Syfe and Endowus are Singapore’s two most popular robo-advisors, both MAS-regulated and both offering diversified portfolios for cash, SRS, and CPF investing. Endowus is the clear choice for CPF-OA investing — it’s the only robo-advisor that supports it. Syfe counters with thematic portfolios (like REIT+), lower minimums (S$0), and a built-in brokerage (Syfe Trade). For pure fees, Endowus is 5–22% cheaper across all AUM tiers.
This is an editorial comparison. Not financial advice. All figures are for educational reference only. Data as at July 2026 unless noted.
- Choose Endowus if you want to invest your CPF-OA (only robo that supports it), want lower management fees, or prefer picking individual funds via Fund Smart
- Choose Syfe if you want thematic exposure (REIT+, Core Equity), zero minimum investment, or need a brokerage account alongside your robo-advisor
- On a S$100,000 portfolio, Endowus saves about S$500 in management fees per year
Quick Verdict
“Syfe or Endowus?” is one of the most-searched investing questions on r/singaporefi. Here’s the straight answer.
For CPF investing: Endowus, no contest. Endowus is the only robo-advisor in Singapore that lets you invest your CPF-OA money directly. If investing your CPF is a priority, Endowus is your only robo option.
For cash investing: both are excellent, but Endowus is cheaper. At S$100,000 AUM, Endowus charges 0.50% versus Syfe’s 0.55%. That 0.05% difference saves you S$500 per year — not huge, but it compounds over decades.
For thematic investing: Syfe has more variety. Syfe REIT+, Syfe Core, and Syfe Select let you tilt toward specific themes like REITs, tech, or global equities. Endowus portfolios are broader and more passive. For a deep dive into Syfe’s offerings, read our Syfe review.
Fees Compared
| AUM Tier | Syfe Fee | Endowus Fee (Cash) | Endowus Fee (CPF/SRS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below S$20,000 | 0.65% | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| S$20,000–S$100,000 | 0.65% | 0.60% | 0.40% |
| S$100,000–S$200,000 | 0.55% | 0.50% | 0.40% |
| S$200,000–S$1,000,000 | 0.45% | 0.35% | 0.40% |
| Above S$1,000,000 | 0.35% | 0.25% | 0.25% |
Source: Syfe.com, Endowus.com — as at July 2026. These are management/access fees only; underlying fund fees (0.10%–0.40%) apply additionally.
Endowus is cheaper at every AUM tier for cash portfolios. The gap widens as your portfolio grows — at S$500,000, Endowus saves you S$500/year in management fees alone. Endowus’s CPF/SRS fee is even lower at 0.40% flat, making it particularly attractive for CPF investing.
Both platforms also charge underlying fund fees (the expense ratios of the ETFs/funds inside your portfolio). These range from 0.10% to 0.40% depending on the portfolio. Endowus rebates all trailer fees from fund managers back to you — a practice called “fee rebates” that effectively lowers your total cost.
CPF & SRS Investing
This is the single biggest differentiator between the two platforms.
Endowus supports CPF-OA, CPF-SA (for accredited investors), SRS, and cash investing — all on one platform. It’s the only robo-advisor approved by the CPF Board for CPF-OA investing. This means you can invest your CPF-OA money beyond the 2.5% OA rate, potentially earning 4–7% in a diversified portfolio. For details on building passive income in Singapore, CPF investing is a key pillar.
Syfe supports SRS and cash investing only. No CPF-OA access. If you want to invest your CPF through a robo-advisor, Endowus is your only option.
For SRS, both platforms are equally capable. The question is whether you want Endowus’s broader fund selection or Syfe’s thematic portfolios.
Portfolio Options
Syfe Portfolios
Syfe Core: Globally diversified portfolios using ETFs. You choose your equity/bond split (e.g., Core Equity 100, Core Growth, Core Balanced). This is Syfe’s closest equivalent to Endowus’s core portfolios.
Syfe REIT+: A Singapore REIT-focused portfolio. Great for investors who want concentrated exposure to Singapore REITs without buying individual REITs. This is unique to Syfe — Endowus doesn’t offer a REIT-specific portfolio.
Syfe Select: Custom thematic portfolios. Syfe also offers Syfe Trade, a brokerage feature for buying individual US/SG stocks and ETFs alongside your robo portfolios.
Endowus Portfolios
Core Portfolios: Globally diversified using institutional-grade funds. Similar risk-adjusted approach to Syfe Core, but with access to funds typically only available to institutional investors.
Fund Smart: Endowus’s DIY feature — pick and mix individual funds from a curated list. This gives you more control than Syfe’s preset portfolios. You can build a custom portfolio of specific funds while still getting Endowus’s rebalancing and fee rebates.
Cash Smart: Cash management portfolios for parking idle funds with better returns than bank savings. Options range from low-risk (Cash Smart Secure) to moderate (Cash Smart Enhanced).
Platform Features
| Feature | Syfe | Endowus |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | S$0 | S$1,000 (cash), S$0 (CPF/SRS) |
| Auto-Rebalancing | ✅ | ✅ |
| DCA (recurring investment) | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile App | ✅ (iOS & Android) | ✅ (iOS & Android) |
| Brokerage Feature | ✅ Syfe Trade | ❌ |
| DIY Fund Selection | ❌ | ✅ Fund Smart |
| Fee Rebates | ❌ | ✅ (trailer fees rebated) |
| Withdrawal Speed | 3–5 business days | 3–5 business days |
Source: Syfe.com, Endowus.com — as at July 2026
Syfe’s zero minimum investment is a genuine advantage for beginners who want to start with small amounts. Endowus’s S$1,000 minimum for cash portfolios is reasonable but may be a hurdle for students or young investors.
Syfe Trade is a unique hybrid feature — you get a robo-advisor and a brokerage in one app. However, Syfe Trade’s brokerage fees aren’t as competitive as dedicated brokers like IBKR or Moomoo.
Long-Term Fee Impact
Fees compound just like returns. On a S$100,000 portfolio earning 7% annually, the 0.05% fee difference between Syfe (0.55%) and Endowus (0.50%) translates to roughly S$515 in total fee savings over 10 years with Endowus.
At S$250,000, the gap widens significantly because Endowus drops to 0.35% while Syfe charges 0.45%. Over 10 years, that’s approximately S$1,300 saved with Endowus.
For smaller portfolios under S$50,000, the absolute dollar difference is modest — around S$30–50 per year. At this level, portfolio choice (what you invest in) matters far more than the platform fee difference.
Pair your robo-advisor investing with our retirement planning calculator to project how these fees impact your long-term wealth.
TKN’s Take
Use Endowus if: you want to invest your CPF-OA (no alternative), you have S$100,000+ in investable assets (lower fees matter), you prefer picking individual funds (Fund Smart), or you value fee rebates on trailer fees. Sign up with an Endowus referral code to get your access fee waived on your first investment.
Use Syfe if: you’re a beginner starting with less than S$1,000 (zero minimum), you want REIT-focused investing (Syfe REIT+), you want a brokerage and robo-advisor in one app, or you prefer preset thematic portfolios. Use a Syfe referral code for sign-up bonuses.
Many investors use both. Endowus for CPF-OA and SRS (cheapest option), Syfe for cash thematic portfolios and brokerage. Since both are free to sign up and have no lock-in, there’s no reason not to explore both.
