# Betterment at Work vs Human Interest

Source: https://nachonacho.com/compare/betterment-at-work-vs-human-interest

Choose Betterment at Work if you want a 401(k) paired with employee financial benefits such as 529 education savings and a student-loan-payment match; choose Human Interest if you need a 403(b) option or want its published 401(k) service tiers and broader payroll integration list. This comparison is worth publishing: both vendors currently offer employer retirement plans, publish pricing and features, and compete for small-business 401(k) buyers.

## At a glance

| | Betterment at Work | Human Interest |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Employer retirement plans | 401(k) | 401(k) and 403(b) |
| Employer base price | Essential $100/mo; Pro $150/mo; Flagship custom | Essentials $80/mo; Complete $180/mo; Concierge $280/mo |
| Per-person employer fee | Essential $5/mo; Pro $7/mo per participant | Essentials $5/mo; Complete $7/mo; Concierge $9/mo per eligible employee |
| Participant asset-based fees | 0.25% annual advisory fee | 0.05% monthly recordkeeping plus 0.01% or 0.018% monthly advisory fee |
| Setup fee | $500 new plan; $1,000 conversion | $499 may apply |
| Payroll integrations | 350-plus providers | 600-plus providers |
| Administrative fiduciary service | 3(16) services in Essential and Pro | 3(16) services in Complete and Concierge |
| Form 5500 service | Prepares a draft Form 5500 | Signs and files on Complete and Concierge |
| Additional employee benefits | Student loan match and 529s on Pro; coaching add-on | Conditional 3% savings cash back, up to $250 |
| Investment choices | Curated portfolios and adjustable Flexible portfolio | Model portfolios or custom fund selections with HIA |
| Account access | Online dashboards and employee mobile app | Online employer and participant dashboards |
| Employer support | Scheduled phone and email; dedicated Pro support | U.S.-based support; named manager on Concierge |

## Which to choose

### Choose Betterment at Work if

- Employers seeking a student-loan-payment 401(k) match on Pro or Flagship
- Teams wanting 529 education savings alongside a 401(k)
- Employees who want Betterment’s mobile app and financial planning tools
- Employers who prefer per-person fees tied to participating employees

### Choose Human Interest if

- Employers seeking a 403(b) plan
- Teams that need to check a provider against 600-plus payroll integrations
- Buyers seeking a published starting base fee of $80 per month
- Employers wanting Human Interest to sign and file Form 5500 on Complete or Concierge

## Verdict

Betterment at Work is the better fit when employee financial benefits and access to Betterment’s investing tools are the deciding factors. Human Interest is the better fit when 403(b) availability, 600-plus payroll integrations, or a choice of three published service prices matters most. Compare the full quote, not just the base fee: the vendors count employees differently for per-person charges, and their participant asset-based fees use different billing periods.

## Questions

### Is Betterment at Work or Human Interest available for a 403(b)?

Human Interest offers both 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Betterment at Work’s published employer retirement-plan offering is a 401(k).

### Which has the lower published starting employer fee?

Human Interest Essentials starts at $80 per month plus $5 per eligible employee. Betterment at Work Essential starts at $100 per month plus $5 per participant, with its base fee billed annually. Setup and participant fees may also apply.

### Do the per-person fees count the same employees?

No. Betterment at Work says employers pay its per-person fee for employees who fund and participate in the 401(k). Human Interest bases its per-person fee on eligible employees.

### How do participant asset-based fees compare?

Betterment at Work lists a 0.25% annual advisory fee. Human Interest lists a 0.05% monthly recordkeeping fee plus a monthly advisory fee of 0.01% for 3(38) or 0.018% for 3(21) service. Fund expenses may be separate.

### Which integrates with more payroll providers?

Human Interest publishes integrations with more than 600 payroll providers; Betterment at Work publishes more than 350. Employers should confirm that their specific payroll provider is supported.

### Who handles fiduciary administration and Form 5500?

Betterment at Work includes 3(16) administrative fiduciary services in Essential and Pro and prepares a draft Form 5500. Human Interest includes 3(16) services and signs and files Form 5500 on Complete and Concierge, but not Essentials.

### Which offers benefits beyond a workplace retirement plan?

Betterment at Work offers a student-loan-payment 401(k) match and 529 education savings with Pro, plus financial coaching as an add-on. Human Interest offers eligible employees a conditional 3% cash-back savings incentive, capped at $250.

### Can I move an existing 401(k) to either provider?

Yes. Betterment at Work offers existing-plan conversions and lists a $1,000 conversion implementation fee. Human Interest also supports employers switching providers; its published pricing says a $499 setup fee may apply.

## Product pages

- Betterment at Work: https://nachonacho.com/product/betterment-deal
- Human Interest: https://nachonacho.com/product/human-interest