Is Ellevest a good robo-advisor?

Ellevest is a solid robo-advisor for women and anyone who values gender-aware financial planning. Its portfolios account for the gender pay gap, longer average female lifespans, and career breaks. The $12/month membership fee is high relative to Betterment (0.25% AUM) and Wealthfront (0.25% AUM) for small balances, but becomes competitive at balances above $50,000–$75,000. The financial planning coaching sessions add meaningful value.

What does Ellevest charge?

Ellevest charges a flat $12/month membership fee for its standard account, which includes robo-advisor investment management, financial planning workshops, and access to financial coaches at discounted rates. There are no AUM percentage fees. At $12/month ($144/year), the effective rate is 0.14% on a $100,000 balance — cheaper than Betterment and Wealthfront at that level.

Is Ellevest only for women?

No — Ellevest is open to all genders. It was founded with a focus on the financial challenges women face (gender pay gap, career breaks, longevity), and its planning tools are built with these factors in mind. Anyone can open an account. However, its marketing and community features are primarily designed to resonate with women.

How does Ellevest compare to Betterment?

For balances under $50,000, Betterment (0.25% AUM = $125/year on $50K) is cheaper than Ellevest ($144/year flat). At $75,000+, Ellevest becomes more affordable. Betterment offers daily tax-loss harvesting on all accounts; Ellevest does not. Ellevest offers access to human financial coaches and gender-aware portfolio construction; Betterment does not focus on gender-based planning.

Does Ellevest have tax-loss harvesting?

Ellevest does not offer automated tax-loss harvesting, which is a meaningful disadvantage for taxable accounts with balances above $50,000. Betterment and Wealthfront both offer daily tax-loss harvesting on all taxable accounts. If tax efficiency in a taxable account is a priority, Betterment or Wealthfront will likely outperform Ellevest on after-tax returns.

Ellevest Review 2026 — Fees, Features, and Who It's Best For

Ellevest is a robo-advisor built around gender-aware financial planning — its portfolios and projections account for the gender pay gap, longer female lifespans, and career breaks. It charges a flat $12/month fee, which makes it expensive for small balances but competitive at $75,000+. Its biggest weakness: no automated tax-loss harvesting. Its biggest strength: access to financial coaching and a planning approach that addresses real-world gaps in traditional financial advice.

Quick verdict: Ellevest is worth considering for women (or allies) who value gender-aware planning and coaching access over pure investment optimization. If tax-loss harvesting in a taxable account is your priority, choose Betterment or Wealthfront instead.

Ellevest at a Glance (2026)

Feature	Ellevest
Annual fee	$12/month = $144/year
Investment minimum	$0
Tax-loss harvesting	No
Portfolio type	Diversified ETF portfolios
Human advice	Financial coaches (additional fee, discounted for members)
Account types	Taxable, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA
Gender-aware planning	Yes — unique to Ellevest
Mobile app	iOS and Android
SIPC insured	Yes

Who Ellevest Is For

Ellevest serves people who:

Want financial planning that accounts for the gender pay gap and career breaks
Value access to human financial coaches alongside automated investing
Have balances above $50,000–$75,000 (where the flat fee becomes competitive)
Are building toward multiple life goals simultaneously (retirement, buying a home, emergency fund)

Ellevest may not be the best fit if you:

Have a small balance (under $25,000 — the flat fee represents 0.58%+ annually, expensive for a robo-advisor)
Prioritize tax-loss harvesting for a large taxable account
Want the lowest possible cost and nothing else

Fee Comparison: Ellevest vs. Competitors

Balance	Ellevest ($12/mo)	Betterment (0.25%)	Wealthfront (0.25%)
$10,000	$144/yr (1.44%)	$25/yr	$25/yr
$25,000	$144/yr (0.58%)	$62.50/yr	$62.50/yr
$50,000	$144/yr (0.29%)	$125/yr	$125/yr
$75,000	$144/yr (0.19%)	$187.50/yr	$187.50/yr
$100,000	$144/yr (0.14%)	$250/yr	$250/yr
$200,000	$144/yr (0.07%)	$500/yr	$500/yr

Break-even point: At approximately $57,600, Ellevest becomes cheaper than Betterment/Wealthfront on a pure fee basis.

Investment Portfolios

Ellevest builds diversified ETF portfolios using:

US stocks, international stocks
US bonds, international bonds
Real assets (REITs, commodities)

Gender-aware adjustment: Ellevest adjusts portfolio projections to reflect women’s average salary curves (which peak earlier), longer life expectancy (average 5 years longer), and the potential for career interruptions. This means more conservative return projections and longer time horizons than generic tools — which Ellevest argues leads to better-calibrated financial plans.

Portfolio options include impact portfolios (ESG-focused) for members who want to invest aligned with their values.

Financial Coaching Access

This is Ellevest’s most differentiated feature. Membership includes:

Access to financial planning workshops and content
Discounted one-on-one sessions with CFP-credentialed financial coaches (approximately $100–$135/session for members vs. $200+ standard rate)

This makes Ellevest a hybrid option — automated investing plus occasional human guidance — at a reasonable total cost if you use the coaching benefit.

What Ellevest Lacks vs. Betterment/Wealthfront

Feature	Ellevest	Betterment	Wealthfront
Tax-loss harvesting	No	Yes (all accounts)	Yes (all accounts)
Direct indexing	No	Yes ($100K+)	Yes ($100K+)
529 college savings	No	No	Yes
Portfolio line of credit	No	No	Yes ($25K+, 4.3% APR)
Automated financial planning	Goal-based	Goal-based	Path tool (more detailed)

The absence of tax-loss harvesting is the most significant gap for taxable accounts over $50,000.

Alternatives to Consider

For lower cost and tax-loss harvesting: Betterment or Wealthfront
For free robo-advising: Schwab Intelligent Portfolios or Fidelity Go
For custom portfolios: M1 Finance
For comparison: Best Robo-Advisors 2026

Written by WealthVieu

WealthVieu researches and writes data-driven personal finance guides using primary sources including the IRS, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Federal Reserve, and Census Bureau.

The content on Wealthvieu is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Full disclaimer · Editorial policy