Best IRA Companies in 2026: 9 Companies Compared

Fidelity is our pick for most IRA savers because it removes the common barriers. There is $0 minimum to open an IRA, $0 commission on online stock and ETF trades, and a broad fund lineup that includes low-cost index funds and target-date funds for hands-off savers. Its planning tools help you model retirement goals, and its research covers funds, ETFs, and stocks in depth.

The breadth is also the learning curve. A beginner opening Fidelity will see many menus, account types, and fund choices, so start with a single diversified fund or a target-date fund if you want simplicity. Check fund expense ratios, because those ongoing costs matter more over decades than a $0 commission. For most savers, though, Fidelity offers the widest choice at the lowest friction.

Charles Schwab is a close second and the best pick if you want in-person help. It offers $0 minimums, $0 stock and ETF commissions, and a branch network alongside phone and online support, which suits savers who prefer to talk through an account opening or a rollover. Its education materials are clear, and its index funds are competitively priced.

Managed investing through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios needs a higher minimum than opening a self-directed IRA, so hands-off savers with a small starting balance should check that threshold first. For a self-directed IRA, Schwab matches Fidelity on the basics, and the choice between them often comes down to which platform you find easier to use.

Vanguard built its reputation on low-cost index investing, and that remains its strength. You can open an IRA with $0, buy Vanguard ETFs with no minimum beyond the share price, and use a target-date fund for a diversified, automatically adjusting portfolio. For a saver who wants to keep costs low and avoid frequent trading, Vanguard is hard to fault.

The catch is fund minimums. While ETFs have no fund minimum, many Vanguard mutual funds still require $1,000 to $3,000, so small savers should start with ETFs or check the current minimum for the exact fund they want. Vanguard trading tools are also simpler than rivals, which is fine for long-term investors but less suited to active traders.

SoFi suits savers who want to manage an IRA mainly from a phone. It offers no account minimum and no annual fee for its IRA, self-directed stock and ETF investing, and an automated portfolio option for hands-off savers. The app is clean, account opening is quick, and the wider SoFi platform covers banking and lending alongside investing.

Research and fund choice are thinner than at Fidelity, Schwab, or Vanguard, so active investors may feel limited. The automated option also carries an advisory fee, so check the current rate before choosing it over a self-directed index fund. For a simple, app-first IRA, SoFi is a credible and low-friction choice.

Robinhood is the trading-first option in this list. It offers $0 commissions, a simple app, and an IRA with a match offer on eligible contributions for some plans, subject to terms and holding periods. For a saver who wants to pick individual stocks and ETFs inside an IRA at low cost, it is easy to use.

Read the match terms carefully, because eligibility, caps, and holding requirements affect whether the match is worth it for you. Robinhood also offers less retirement planning, fund research, and advice than Fidelity or Schwab. Choose it for self-directed trading, not as a replacement for a planning-led provider if you want guidance.

Betterment is the hands-off pick for savers who do not want to choose funds. You answer questions about goals and risk, Betterment builds and rebalances an ETF portfolio, and its planning tools show whether you are on track for retirement. The Digital plan has no account minimum, which makes it easy to start.

The cost is an advisory fee, with a monthly fee for small balances that do not meet recurring deposit conditions, so check the current fee schedule for your balance. You also give up direct stock picking, because Betterment manages portfolios, not individual trades. For a saver who wants automation and planning without fund research, that trade is worthwhile.

Wealthfront is similar to Betterment in purpose: automated investing for people who want a managed portfolio without choosing funds. It offers rebalancing, tax-loss harvesting where eligible, and planning tools that project retirement outcomes. Its interface is clean, and its automated approach suits long-term savers who prefer to set a plan and leave it alone.

An advisory fee applies, and automated investing needs a minimum balance, so small savers should check the current threshold. Like Betterment, Wealthfront manages portfolios rather than offering direct stock picking. Choose between Betterment and Wealthfront on fee, planning tools, and which interface you prefer, because their core job is the same.

Merrill, from Bank of America, suits savers who already bank with Bank of America and want investing in the same ecosystem. It offers a self-directed IRA with $0 minimum, no annual fee listed, and $0 stock and ETF commissions, plus a guided investing option for hands-off savers. Preferred Rewards links can add benefits for banking customers, subject to eligibility.

If you do not bank with Bank of America, Merrill offers less reason to choose it over Fidelity or Schwab, because its core IRA terms are similar. Full advice also costs extra. For existing Bank of America customers who want one login for banking and retirement saving, Merrill is a convenient and competitive choice.

E*TRADE, from Morgan Stanley, closes the list as a strong self-directed option. It offers $0 minimum, no annual fee, and $0 stock and ETF commissions, alongside trading tools and research that suit active investors. Its IRA covers Traditional, Roth, Rollover, and SEP types, so it fits most retirement situations.

For a saver who only wants a single target-date fund and no trading, ETRADE platform depth is more than needed, and Fidelity or Vanguard may feel simpler. For a saver who wants to trade stocks and ETFs inside an IRA with strong tools, ETRADE is a credible alternative to Fidelity and Schwab.