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The Best Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

Five US providers for opening a Traditional or Roth IRA, compared on costs, choice, tools and ease of use.

Last updated Jul 3, 2026

An IRA is a tax-advantaged account for investing toward retirement, and where you open one affects the fees you pay, the funds you can hold and the planning tools you get. We compared five established US providers on account and fund costs, investment choice, retirement planning tools, and ease of use. This is general information to help you compare providers, not investment or tax advice; contribution limits and tax treatment are set by the IRS and depend on your situation, and investing carries risk of loss. Every commercial link on this page is disclosed and never changes the ranking.

  1. 1

    Fidelity IRA

    Our pick

    A no-fee IRA with a huge fund selection, strong retirement tools and zero-expense-ratio index funds.

    9.2
    / 10

    Pros

    • + No IRA account fees and no minimum to open Traditional or Roth
    • + Zero-expense-ratio Fidelity index funds available
    • + Comprehensive retirement calculators and planning tools

    Cons

    • − Wide platform can feel dense for a first-time retirement saver
    • − Advanced tools sit across separate platforms and portals
    • − No direct crypto in a standard IRA brokerage account
    From $0.00
    Visit Fidelity IRA
  2. 2

    Vanguard IRA

    Best value

    A retirement-focused IRA built around some of the lowest-cost index funds in the industry.

    8.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + Industry-low expense ratios on index and target-date funds
    • + Target-date retirement funds simplify long-term allocation
    • + Deep focus on retirement and long-term goal planning

    Cons

    • − Dated website and app compared with newer platforms
    • − Account-service fee applies unless you opt into e-delivery
    • − Limited tools for anyone wanting active or short-term strategies
    From $0.00
    Visit Vanguard IRA
  3. 3

    Charles Schwab IRA

    A full-service IRA with no account fees, broad fund choice and solid retirement planning resources.

    8.7
    / 10

    Pros

    • + No account minimum or maintenance fee on IRAs
    • + Broad fund lineup including low-cost Schwab index funds
    • + Solid retirement calculators and educational content

    Cons

    • − Experience split across legacy Schwab and thinkorswim systems
    • − Some tools feel dated for a mobile-first saver
    • − Depth of choice can overwhelm brand-new retirement investors
    From $0.00
    Visit Charles Schwab IRA
  4. 4

    E*TRADE IRA

    An IRA with a capable trading platform, wide investment choice and no account minimum.

    8.3
    / 10

    Pros

    • + No account minimum and $0 online US stock and ETF commissions
    • + Large selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds
    • + Capable Power E*TRADE platform for more hands-on savers

    Cons

    • − Retirement planning tools are less deep than Fidelity or Vanguard
    • − Broker-assisted trades and some funds carry additional fees
    • − Platform breadth can be more than a passive saver needs
    From $0.00
    Visit E*TRADE IRA
  5. 5

    Merrill Edge IRA

    An IRA with no account fee and tight Bank of America integration and rewards perks.

    8.0
    / 10

    Pros

    • + No annual fee or minimum, with $0 online stock and ETF trades
    • + Tight integration with Bank of America and Preferred Rewards
    • + Access to BofA Global Research within the platform

    Cons

    • − Fund and asset selection narrower than the largest brokers
    • − Best value depends on holding Bank of America relationships
    • − Retirement tools less extensive than Fidelity or Vanguard
    From $0.00
    Visit Merrill Edge IRA

Side-by-side

The Best Retirement Accounts (IRAs) — score by criterion for each product.
Product Account & Fund Costs Investment Choice Retirement Planning Tools Ease of Use Overall
Fidelity IRA 9.5 9.2 9.2 8.4 9.2
Vanguard IRA 9.3 8.4 8.6 7.4 8.7
Charles Schwab IRA 9.0 8.8 8.4 7.8 8.7
E*TRADE IRA 8.6 8.6 7.8 8.0 8.3
Merrill Edge IRA 8.4 7.8 7.6 8.0 8.0
How we scored this

Each provider is scored 0–10 on four weighted criteria: account and fund costs (weight 3), investment choice (2), retirement planning tools (2) and ease of use (1), with the overall being the weighted average. Every provider listed is registered with the SEC and is a member of FINRA and SIPC; IRA rules and contribution limits are governed by the IRS. Ranks are our independent editorial verdict and are not influenced by any affiliate or referral payout. Nothing here is tax or investment advice; consider your own circumstances or a licensed professional before deciding.