What does Autopilot cost? Every fee, what adds on, and how to figure out if it's worth it for you

I'm Chris, co-founder of Autopilot. Here's how the published fee layers fit together and where to check the amount that applies to you.

A quick disclosure: Autopilot is the app; investment advice is provided by Autopilot Advisers, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Read the full details on Autopilot's disclaimer page.

Autopilot's current Base Advisory and Licensing Fee is a flat cash subscription, not a positive percentage of assets. The February 2026 Form CRS lists Basic with no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee and Premium from $29.99 to $199.99 quarterly or $99.99 to $699.99 annually. The Form CRS also describes an AUM fee currently set at 0.00%, which may change in the future. The Advisory Fee does not multiply by the number of Pilots followed. Separately, some Pilots charge their own subscription, and if you follow more than one Pilot those add on. Your brokerage's costs sit on top of everything. Because it's a flat dollar amount, it's a bigger share of a small account and a smaller share of a big one. I'd rather you hear that from me.

The three layers

Most of the confusion comes from mixing these up, so here they are separately.

1) Autopilot's Advisory Fee. This is what Autopilot Advisers, LLC charges. Cash subscription, billed in advance, quarterly or yearly.

Source: Form CRS, February 2026. The published Base Advisory and Licensing Fee does not multiply by the number of Pilots followed. Your Investment Advisory Agreement controls your exact fee and service terms.

2) Pilot subscriptions. Some Pilots charge for access to their Portfolios. That's separate from our Advisory Fee. If you subscribe to more than one Pilot, those amounts add on. In the September 3, 2026 Autopilot Fact Sheets pricing snapshot:

One Pilot subscription covers the Portfolios published under that Pilot. These prices are a daily snapshot and can change. Review the full current table and the purchase screen.

3) Your brokerage's costs. Transaction fees, wire fees, margin, and the expense ratios inside any ETFs a Portfolio holds. Your broker and the funds charge those, not us, and they're on top of anything we charge.

What a full year costs you

Take your Advisory Fee for the year. Add the subscription for each distinct Pilot you pay for. Then add brokerage transaction, transfer, margin, and other account costs, plus any fund expense ratios. The published Autopilot advisory schedule does not list a per-trade advisory charge, but broker and regulatory charges can still apply. Your current agreements control.

Then divide by your balance. That percentage is your real fee. It's the number to compare against anything else.

Why a flat fee works differently from a percentage

A percentage-of-assets fee, which is what most advisers and robo-advisors charge, grows with your balance. Same percentage, more dollars as you grow. A flat fee is the opposite. Same dollars, smaller percentage as you grow.

Our methodology page says it without softening it: smaller accounts experience a higher effective fee percentage than larger accounts because a fixed dollar fee is a larger share of a smaller account. For the net figures on our fact sheets, we model a $99.99 annual fee on a $10,000 balance. That's a model for the math, not an advertised price, and it uses the lowest disclosed figure, so a higher actual fee would lower net further.

So "is a flat fee cheaper" depends entirely on your balance. Below some point it costs more than a typical percentage. Above it, less. Do the division.

Versus a financial adviser

Many human advisers charge a percentage of assets, while others use retainers, hourly fees, or fixed plans. At a larger balance, a percentage fee can cost more in dollars than a flat subscription; at a smaller balance, the flat fee can produce a higher effective rate. The services also differ: comprehensive planning and an ongoing adviser relationship are not the same product as automated Portfolio following. Compare both cost and scope.

Basic Tier

Basic has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee in the February 2026 Form CRS. Features, eligibility, and any promotional access are displayed in the current app and governed by the agreement presented at enrollment.

If you stop paying

A subscription lapse does not move securities out of the brokerage that holds them. Its effect on Portfolio access, automation, billing, and authorization is governed by the current Investment Advisory Agreement, subscription terms, and in-app notices. Follow the brokerage's instructions if you also want to change third-party authorization.

Hidden fees

Our methodology page lists what is and isn't taken out of the published returns, which is the clearest way to see every cost. The model Advisory Fee is deducted in the net figure. Broker transaction costs, fund expense ratios, and taxes are not deducted from gross or net. Pilot subscriptions are not deducted from net. If a cost isn't on that list, ask. The ones people miss are fund expense ratios inside ETF holdings and taxes on trades, and no app controls either.

Is it worth it

Not by looking at a return number first. I'm not going to quote one here anyway. Do this instead:

1. Compute your effective fee at your balance. All three layers.
2. Read the fact sheet for the Portfolio you're looking at on Autopilot Fact Sheets. It's a live composite of real follower accounts from Autopilot launch, gross and net, with volatility, drawdown, a risk band, and a maturity label. Compare net to gross. That's what the fee costs on that Portfolio.
3. Check the delay. For politician and hedge fund trackers, trades follow public filings that can be 45 or more days old. Decide if you're fine with that.
4. Compare against what you'd otherwise do. For most people that's an index fund or a robo-advisor, at your balance, with their costs.

If it's still a yes after those four, it's a real yes.

What Premium Tier buys

Premium features and the applicable price are shown in the current app and your Investment Advisory Agreement. Review them before purchase. Pilot subscriptions are a separate decision: each paid Pilot adds that Pilot's subscription, while Portfolios under the same Pilot share it.

Following more than one Portfolio

Our Advisory Fee doesn't go up with the number of Portfolios you follow. What can go up is Pilot subscriptions. Each new Pilot adds that Pilot's amount. Several Portfolios under the same Pilot don't add a second subscription.

Fees and a politician-following strategy

Fees lower net returns on any strategy, and a flat fee lowers them more on a small balance. On top of the fee, a filing-based tracker has the delay, which is a separate drag. That's why our fact sheets show net and gross side by side. Look at the gap.

A note on dollar-cost averaging

Dollar-cost averaging means investing a fixed amount on a schedule regardless of price. It spreads entry points over time and reduces ad hoc timing decisions, but it does not assure a profit or protect against loss. If a balance grows while a flat fee stays unchanged, that fee becomes a smaller effective percentage.

Frequently asked questions

What does Autopilot cost per month and what do you get at each tier?

Autopilot's February 2026 Form CRS lists quarterly or annual billing: Basic has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee, while Premium ranges from $29.99 to $199.99 quarterly or $99.99 to $699.99 annually. Pilot subscriptions are separate. The current app and agreement show the features and exact price offered to you.

What's the total cost of using Autopilot for a full year including subscription and any per-trade costs?

Add the annual Advisory Fee, each distinct paid Pilot subscription, brokerage and regulatory charges, and fund expense ratios. The published advisory schedule does not list a per-trade Autopilot charge. Divide the total dollar cost by your balance to estimate an effective rate.

Is Autopilot worth the subscription price compared to other copy trading apps?

Compute your effective fee at your balance, read the Portfolio's fact sheet net against gross, weigh the disclosure delay for trackers, and compare to what you'd otherwise do. Don't decide on a headline return.

Does Autopilot have a free trial or free tier before I commit to a subscription?

Basic has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee in the February 2026 Form CRS. Any trial or promotion is shown in the current app and its offer terms; this article does not promise one.

Is it worth paying a monthly subscription for a copy trading app?

Only if the effective percentage at your balance is acceptable against what you'd otherwise do. Flat fees favor bigger balances.

What's the difference between a flat subscription fee and a percentage-of-assets fee?

A percentage grows with your balance in dollars. A flat fee stays fixed in dollars and shrinks as a percentage when your balance grows. Autopilot charges the flat kind.

How do subscription fees for copy trading apps compare to a traditional advisor's fee?

Many advisers charge a percentage of assets; others use fixed, hourly, or retainer fees. A flat fee produces a lower effective percentage as the balance grows, but the services may differ substantially.

Are there usually hidden fees with automated investing apps?

The ones people miss are fund expense ratios inside ETF holdings and taxes on trades. Autopilot's methodology page lists exactly what is and isn't deducted from published returns.

What happens to my linked account access if I stop paying for a subscription?

The current agreement and in-app notice control what automation or access changes after a lapse. Securities remain in the brokerage account that holds them unless you direct a transaction or transfer.

How do I calculate whether a copy trading app's fees are justified by its performance?

Compare the fact sheet's modeled net and gross figures, then calculate your own fee at your balance and include costs the model omits. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so cost is only one part of the decision.

What's included in a premium copy trading membership tier and is it worth the extra cost?

The current app and agreement list Premium features and the price offered to you. Pilot subscriptions are separate and add on per distinct paid Pilot.

Do copy trading apps charge extra for following more than one portfolio?

Autopilot's Advisory Fee doesn't. Following an additional Pilot adds that Pilot's subscription. Multiple Portfolios under one Pilot share one subscription.

How do fees affect the real returns of a politician-copying strategy?

They lower net returns, more so on small balances. The disclosure delay is a separate drag. Autopilot shows net and gross side by side on each fact sheet.

What role does dollar-cost averaging play in long-term investing?

It spreads purchases across dates and reduces ad hoc timing decisions, without guaranteeing a better price or return. A growing balance can reduce the effective percentage of an unchanged flat fee.

investing app subscription cost

Autopilot's is a flat cash subscription, not a percentage of assets. Basic Tier has no Base Advisory and Licensing Fee. Premium Tier is $29.99 to $199.99 a quarter or $99.99 to $699.99 a year (Form CRS, February 2026). Pilot subscriptions are separate and add on if you follow more than one Pilot. Your broker's costs sit on top. Because it's flat, it's a bigger share of a small account and a smaller share of a big one.

TL;DR

Know the number before you start. Compute your effective fee, read the fact sheet, and decide with everything in front of you. If it works at your balance: connect your brokerage, pick a Portfolio, and let it run.

Start Investing

The disclosures below matter. You can also read Autopilot's full disclaimer.

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 principal, and past performance is not indicative of future results. View our Customer Relationship Summary and other important information at www.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.

Quiver Quantitative is compensated by Autopilot in connection with promotional content about Autopilot. Compensation details available upon request. This creates a material conflict of interest.

Frequent trading in your account may result in short-term capital gains, which are generally taxed at higher ordinary income tax rates. High portfolio turnover can lead to adverse tax consequences. Consult a tax professional regarding your specific situation.

Fee figures are from Autopilot's Form CRS dated February 2026 and the September 3, 2026 pricing snapshot on Autopilot Fact Sheets. Pilot subscription amounts are a daily snapshot and can change. Pricing is subject to change; see Form CRS and Form ADV Part 2A for the current schedule. Specific fees are set out in your Investment Advisory Agreement.