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9 best IRA accounts of 2024 if you’re saving for retirement

Our picks of the best IRA accounts for beginners, options traders, hands-off investors and more.

You’re about to see some the best 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 IRA providers to invest for my retirement.

With that, it’s time to reveal our picks of the best IRA accounts.

Our top picks for IRA accounts

Our pick for transfer bonus

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Our pick for educational content

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Promoted for automatic investing

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9 best IRA accounts

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 overall

Fidelity IRA

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover, Custodial
Annual fee$0

Best for financial guidance

SoFi IRA

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover
Annual fee$0
IRA match1%

Best for beginners

Robinhood Retirement

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, Rollover
Annual fee$0
IRA matchUp to 3%

Best for options trading

Tastytrade IRA

4.3
★★★★★

Finder score

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover, Beneficiary Traditional, Beneficiary Roth
Annual fee$0
IRA matchN/A

Best for mutual fund investing

Vanguard IRA

4
★★★★★

Finder score

Automated investment management with human support
Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Spousal, Rollover
Annual fee$25

Best for mobile trading

Interactive Brokers IRA

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Pro-grade mobile trading tools
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Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover
Annual fee$0

Best for hands-off investors

Betterment

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$10
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover, Inherited

Best custodial IRA account

E*TRADE IRA

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, Rollover, Beneficiary Traditional
Annual fee$0

Best for research tools

Charles Schwab

4.5
★★★★★

Finder score

Read review
Minimum deposit$0
Retirement account typesRoth, Traditional, SEP, Rollover, Custodial, SIMPLE
Annual fee$0

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 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

CategoryWeighting
Investment options25%
Trading platforms and technology15%
Trading costs10%
Account fees10%
Account types and minimums5%
Customer support10%
Mobile app ratings and security2.5%
Features and amenities20%
IRA match2.5%

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 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?

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.

A photo of Bob Haegele

What Bob suggests for long-term investors:

In theory, it makes sense to contribute more to a Roth IRA now if you think income tax rates will go up in the future, as you pay taxes now and not later. In reality, we can't reliably predict what will happen with income tax rates in the future. But a Roth may still be better because you don't pay taxes on investment earnings. We can't say the same for traditional IRAs.

— Bob Haegele, Personal finance writer and expert

Why invest in an IRA?

Investing through an IRA up to the $7,000 ($8,000 if you’re age 50 or older) limit in 2024 can help grow your retirement savings at a potentially quicker pace than if you were to invest that same $7,000 in a taxable brokerage account. That’s because IRA contributions and earnings grow tax-free or tax-deferred and you can enjoy tax-deductions or tax-free withdrawals in retirement, depending on which IRA type you go with — traditional IRA or Roth IRA. Plus, trade most assets in an IRA just as you would in an individual brokerage account.

But not all Americans who buy stocks do it through one of these accounts, Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index shows. 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.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best type of IRA to have?

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which IRA type is best for you. A traditional IRA might be best if you want an immediate tax break and want to postpone paying taxes on your money until you’re in retirement. A Roth IRA might be best if you want you’re money to grow tax-free and want tax-free withdrawals in retirement.

What is the best IRA to avoid taxes?

Unfortunately, no IRA will let you avoid taxes. You’ll have to decide whether you want to pay taxes now or in retirement.

Which investments are best for IRAs?

Choosing the best investments for your IRA account depends on your risk tolerance and how close you are to retirement. For those with a higher risk tolerance, you may choose to invest in stocks in the volatile tech sector, whereas those with a lower risk tolerance might choose to invest in fixed income (bonds) or less volatile dividend stocks and ETFs.

If you don’t want to have to think too deeply about how to invest in your IRA, you may want to open an IRA with a bank or platform that offers a robo-advisory service — or a service that selects assets for you to invest in and automatically rebalances your portfolio according to your risk tolerance.

Where is the safest place to put an IRA?

Banks, registered brokers and other financial institutions that are IRS-approved typically provide the safest place to put an IRA. If you hold an IRA at an FDIC-insured bank, any bank deposit products in your IRA, such as a certificate of deposit, is insured up to $250,000 in the event the bank goes under. Meanwhile, SIPC-registered brokers insure customers up to $500,000 in cash and securities per account.

What is the best way to fund an IRA?

The best way to fund an IRA is by cash, check or online transfer from your bank. If you have an IRA at another financial institution, you can also roll over your funds into a new IRA.

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.

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Laura Adams's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings and reviewed by Laura Adams, a member of Finder's Editorial Review Board.
Matt Miczulski's headshot
Written by

Editor, Investments

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 208 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Trading and investing
  • Broker and trading platform reviews
  • Money management

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