Investing comparison
Betterment vs M1
Updated
Before you compare: This compares features and fees from each company's own pages. It isn't investment advice, and investing involves risk, including loss of money.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Short answer
Betterment and M1 are both investing apps. Betterment's base price for investing accounts is $5/month, while M1 doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026, and the official sources differ on 7 of the 10 rows in the table below.
Betterment vs M1 at a glance
Betterment and M1 are both investing apps. This page puts what each company's official pages and app store listings say side by side, with the date we checked every fact. The sources differ on 7 of the 10 rows in the table below.
Management or subscription fee
Betterment's base price for investing accounts is $5/month. It switches to 0.25% a year of your investing balance once you set up recurring monthly deposits of $200 or more or reach a $24,000 balance. Premium is 0.65% a year and needs $100,000 invested. M1 doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. It charges a platform fee of $3/month, waived for clients with more than $10,000 on the platform. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Account minimum
Betterment says pricing for its investment portfolios begins at $5/month, with no minimum balance. We haven't verified this for M1 yet, so check the official site for M1 before you decide. We checked Betterment on Oct 24, 2026.
Stock and ETF commissions
Betterment says you'll pay no trading commissions on stocks and ETFs, and its management fee doesn't apply to those trades. M1 Finance LLC doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Account types
Betterment lists these account types: Taxable investing accounts, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, Solo 401(k) and HSA. M1 lists these account types: Individual, Joint, Custodial, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA and Trust. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Fractional shares
M1 says fractional shares let you build your portfolio to your exact percentages, from 6,000+ U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs. We haven't verified this for Betterment yet, so check the official site for Betterment before you decide. We checked M1 on Oct 24, 2026.
Automatic investing
Betterment says it automates portfolio rebalancing, dividend reinvesting and taxes for you. M1 lists auto-invest with recurring transfers, Dynamic Rebalancing and one-click rebalancing. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Managed portfolios (robo)
Betterment says it builds a diversified portfolio and handles all trading, rebalancing and tax management for you. M1 says you can build your portfolio yourself or let M1 Advisor help you decide. Advisory services come from M1 Advisory Services, LLC. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Protection
Betterment Securities is a member of SIPC, which protects securities of its members up to $500K (including $250K for claims for cash). M1 Finance LLC is a member of SIPC, which protects the securities and cash in your brokerage accounts up to $500,000 (including up to $250,000 in cash) if the firm were to fail. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
M1 lists iOS and Android. We haven't verified this for Betterment yet, so check the official site for Betterment before you decide. We checked M1 on Oct 24, 2026.
App store rating
Betterment has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 66,106 ratings. M1 has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 75,216 ratings. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026. Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score.
What it costs
BettermentBetterment's base price for investing accounts is $5/month. It switches to 0.25% a year of your investing balance once you set up recurring monthly deposits of $200 or more or reach a $24,000 balance. Premium is 0.65% a year and needs $100,000 invested.
As of · betterment.com/pricing
M1M1 doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. It charges a platform fee of $3/month, waived for clients with more than $10,000 on the platform.
As of · m1.com
Bars show only when every app here lists a yearly price, so these prices sit side by side without them. Prices are list prices from each app's own page, before tax and any offer. Investing fees appear as each company states them. A yearly advisory fee is a percent of your balance, not a monthly price, so it never gets a bar or a price tag.
At a glance
App Store rating
- Betterment
- 4.866,106 ratings
- M1
- 4.775,216 ratings
Source
- Betterment has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 66,106 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- M1 has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 75,216 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
- Betterment
- Not verified yet
- M1
- iOS
- Android
Source
- Betterment: Not verified yet.
- M1 lists iOS and Android. m1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Account minimum
- Betterment
- Betterment says pricing for its investment portfolios begins at $5/month, with no minimum balance.
- M1
- Not verified yet
Source
- Betterment says pricing for its investment portfolios begins at $5/month, with no minimum balance. betterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- M1: Not verified yet.
Stock and ETF commissions
- Betterment
- Betterment says you'll pay no trading commissions on stocks and ETFs, and its management fee doesn't apply to those trades.
- M1
- M1 Finance LLC doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts.
Source
- Betterment says you'll pay no trading commissions on stocks and ETFs, and its management fee doesn't apply to those trades. betterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- M1 Finance LLC doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. m1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Protection
- Betterment
- Betterment Securities is a member of SIPC, which protects securities of its members up to $500K (including $250K for claims for cash).
- M1
- M1 Finance LLC is a member of SIPC, which protects the securities and cash in your brokerage accounts up to $500,000 (including up to $250,000 in cash) if the firm were to fail.
Source
- Betterment Securities is a member of SIPC, which protects securities of its members up to $500K (including $250K for claims for cash). betterment.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- M1 Finance LLC is a member of SIPC, which protects the securities and cash in your brokerage accounts up to $500,000 (including up to $250,000 in cash) if the firm were to fail. m1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Features
We haven't verified a feature list for either app yet, so this grid is empty for now.
✓ means the official site lists it. ? means we haven't verified it yet, not that the app lacks it.
Screen by screen
Pick a task to see what each app shows for it. App Store and Google Play images are the apps' own marketing, so they can show sample data and staged layouts. Help center images come from the app's support articles. See every app's screens.
Other screens
Betterment
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 1 of 4 from the Betterment listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 2 of 4 from the Betterment listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 3 of 4 from the Betterment listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 4 of 4 from the Betterment listing.App Store listing, as of
M1
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 1 of 4 from the M1 listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 2 of 4 from the M1 listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 3 of 4 from the M1 listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 4 of 4 from the M1 listing.App Store listing, as of
Betterment and M1, side by side
Rows marked “Differs” are where the official sources say different things, and 7 rows do here.
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps.
| Field | BettermentInvesting appBetterment is an automated investing app with managed portfolios, IRAs and other retirement accounts, and commission-free stock and ETF trading.Visit Betterment's site | M1Investing appM1 is an investing app where your portfolio is a Pie of stocks and ETFs you choose, with automation and retirement and custodial accounts.Visit M1's site |
|---|---|---|
| Management or subscription feeDiffers | Betterment's base price for investing accounts is $5/month. It switches to 0.25% a year of your investing balance once you set up recurring monthly deposits of $200 or more or reach a $24,000 balance. Premium is 0.65% a year and needs $100,000 invested.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com/pricing | M1 doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. It charges a platform fee of $3/month, waived for clients with more than $10,000 on the platform.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| Account minimum | Betterment says pricing for its investment portfolios begins at $5/month, with no minimum balance.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com/pricing | Not verified yet. |
| Stock and ETF commissionsDiffers | Betterment says you'll pay no trading commissions on stocks and ETFs, and its management fee doesn't apply to those trades.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com/pricing | M1 Finance LLC doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| Account typesDiffers | Betterment lists these account types: Taxable investing accounts, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, Solo 401(k) and HSA.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com/pricing | M1 lists these account types: Individual, Joint, Custodial, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA and Trust.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| Fractional shares | Not verified yet. | M1 says fractional shares let you build your portfolio to your exact percentages, from 6,000+ U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| Automatic investingDiffers | Betterment says it automates portfolio rebalancing, dividend reinvesting and taxes for you.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com | M1 lists auto-invest with recurring transfers, Dynamic Rebalancing and one-click rebalancing.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com/invest/automated-investing |
| Managed portfolios (robo)Differs | Betterment says it builds a diversified portfolio and handles all trading, rebalancing and tax management for you.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com | M1 says you can build your portfolio yourself or let M1 Advisor help you decide. Advisory services come from M1 Advisory Services, LLC.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| ProtectionDiffers | Betterment Securities is a member of SIPC, which protects securities of its members up to $500K (including $250K for claims for cash).As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: betterment.com | M1 Finance LLC is a member of SIPC, which protects the securities and cash in your brokerage accounts up to $500,000 (including up to $250,000 in cash) if the firm were to fail.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| Platforms | Not verified yet. | M1 lists iOS and Android.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: m1.com |
| App store ratingDiffers | Betterment has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 66,106 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing | M1 has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 75,216 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing |
App store ratings are a dated snapshot from each store listing, not our score. “Not verified yet” means we don't have a current official source for that line. How we source and date this data. Spotted a change? Tell us if something changed.
Weighing a third option? Add up to two more apps to this table and compare up to four side by side.
Which fits your Money Type?
There are four Money Types: Strategist, Spender, Saver and Scrambler. Each card matches one type to what the sources say about these two apps.
StrategistNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Save the Raise.
SpenderNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Sleep on It.
SaverNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Put It to Work.
ScramblerNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Bills First.
Not sure which one you are? Take the free Money Types quiz. It takes about two minutes.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Another option: Fifecta
If neither Betterment nor M1 feels right, here is one more option to look at. Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, and it starts from your Money Type, so the plan matches how you already handle money.
FAQ
How much does Betterment charge?
Betterment's base price for investing accounts is $5/month. It switches to 0.25% a year of your investing balance once you set up recurring monthly deposits of $200 or more or reach a $24,000 balance. Premium is 0.65% a year and needs $100,000 invested. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
How much does M1 charge?
M1 doesn't charge commission, trading or management fees for self-directed brokerage accounts. It charges a platform fee of $3/month, waived for clients with more than $10,000 on the platform. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
What is Betterment's app store rating?
Betterment has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 66,106 ratings. That's a snapshot from the store listing on Oct 24, 2026, not our score.
What is M1's app store rating?
M1 has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 75,216 ratings. That's a snapshot from the store listing on Oct 24, 2026, not our score.
Similar comparisons
- BettermentInvesting app
WealthfrontInvesting appBetterment vs Wealthfront
See Betterment and Wealthfront side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side - M1Investing app
RobinhoodInvesting appM1 vs Robinhood
See M1 and Robinhood side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side 
AcornsInvesting app
StashInvesting appAcorns vs Stash
See Acorns and Stash side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side
Charles SchwabInvesting appVanguardInvesting appCharles Schwab vs Vanguard
See Charles Schwab and Vanguard side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side
E*TRADEInvesting appCharles SchwabInvesting appE*TRADE vs Charles Schwab
See E*TRADE and Charles Schwab side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side
FidelityInvesting appCharles SchwabInvesting appFidelity vs Charles Schwab
See Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side- FidelityInvesting appRobinhoodInvesting app
Fidelity vs Robinhood
See Fidelity Investments and Robinhood side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side - FidelityInvesting appVanguardInvesting app
Fidelity vs Vanguard
See Fidelity Investments and Vanguard side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side 
PublicInvesting appRobinhoodInvesting appPublic vs Robinhood
See Public and Robinhood side by side, with every fact dated.
Data side by side
Keep comparing
- See Betterment alternatives, closest category first.
- See M1 alternatives, closest category first.
- Browse our guide to the low-cost brokerage accounts.
- Want the bigger picture? Compare more money apps.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Want a plan built on your Money Type?
Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, so you know where each dollar goes.
Sources and confidence
- Last checked
- Not verified yet
- 3 of 20 facts
Betterment8 of 10 verified, 2 not verified yet, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Management or subscription feebetterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account minimumbetterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Stock and ETF commissionsbetterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account typesbetterment.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Fractional sharesNot verified yet
- Automatic investingbetterment.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Managed portfolios (robo)betterment.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Protectionbetterment.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- PlatformsNot verified yet
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
M19 of 10 verified, 1 not verified yet, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Management or subscription feem1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account minimumNot verified yet
- Stock and ETF commissionsm1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account typesm1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Fractional sharesm1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Automatic investingm1.com/invest/automated-investing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Managed portfolios (robo)m1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Protectionm1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Platformsm1.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Reference: sipc.org/for-investors/what-sipc-protects, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Each fact links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Once a fact is older than its app's window (8 days for apps whose rates change often, 35 days for the rest), it reads “Not verified yet” until we check it again. How we source, date and index this data.
This is education, not financial advice.
