With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars, but your money grows tax-free and can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. Luckily, many trading platforms now accept Roth IRAs, so you could easily use this tax-advantaged strategy — but not every platform offers the same features. Some stand out for their low fees, investment options and tools. Knowing which one works the best for you can help your retirement savings soar.
Here are the best Roth IRA accounts to help you grow your retirement savings.
Best Roth IRA accounts
- Best Roth IRA overall: Interactive Brokers
- Great for active traders: TradeStation and tastytrade
- Great for long-term investors: Fidelity and E*TRADE
- Great for hands-off investing & robo-advisors: Empower and Wealthfront
- Great for banking integration: Merrill Edge (Bank of America) and Ally Invest (Ally Bank)
- Great for beginners: SoFi and Stash
Best Roth IRA overall: Interactive Brokers
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Traditional, Traditional Rollover, Traditional Inherited, Roth, Roth Inherited, Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) and SEP Inherited
- Fees: None specific to Roth IRAs
- Assets: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and options
- Robo-advisor: Yes
Interactive Brokers pros and cons
Pros
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Wide range of investment options: From stocks and ETFs to bonds, mutual funds, and options, IBKR supports diverse portfolio building.
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Advanced trading tools: Professional-grade platforms like Trader Workstation (TWS) provide detailed analytics and screeners.
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Low fees & commissions: IBKR offers competitive pricing with low (or even zero) commissions, which helps maximize a Roth IRA’s growth.
Cons
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Higher learning curve: The advanced tools on IBKR might overwhelm new or casual investors.
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No automated plan for IRAs: The Interactive Advisors robo-advisor service doesn’t accept IRAs at this time.
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Complex fee schedule: Although IBKR’s fees are competitive, they aren’t easy to understand.
Great for active traders: TradeStation

4.8
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional, IRA, SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA
- Fees: $35 annual IRA fee and a $50 IRA account termination fee
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds and bonds
- Robo-advisor: No
TradeStation pros and cons
Pros
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Professional-grade tools: From backtesting and coding to charting and technical indicators, TradeStation is perfect for active traders.
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Long history: TradeStation has been around since the 1980s and has many awards for usability and security.
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Multiple platform access: Beyond the desktop platform, TradeStation offers web and mobile apps for superior flexibility.
Cons
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Not ideal for beginners: People who have no prior experience with investing or trading will probably feel overwhelmed on TradeStation.
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Limited retirement guidance: TradeStation is more of a self-directed platform with less emphasis on retirement planning tools or personalized advice.
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Administration fees: There are additional yearly IRA fees for administration, as well as a closure fee.
Great for active traders: tastytrade

4.0
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA and SEP IRA
- Fees: IRA closing fee and ACAT transfer
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, options, futures and cryptocurrencies
- Robo-advisor: No
Tastytrade pros and cons
Pros
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Trader-focused: Created by the brains who made thinkorswim, tastytrade has a well-designed and intuitive interface for active traders.
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Robust educational content: The tastylive platform offers tons of high-quality and up-to-date trading education and news.
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Low costs: $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs, and $1 per options contract to open.
Cons
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Not ideal for passive investors: Those looking for long-term, buy-and-hold investing often find tastytrade’s interface unnecessarily overwhelming.
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No robo-advisory:t There’s no hands-off portfolio management tool.
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No mutual funds: While tastytrade has plenty of ETFs, you won’t find mutual funds.1
Great for long-term investors: Fidelity
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA
- Fees: $0 annual IRA fees
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds and CDs
- Robo-advisor: Yes
Fidelity pros and cons
Pros
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Low fees: There are no commissions on US stocks and ETFs, as well as no annual IRA maintenance or closeout fees.
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Offers robo-advisor and personal advisor: You can use services like Fidelity Go or personalized guidance if you want an expert-led portfolio.
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Customer care options: As one of the largest asset managers, Fidelity has multiple ways to reach out to customer care reps.
Cons
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Mutual fund expense ratios: Some mutual funds in Fidelity’s offerings have expense ratios, so be careful of extra fees.
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Low Trustpilot scores: Some reviewers on Trustpilot complain about withdrawal issues and delays through Fidelity.2
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Marketing favoritism: Like many financial institutions, Fidelity promotes its proprietary funds, which might not always be the best choice for every investor.
Great for long-term investors: E*TRADE

3.9
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, IRA for minors and Inherited IRA
- Fees: No annual fee; percentage on robo-advisor service
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds and bonds
- Robo-advisor: Yes
E*TRADE pros and cons
Pros
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High reputation: The connection to Morgan Stanley and decades-plus history make E*TRADE a secure platform.
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Automated option: For a hands-off experience, you could use E*TRADE’s robo-advisor Core Portfolios.
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Low fees: There are no commissions on stocks and ETFs, and E*TRADE doesn’t charge annual maintenance fees for IRAs.
Cons
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Limited no-transaction-fee mutual funds: While E*TRADE offers a solid selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds, this range typically isn’t as wide as competitors like Vanguard or Fidelity.
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Doesn’t offer fractional stock shares: Currently, E*TRADE only offers fractional shares via ETFs with automatic investing.3
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Multiple customer complaints: A sizable number of Trustpilot reviewers report issues with E*TRADE’s interface, services or customer support.4
Great for hands-off investing & robo-advisors: Empower
- Minimum investment: $0
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Rollover IRA, SIMPLE IRA and SEP IRA
- Fees: No annual fee; transfer fees may apply, maintenance fees for balances below $100,000
- Assets available: Stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds
- Robo-advisor: Yes
Empower pros and cons
Pros
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Low-effort IRA Investing: Empower gives users the option to hand off the task of investing to its expert staff.
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High-quality online tracker: The Personal Wealth net worth tracker is one of the most intuitive and exhaustive on the Internet.
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Access to human advisors: Although Empower users robo-advisors, it also has a team of financial advisors you can communicate with.
Cons
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High minimum for advisory services: You can invest with Empower at any rate, but you’ll need $100K to access personalized Wealth Management.
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IRA fees: Whether through the brokerage or managed IRA, there are annual maintenance or advisory fees.
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Not the best for small account balances: With no tiered pricing for smaller Roth IRAs, the flat management fee eats into returns for those just starting out.
Best for hands-off investing & robo-advisors: Wealthfront
- Minimum investment: $500
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA, and Rollover IRA
- Fees: Annual advisory fee of 0.25%
- Assets Available: ETFs, stocks, and bonds
- Robo-advisor: Yes
Wealthfront pros and cons
Pros
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Automated investing: Wealthfront builds and manages diversified portfolios tailored to your risk tolerance.
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User-friendly platform: Wealthfront is easy to navigate and has a well-reviewed app on iOS and Android.
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Attractive flat fee: The 0.25% advisory fee is one of the most competitive for managed IRAs.
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Bonus yield options: With a Wealthfront account, you could take advantage of high-yield savings and bonds alongside your IRA investment.
Cons
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No human advisors: Since Wealthfront is a robo-advisor, you have to rely on ticketed support.
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Not ideal from tax perspective: One of Wealthfront’s key features — tax-loss harvesting — only applies to Traditional IRAs.
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$500 minimum: While not extreme, the $500 opening cost may be prohibitive when compared to platforms without opening costs.
Great for banking integration (Bank of America): Merrill Edge

3.1
- Minimum investment: $1,000
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Inherited IRA, Rollover IRA, SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA
- Fees: $49.95 IRA closeout fee
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, bonds, and fixed income
- Robo-advisor: Yes
Merrill Edge pros and cons
Pros
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Seamless BofA integration: Merrill Edge links with Bank of America accounts so you get a unified view of your banking and investing.
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Competitive fees: With $0 stock and ETF trades, Merrill Edge offers low-cost investing for your Roth IRA.
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Preferred rewards: BofA customers enjoy extra perks like bonus credit card rewards and discounted loan rates.
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Robo-advisory service: Merrill Guided Investing offers an optional hands-off approach to IRA investing.
Cons
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Some IRA fees: While Merrill Edge has competitive rates, there are IRA closeout and transfer fees to consider.
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No fractional shares: Currently, you have to buy whole shares of stocks if you’re investing on Merrill Edge.
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Poor Trustpilot score: Over 80% of reviewers give Merrill Edge 1-star on Trustpilot, often citing issues with transfers or customer service.6
Best for banking integration (Ally Bank): Ally Invest

3.4
- Minimum investment: $100
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Rollover IRA and SEP IRA
- Fees: $50 IRA closeout fee may apply, various transfer fees
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and fixed income products (e.g., bonds and CDs)
- Robo advisor: Yes
Ally Bank pros and cons
Pros
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Integrates with Ally’s ecosystem: People who use Ally Invest also get access to a full financial suite, including high-yield savings, credit cards, and checking.
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Robo-advisory offering: Investors have the option to automate their investing with Ally’s robo-advisory service.
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Low fees: There are zero commissions for stocks and ETFs, as well as zero annual fees for IRAs.
Cons
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Some IRA fees: Ally Invest charges closeout and transfer fees, so review these costs before opening an IRA.
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No fractional shares: You can’t buy percentages of stocks with an Ally Invest account at this time.
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No advanced tools: While Ally Invest is easy-to-use, it won’t supply traders with technical analytics or extensive order types.
Great for beginners: SoFi
- Minimum investment: $50
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, SEP IRA and Rollover IRA
- Fees: Closing and transfer fees
- Assets available: Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, alternative assets and IPOs
- Robo-advisor: Yes
SoFi pros and cons
Pros
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Access to financial advisors: One differentiator for SoFi is a complimentary call with a certified personal finance expert.
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Robo-advisor option: If you don’t feel comfortable using SoFi’s brokerage, you can open a robo-advisor account with your Roth IRA.
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Bonus features and banking: People who join SoFi instantly get access to other unique financial opportunities, including alternative assets and high-yield savings.
Cons
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Limited advanced tools: SoFi has a lot of resources, but they’re more geared for beginners rather than active traders.
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IRA fees: While not the most expensive, SoFi does charge for account transfers and IRA closures.
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Inactivity fee: Unlike many competitors, SoFi charges an inactivity fee if you don’t open your Invest account once every six months.
Great for beginners: Stash
- Minimum investment: $5
- Account types: Roth IRA, Traditional IRA
- Fees: $3 or $9 monthly subscription
- Assets available: Stocks and ETFs
- Robo-advisor: No
Stash pros and cons
Pros
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Low minimum plus fractional shares: You only need $5 to start investing on Stash, and you can put your money to work in many companies thanks to fractional shares.
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Automated investing option: Stash also has an automated investing feature to take the guesswork out of picking assets.
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User-friendly design: Reviewers on both the App Store and Google Play have high praise for Stash’s mobile app.
Cons
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Monthly subscription: Although Stash’s subscription model is transparent, it may not be as cost-effective as other brokers.
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Fewer asset choices: There isn’t as much room for diversification on Stash since it only offers stocks and ETFs.
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Limited research tools: Stash's platform is geared towards simplicity and may lack the in-depth research and analysis tools experienced investors want.
Are all IRAs the same?
While all IRAs come with tax advantages, they don't all operate in the same way. Some accounts like the Roth IRA let you invest with after-tax dollars to enjoy tax-free withdrawals, while products like Traditional IRAs allow you to deduct taxes on contributions. Consider a few key factors when evaluating different IRA plans to figure out what works best for your expected earnings before and after retirement:
- Taxation of contributions or withdrawals: With accounts like Traditional IRAs, you enjoy pre-tax contributions, reducing your taxable income as you build wealth. However, Roth IRAs require after-tax contributions, so you pull money after retirement without paying income tax.
- Eligibility and income limits: Certain IRAs have income restrictions that may prevent higher-earning individuals from contributing directly. For example, the IRS doesn't allow people to open a Roth IRA if their wages exceed the latest Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) threshold.7
- Required minimum distributions (RMDs): Some IRAs like Traditional and SEP require holders to start taking withdrawals at age 73 (for those born between 1951 and 1959) or age 75 (for those born in 1960 or later). By contrast, Roth IRAs don't have this requirement, making them more attractive for people focused on maximizing estate planning.
Roth IRA vs IRA
"IRA" is short for "Individual Retirement Account" and refers to the broad category of tax-advantaged vehicles used for long-term savings. A Roth IRA is a specific type of IRA that lets people who meet the IRS's income thresholds contribute to investments every year with after-tax dollars. The benefit of a Roth IRA is that contributors get to take withdrawals after retirement age without paying income tax.
Which Roth IRA account is right for you?
Every broker who offers Roth IRAs gives you a way to enjoy tax-advantaged investing, but they don’t appeal to the same types of clients. Be sure you know where each broker excels and whether their features meet your retirement desires.
Know before you invest
It's easy to get confused by tons of details when picking the "perfect" Roth IRA platform. Trust me, I've been there. However, one way I've found that makes it easier to figure out what Roth IRA provider is a good fit is to focus on fees, features, and flexibility. Let me explain:
- Fees: One of the main draws of opening a Roth IRA is to save money on taxes. So, paying a ton in fees threatens this investment vehicle's core purpose. While some fees are unavoidable, you might want to consider going with the cheapest option on all fronts, which includes trading fees for active management, advisory fees for robo-advisors, and service fees like maintenance or transfer.
- Features: The types of tools you want out of your brokerage will depend on how active you're going to be. For instance, swing traders might concentrate on platforms offering plenty of technical analysis and charting tools. More passive investors will likely want user-friendly features like goal tracking and automated contributions. The proper set of features for your preference can make this experience smooth.
- Flexibility: Some investors don't like feeling locked into one investment style or limited fund choices. The freedom to build your own portfolio with ETFs, stocks, and even options is important for some investors. Not all platforms offer that level of control. It's important to know going into a brokerage how many choices you have and whether you're comfrotable with the range of possibilities for your portfolio.
Methodology
At Moneywise, it's our goal to help our readers make the best financial decisions for their unique situations.
When creating this list of the best Roth IRAs, we considered factors like ease-of-use, fees, features, and available investments. The companies on our list didn't influence their inclusion or position in any way. Rather, this list reflects the research and views of our editorial team and author.
There are still plenty of other companies and brokers with Roth IRAs, but we believe these are the current best options on the market.
FAQs

Eric Esposito is a freelance contributor on MoneyWise with an interest in financial markets, investing, and trading. In addition to MoneyWise, Eric’s work can be found on financial publications such as WallStreetZen and CoinDesk. When not researching the latest stock market trends, Eric enjoys biking, walking his dog, and spending time with family in Central Florida. Eric holds a BA in English from Quinnipiac University.
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