ESG investing lets you align your money with your values — and the best apps make it easy. We compared Wealthfront, Betterment, and Schwab across fees, minimums, and ESG methodology to find the right fit for every kind of investor.
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) investing means choosing funds that score companies on sustainability, ethical practices, and leadership accountability — not just profit. It used to be something only institutional investors could do well, but robo-advisors and brokerage apps have changed that.
The three apps below each take a different approach: one automates everything with dedicated ESG portfolios, one lets you set goals and invest in SRI themes, and one gives you low-cost access to a massive library of ESG ETFs. Which one is right for you depends on how much hands-on control you want.
Wealthfront is our top pick because it makes ESG investing genuinely hands-off. Its Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) portfolios use BlackRock's ESG-aware funds, which screen for companies with strong environmental and social practices while avoiding industries like fossil fuels, tobacco, and weapons.1
The portfolios are automatically rebalanced and tax-loss harvested. You get the same 0.25% annual advisory fee that Wealthfront charges for its standard portfolios — no premium for the ESG tilt.1 Minimum investment is $500, which is accessible for a managed account.
Best for: Investors who want a set-it-and-forget-it ESG portfolio with professional fund selection.
→ check wealthfront's SRI portfolios
Betterment pioneered the robo-advisor space and offers strong goal-based planning paired with socially responsible portfolios.2 You tell Betterment what you're saving for (retirement, a house, a rainy day) and it builds a diversified portfolio of low-cost ETFs, including SRI options.
Betterment's SRI portfolios screen for ESG criteria similarly to Wealthfront, but the platform's edge is its goal-setting tools. You can visualize progress toward multiple goals at once, each with its own risk level and ESG allocation.2
Management fee is 0.25% for the Digital plan ($0 minimum) or 0.40% for Premium (with access to CFP professionals).2
Best for: Investors who want to track progress toward specific life goals with ESG alignment.
→ explore betterment's SRI goals
Schwab's robo-advisor charges zero management fees — no advisory fee, no commissions on trades.3 That makes it the cheapest option on this list, and it's backed by one of the most trusted names in brokerage.
The trade-off is less customization. Schwab Intelligent Portfolios automatically builds and rebalances a diversified portfolio from Schwab's own ETFs. For ESG investors, Schwab offers a wide selection of ESG ETFs (including iShares ESG-aware funds), but you'll need to either use the self-directed brokerage or work with a Schwab advisor to build a custom ESG portfolio.3
Minimum investment is $5,000 for the basic robo-advisor, or $25,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium (which includes unlimited access to CFP professionals).3
Best for: Cost-conscious investors who already trust Schwab and want access to a huge ETF library.
→ see schwab's ESG ETF options
| feature | wealthfront | betterment | schwab |
|---|---|---|---|
| management fee | 0.25% | 0.25% (Digital) / 0.40% (Premium) | 0% |
| minimum investment | $500 | $0 | $5,000 |
| ESG methodology | BlackRock ESG-aware funds | SRI passive portfolios | iShares ESG ETFs + self-directed |
| tax-loss harvesting | yes | yes | no |
| goal-based tools | basic | advanced | basic |
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up through the links above. This doesn't affect our recommendations — we only recommend products we've vetted.
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