- A robo-advisor generally costs 0.4 to 0.9% a year all in, against about 0.2% for a global ETF bought yourself.
- The gap is paid every year: over 20 years of contributions, often several tens of thousands of francs.
- It is worth the price if, without it, you would not invest, or would sell in a fall.
What a robo-advisor does
You choose a strategy, the platform does everything else: investing your contributions, rebalancing, reinvesting dividends. The investments are ETFs or index funds, like the ones you could buy yourself. The difference is not in the expected return, but in the work and the decisions taken off your hands.
Two practical advantages often come on top: a Swiss tax statement ready for your return, and securities held at a Swiss bank.
What it costs
Management fees of 0.25 to 0.70% a year, plus the ETFs' own costs: in total, about 0.4 to 0.9% depending on the provider and the amount. The more you invest, the lower the rate at most of them.
The providers and their fees
| Provider | Management fee per year | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| VIAC Invest | 0.25% | From 1 franc, fund costs on top |
| True Wealth | 0.25 to 0.50% depending on the amount | ETFs about 0.12% on top, from CHF 8'500 |
| Selma | 0.42 to 0.68% depending on the amount | ETF costs on top, Swiss tax statement included |
| Swissquote Invest Easy | 0.60% | Funds 0.08 to 0.19% on top, from CHF 500 |
| ETF bought yourself | None | ETF often 0.07 to 0.20%, plus brokerage |
Fees published by the providers, checked in October 2026. A traditional discretionary mandate at a bank generally costs considerably more.
What the gap costs you
Half a point more in fees every year adds up: over 20 years of regular contributions, the gap often reaches several tens of thousands of francs. Example: 1'000 francs a month for 20 years, with 0.7% fees instead of 0.2%, leave about 20'000 francs less at the end. Set your own case:
What the fee gap costs you:
ViaVest calculation: 5% a year before fees, contribution at the start of each year. Indicative result, returns are not guaranteed.
For whom it is worth the price
The best investment is the one you stick with: if a robo-advisor gets you investing and stops you selling at the worst moment, it earns more than it costs. Morningstar's studies show that investors earn on average about one point a year less than the funds they hold, because they buy and sell at the wrong time.
You prefer to delegate
You do not want to choose your ETFs, you tend to put things off, or you might panic in a fall. The comfort is worth the half point.
You are ready to do it
One global ETF, one order a month, one rebalancing a year: an hour a year and fees two to four times lower.
How to choose
- Compare the total cost: management fee, ETF costs and currency fees, not just the first figure displayed.
- Look at the strategy: the share of equities, and the share of Switzerland within the equities, which varies a lot from one platform to another.
- Check the minimum and the tiers: some providers cut their rate noticeably above a few tens of thousands of francs.
Going further
For the 3a, it is already done. Digital 3a providers work like robo-advisors, and some charge no management fee at all on the 3a: see invested 3a providers compared.
Mixing is possible. A robo-advisor for monthly contributions, which require discipline, and an ETF bought directly for a large sum already available, bought once: see lump sum or monthly instalments.
Switching to ETFs later stays simple. Many start with a robo-advisor, then manage it themselves once comfortable. The path is in your first stock market purchase.
What share of equities for you?1'500 simulated paths depending on your allocation.
Open the calculatorYour next step
To do, at your own pace:
Path “Start investing” · step 6 of 8
Frequently asked questions
What is a robo-advisor?
Online wealth management: you answer a few questions, an ETF strategy is proposed to you, then the platform invests your contributions and rebalances the portfolio for you. You do not pick any securities yourself.
How much does a robo-advisor cost in Switzerland?
Usually 0.25 to 0.70% a year in management fees, plus the ETFs' own costs, often 0.1 to 0.2%. In total, about 0.4 to 0.9% a year depending on the provider and the amount, against about 0.2% for a global ETF bought yourself through an online broker.
Does a robo-advisor beat the market?
No, and that is not its aim: it tracks indices with ETFs. Its return is the market's, minus its fees. What it brings is discipline: automatic contributions, rebalancing, no decisions made in the heat of the moment.
Can I use a Swiss robo-advisor as an expat?
Yes, if you live in Switzerland: most Swiss platforms accept residents with a B or C permit. If you leave Switzerland, check whether the platform keeps clients who live abroad, as some do not.
Is my money safe if the platform goes bankrupt?
The securities are held with a bank and remain your property: they are not part of the platform's assets. Check which Swiss bank holds your securities.
Do I get a Swiss tax statement?
Often, yes: Selma, for example, includes it in its fees. Check before you open an account. It is a practical advantage over a foreign broker, which generally does not provide one.
Sources: True Wealth, pricing page (October 2026) ; Selma, “What does Selma cost” (help centre, October 2026) and cost comparison ; Swissquote, Invest Easy fees (October 2026) ; VIAC, press release on VIAC Invest and its administration fee ; Morningstar, “Mind the Gap” (gap between fund returns and investor returns). ViaVest calculations.