In the heated battle of robo-advisors vying to help you build a portfolio, Wealthfront and Vanguard Personal Advisor are among the top choices. Yet there are key differences — especially the minimum you need to open an account, the types of accounts supported and management fees.
Let's see how they stack up.
What's your financial need?
Financial Planning
Retirement Planning
Investment Management
Tax Strategy
Other
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Wealthfront is best for
- Hands-off investors.
- Taxable accounts.
- Free financial tools, even if you don't have a Wealthfront account.
- 529 college savings plan management.
- Both DIY and automated investing.
Wealthfront at a glance
Reviewed: Oct. 2025
Period considered: Aug. 2025 - June 2026
Account minimum | $500 for automated investment accounts; $1 for cash accounts and the stock investing account. Other minimums may apply. |
Account management fee |
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Investment expense ratios | The weighted average expense ratio for a taxable AIA portfolio is between 0.03–0.07%. Note: the SRI portfolio is higher at 0.09–0.18%. |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing) | None. |
Portfolio mix | Automated investment portfolios:
S&P 500 Direct and Nasdaq-100 Direct portfolios:
Bonds:
Wealthfront stock investing account:
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Socially responsible portfolio options | Automated investing clients can choose to invest in Wealthfront’s SRI portfolio or customize any other Wealthfront portfolio to include socially responsible options for no additional fee. |
Accounts supported |
Note: Investing in individual stocks is only available through individual taxable accounts. |
Tax strategy |
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Human advisor option | None. |
Savings account/cash management account | The Wealthfront Cash Account is a high-yield cash management account. It offers a competitive yield through Wealthfront partner banks and is covered up to $8 million in FDIC insurance. |
Customer support options (rating includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | Phone support Monday through Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific. All emails are responded to within one business day. |
Vanguard Personal Advisor is best for
- Access to a team of financial advisors.
- Comprehensive financial planning.
- Larger account balances.
Vanguard Personal Advisor at a glance
Reviewed: Oct. 2025
Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025
Account minimum | $50,000. |
Account management, planning or subscription fee |
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Advisor access and credentials |
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Financial planning services | Can advise and create a custom portfolio for a variety of situations, such as saving for retirement, college or a family vacation home. Services include: budgeting, debt management, home purchase and real estate investments, insurance needs, education planning, marital asset considerations, company stock options, alternative investments, retirement savings and drawdown strategies, Roth conversion strategies, Social Security and Medicare, small business continuity, charitable gifting, estate planning, generational wealth transfer, and more. Clients also have access to a number of digital tools. |
Investment expense ratios on portfolios | Average expense ratio is 0.04%. |
Portfolio construction | Portfolios are constructed on a client-by-client basis with low-cost. Personal Advisor clients can use a wide variety of funds in their portfolios, including all-index, ESG, tax-exempt fixed income, active fixed income, and active equity funds. Based on the client's existing holdings and tax liability, the portfolio may be constructed to accommodate previously held non-Vanguard investments. Clients have access to the Vanguard Cash Plus account — a self-directed account that offers a competitive APY, access to FDIC insurance and additional options including a dedicated routing and account number, direct deposit and bill pay. Private equity is also available to Personal Advisor investors who meet qualification and suitability requirements. |
Brokerage options | Clients must move money to Vanguard but can keep outside investments if there are embedded gains or other reasons to do so. |
Accounts supported |
Personal Advisor will consider and provide guidance for other account types (e.g., 529s, UGMA, UTMA, non-Vanguard record-kept 401(k)s, and spousal accounts), but does not directly manage them. |
Tax strategy |
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Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | Customer support is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time. Ability to schedule appointments with an advisor at any time. |
Curious about other options?
The number of online advisors continues to swell, as does the range of services. NerdWallet conducted an in-depth analysis of over 20 offerings this year. » Read about our picks for the best robo-advisors
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