Standout Roth IRA Accounts for Retirement Investing
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account that you fund with after-tax dollars. While you don't get a tax break now, your contributions and investment earnings grow tax-free.
To open a Roth IRA, you’ll first need to set up an account with a brokerage, bank, or online investment platform. The process typically takes about 15 minutes. Once your account is open, you can fund it with after-tax dollars and start choosing your investments.
To make comparing providers easier, we’ve created a shortlist of Roth IRA options from our partners to help you find an account that fits your goals and comfort level with investing.
NerdWallet, Inc. is not an investment advisor and does not provide advice, brokerage services, or recommendations to buy or sell particular stocks or securities.
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Promotion | Fees | Account minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5.0/5 Excellent for Roth IRA Overall | None no promotion available at this time | $0 no account fees to open a Fidelity retail IRA | $0 no account fees to open a Fidelity retail IRA | |
4.5/5 Excellent for Excellent for general stock trading | None no promotion available at this time | $0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply. | $0 | |
4.6/5 Excellent for advisor access | Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open & fund a new Active Invest account. Limited time offer. Terms & Conditions Apply. | $0 per trade | $0 | |
5.0/5 Reviewed in: Oct. 2025 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | Get a $50 customer bonus when you fund your first taxable investment account | 0.25% management fee | $500 | |
4.2/5 Excellent for passive investing | None no promotion available at this time | $0 per trade for online stocks, ETFs and Vanguard Funds. | $0 |
| Broker | NerdWallet rating | Fees | Account minimum | Promotion | Learn more | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5.0/5 Excellent for Roth IRA Overall | $0 no account fees to open a Fidelity retail IRA | $0 no account fees to open a Fidelity retail IRA | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreon Fidelity's website | ||
4.5/5 Excellent for Excellent for general stock trading | $0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply. | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreon Robinhood's website | ||
4.6/5 Excellent for advisor access | $0 per trade | $0 | Get up to $1,000 in stock when you open & fund a new Active Invest account. Limited time offer. Terms & Conditions Apply. | Learn moreon SoFi Invest®'s website | ||
5.0/5 Reviewed in: Oct. 2025 Period considered: Aug. - Oct. 2025 | 0.25% management fee | $500 | Get a $50 customer bonus when you fund your first taxable investment account | Learn moreon Wealthfront's website AD Paid non-client promotion | ||
4.2/5 Excellent for passive investing | $0 per trade for online stocks, ETFs and Vanguard Funds. | $0 | None no promotion available at this time | Learn moreon Vanguard's website |
What is a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is a type of individual retirement account. The main appeal of a Roth IRA is that you contribute after-tax money, which then grows and can be withdrawn in retirement tax-free.
That tax treatment is one way Roth IRAs differ from traditional IRAs. In traditional IRAs, contributions are tax-deductible in the year they're made. Then, in retirement, withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
How does a Roth IRA work?
You contribute to a Roth IRA using money that has already been taxed. Those contributions can then be invested in stocks, ETFs, bonds or more. Over time, the investments in your Roth IRA could earn a return, growing tax-free. At age 59 ½ (and as long as the account is at least five years old), you can withdraw your contributions and earnings tax-free.
How do I contribute?
You can contribute to a Roth IRA through earned income, such as money earned through a job or a spousal contribution. These are also called direct contributions, and there are limits to how much you can add every year. The contribution limit is $7,000 in 2025 ($8,000 if aged 50 and older). For 2026, the limit is $7,500 ($8,600 if aged 50 and older).
Other ways to add money to your Roth IRA include a 401(k) plan rollover, or a conversion from an existing IRA or other type of retirement plan. There is no cap on rollovers or conversions. They also don’t count towards your annual contribution limit.
To recap our selections...
NerdWallet's Standout Roth IRA Accounts for Retirement Investing- Fidelity Roth IRA: Excellent for Roth IRA Overall
- Robinhood: Excellent for Excellent for general stock trading
- SoFi Active Investing: Excellent for advisor access
- Wealthfront IRA
- Vanguard: Excellent for passive investing