Best Robo-Advisors in Singapore (2025)

TL;DR

• Robo-advisors provide a range of curated investment portfolios that you can access for a low management fee
• These portfolios are recommended to you based on your risk appetite and investment preferences
• Most Robo-advisors do periodic automated rebalancing on portfolios while some may give clients a recommendation to do so.
• Robo-advisors are great for time-starved adults or those new to investing as it provides a guided approach to investing.
• However, you will still need to research the Robo-advisor and the underlying funds your portfolio holds to understand what you’re investing in.

What happened?

Investing has traditionally involved opening a brokerage account, buying stocks directly, and building your own portfolio. 

Thus, DIY investing comes with a learning curve for investors. 

You need to understand the assets, master the brokerage platform, and be able to assess market risks. Once you’re already invested, you need to also manage those risks and your portfolio over time by monitoring your portfolio and staying updated with market news. 

For new investors, this can be quite overwhelming. Even for experienced investors, actively managing a portfolio requires time and effort. 

To address this gap, robo-advisors started emerging in recent years. These digital wealth management platforms offer an easy-to-use, accessible and cost-effective way to invest. 

Similar to mutual fund managers, robo-advisors handle the investment process on your behalf. But they typically come with lower fees, thanks to their use of passive instruments like ETFs, which require less active management.

Since bursting onto Singapore’s investment scene in the late 2010s, robo-advisors have grown in popularity with several options in the market today catering to a range of investor needs. 

In this guide, I’ll break down how robo-advisors work, the advantages and drawbacks of using one, and some crucial considerations if you intend to use them to invest your funds.

How does a robo-advisor work?

As mentioned earlier, robo-advisors share similarities with mutual funds in that they act as fund managers, selecting funds and creating pre-set portfolios tailored to specific criteria like risk level, portfolio allocation, and investment themes. 

The key distinction lies in their investment approach. 

Generally, robo-advisors employ a passive investing approach, building portfolios using ETFs. In contrast, mutual funds often take an active management approach, aiming to outperform the market in line with the fund’s mandate. 

That said, not all robo-advisors use just ETFs. Endowus and DBS digiportfolio, for example, construct some portfolios using mutual funds, while OCBC RoboInvest includes direct investment in stocks and bonds alongside ETFs. 

In addition, robo-advisors automate many traditional investing tasks. Processes like account opening, portfolio rebalancing, and trading underlying securities are handled by or supplemented by technology.

This automation, coupled with a passive investment approach and pre-build portfolios, allows robo-advisors to reduce investment costs and scale their wealth management services to more investors. 

Typically, when using a robo-advisor for the first time, you will go through an online questionnaire to gather information about your financial goals and risk appetite. The data is then used to recommend an investment portfolio with optimised returns given the risk parameters, or your given investment objectives. 

Over time, these portfolios will be automatically rebalanced periodically or when the portfolio allocation moves away from its targets due to changes in the market. 

Robo-advisor platforms in Singapore

Here are some of the Robo-advisors in Singapore that you may consider. 

Endowus

Endowus has over US$6 billion in group assets, making it one of the largest independent wealth managers in Asia as of September 2023.

Endowus takes an evidence-based approach for the highest probability of success and prides itself on taking out luck and the temptation of timing the market out of investing.

Read our detailed review of Endowus here. 

StashAway

StashAway is a robo-advisor with over US$1 billion in total assets under management. 

Their portfolios seek to keep your downside risk within the selected risk level and maximise returns, ensuring that your investment mirrors your unique comfort level.

Read our detailed review of StashAway here. 

Syfe

Syfe is a robo-advisor that also has an online brokerage platform for US, Singapore and Hong Kong stocks. Since its launch in 2019, it has since expanded to Hong Kong and Australia.

Syfe uses a multi-factor approach that enhances long-term returns, reduces volatility and improves diversification.

AutoWealth

AutoWealth takes a passive market-returns portfolio investment approach.

Despite the term robo-advisor, AutoWealth has a team of investment experts that help you fully manage your portfolio.

DBS digiPortfolio

As part of Singapore’s largest bank, the DBS digiPortfolio offers hassle-free, ready-made investment portfolios for Singaporeans.

Their portfolios are curated by DBS’ team of portfolio managers and are aligned with their Chief Investment Office’s views to ensure optimal asset allocation and portfolio resilience and initiate rebalancing whenever necessary.

One of their notable portfolios is the DBS Retirement digiPortfolio which lets you determine the age you want to retire at and helps you grow your retirement funds to achieve that.

What to consider when choosing a robo-advisor?

While it is tempting to choose a robo-advisor with the lowest fees, a more informed approach is recommended, especially when you’re investing for the long term. Here’s what you need to consider before choosing a robo-advisor

#1 – Investment methodology

Understanding a robo-advisor’s investment methodology and the underlying funds in your recommended portfolio is one of the most crucial factors to consider.

Take the time to learn about the robo-advisor’s approach to investing. 

How do they allocate funds? Do they follow a passive strategy using ETFs, or do they incorporate actively managed funds? 

For instance, StashAway uses an investment methodology called ERAA (Economic Regime-based Asset Allocation) that ensures that your portfolio stays within your selected risk level throughout different economic cycles.

On the other hand, DBS digiPortfolios are curated by a team of investment experts with guidance from its Chief Investment Officer on tactical asset allocations. 

Once you’ve signed up and received a recommended portfolio, you can easily look up the the underlying assets within the portfolio factsheet. 

You may want to research the specific ETFs, stocks, or funds included in your portfolio to ensure they align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

#2 – Fees

The next thing that you should consider is the fees of a robo-advisor. These typically include management fees, platform fees, foreign exchange fees, and, in some cases, performance fees.

Review the fee structure carefully, and compare it across different robo-advisors to ensure you’re getting the best value for your investment.

Here’s a breakdown of the management fees of the various robo-advisors in Singapore: 

#3 – User experience and platform functionality

As with online brokerages, most of your interaction with a robo-advisor will be through its online platform or mobile app.

Although you might not need to access the platform frequently since robo-advisors are designed for hands-off investing, it’s still ideal that the app or platform is user-friendly and intuitive. 

A well-designed interface can make it easier to find the information you need, monitor your portfolio, and access key features without frustration.

#4 – Rebalancing

Lastly, you should consider how and when a robo-advisor rebalances your portfolio. While some platforms give you the option between automated and recommended rebalancing, most robo-advisors handle this process automatically.

Rebalancing can occur under various circumstances. Some platforms may rebalance periodically, such as twice a year. Others may rebalance when the portfolio allocation deviates significantly from its targets. While others may rebalance or reallocate assets to improve the performance of the fund based on market conditions or reduce the fees incurred.

When evaluating a robo-advisor, think about whether you’re comfortable with their rebalancing methods and frequency. 

More importantly, consider whether you trust the platform to manage this process on your behalf effectively.

What are the advantages of using a robo-advisor?

#1 – Low minimum investment

With some robo-advisors, you can start investing with as little as S$1! 

In the table below, I’ve shared the minimum investment required by each robo-advisor:

This low barrier of entry makes it easier to start your investment journey, even with limited capital. For those just starting out in their career, robo-advisors enable them to invest smaller amounts and build their portfolio early. 

Starting earlier also means you can take full advantage of compounding over time, which is a key driver of long-term wealth growth. 

For example, one share of the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) trades at around USD 533 as of writing. With a robo-advisor like StashAway, you can invest just S$50 into a portfolio that includes this ETF, making it much more accessible than buying shares directly. 

In addition, you can ideally implement a dollar-cost averaging (DCA) strategy with smaller sums through a robo-advisor. When investing directly in ETFs or stocks, DCA using smaller amounts may be more impractical because you may incur brokerage fees for each transaction. 

#2 – Low fees

Robo-advisors keep costs low by leveraging technology and employing a passive investing approach. This efficiency allows them to scale their services while maintaining affordability.

Compared to traditional managed funds that typically charge annual fees ranging from 1% to 2% of your invested amount, robo-advisors are significantly more cost-effective. Their fees generally range from 0.20% to 0.88% annually. 

#3 – Diversification

Ask any seasoned investor and they’ll stress the importance of a well-diversified portfolio. 

Robo-advisors make diversification easier to achieve. Instead of purchasing individual stocks or ETFs, which often require higher minimum investment per asset, you can invest in a diversified portfolio of ETFs with as little as SGD100, for instance. 

This approach spreads your investment risk right from the start of your investment journey, reducing exposure to concentration risks. In contrast, DIY investors may face greater risk while building their portfolio gradually with individual stocks and ETFs.

#4 – Access to wealth advisors and learning resources

Despite their name, many robo-advisors in Singapore provide access to a team of financial advisors and customer support reps, who can help you better understand their products and provide guidance on investing as a whole.

In addition to personalised support, most robo-advisors provide educational resources on their website and app. These materials are designed to inform and educate investors, making it easier for beginners to level up their investment knowledge and gain a deeper understanding of investing. 

#5 – Ability to use CPF and SRS (depending on robo-advisor)

For those unfamiliar, your CPF OA savings can be used for investment purposes. 

Certain robo-advisors, such as Endowus, allow you to invest using your CPF and/or SRS funds.

This feature provides greater flexibility and additional avenues for growing your wealth, enabling you to make the most of your CPF and SRS savings through professionally managed portfolios.

Here’s a list of robo-advisors and whether they provide CPF and SRS options:

What are the drawbacks of using a robo-advisor?

#1 - Cost may not make sense for large investment amounts

While robo-advisors are cost-effective and practical for smaller investment amounts, they may not be as economical if you’re passively investing a large sum. 

This is because management fees are charged annually on the total invested amount, which can add up significantly for larger portfolios.

In contrast, when you buy ETFs directly through a brokerage, you typically pay a one-off transaction fee rather than ongoing management fees. 

Over time, this difference can make direct ETF purchases more cost-effective for investors with substantial funds.

Let’s compare the costs of investing $100,000 through a Syfe Managed Portfolio (which charges an annual management fee of 0.55%) versus investing the same amount through Syfe Trade, which charges a one-time brokerage fee of 0.055% per trade:

#2 – Limited customisation

If you prefer to take a hands-on approach to investing and actively make your own investment decisions, a robo-advisor may not be the best fit. In such cases, managing your own portfolio by directly purchasing stocks and ETFs might be a better option.

That said, some robo-advisors like Endowus, StashAway, and Syfe have introduced features to cater to investors seeking more customisation, such as build-your-own portfolio options. 

One key advantage of using these platforms is access to funds at different share classes with lower expense ratios, potentially allowing you to pay less in fees compared to other fund platforms. 

However, do note that you’ll still need to pay a management fee at the platform level.

#3 – Research into underlying funds and platforms is still necessary

Perhaps the biggest risk of using a robo-advisor is that new investors may invest without fully understanding the platform’s investment methodology or underlying funds in a given portfolio.

While robo-advisors can guide you in your investment journey with curated portfolios, they are not entirely a “set-it-and-forget-it” solution. You still need to conduct research and check your portfolio from time to time to ensure the platform and portfolio align with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Another misconception is that robo-advisors function as comprehensive financial advisors or planners capable of giving financial advice and planning your finances. 

In truth, robo-advisors are better viewed as tools designed to aid your investments, rather than provide holistic financial planning. 

What would Beansprout do?

With curated portfolios, ease of account opening, and low fees, they may be worth looking at time-strapped investors, or those new to the investing world. 

Robo-advisors allow you to start investing with smaller amounts. This makes it easier for beginners to get started, helping you to overcome common hurdles like procrastination and the fear of investing.

Robo-advisors also make it easy to adopt a dollar-cost averaging strategy. By investing smaller, consistent amounts over time, you not only establish a regular investment habit but also mitigate the impact of market volatility on your portfolio as it grows.

However, robo-advisors may not allow as much customisation compared to building your own portfolio through a online brokerage and trading platform. 

The key factors we would consider in selecting a robo-advisor include investment returns, fees, and user experience. 

If you are looking to invest your CPF funds, Endowus is the only robo-advisor platform that allows investing using CPF funds currently. 

For SRS investing, Endowus, StashAway, Syfe and Autowealth allow you to invest using your SRS funds.

If you are looking at a safe option to park your savings, Syfe Cash Plus Guaranteed and StashAway Simple Guaranteed offer competitive rates. 

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