You’re about to see some the best Roth IRA accounts on the market.
These picks are determined using an unbiased rating system that considers everything from trading costs and fees to investment options, trading platforms, features, customer support availability and more.
In fact, I use several of these exact Roth IRA providers to invest for my retirement.
With that, it’s time to reveal our picks of the best Roth IRA accounts of July 2024.
15+ online brokers reviewed and rated by our team of experts
Evaluated under our unbiased rating system covering eight categories
20+ years of combined experience covering financial topics
We're big on editorial independence. That means our content, reviews and ratings are fair, accurate and trustworthy. We don't let advertisers or partners sway our opinions. Our financial experts put in the hard work, spending hours researching and analyzing hundreds of products based on data-driven methodologies to find the best accounts and providers for you. Explore our editorial guidelines to see how we work.
Best overall
Fidelity IRA
4.6
★★★★★
Finder score
Why it's the best overall: For its extensive lineup of investment options, top-tier research tools and low fees.
Key features
Diverse investment options, including cryptocurrency
Top-tier research and analysis tools like advanced charts, valuation metrics and third-party research reports
Mobile, web-based and desktop trading platforms
Beginner-friendly resources, such as trending stock lists, educational resources and 24/7 customer support
Some of the lowest account fees in the industry
Planning and advice resources, including both human and automated portfolio management services
Other winning categories: Best Roth IRA account without fees
Pros
$0 commissions on stocks and ETFs
Few-to-no account fees
Wide range of investment options
Large selection of top-tier research providers
Robo-advisor with no advisory fees under $25,000
24/7 customer support
Cons
$25,000 minimum to access a Fidelity financial advisor
The Fidelity Active Trader Pro desktop platform interface looks and feels antiquated
Why it's the best for options trading: For its access to and competitive trading fees on options, futures, options on futures, options on micro futures and smalls futures options.
Key features
Impressive collection of trading products in its IRAs
Some of the best pricing on options and futures contracts in the industry
No closing commissions on options
Advanced trading, research and analysis tools, including profit and loss visualizations and a quick roll feature to roll your option position into the future
Comprehensive learning center with video and live demos to help you level up your trading
Pros
Highly customizable trading platform
Extensive lineup of tradable derivative assets
Competitive options fee structure
Helpful educational resources and live programming
Why it's the best for mutual fund investing: For its low-cost approach to mutual fund investing.
Key features
One of the most trusted names in the industry
Vast low-cost collection of index funds, actively managed funds, target retirement funds and environmental, social and corporate governance-focused funds
Access stocks, options, ETFs and bonds in its IRAs
Access human and automated financial advisory services
Pros
Access to more than 160 no-transaction-fee mutual funds from Vanguard and other companies
Why it's the best for mobile trading: For its advanced and beginner-friendly mobile trading apps.
Key features
Advanced, interactive charts with over 90 indicators, analyst ratings and price targets, earnings estimates, company financials and more on IBKR Mobile
Beginner-friendly trading and investing on its IBKR GlobalTrader and IMPACT mobile trading platforms
Wide range of investment options
Access to global markets
Other winning categories: Best for international trading
Pros
Three mobile trading platforms, including the versatile IBKR Mobile and the beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader
Why it's the best for hands-off investors: For its diverse portfolio mix, access to human financial advisors and robo-specific features like tax-loss harvesting and automatic dividend reinvestment.
Key features
Introduced the world to robo-advisors when it first launched onto the scene in 2010
Numerous curated portfolio options
Tax-loss harvesting, automatic rebalancing and automatic dividend reinvestment
Human advisor access
Pros
Tax-loss harvesting
Automatic rebalancing
Automatic dividend reinvestments
Cons
0.25% annual management fee
$100,000 minimum balance to access its premium service tier and personalized financial planning
Why it's the best for research tools: For its advanced research and analysis tools and premium third-party research reports.
Key features
Extensive research tools, including Schwab Equity Ratings, MSCI ESG ratings, Morningstar ratings, Thomson Reuters ratings, CFRA ratings, Argus ratings and MarketEdge ratings
Premium analyst reports, screeners, market news and stock lists
Dividend history and growth statistics, expected and historical earnings information, a peer and ratios comparison, detailed company financials and time-saving technical analysis summaries
Pros
Access to premium third-party research
Equity ratings, earnings information and technical analysis summaries
Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.
Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.
Methodology: How we choose the best Roth IRA accounts
Finder’s investments experts review 18 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best Roth IRAs for trading and investing.
We analyze each platform based on 147 key metrics we collect directly from brokers and assess each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then score and rank each provider depending on how it performs in each category. If a broker offers a unique, standout feature that’s a key distinguisher between others, the broker is given additional recognition.
How we weigh the overall rating
Category
Weighting
Investment options
25%
Trading platforms and technology
15%
Trading costs
10%
Account fees
10%
Account types and minimums
5%
Customer support
10%
Mobile app ratings and security
2.5%
Features and amenities
20%
IRA match
2.5%
We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.
How do I open a Roth IRA?
Opening an IRA isn’t much different than opening a brokerage account or bank account. With most providers, you can open an IRA online in minutes.
Choose a broker or robo-advisor, and complete a brief application by providing personal information such as your name, address, date of birth and Social Security number. Completed applications are typically approved instantly, though the broker may take a couple days to verify your information. Then, connect a bank account to fund your account or rollover an old 401(k).
What to look for when choosing the best Roth IRA account
Finder’s picks for the best Roth IRA accounts are meant to provide you with a starting point for finding the right broker for your retirement. That said, it’s important to consider your personal preference and individual investing goals too.
Consider the following factors when comparing your options:
Fees. From trading fees to miscellaneous fees, it’s important to understand the cost to trade and invest. Consider which investment products you plan to trade and the fees that apply, but also be mindful of any back-end fees, such as inactivity or transfer fees, that can also eat into your profit.
Tradable assets. Not every IRA custodian offers the same investment options in an IRA as it does in an individual brokerage account. Stocks and ETFs are standard, but what if you want to expand into options, mutual funds or bonds?
Account types. What other account types, in addition to IRAs, does the custodian offer? Consider your other investment needs and how important it is to maintain all your accounts under one roof.
Research and data tools. In-house research and tools simplify investing, as you don’t have to venture elsewhere to make an informed decision about an investment. If you’re a passive index investor, extensive research and analysis tools may not matter all that much. Active stock pickers may feel otherwise.
Mobile app reviews. Mobile trading is more popular than ever, allowing you to trade and invest from anywhere. Check out what current or previous customers say about the platform’s functionality.
Signup bonus. While it may not make sense to choose an IRA custodian solely based on whether or not they offer a signup bonus, a new customer incentive such as a free stock may be enough to help you choose one over another if all else is equal.
Roth vs. traditional IRA: What’s the difference?
Before you choose, you may want to give some thought to what the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs are. The main difference is how they’re taxed: Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, but distributions are taxed. Roth IRAs allow tax-free distributions, but you’ll pay taxes on your contributions and not distributions. If you’re saving and building up gains in the account for a long time, a Roth may give you more in the end.
If you’re saving and building up gains in the account for a long time and think you’ll be in a higher tax bracket when you leave the workforce, a Roth may be a better option. But if a tax deduction in the year in which you made the contribution is more important, then a traditional IRA may be more suitable. Alternatively, open a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA, if you’re eligibile, for a choice of taxable or tax-free contributions and income when you retire. You can’t contribute more than the total contribution limit for that tax year to all your IRAs, and Roth IRAs have specific income limits you need to meet to qualify to open an account.
What Bob thinks about where to hold your Roth IRA:
When choosing where to hold your Roth IRA, one thing you might consider is whether you want to invest in mutual funds. You can generally only buy a mutual fund from its home provider – at least if you want to avoid fees. For example, Fidelity's FZROX is a total stock market mutual fund with a 0.00% expense ratio. If you want to buy this fund, you buy it directly from Fidelity. The same is true for other popular mutual funds.
— Bob Haegele, Personal finance writer and expert
Why invest in an IRA?
An IRA is a fundamental account for retirement savers. Trade most assets just as you would in an individual brokerage account but enjoy valuable tax benefits as you do so — benefits like tax-free or tax-deferred growth on the contributions and investment earnings in your account and tax-deductions or tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Invest up to $7,000 ($8,000 if you’re age 50 or older) in one of these accounts in 2024 and let the tax benefits boost your savings to potentially grow more quickly than in a taxable account.
But according to Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index, not all Americans who buy stocks do it through one of these accounts. Of Americans that invest in stocks, 45% trade and invest through a taxable brokerage account. Only 25% invest through an IRA and take advantage of these valuable tax benefits, while 21% have no IRA at all.
Compare and find the broker that's right for you
Match your experience level with your trading and investing goals to find the right broker for you.
If you're a
And want to
Consider this
Beginner investor
Do most or all of your trading on your mobile device
If you’re a beginner looking to open a Roth IRA, platforms like SoFi Invest and Robinhood make it incredibly easy to start investing and may be the best platforms with which to start a Roth IRA. Meanwhile, big-broker platforms like Fidelity and Charles Schwab offer the most flexibility in terms of investment options and trading tools.
Is a Fidelity Roth IRA good?
A Fidelity Roth IRA is a great choice if you want an account with one of the largest US brokerage firms, with low fees and access to a range of investment options.
What is the safest Roth IRA investment?
More conservative investments include US Treasuries, municipal bonds, money market funds, low-risk dividend-yield stocks, CDs, mutual funds and other index funds.
What is the 5-year rule for Roth IRAs?
You can withdraw your original Roth IRA contributions at any time; however, you must own the account for at least five years before your earnings can be distributed tax-free. Earnings withdrawn before the age of 59 and a half are subject to a 10% penalty.
How much will a Roth IRA grow in 20 years?
How much a Roth IRA will grow in 20 years depends on the initial balance, ongoing contributions and the types of investments in your account.
Matt Miczulski is an investments editor at Finder. With over 450 bylines, Matt dissects and reviews brokers and investing platforms to expose perks and pain points, explores investment products and concepts and covers market news, making investing more accessible and helping readers to make informed financial decisions.
Before joining Finder in 2021, Matt covered everything from finance news and banking to debt and travel for FinanceBuzz. His expertise and analysis on investing and other financial topics has been featured on CBS, MSN, Best Company and Consolidated Credit, among others. Matt holds a BA in history from William Paterson University. See full bio
Matt's expertise
Matt has written 185 Finder guides across topics including:
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finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which finder.com receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. finder.com compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
