing with passive portfolio management
Inactivity Fee $50 (for accounts with less than $50 and no activity for 90+ days)
Maintenance Fee 
$0
Online Platform
Yes
Yes
iPhone App
Yes
Yes (4.6 stars, 33.3k ratings)
Android App
Yes
Yes (4.5 stars, 15.7k ratings)
Banking All users can open a M1 Spend account with free debit card. No monthly service fees and no balance requirements.
Mobile App
Yes
Check
Two-Factor Authentication 
Yes
Locations 
No
Online Community 
No
Seminars 
No
Virtual Trading 
No
Single Stock Diversification
No
 
Fractional Shares
Yes
Yes
Taxable Accounts
Yes
Yes
401k Plans
Yes
No
IRA Accounts
Yes
Yes
Roth IRA Accounts
Yes
Yes
SEP IRA Accounts
Yes
Yes
Trust Accounts
Yes
Yes
529 Plans
No
No
 

CreditDonkey® Reviews

 M1 Finance
Annual FeeStarStarStarStarHalf StarStarStarStarStarStar
Minimum DepositStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStarStar
Human AdvisorsStarStarStarEmpty StarEmpty Star
Customer ServiceStarStarStarStarEmpty StarStarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star
Mobile AppStarStarStarStarHalf Star
Ease of UseStarStarStarStarHalf Star
ResearchStarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty StarEmpty Star
Pros & ConsPros:
  • No minimum investment
  • Customized portfolios
  • Automatically invest extra funds
Cons:
  • Limited investment options
  • High fees for large investors
Pros:
  • Choose your own investments
  • Can invest in individual stocks
  • No account fees
Cons:
  • No research
  • No human advisors
  • Can only trade once a day
Bottom LineGreat robo-advisor for beginners with low fees, good tools, and tax strategies... Read full reviewNo-fee investing app that allows you to choose your own investments... Read full review
 Learn MoreVisit Site

Blank fields may indicate the information is not available, not applicable, or not known to CreditDonkey. Please visit the product website for details.

Betterment: Pricing information from published website as of 04/04/2018

M1 Finance: Pricing information from published website as of 12/26/2023.

M1 Finance

M1 Investment Account - Up to $500 Bonus

Open a new M1 investment account. Deposit $10,000 or more into the account within 14 calendar days of account opening. Promotional credit will depend on the deposited value made into the account.

Deposited ValuePromotional Credit
$10,000 - $29,999.99$75
$30,000 - $49,999.99$150
$50,000 - $99,999.99$250
$100,000+$500

This offer is only for customers who have never registered for an M1 user account.

Expires 12/31/2024
M1 Finance

Transfer and Earn Up to $20,000

Complete an Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) of at least $100,000 in aggregate and earn up to $20,000. Promotional credit will depend on the amount transferred to the account.

Transfer Account ValuePromotional Credit
$100,000 - $249,999$250
$250,000 - $499,999$1,000
$500,000 - $999,999$2,000
$1,000,000 - $1,999,999$4,000
$2,000,000 - $4,999,999$10,000
$5,000,000 - $6,999,999$15,000
$7,000,000+$20,000

This offer is valid for new and existing M1 customers. Terms and conditions apply.

Expires Tomorrow
M1 Finance

Commission Free Stock Trading

M1 Finance allows investors the choice of ETFs and stocks. M1 charges no management fees or commission.

Which is Better: Betterment or M1 Finance?

Still need help deciding which investing is better? Read the in-depth reviews below. You may also be interested in comparing Betterment or Robinhood.


Articles on Betterment

Betterment Investing

Betterment offers low fees and good returns. But there are risks you should NOT ignore. Read this review to see if Betterment is better.

Betterment Fees

Betterment offers no minimum deposit and good returns. But are the fees worth it? Read on to learn about this robo-advisor's costs.

Is Betterment Safe

Betterment offers low fees, no minimum balance and good returns. But is it a good idea? Find out if it's safe to invest your money with this robo-advisor.

Is Betterment Worth The Fee

Betterment will manage your investments, but they charge a fee. Is Betterment worth the fee? Read on to answer all your questions.

Betterment Roth IRA

Is Betterment a good way to invest for retirement? What about the fees and withdrawals? Read on to learn how Betterment's Roth IRA account works.

Betterment vs Wealthfront

Betterment and Wealthfront are two of the oldest and most popular robo-advisors. Is there a difference? Which is better for you? Read on to find out.

Articles on M1 Finance

M1 Review

Is M1 Finance legitimate and safe? Find out the pros, cons, fees, and more. An essential read for beginners interested in M1 Finance.

Best M1 Finance Pie

M1 Finance is a fee-free investment app offering pre-selected portfolios called "pies." What's the best M1 Finance Pie? Find out.

M1 Finance Alternatives

M1 Finance is a popular app for fee-free investing. But is there a better option for you? Find out in this detailed guide to M1 Finance alternatives.

Which Do You Think is Best?





You Might Also Like

Retirement Calculator

Retirement Calculator

Get on track with your retirement goals. Find out your needs & how far your savings will stretch with this calculator.
Best Investment Accounts

Best Investment Accounts

Looking to open an investment account? In this list, review the best investment accounts to choose from and how to pick the right one for you.
FIRE Calculator for Beginners

FIRE Calculator for Beginners

"Financially independent, retire early" has a nice ring to it. But if you're new to the FIRE movement, it can be tough to know where to start.
Robo Advisor vs Financial Advisor

Robo Advisor vs Financial Advisor

Choosing between a robo-advisor and financial advisor depends on how much money you invest, the involvement you want, and the fees you're willing to pay.
Small Investments That Make Money

Small Investments That Make Money

You don't need to be rich to start investing. Here are 15 easy ways to invest small amounts of money.
Are Robo Advisors a Good Idea?

Are Robo Advisors a Good Idea?

Robo advisors make it possible for new investors to start investing. But they come with a fee. Are they worth it? Read on to learn about the pros and cons.
Best Micro Investing App

Best Micro Investing App

Micro investing apps allow anyone to invest in stocks with a few dollars. Learn about the best apps for beginners, like Acorns, Robinhood and Stash.
Best Investment Apps for Beginners

Best Investment Apps for Beginners

Looking to start investing but are overwhelmed with the process? These low-cost, beginner-friendly apps can help you get started.
Best Investment Apps

Best Investment Apps

There are a ton of investing apps to help you get started. But which ones will fit your investing style? Read on to find out.
Wealthfront Review: Is It Good?

Wealthfront Review: Is It Good?

Wealthfront simplifies long-term, low-cost investing with a diversified portfolio. But is it safe? Read on to learn if Wealthfront is worth it.

Next Page:

About CreditDonkey
CreditDonkey is a personal finance comparison website. We publish data-driven analysis to help you save money & make savvy decisions.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

†Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditDonkey receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CreditDonkey does not include all companies or all offers that may be available in the marketplace.

*See the card issuer's online application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However, all information is presented without warranty. When you click on the "Apply Now" button you can review the terms and conditions on the card issuer's website.

CreditDonkey does not know your individual circumstances and provides information for general educational purposes only. CreditDonkey is not a substitute for, and should not be used as, professional legal, credit or financial advice. You should consult your own professional advisors for such advice.

About Us | Reviews | Deals | Tips | Privacy | Do Not Sell My Info | Terms | Contact Us
(888) 483-4925 | 680 East Colorado Blvd, 2nd Floor | Pasadena, CA 91101
© 2024 CreditDonkey Inc. All Rights Reserved.