Robo-advisor vs DIY investing comes down to a trade. A robo-adviser builds and rebalances an index fund portfolio for you for a yearly management fee, 0.6% to 0.8% a year on balances below S$50,000 at three of the main Singapore providers as at November 2026. Doing it yourself through a broker costs less, often well under half as much, but you choose the funds, place the orders and rebalance. The right trade-off depends on how much the fee saving is worth to you against the time and discipline DIY needs.
Below are the fees from each provider’s own pricing page, a worked example on S$60,000, and what you give up either way. No provider is called “best”: the comparison is on cost, control and effort as stated. For the basics, see robo-advisors explained.
How We Compared
The list. Syfe, Endowus and StashAway for robo-advisers, as three widely used Singapore platforms with published fee tables. For DIY, a generic broker charging a S$1.98 minimum per SGX order, which is Syfe Trade’s published SGX minimum and in line with several brokers in our ETF broker comparison.
The measures. Yearly fees in dollars on S$60,000 in cash, from each provider’s own pricing page as at November 2026; minimums; who chooses the funds; and the work involved. GST, exchange fees and promotions are left out.
Robo-Advisor vs DIY: The Fees
From the providers’ pricing pages, as at November 2026:
| Management fee on cash | Fund costs on top | |
|---|---|---|
| Syfe | 0.65% below S$50,000; 0.55% from S$50,000; lower above S$250,000 | Not stated on the pricing page |
| Endowus | 0.60% below S$200,000; 0.50% to S$1 million | Fund-level fees of 0.05% to 1%; trailer fees rebated |
| StashAway | 0.8% on the first S$25,000, 0.7% on the next S$25,000, 0.6% up to S$100,000, falling further above | ETF expense ratios of about 0.2% (0.4% for its income portfolio) |
| DIY with a broker | None | The ETF’s own TER, plus commission on each trade |
Two details matter. Syfe applies one rate to your whole balance once you reach a tier; StashAway charges each slice at its own rate. Endowus also lists flat fees for CPF and SRS money: 0.40% for multi-fund portfolios.
Worked Example: S$60,000
Illustration only, not a guarantee. S$60,000 held for one year, with no market movement, to isolate costs. For DIY, we assume one or two broad index ETFs with a combined TER of 0.20% to 0.30% a year, and 12 monthly buys at the S$1.98 minimum commission.
| Management fee | Fund costs | Total before GST | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syfe | S$330 (0.55%) | Check the portfolio’s funds | S$330 plus fund costs |
| Endowus | S$360 (0.60%) | S$30 to S$600 (0.05% to 1%) | About S$390 to S$960 |
| StashAway | S$435 (S$200 + S$175 + S$60) | About S$120 (0.2%) | About S$555 |
| DIY | None | S$120 to S$180 | About S$145 to S$205 with commissions |
The DIY figure is lower, but the gap depends on which funds the robo-adviser uses. Over decades, a 0.3 to 0.5 percentage point difference compounds; test it in our compound interest calculator.
The short version: you pay a robo-adviser to choose, buy and rebalance for you. DIY is cheaper on paper, but only if you actually rebalance and keep buying when markets fall.
What You Get for the Fee
A robo-adviser:
- Builds a mixed portfolio from your answers to a risk questionnaire.
- Rebalances automatically, so you do not have to sell what has risen.
- Takes small or irregular amounts and buys fractions of funds.
- Some accept CPF and SRS money; check each provider.
DIY with a broker:
- You choose the exact funds, domicile and share class, which matters for withholding tax on US shares. See investing in the S&P 500 from Singapore.
- You can hold SGX ETFs in your own CDP account; see which brokerage account to choose.
- You decide when to rebalance and must do it yourself. Our guide to building a simple index portfolio explains how.
The Catch on Each Side
- Robo-advisers charge the fee in falling markets too, and your money sits with one platform. The questionnaire is general, not a review of your full finances.
- DIY fails quietly if you stop rebalancing, chase last year’s winner or sell in a fall. Our list of index investing mistakes covers the usual ones. Minimum commissions also hurt very small orders.
Who Each May Not Suit
A robo-adviser may suit you less if you already know which funds you want and will rebalance yourself; the fee buys little. DIY may suit you less if you know you are unlikely to keep to a plan, or if you invest small sums where minimum commissions bite.
What To Do Next
- Check each platform is listed in the MAS Financial Institutions Directory, and read how it holds client assets.
- Read the fee page in full, including fund-level costs, and the prospectus or product highlights sheet of each fund it uses.
- Compare the robo portfolios’ underlying funds with what you would buy yourself.
- Promotions and referral offers change often; check the provider’s own page rather than relying on any third-party list.
- This is general information, not advice on your situation.
