Tiers are organized by trust and autonomy, not by account size. Start free in the sandbox, then upgrade only when the added automation has earned it.
Learn in the sandbox, operate with guidance, then add more automation only when the workflow has earned your trust.
Try the engine in the sandbox. No broker connection, no money at risk.
The core live tier. Direct-indexing TLH on your existing brokerage. You approve trades.
Rule-bound automation runs on paper accounts within the rails you set. At E*TRADE, every real-money order still needs your confirmation before it is sent. A future supported broker may offer automated execution.
Sharper tools for the complexity-heavy edges. Margin overlay, concentrated stock, RSU planning.
Use this if you're still deciding whether the workflow is credible. It's the right starting point for almost everyone — you can inspect the sleeve design and harvest logic before connecting anything live.
Considering moving up? How to evaluate Guided
Use this if you want the real workflow on your own broker and you still want to review meaningful actions. For most serious self-directed investors, this is the center of gravity.
Considering Autopilot? From Guided review to configurable automation — what changes in Autopilot?
Use these only if you already trust the engine and want more automation or more advanced behavior. The point isn't to look sophisticated — it's to add autonomy only when it's earned.
When does Alpha earn its place? When the long sleeve isn't enough
An assets-under-management fee — usually shortened to AUM — is a yearly charge calculated as a percentage of your whole portfolio. Published direct-indexing rates currently run in the 9–40 basis-point range, with most bundled managed accounts at 25–40. The table below shows the account size where each HarvestEngine tier breaks even against a 0.25% AUM rate.
| Tier | Monthly | Annual | Breaks even at |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided | $49/mo | $490/yr | ~$196,000 |
| Autopilot | $99/mo | $990/yr | ~$396,000 |
| Alpha | $199/mo | $1990/yr | ~$796,000 |
Illustrative estimate — actual outcomes vary. Breakeven above is computed against a 0.25% AUM rate. Published direct-indexing rates currently run from about 0.09% to 0.40%, and the breakeven moves a long way across that range: at 0.40%, Guided breaks even near $122,500; at 0.09% it does not break even until about $544,000. Rates change and your result depends on account size, tier, and billing term.
Above the breakeven, a flat fee is meaningfully cheaper than the percentage-of-assets model. Below it, AUM may be technically cheaper, but it usually comes bundled with custody and a manager-style relationship. HarvestEngine is software with a different shape and a different incentive model.
Want to see this against actual competitors at your account size? Read the full fee-math article with an interactive calculator.
Annual saves about 17%, effectively two months free. Monthly is the easier starting point if you're still proving the product to yourself. Either way: no long-term contract, no locked-in management relationship, no hidden fee that scales just because your portfolio did well.
The right way to buy this product isn't to assume you need the most automation. It's to inspect the workflow first, then choose the smallest tier that solves the real problem.
Try the sandbox