Updated September 28, 2026 · VaultCue Editorial Team
Wealthfront vs Wise
Wealthfront
Higher score in this comparison
Wise
Wealthfront vs Wise: the differences
| Compare | WealthfrontReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | WiseReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.55% to 4.45%Higher | 3.29% |
| Deposit protection | FDIC up to USD 250,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Access terms | Free 24/7 instant withdrawals, withdraw any time with no fees | Instant access to money and gains; transfer up to 100,000 GBP (Personal) daily without delay |
| Monthly fee | $0 | £0 |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Rate type (Variable), Account kind (Cash management).
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Key differences
- Wealthfront scores higher overall: 9.1 vs 8.8.
- Wise is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Wise is available in 34 more countries.
- Headline rate is higher at Wealthfront: 3.55% to 4.45% vs 3.29%.
- Support channels: only Wealthfront offers Email, Phone.
Our verdict on each
Wealthfront
Wealthfront suits US savers who want their cash to earn a variable rate of 3.55% to 4.45% while staying instantly accessible. The account runs as a cash management product, so money can move in and out at any time, and deposits are covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000.
Wise
Wise runs as a cash management account rather than a savings product, so it suits expats and travellers who need many currencies and no monthly charge, not people chasing the top rate. It scores 5.2 here, with a variable rate of 3.29% and a monthly fee of £0.
Score breakdown
| Area | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherA monthly fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0 mean opening and holding the account costs nothing. | 9.1A monthly fee of £0, a conversion fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0% keep running costs low. |
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 8.640 currencies, local details for iban, uk sort code and us ach and a variable rate of 3.29% on the balance. |
| Trust | 8.8 | 8.8 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Belgium | Not confirmed | BE_NBB PSD_PI BE_NBB!0713629988 |
| Estonia | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 68534 | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Wealthfront: 1. Additional countries for Wise: 35.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Current and checking accounts | 92 of 885 | 139 of 885 |
| Savings accounts | 311 of 1420 | 494 of 1420 |
| Cash management accounts | 10 of 45 | 21 of 45 |
What we checked
Wealthfront
- wealthfront.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- reports.adviserinfo.sec.gov: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Wise
- wise.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No monthly fee | No monthly fee |
| Legal entity | WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC | Wise Europe SA |
| Headquarters | United States | Belgium |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more | Help centre |
Everyday accounts
| Fact | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | Not confirmed | Payment institution |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.24% |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 40 |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Expats, Travelers |
| Features | Free ATM, Joint accountCovers more | Free ATM |
| Local account details | Us ACH | IBAN, UK sort code, Us ACHCovers more |
| Free ATM withdrawals | $15 | £250 |
| Transfer fee | No charge by Wealthfront; some receiving institutions may impose an RTP or FedNow fee | From 0.24%, varies by currency |
Money transfer
| Fact | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate markup | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Payout methods | Not confirmed | Bank, Card |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Wealthfront | Wise | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.55% to 4.45%above the median | 3.29%above the median | 3.25 |
| Minimum deposit | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
Median across 658 listed accounts.
Pros and cons
Wealthfront
Pros
- A variable rate of 3.55% to 4.45% with no term to commit to
- Instant withdrawals at any time with no charge, plus free ATM withdrawals with an allowance of $15
- Deposits are covered by FDIC up to USD 250,000 and cash is held by WEALTHFRONT BROKERAGE LLC
Cons
- The rate type is variable, so the 3.55% to 4.45% band can move with market rates
- Transfers run on the local details listed as us ach, so funding is set up around US bank transfers
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre, and live chat is not among them
Wise
Pros
- No recurring charge: the monthly fee is £0, matching the €0 site median while some accounts charge as much as €449.
- Conversion is cheap: a fee of 0.24% and an exchange rate markup of 0%, against a 0.5% site median conversion fee.
- Instant access on a floating return: money and gains come out without delay, and the variable rate stands at 3.29%.
Cons
- Support is self-service: help centre is the only channel listed, so there is no phone line or live chat listed for a stuck transfer.
- The rate is variable, so the 3.29% headline can fall, and the brand ranks 220 of 473 on headline rate.
- Moving money is not free: transfer fees are From 0.24%, varies by currency and converting adds 0.24% each time a currency changes.
Who each suits
Wealthfront
Who it suits
- US savers who want a variable rate and same-day access rather than a fixed term
- Households holding a joint account, one of the listed features alongside free ATM withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to hold cash without a monthly charge, since the monthly fee is $0
Who should look elsewhere
- Colombian readers, where PayPal Colombia lists a headline rate of 3.3% on a wallet balance
- Readers after card-linked rates, such as AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito at 21.59% or Plazo ES at 24.19%
- Anyone wanting a term deposit or a fixed rate, since the account is a cash management product with a variable rate
Wise
Who it suits
- Expatriates and travellers who hold money in more than one currency: the account is built for expats and travelers and covers 40 currencies.
- Anyone who wants a place to park cash without a recurring charge, since the monthly fee is £0.
- People who need money to arrive in local formats, since local account details are offered for iban, uk sort code and us ach.
Who should look elsewhere
- Plazo ES or AXI Card Tarjeta y Credito, whose headline rates of 24.19% and 21.59% are the ones to look at when the rate on the balance matters more than currency cover.
- PayPal Colombia, whose headline rate of 3.3% is close to 3.29%, so a saver gives up little on yield and gains nothing on the 40 currency range.
Current offers
Wealthfront
Current offer
Bonus
3-month APY boost for new Cash Account clients: +0.65% APY for 3 months on up to $150,000
New clients funding a Cash Account; boost applies for 3 months on up to a $150,000 balance; base APY 3.55% as of 09/18/2026; terms apply
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Ongoing APY increase for clients who invest and deposit monthly: +0.25% APY ongoing
Clients who fund any investing account and make a monthly direct deposit of $1,000 or recurring deposits of $2,500 into any account; boost capped at $150,000 balance
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Wealthfront | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| Austria | No | Yes |
| Belgium | No | Yes |
| Brazil | No | Yes |
| Bulgaria | No | Yes |
| Croatia | No | Yes |
| Cyprus | No | Yes |
| Czechia | No | Yes |
8 of 36 countries where either is available.
Questions about each
Wealthfront
What rate does Wealthfront pay on cash?+
Wealthfront pays a variable rate of 3.55% to 4.45% on cash balances, with a variable rate type rather than a fixed one. There is no term to commit to and no balance threshold, since the minimum deposit is $0.
What does it cost to keep a Wealthfront account open?+
The monthly fee is $0 and the account runs on the no monthly fee model, so there is nothing to pay each month. Withdrawals can be made at any time at no charge, and ATM withdrawals are free with an allowance of $15.
Wise
What rate does Wise pay on money held in the account?+
The headline rate is 3.29% and it is a variable rate, so the figure can move rather than being set for a term. Interest is credited to the balance and the money plus the gains stay available, which suits someone who wants a return without tying funds away.
Is there a monthly fee for keeping money with Wise?+
The monthly fee is £0, and the account is built on a no monthly fee model, so there is no recurring charge to maintain it. The site median monthly fee is €0 while some accounts charge as much as €449, so this sits at the cheap end of the range.
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