SmartAsset Review for 2026: Helping Users Take Care of Their Finances

SmartAsset is a personal finance website that offers a variety of tools to help you manage your money. You can use SmartAsset to calculate your taxes, estimate retirement savings, compare mortgage rates, and more.

SmartAsset is a financial technology company that provides online tools to help users make better financial decisions.

The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in New York City. It also operates SmartAsset Advisor Marketing Platform (AMP), a marketplace that connects consumers with vetted fiduciary financial advisors, and reaches over an estimated 59 million people each month.

SmartAsset's flagship product is its collection of educational content, calculators, and advisor-matching tools. Rather than functioning as a traditional financial account provider, the platform helps users research personal finance topics, estimate costs, and get matched with advisors.

The tool relies on user-provided information to calculate personalized recommendations. In addition to the online tool, SmartAsset also offers a blog called SmartReads and a large library of guides and calculators that provide further guidance on personal finance topics.

How SmartAsset Works

SmartAsset's online tool uses your personal information to provide tailored recommendations for financial products. To use certain tools and the advisor-matching service, you will need to provide some basic information about yourself, such as your age, location, and income.

On top of that, you may also need to answer some questions about your financial goals and objectives. Based on this information, the company will review and generate recommendations for different financial products or potential advisor matches that may be suitable for you.

For example, if you are looking for mortgage information or tax estimates, SmartAsset offers calculators and comparison tools that can help you narrow down your options. If you’re looking for an advisor, SmartAsset says its tool can match you with vetted fiduciary financial advisors who serve your area.

Key Features

As a leading financial advice website, SmartAsset is dedicated to helping people make informed decisions about their money. One way the company does this is by offering users access to an extensive database of financial information, where it discusses complex subjects in a simple way that’s easy to understand for the average person.

All features are divided into six main categories:

• Home buying
• Taxes
• Retirement
• Financial Planning
• Personal Loans
• SmartReads

In the retirement section, for example, you can find calculators to help you estimate how much money you will need to save for retirement, as well as articles that explain the different types of retirement accounts.

SmartAsset also has a mortgage calculator that can help users compare various mortgage options and calculate their monthly payments. It also offers tools such as an investment calculator, savings calculator, inflation calculator, and a Financial Advisor Value Calculator.

If you're looking for educational content, calculators, mortgage and tax tools, or help finding a fiduciary advisor, SmartAsset offers a broad mix of free resources.

Costs

As we previously mentioned, SmartAsset is a free service. There is no charge or subscription, and there are no hidden fees for using the site’s calculators, guides, and advisor-matching tool. Everything is free to use, from the calculators and budgeting tools to the articles and advice.

The company generates revenue through lead generation. This means that, when you click on the "Get Started" button for a particular product, you may be redirected to a partner site where you can apply for that product. SmartAsset also earns money by referring consumers to participating financial advisors through its marketplace.

And while the service is free for users, the company does charge its partners a fee for each lead generated. If you choose to work with a matched advisor, that advisor may charge fees, but those costs are not standardized by SmartAsset and typically require speaking with the advisor directly.

Who Is It For?

SmartAsset is a good choice for anyone who wants to get a better handle on their finances. The platform offers a variety of personal finance tools, including a retirement calculator, an investment calculator, and a mortgage refinancing calculator.

It's also great for people who are looking to compare financial products side-by-side. For example, you can use the mortgage calculator to compare mortgage rates from various lenders. This is a great way to save money on your mortgage and get the best rate possible.

SmartAsset tools are just one of the reasons we think SmartAsset is an excellent option for all those who want to take control of their finances. We also love that the company offers a free service with no hidden fees. And while there are some drawbacks, we think the advantages far outweigh any potential negatives.

How SmartAsset Compares to Similar Product

There are many different financial planning and advice platforms available today, and we felt it's important to compare them to the product we're reviewing today.

SmartAsset vs. Empower

Both SmartAsset and Empower offer a variety of services and tools to help you manage your finances, but there are some key differences to consider.

SmartAsset is focused primarily on providing advice and guidance, while Empower focuses more on giving users the ability to track their progress and stay on top of their finances. SmartAsset offers more personalization, while Empower provides more detailed data tracking.

Empower also offers a free Personal Dashboard and a mobile app, while SmartAsset remains primarily a web-based destination for calculators, editorial content, and advisor matching.

Ultimately, choosing between these two products will come down to your needs and preferences. If you're looking for general guidance, then SmartAsset is the better choice. But if you're looking for a more comprehensive financial tracking tool, then Empower is the way to go.

SmartAsset vs. Facet Wealth

Facet Wealth is another financial planning and advice platform that offers a range of services similar to SmartAsset. However, there are some key differences between the two companies.

Facet Wealth charges a flat annual fee for its services, while SmartAsset is free to use. With SmartAsset, you can answer questions about your financial situation and goals, and the company's algorithms will provide you with customized recommendations.

Facet Wealth, on the other hand, is a human-based financial planning firm. That means that, instead of relying on technology, Facet Wealth provides its clients with one-on-one support from certified financial planners.

Final Verdict

Overall, we think this is a great personal finance tool and educational resource. It’s free to use and packed with features that can help you save money and plan your financial future. 

However, it’s not perfect - there are a few things we think could be improved. Unfortunately, the company has no mobile app, so if you want to access your account on the go, you’ll have to use the mobile website. 

Another thing to keep in mind is that SmartAsset is a US-based company, so if you’re based outside of the States, some of the features (such as the tax calculator) won’t be relevant to you. 

Overall, we think SmartAsset is a great choice for anyone looking for assistance with their finances. So why not give it a try? It's free, after all!