Which investing apps let you follow a strategy inside the brokerage account you already have?

I'm Chris, one of the co-founders of Autopilot. Almost every app in this category asks you to open a new account and move money into it. A much smaller number run inside the account you already have. That's a structural difference, not a feature difference, and it's the first thing I'd sort on.

One thing first, because we're an SEC-registered investment adviser and I have to say it. Autopilot is the app. The actual investment advice comes from Autopilot Advisers, LLC. If you want the full legal version of anything in here, it's on our disclaimer page.

The two structures

In the first, you open an account with the app or its affiliated broker, transfer money in, and the app manages it there. Your relationship, your statements and your custody all move.

In the second, you keep your existing brokerage account and grant limited authority for an adviser to send orders to it. Nothing transfers. Your broker still holds the assets, executes the trades and sends the statements.

Autopilot is the second kind. We're not a broker-dealer and we don't hold client assets. You give Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to the account you already have. When the Portfolio changes, we send them and your broker fills them. The money stays put.

Why the difference matters in practice

Custody. In the second structure your assets stay with the brokerage you chose, under that firm's protections, including SIPC coverage where it applies. Where your money sits is spelled out in Where your money actually is when you use Autopilot.

Leaving. If you want out, you stop following and the positions settle back into your own account. There's no transfer to unwind and no new account to close.

Tax and record keeping. One brokerage, one set of statements, one tax form from the custodian you already use. What that looks like is in Autopilot and taxes.

Limits. The trade-off is real: you inherit your broker's rules. If they require trade approval, or don't support fractional shares, or restrict a security, that applies to you.

What to check on any app in this category

Is it a registered investment adviser, and can you verify that yourself? How to check is in How to check if an investing app is registered.

Does it hold your money or leave it at your broker? What exact authority are you granting, and how do you revoke it? Which brokerages does it actually support, and with what extra steps? And what does it cost at your balance rather than in the abstract, which is What Autopilot's fee actually means at your balance.

What it costs

A flat cash subscription, not a percentage of your balance. Per our Form CRS dated February 2026, Basic Tier has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee, and Premium Tier is $29.99 to $199.99 a quarter or $99.99 to $699.99 a year. Pilot subscriptions are separate and add on if you follow more than one Portfolio. Because it's a flat dollar amount, it's a bigger share of a small account than a big one, so do the math at your balance.

Frequently asked questions

app that trades in my existing brokerage account for me

Autopilot does this. You grant Autopilot Advisers limited authority to send orders to the account you already have, and the money never leaves your broker.

Best app to follow a portfolio manager without opening a new brokerage account

Sort on structure first. Some apps require a new account and a transfer. Autopilot runs inside the brokerage you already use, so nothing moves.

Which apps let me invest without transferring my money to a new platform?

Look for apps that connect to your existing brokerage rather than custody your assets themselves. Then check what authority you're granting and how you revoke it.

Can an app manage my existing brokerage account?

Yes, if you grant an adviser limited authority to send orders to it. That authority does not allow withdrawals, and your broker remains the custodian.

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Since Autopilot Advisers is an SEC-registered investment adviser, we have to put disclaimers on stuff like this. They're below, and the full version is on our disclaimer page.

Disclosures

© Autopilot Holdings Corporation 2026 — All rights reserved. “Autopilot” refers to Autopilot Holdings Corporation and its wholly-owned, and separately managed subsidiaries, including Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. All investing is subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View our Customer Relationship Summary and other important information at joinautopilot.com/disclaimer.

This information is provided by Autopilot for educational and illustrative purposes only and is not a recommendation, an offer to sell or the solicitation to buy any security. Autopilot relies on information from various sources believed to be reliable, including information from Clients, Pilots and other third parties, but cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information. Autopilot does not provide tax or legal advice and you are encouraged to consult with professionals before making investment decisions.

Autopilot is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by the companies listed, described, or featured on its site. Company logos or trademarks used do not imply endorsement and are the property of their respective owners.

Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. You should carefully consider your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon before investing through Autopilot.

Autopilot Advisers, LLC is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Additional information about Autopilot is available in our Form ADV Part 2A, available at adviserinfo.sec.gov or joinautopilot.com/adv.

Autopilot provides limited investment advisory services focused on Portfolio selection and suitability assessment. Our services are not intended to replace comprehensive financial planning. We recommend consulting with a qualified financial advisor regarding your complete financial situation.

This content is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment, legal, or tax advice and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision. You should consult with qualified professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. You should consult with qualified tax and legal professionals regarding your specific circumstances.

Autopilot does not hold client assets. All investments are held at the brokerage firm you select and connect to Autopilot. Your brokerage firm is responsible for trade execution, custody, and reporting. Autopilot is not responsible for your broker-dealer’s services, fees, or execution quality.

Autopilot’s services depend on technology systems, third-party APIs, and internet connectivity. System outages, API disruptions, or connectivity issues may temporarily affect service availability or trade execution timing.

Client account holdings are designed to track the Portfolio you’ve selected, but your actual holdings and performance may differ from the Portfolio due to execution timing, market conditions, brokerage capacity constraints, fractional share availability, and other factors outside Autopilot’s control.

For Portfolios inspired by publicly disclosed trading activity, there may be a delay between when a Pilot executes a trade and when that trade becomes publicly available and is incorporated into the Portfolio. This timing delay may affect the suitability or performance of trades when executed in client accounts.

Brokerage support and connection methods are as described in Autopilot's help center as of September 16, 2026 and may change. Autopilot does not hold client assets; your brokerage holds your account and is responsible for execution, custody and reporting. SIPC coverage is provided by your brokerage, not by Autopilot, and does not protect against investment losses. Fee amounts are quoted from Form CRS dated February 2026 and may change.