Auto Investing Apps Explained: Recurring Buys vs Robo-Advisors vs Strategy Automation

You have probably had this thought at least once: “I know I should be investing regularly, so why am I still doing it by hand?” Maybe you log in every payday, hover over the buy button, and wonder if there is a way to just set it up once and let it run. There is, and that is exactly what an auto investing app does.

In plain English, an auto investing app invests for you based on rules you set once, so you do not have to place every trade yourself. Most of them fall into three families. Recurring buys at a brokerage automate when you buy. Robo-advisors automate the whole portfolio for an annual fee. Strategy automation tools run a rules-based strategy you choose, either a prebuilt one or one you design, and place the trades for you. Each one hands a different job to software, so the right pick depends on which job you would rather stop doing.

Photo: Adam Śmigielski via Unsplash, Unsplash License

What is auto investing, really?

Auto investing simply means letting software carry out investing decisions on a schedule or according to a set of rules. The most familiar version is dollar-cost averaging, which Investor.gov describes as investing “in equal portions, at regular intervals regardless of the ups and downs in the market” (see the Investor.gov glossary). Think of it as a standing order for your future self.

From there, things get more ambitious. Some tools go beyond timing and decide what you should hold, when to rebalance (nudge your mix back to its target after the market moves it around), and when to sell. That is where the three families start to look quite different from each other.

The three kinds of auto investing app

Here is the side-by-side view before we dig into each one. Prices were checked on each provider’s own page as of November 3, 2026.

1. Recurring buys: a standing order at your brokerage

Most large brokers let you schedule automatic purchases, although the fine print varies more than you might expect. Fidelity offers recurring investments in “stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and Fidelity Basket Portfolios,” starting from $1 (up to $100,000) for stocks, ETFs and baskets, and from $10 for mutual funds (Fidelity’s recurring investments page). If you bank with E*TRADE, its automatic investing lets you put money into eligible ETFs or mutual funds “starting with $25” on the dates you pick (E*TRADE’s guide to automatic investing).

Other brokers draw the lines differently. Charles Schwab notes that for its automatic investment feature, “only mutual funds are eligible” (Schwab’s automatic investing guide), while Vanguard offers recurring investment plans in both retirement and taxable accounts (Vanguard’s regular investments page).

Recurring buys are a lovely way to build a habit of investing a fixed amount. The catch is that only the schedule runs on autopilot. Rebalancing, selling and changing your allocation are still your homework.

2. Robo-advisors: hand over the whole portfolio

The SEC describes a robo-adviser as “an automated digital investment advisory program” (SEC Investor Bulletin on robo-advisers, February 2017). You answer a few questions about your goals and how much risk you can stomach, and the robo builds and rebalances a portfolio for you, usually made up of ETFs (exchange-traded funds, which trade on an exchange like a stock).

Fees are typically a small percentage of your balance each year. Betterment Digital charges 0.25% a year, or $5 a month for households below $24,000 that do not have at least $200 a month in recurring deposits, with no minimum balance (Betterment’s fee page). Wealthfront lists 0.25% a year for The Wealthfront Portfolio (Wealthfront pricing), and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios charges no advisory fee but asks for a $5,000 minimum (Schwab Intelligent Portfolios).

This is a big category, too. Morningstar estimated US digital advice assets at $634 billion to $754 billion in 2024 (Morningstar’s 2025 Robo-Advisor Report). Robos suit hands-off investors who are happy with a standard portfolio. The trade-off is that your money usually moves into the robo’s own account, and you choose from the portfolios it offers rather than steering a strategy of your own.

3. Strategy automation: you pick the playbook, software runs the plays

Strategy automation sits in the middle. You choose the strategy, either a prebuilt one or one you design yourself, and the software places the trades it calls for. If you have ever asked whether there are apps that let you invest in prebuilt stock strategies, this is the family you were looking for.

On Surmount, the main way to get started is with a Surmount account. Our pricing page says you can “open a Surmount account and start investing right away (applicable fees may apply)” on the entry plan, and our brokers page describes these internal accounts as integrated with Alpaca Securities. From there, you can choose from dozens of prebuilt portfolios in the strategy marketplace, or build your own without writing any code.

Already have a brokerage account you like? You can also connect it. Surmount lists E*TRADE, TradeStation and Alpaca among the brokers you can link, as of November 3, 2026 (see the full brokers list). We walk through that setup in how to automate investing in the brokerage account you already have.

As for cost, Surmount plans run from $0 a month (which includes marketplace access) up to $30 a month. Connecting one external account starts on the $5 a month plan, and the no-code strategy builder starts on the $10 a month plan (current pricing).

Strategy automation is a good fit if you want a say in the strategy without placing every trade yourself. The responsibility that comes with that freedom is real, though: choosing a strategy that suits your goals and risk tolerance is up to you, and only supported brokers can be connected.

Photo: Andrew Neel via Unsplash, Unsplash License

How do you choose an automatic investing app?

A quick checklist can save you a lot of second-guessing. Run through these five questions before you sign up for anything.

1. Decide what you want automated. Is it just the timing (recurring buys), the whole portfolio (a robo-advisor), or a specific strategy you want to follow (strategy automation)?

2. Check where your money will live. Some apps ask you to open a new account and move money in, while others can also work with an account you already have. Know which one you are signing up for.

3. Compare the total cost. A percentage fee grows as your balance grows, while a flat monthly fee stays the same. It is worth checking each provider’s current pricing page, since these change.

4. Look at what you can actually buy. Schwab’s automatic investing covers mutual funds only, for example, while Fidelity’s covers stocks and ETFs too.

5. Remember that risk comes along for the ride. Automation changes how and when trades happen. The ups and downs of whatever you own stay with you.

Can you use more than one?

Absolutely, and plenty of investors do. A common setup is a recurring deposit on payday paired with a strategy or portfolio that decides where the money goes. E*TRADE is a handy example of how these can overlap: it offers its own automatic investing, and it is also one of the brokers you can connect to Surmount.

The bigger point is that auto investing is less about one perfect app and more about deciding which chores you want off your plate. Once you know that, the choice usually gets a lot simpler.

Frequently asked questions

What is an auto investing app?

It is an app that invests for you based on rules you set once. The three common kinds are recurring buys at a brokerage, robo-advisors that manage a portfolio for a fee, and strategy automation tools that run a rules-based strategy you choose.

Is a robo-advisor the same as auto investing?

A robo-advisor is one kind of auto investing. The SEC describes a robo-adviser as an automated digital investment advisory program. Recurring buys and strategy automation are the other two common kinds.

Can I automate investing in the brokerage account I already have?

Yes. You can use your broker’s own recurring buys, or a strategy automation tool that connects to your broker. On Surmount, you can open a Surmount account, or connect an E*TRADE, TradeStation or Alpaca account, as listed on surmount.ai/brokers in November 2026.

How much do auto investing apps cost?

It depends on the type. As of November 3, 2026, Betterment Digital listed 0.25% a year or $5 a month, Wealthfront listed 0.25% a year, and Surmount listed plans from $0 to $30 a month.

Does auto investing remove risk?

No. Automation changes how and when trades happen, and the risk of what you own stays the same. You can still lose money.

Ready to see what you could automate?

Take a look around Surmount’s strategy marketplace to browse the strategies you can automate with a Surmount account or a brokerage you connect.

This content is educational and general. It is not investment, legal, or tax advice, is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security, and does not consider your individual circumstances. Any securities or strategies mentioned are illustrative only. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.

Surmount AI, Inc. is a technology company. It is not an investment adviser and does not provide investment advice or manage portfolios. Investment advisory services are provided solely by Quantbase, LLC, an investment adviser registered with the SEC. Registration does not imply any special degree of skill or training, or any approval by a regulatory authority of an adviser’s investment methods. Surmount AI, Inc. and Quantbase, LLC are affiliated companies under common ownership.