According to the Federal Reserve’s 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances, 58.1 percent of US households held stock or bond investments. As more households build wealth, portfolio dashboards have become popular for tracking everything from 401(k)s to crypto wallets. But one question is often overlooked: should investors be paying hundreds of dollars every year just to monitor accounts?

This article examines the cost of Kubera versus PortfolioPilot.com, showing why the long-term price difference can add up to thousands of dollars—money that could remain invested instead of being spent on subscriptions.

Key Takeaways

• Kubera charges start at $249 per year for portfolio tracking; PortfolioPilot provides comparable tracking functionality for free.
• Over 40 years, paying Kubera’s fee amounts to nearly $10,000 in costs.
• PortfolioPilot includes optional paid tiers for advanced features, but the tracking part of the product requires no subscription.
• Both platforms let users monitor accounts, but only one requires an annual outlay.

Kubera: A Paid Tracking Dashboard

Kubera markets itself as a wealth tracker designed to handle traditional and alternative assets. Users can connect bank accounts, brokerage accounts, and crypto wallets, or manually enter holdings such as collectibles or real estate.

The interface resembles a spreadsheet, appealing to those who prefer manual control and simple visualization. But the essential point is cost: Kubera charges $249 annually for access.

For an investor planning to track accounts across decades, that cost compounds. A single subscription may not feel heavy year to year, but stretched over 40 years it totals nearly $10,000—capital that could otherwise remain invested.

PortfolioPilot: Free Portfolio Tracking with Optional Upgrades

PortfolioPilot also allows users to consolidate accounts, including brokerages, retirement plans, real estate, crypto, and liabilities. The difference is that PortfolioPilot provides portfolio tracking at no cost.

Users can see their complete net worth view, monitor asset classes, review performance trends, run retirement planning scenarios, and track gains and losses—all without paying a subscription fee. For those who want more advanced features, such as tax optimization or personalized investment advice, PortfolioPilot offers paid tiers, but these are optional.

The distinction is straightforward: core tracking is free, not locked behind a $249 yearly bill.

Why the Cost Difference Matters

Hypothetical: Imagine a 35-year-old investor setting up a dashboard today. If they choose Kubera, by the time they turn 75 they will have spent nearly $10,000 on subscription fees—all just for tracking data they could have accessed for free elsewhere. If that money were left invested instead, it could compound into significantly more over decades.

So what? The decision isn’t only about features—it’s about whether it makes sense to pay ongoing fees for a tool when a free option exists. For many investors, that difference can shift the balance between spending and saving.