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⚡ Quick Answer
StashAway is the best all-rounder for most Malaysians — it has the broadest portfolio range, transparent fees, and a strong track record.
Wahed is the top choice if you want a fully Shariah-compliant portfolio.
MyTHEO suits investors who prefer Japan-focused global diversification. All three are regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia and safe to use.
What Is a Robo-Advisor?
A robo-advisor is a digital investment platform that builds and manages a diversified portfolio on your behalf using algorithms. You answer a few questions about your goals and risk tolerance, deposit money, and the platform invests it across a mix of ETFs or unit trusts — rebalancing automatically over time.
Robo-advisors remove the need to pick individual stocks or time the market. They’re ideal for Malaysians who want to grow their wealth passively without becoming full-time investors.
StashAway vs Wahed vs MyTHEO at a Glance
| Feature | StashAway | Wahed | MyTHEO |
|---|
| Min. investment | RM0 | RM100 | RM100 |
| Annual fee | 0.2–0.8% | 0.39–0.79% | 0.5–1.0% |
| Shariah-compliant option | Yes (separate portfolios) | Fully Shariah | Yes (separate) |
| SC-licensed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Portfolio types | General, Income, Flexible, Cash | Ethical (Shariah), SRI | Global, Responsible, THEO Japan |
| Underlying assets | Global ETFs | Sukuk, Gold, Equities | Global ETFs |
| Auto-rebalancing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Withdrawal time | 3–5 business days | 5–10 business days | 3–5 business days |
| App availability | iOS & Android | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Best for | General investing, all risk levels | Shariah-conscious investors | Global ETF diversification |
Fees Comparison
Fees compound over time and significantly affect long-term returns — this is one of the most important factors to compare.
StashAway
StashAway charges a
tiered annual management fee based on your total portfolio value:
| Portfolio Size | Annual Fee |
|---|
| First RM150,000 | 0.8% p.a. |
| RM150,001 – RM600,000 | 0.6% p.a. |
| RM600,001 – RM1,500,000 | 0.4% p.a. |
| Above RM1,500,000 | 0.2% p.a. |
There are no deposit fees, withdrawal fees, or transaction fees. The underlying ETFs also have their own expense ratios (typically 0.03–0.2% p.a.), separate from StashAway’s fee.
Wahed
Wahed charges a
tiered annual fee:
| Portfolio Size | Annual Fee |
|---|
| First RM5,000 | 0.79% p.a. |
| RM5,001 – RM50,000 | 0.49% p.a. |
| Above RM50,000 | 0.39% p.a. |
Wahed’s fee structure is competitive at higher balances. There are no platform transaction fees.
MyTHEO
MyTHEO charges a
flat 1.0% p.a. for portfolios below RM100,000, dropping to
0.5% p.a. above RM100,000. This makes MyTHEO the most expensive option for smaller investors — but its fee becomes competitive once you cross the RM100,000 threshold.
Bottom line on fees: StashAway wins for investors below RM150,000. Wahed is competitive from RM5,000 onwards. MyTHEO is only cost-competitive at RM100,000+.
Investment Strategy & Portfolios
StashAway
StashAway uses a proprietary framework called
ERAA (Economic Regime-based Asset Allocation) that adjusts your portfolio allocation based on macroeconomic conditions — inflation, growth cycles, and interest rates. This means your portfolio shifts between different asset classes (equities, bonds, cash, commodities) depending on the economic environment.
StashAway offers four main portfolio types:
- General Investing — risk levels from 6.5% to 36% SRI (Shariah option available)
- Income Portfolio — targets regular income via dividend-paying ETFs and bonds
- Flexible Portfolio — you pick the ETFs, StashAway manages the rest
- StashAway Simple — a cash management product earning ~3.3–3.7% p.a.
Wahed
Wahed is the
only fully Shariah-compliant robo-advisor in Malaysia. Every portfolio is screened for halal compliance — no investments in alcohol, tobacco, weapons, gambling, or interest-bearing instruments.
Wahed’s portfolios invest in:
- Sukuk (Islamic bonds)
- Shariah-compliant global equities (US, global, emerging markets)
- Gold
Portfolio options range from conservative (sukuk-heavy) to aggressive (equity-heavy). Wahed also offers socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios.
MyTHEO
MyTHEO was founded in Japan (by THEO) and brought to Malaysia in partnership with local partners. It focuses on
global ETF diversification across three “baskets”:
- Growth — globally diversified equities ETFs
- Income — bond ETFs for stability
- Inflation Hedge — REITs and commodity ETFs
MyTHEO’s algorithm adjusts the mix across these three baskets based on your risk profile. It also offers a
THEO Japan portfolio with a tilt toward Japanese equities — unique among Malaysian robo-advisors.
Minimum Investment & How to Start
All three platforms are accessible to beginners:
StashAway — No minimum investment. You can start with RM1. Deposit by FPX bank transfer from any Malaysian bank. Portfolio is invested automatically.
Wahed — RM100 minimum. Deposit via FPX. Sign up requires IC verification (MyKad). Funds are invested within 1–3 business days.
MyTHEO — RM100 minimum. Standard FPX deposit. Onboarding takes about 10–15 minutes including a risk profile quiz.
All three offer auto-invest (round-up or scheduled deposit) features to build the habit of investing regularly.
Performance & Returns
Past performance doesn’t guarantee future returns, and all three platforms invest globally — so their performance is heavily influenced by global market conditions rather than any platform-specific skill.
Based on available data through 2025:
- StashAway portfolios at 22% SRI (moderate risk) have returned approximately 8–12% p.a. over 3-year rolling periods in MYR terms during bull markets, with significant drawdowns during 2022’s rate hike cycle.
- Wahed sukuk-heavy (conservative) portfolios have returned 4–6% p.a. in line with Islamic fixed income. Equity-heavy Wahed portfolios performed similarly to StashAway’s moderate risk.
- MyTHEO returns are broadly comparable to StashAway at similar risk levels, given similar underlying ETF exposure.
The main differentiator in returns is your
chosen risk level, not the platform itself.
Our Recommendation
Choose StashAway if you want the most flexibility, the lowest fees at typical investment amounts (below RM150,000), and access to both conventional and Shariah portfolios in one app. New users who sign up via our link get up to
RM30,000 managed free for 6 months:
👉
Sign up with StashAway — we both get up to RM30,000 managed free for 6 months
Choose Wahed if Shariah compliance is non-negotiable — it’s the only fully halal robo-advisor of the three, and its fee is competitive.
Choose MyTHEO if you want global ETF diversification with a Japan tilt and don’t mind the higher fee at lower balances.
All three are Securities Commission-licensed and your funds are held in trust — they’re all safe choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is my money safe with robo-advisors in Malaysia?
Yes. All three — StashAway, Wahed, and MyTHEO — are licensed by the Securities Commission Malaysia. Your investments are held in your name in custody accounts separate from the platform’s operating funds. If any of these platforms were to shut down, your underlying ETF/fund units would still belong to you.
Can I withdraw my money anytime?
Yes. There are no lock-in periods. Withdrawal typically takes 3–10 business days depending on the platform. StashAway and MyTHEO are faster (3–5 days); Wahed can take up to 10 business days.
Are robo-advisor returns taxable in Malaysia?
Capital gains from investments are
not taxed in Malaysia (no capital gains tax). Dividend income from foreign ETFs may be subject to withholding tax at source (typically 15–30% depending on country), which is deducted before the dividend reaches your account. You do not need to declare this on your Malaysian income tax return.
Can I use ASNB or EPF money to invest in robo-advisors?
No. ASNB and EPF (outside of i-Invest for EPF) cannot be used directly with robo-advisors. EPF i-Invest allows you to redirect a portion of Account 1 to approved unit trusts, but robo-advisors are not currently on the EPF i-Invest approved list.
How is StashAway different from a unit trust?
Unit trusts in Malaysia are actively managed by fund managers who try to beat the market. StashAway invests in passive ETFs that track market indices, with fees far lower than most unit trusts (which charge 1.5–3% upfront sales charges plus annual fees of 1–2%). Robo-advisors are generally better for cost-conscious long-term investors.
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Looking for a deep dive on one of these platforms? Read our full MyTHEO Malaysia Review 2026 for a detailed breakdown of fees, portfolios, and whether it’s worth it.
