PickedFinance
Comparison guide

Best Roth IRA accounts

Where you open a Roth IRA matters less than funding it, but fees and minimums differ. We read each firm’s Roth IRA and pricing pages on Nov 10, 2026.

By PickedFinance Editorial TeamLast updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Disclosure: links on this page currently go straight to each provider’s own site, and we don’t earn a commission from them. If we join a provider’s affiliate program later, that will never change which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.

How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Short answer: Fidelity, Schwab and E*TRADE all showed no account fees or minimums for a Roth IRA and $0 online stock and ETF trades on Nov 10, 2026. Vanguard also charges $0 for online stock and ETF trades but may charge a $25 annual account fee unless you choose e-delivery. The 2026 IRA limit is $7,500 ($8,600 at 50+).

Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (each rate shows the day we checked it on the provider’s page)
PickProductBest forKey terms
Robo option with no fee on small balancesFidelity brokerage accountSmall balances and a hands-off option$0 account fee; $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades
No minimum, big fund lineupSchwab brokerage accountA full-service broker with no minimum$0 minimum; $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades
Options tradersE*TRADE brokerage accountActive tradersNo minimums or maintenance fees; $0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock trades

We read each firm’s Roth IRA page and pricing page, and the IRS’s[10][11] Roth IRA and contribution-limit pages, on Nov 10, 2026. We don’t score brokers, and we have no affiliate relationship with any firm here. Robinhood isn’t included because its fee schedule page returned “not found” when we checked. This isn’t tax advice.

Our picks

Robo option with no fee on small balances
Fidelity brokerage account
No account fees or minimums; Fidelity Go $0 under $25,000; 0.35% a year at $25,000+ as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
No minimum, big fund lineup
Schwab brokerage account
$0 minimum deposit; online stock and ETF trades $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit Schwab (opens in a new tab)
No account minimums or maintenance fees; options $0.65 per contract ($0.50 at 30+ trades a quarter) as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit E*TRADE (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

Roth IRAs on each firm’s pages, Nov 10, 2026
FirmAccount feeMinimum to openOnline stock and ETF tradesOptions
Fidelity$0$0$0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026
SchwabNot stated on the Roth IRA page$0$0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026
Vanguard$25 annual account service fee (waived with e-delivery or $1 million in qualifying assets) as of Nov 10, 2026Not stated on the Roth IRA page$0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026Not checked
E*TRADENo maintenance feesNone$0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026$0.65 per contract ($0.50 at 30+ trades a quarter) as of Nov 10, 2026

The picks in detail

Robo option with no fee on small balances

1. Fidelity brokerage account

Best for: Small balances and a hands-off option

Fidelity’s Roth IRA page listed $0 account fees and a $0 minimum for its retail IRAs, with investing from $1. If you want it managed, Fidelity Go needs no minimum to open (invest with as little as $10) and charges $0 under $25,000; 0.35% a year at $25,000+ as of Nov 10, 2026. Online US stock and ETF trades are $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026. Fidelity’s page says you must be 18 or older to open one.

Key terms: $0 account fee; $0 (online US stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades Fidelity terms

Pros

  • No account fees or minimums
  • Robo option free under $25,000
  • Fractional shares from $1

Cons

  • Fidelity Go charges 0.35% at $25,000+
Visit Fidelity (opens in a new tab)
No minimum, big fund lineup

2. Schwab brokerage account

Best for: A full-service broker with no minimum

Schwab’s Roth IRA page says you can open an account with a $0 minimum deposit and pay $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026 for online listed stock and ETF trades, regardless of balance or how often you trade. Options are $0.65 per contract (online options) as of Nov 10, 2026. Schwab notes the $0 commission doesn’t apply to OTC equities, transaction-fee mutual funds, futures, fixed income or foreign-exchange trades.

Key terms: $0 minimum; $0 (online listed stocks and ETFs) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades Schwab terms

Pros

  • $0 minimum deposit
  • Same pricing at any balance

Cons

  • Exceptions to $0 commissions listed in Schwab’s pricing guide
Visit Schwab (opens in a new tab)
Best for Investors who mainly want Vanguard funds

3. Vanguard Brokerage Account

Best for: Investors who mainly want Vanguard funds

Vanguard charges $0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 for online stock and ETF trades. Vanguard Brokerage may charge a $25 annual account service fee, which it doesn’t charge to clients who choose e-delivery of statements and other documents or who have at least $1 million in qualifying assets. Its Roth IRA page didn’t state an opening minimum, so we don’t list one.

Key terms: $0 (online stock and ETF trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock and ETF trades; $25 annual account service fee (waived with e-delivery or $1 million in qualifying assets) as of Nov 10, 2026 Vanguard terms

Pros

  • $0 online stock and ETF trades
  • Fee avoidable with e-delivery

Cons

  • $25 fee if you keep paper delivery
  • Minimum not stated on the page
Visit Vanguard (opens in a new tab)
Options traders

4. E*TRADE brokerage account

Best for: Active traders

E*TRADE’s Roth IRA page lists no account minimums or maintenance fees and $0 online commissions for stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. Options are $0.65 per contract ($0.50 at 30+ trades a quarter) as of Nov 10, 2026. Its page notes the $0 commission excludes OTC, foreign stock, large block, futures and fixed income trades.

Key terms: No minimums or maintenance fees; $0 (US exchange-listed stock and options trades) as of Nov 10, 2026 stock trades E*TRADE terms

Pros

  • Lower options price for frequent traders
  • No minimums

Cons

  • Commission exceptions apply to some trades
Visit E*TRADE (opens in a new tab)

2026 Roth IRA rules from the IRS

For 2026, the IRS[10][11] caps total contributions to all your traditional and Roth IRAs at $7,500 ($8,600 if you’re 50 or older), or your taxable compensation if less. Roth contributions phase out at modified AGI of $153,000–$168,000 for single filers and $242,000–$252,000 for married couples filing jointly. Roth IRAs have no required minimum distributions while the owner is alive. See Roth vs. traditional IRA for the full comparison.

Is a Roth IRA at a broker protected?

Broker accounts aren’t FDIC-insured. SIPC[12] protects customers of a failed member brokerage up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash, if securities and cash are missing. It doesn’t protect against investment losses.

Who should skip this

  • Your income is above the Roth phase-out. You can’t contribute directly; read the IRS[10][11] rules or ask a tax professional.
  • You may need the money within a few years. Fidelity notes that before age 59½ you may owe a 10% early-withdrawal penalty on earnings unless an exception applies; keep short-term money in insured savings.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I put in a Roth IRA in 2026?
The IRS[10][11] limit is $7,500 across all your IRAs ($8,600 if you’re 50 or older), or your taxable compensation if less, and Roth eligibility phases out at higher incomes.
Do any of these charge to open a Roth IRA?
Fidelity, Schwab and E*TRADE showed no minimum to open on Nov 10, 2026. Vanguard may charge a $25 annual account service fee unless you choose e-delivery.
Can I have a robo-advisor manage my Roth IRA?
Yes, many firms offer it. Fidelity Go, for example, has no minimum and no advisory fee under $25,000. See our robo-advisor comparison.
Do Roth IRAs have required minimum distributions?
Not for the original owner. Fidelity, Schwab and E*TRADE all note that Roth IRAs don’t require RMDs during your lifetime; inherited Roth IRAs have different rules.
Do you earn money from these brokers?
No. We have no affiliate relationship with any firm on this page.

Sources

Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.

  1. Fidelity: Roth IRA (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  2. Schwab: Roth IRA (schwab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  3. Vanguard: Roth IRA (investor.vanguard.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  4. E*TRADE: Roth IRA (us.etrade.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  5. Fidelity: Commissions, margin rates and fees (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  6. Fidelity: Fidelity Go overview (fidelity.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  7. Schwab: Pricing (schwab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  8. Vanguard: Brokerage accounts (investor.vanguard.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  9. E*TRADE: Pricing and rates (us.etrade.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  10. IRS: Roth IRAs (irs.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  11. IRS: Retirement topics — IRA contribution limits (irs.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  12. SIPC: What SIPC protects (sipc.org, checked Nov 10, 2026)
best of

Best brokerage accounts for beginners

Most large brokers now charge $0 to trade US stocks and ETFs online, so for a beginner the differences are in minimums, fractional shares, account fees and how easy it is to start small. We read each firm’s own pricing page on Nov 10, 2026.

guide

Roth vs. traditional IRA

Both IRAs share one contribution limit. The difference is when you pay tax: a traditional IRA may give you a deduction now and taxes withdrawals later; a Roth IRA gives no deduction now but qualified withdrawals are tax-free.