- $0 annual fee and no stock or ETF commissions
- Robo-advisor and financial planning sessions
- Access private credit, venture capital and other alternative asset funds
- Get a 1% IRA Match on contributions and rollovers
Must be a SoFi Plus member at the time a recurring deposit is received into your SoFi Active or Automated investing account to qualify. Bonus calculated on net monthly recurring deposits made via ACH and paid out as Rewards Points. See Rewards Terms of Service. SoFi reserves the right to change or terminate this promotion at any time without notice. See terms and limitations. https://www.sofi.com/sofiplus/invest/#disclaimers
- Get 1%–3% match on contributions, IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers
- Choose your investments or get a recommended portfolio of ETFs
- Get bigger instant deposits, professional research and more with Robinhood Gold
4 Best IRA accounts
- Best for financial guidance: SoFi Invest®
- Best for beginners: Robinhood
- Best for no-fee options trading: Public
- Best for mobile trading: Interactive Brokers
Why trust Finder?
- 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 for financial guidance
SoFi Invest® provides access to credentialed financial planners, a valuable service that often costs hundreds of dollars per session. SoFi Plus members can enjoy as many appointments with financial planners as they like during their eligibility period, while non-SoFi Plus members are limited to one appointment. Get access and connect with a SoFi® financial planner to discuss anything from investment strategies to paying off debt to tax planning. Start with as little as $5 with SoFi's robo-advisor and get a custom portfolio of low-cost ETFs, with recurring deposits and automatic rebalancing.
Meanwhile, hands-on investors can trade stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and alternative asset interval funds 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 per month |
| IRA match | 1% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $0 per month |
| IRA match | 1% |
Best for beginners
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. IRAs that pay matching contributions and 24/5 trading 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. IRA transfers and 401(k) rollovers completed by April 30 earn 2% with Robinhood Gold and 1% without, with no cap. All this on top of fractional share trading, 100% commission-free trades for stocks, ETFs and options, 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 per month |
| IRA match | Up to 3% |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $0 per month |
| IRA match | Up to 3% |
Best for no-fee options trading
Plan for retirement with Public's Traditional, Roth and Rollover IRAs, offering access to stocks, ETFs and options and a 1% match on IRA contributions. Enjoy commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs and options, plus rebates on options trades with no per-contract fees. Unlike many brokers, Public does not use payment for order flow (PFOF) on stocks and ETFs, ensuring your trades prioritize optimal order execution. With Public's Investment Plans, you can set up recurring contributions to a pre-made portfolio or customize your own with up to 20 assets. Plus, earn up to $10,000 with each rollover or transfer.
| Annual fee | $0 per month |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 |
| Annual fee | $0 per month |
|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 |
Best for mobile trading
9 Excellent
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 |
| Annual fee | $0 per year |
| IRA match | N/A |
| Minimum deposit | $0 |
|---|---|
| Retirement account types | Roth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover |
| Annual fee | $0 per year |
| IRA match | N/A |
Methodology: How we choose the best IRA accounts
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.
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.
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.
How do I open an 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 roll over an old 401(k).
What to look for when choosing the best IRA account
Finder’s picks for the best 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.
Traditional IRAs vs. Roth IRAs: What’s the difference?
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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