An individual retirement account (IRA) is a staple investment account in the US, giving retirement savers valuable tax advantages to save for life after work. Even if you already have a 401(k) through your employer, you can open an IRA that may offer stronger benefits.
Below is a curated list of five of the best online IRA accounts of 2024 and where they shine brightest, according to Finder’s analysis.
SoFi IRA
Finder score
SoFi Invest is one of the only brokers in the industry that offers unlimited, complimentary access to certified financial planners, a service that can cost you several hundred dollars a session. As a SoFi customer, these consultations come at no additional cost.
Connect with a SoFi financial planner and discuss anything from investment strategies to paying off debt to tax planning. Meanwhile, its robo-advisor is available with no management fees — another industry rarity. Trade stocks, ETFs, options and crypto with a broker that makes investing approachable and professional financial guidance accessible.
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $0 |
JP Morgan Personal Advisors
Finder score
| Minimum deposit | $25,000 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional |
Vanguard IRA
Finder score
One of the most trusted names in the industry, Vanguard's history dates back to when it launched its first mutual fund back in 1929. Today, Vanguard stands out for its vast low-cost fund collection that keep long-term investors sticking around.
With its unique investor-owned model, Vanguard fund owners get more than a collection of index funds, actively managed funds, target retirement funds and environmental, social and corporate governance-focused funds. Owning these funds means you own Vanguard.
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP, Spousal, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $25 |
Acorns Later
Finder score
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP |
| Annual fee | $3 |
Interactive Brokers IRA
Finder score
In addition to receiving high marks from both Apple and Android users, Interactive Brokers' (IBKR) main mobile trading platform, IBKR Mobile, offers the powerful trading tools that many brokers reserve for their web and desktop trading platforms. These include advanced, interactive charts with over 90 indicators, analyst ratings and price targets, earnings estimates, company financials and more. In other words, there's little you can't do with IBKR Mobile. What's more, Interactive Brokers offers the more beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader and IMPACT mobile trading platforms for those looking for a more simplified investing experience.
IBKR Mobile is the most feature-rich mobile platform according to Finder's analysis, while IBKR GlobalTrader is a solid option for beginners. Tack on its wide range of investment options, low trading costs and access to global markets and you can see why IBKR is not only the best IRA for mobile trading but also one of the best brokerage accounts on the market.
Other winning categories: Best for international trading
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover |
Robinhood Retirement
Finder score
It wasn't just its offering of commission-free trades that led Robinhood to transform the way people buy and sell stocks over the past decade but also its beginner-friendly mobile app with its intuitive design and agile interface, which simplified investing for the masses. Nothing's changed on that front. Expanded investment options, 24/5 trading and IRAs that pay matching contributions are just some of the upgrades Robinhood's made since first launching.
Robinhood's launch of its IRA matching contributions is yet another innovative product that keeps it steps ahead of other brokers. Earn up to a 3% match on annual contributions with Robinhood Gold — or 1% without — while all IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers earn 1%, with no cap. All this on top of fractional share trading, 100% commission-free trades, instant deposits and a user-friendly platform that makes investing a breeze. Robinhood has lots to offer investors looking to build a retirement portfolio, and it'll reward you for making the move.
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $0 |
| IRA match | Up to 3% |
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Finder is not an adviser 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.
Finder’s investments experts review 18 brokers available on the market to narrow down the best 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.
See how we weigh the overall rating
| Investment options | Trading platforms | Trading costs | Account fees | Account types | Customer support | Mobile app reviews | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21% | 12% | 9% | 13% | 5% | 7% | 8% | 25% |
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.
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 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).
Before you open an IRA, you may want to consider the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs.
The main difference is how they’re taxed: Contributions to traditional IRAs are tax-deductible, but distributions in retirement are taxed. Roth IRAs, on the other hand, allow tax-free distributions in retirement, but you need to pay taxes when you make your contributions.
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.
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