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Best Solo 401(k) Companies for November 2025

A solo 401(k) is an excellent option for self-employed individuals and small business owners with no employees who are looking to invest toward retirement. The best solo 401(k) accounts offer a wide range of investment options, provide an assortment of helpful account amenities, charge low fees, and more, to help account holders build wealth over the long-term. 

After analysing 14 solo 401(k) providers based on 21 weighted criteria critical to self-employed investors, Investopedia found that Fidelity is the best overall provider of solo 401(k) accounts. Charles Schwab is the best option for those seeking low-fee transactions, E*TRADE’s solo 401(k) offers the best range of account features, and Rocket Dollar provides account holders with the most real estate investment opportunities. 

Best Solo 401(k) Companies

Best Overall : Fidelity Investments


Image shows Fidelity Investments' logo against a white background.

Fidelity

  • Investment Specialty: General
  • Roth Contributions Supported: Yes
  • 401(k) Loans Supported: No

Investopedia’s pick for the best overall self-employed 401(k) plan is Fidelity. The company’s self-employed 401(k) account delivers the best mix of low fees, wide-ranging investment possibilities, and retirement-focused services of all the platforms we reviewed.

Pros
  • Contributions can be made using Fidelity's mobile and online platforms

  • No recurring account fees

  • Over 3,300 no-transaction-fee mutual funds

  • Excellent retirement tools

  • Supports Roth contributions

Cons
  • Some users may want stronger active trading tools

  • Does not support loans

Fidelity, Investopedia’s pick for the best overall online brokerage, also delivered the best overall account for self-employed individuals looking to open a solo 401(k). Account holders have access to $0 commission online US stock and ETF trades as well 3,300 mutual funds. Plus, Fidelity’s solo 401(k) doesn’t have any annual fees, nor does it cost anything to open or close an account. The only catch? If you need a broker to place trades for you, there’s a $32.95 fee.

Fidelity also brings its strong research tools, educational resources, and seamless platforms to the table, making it ideal for both beginner and experienced investors. While Fidelity's solo 401(k) account does not support loans, the plan’s strong focus on retirement investing more than makes up for it. With the added benefit of the platform’s excellent customer support and a reputation for reliability, Fidelity’s Solo 401(k) is Investopedia’s top choice for self-employed individuals looking for a cost-effective and comprehensive retirement solution.

Best for Low Fees : Charles Schwab


Image shows Charles Schwab's logo against a white background.

Charles Schwab

  • Investment Specialty: General
  • Roth Contributions Supported: Yes
  • 401(k) Loans Supported: No

Charles Schwab’s Individual 401(k) Plan is Investopedia's top choice for low fees because it has no opening or maintenance fees, charges no commissions for stocks, ETFs and over 4,000 no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds.

Pros
  • No setup or recurring fees

  • Free stock, ETF, and mutual fund trades

  • Massive mutual fund selection

Cons
  • No solo 401(k) loans

If low fees are your top priority, Charles Schwab’s Solo 401(k) is Investopedia’s top pick. There are no setup or recurring fees, plus you get commission-free trades on stocks, ETFs, and access to 4,000+ no-transaction-fee mutual funds. While it costs $25 to place a trade with the assistance of a broker, that’s less than the fee charged by Fidelity. 

Charles Schwab consistently ranks near the top of our best online broker rankings because it does so many things well. Solo 401(k) customers will especially like Schwab’s industry-leading customer service and educational materials, top-tier trading platforms, and selection of stocks (even fractional shares), ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, options, and futures. While there are no 401(k) loans, Schwab’s recent TD Ameritrade merger now gives customers access to the highly regarded thinkorswim platform.

Best for Account Features : E*TRADE


Image shows E*TRADE's logo against a white background.

E*TRADE

  • Investment Specialty: General
  • Roth Contributions Supported: Yes
  • 401(k) Loans Supported: Yes

Investopedia chose E*TRADE’s offering as the best for customers seeking a variety of account features because, in addition to supporting both traditional individual 401(k) plans and Roth 401(k) plans, it allows customers to take out loans against their 401(k) balance.

Pros
  • Allows 401(k) loans

  • Supports both traditional and Roth contributions

  • Commission-free stock and ETF trades

  • Huge mutual fund selection


Cons
  • High fee for broker-assisted trades

E*TRADE is another broker that Investopedia regularly acknowledges as being among the best apps for traders and investors. The company’s solo 401(k) account is also a standout because customers can choose between a traditional or Roth plan, providing them with flexibility to make pre-tax or post-tax contributions. Plus, unlike many competitors, E*TRADE’s solo 401(k) supports account holders who need to take out a loan if needed.

With no fees to open or maintain the account, commission-free stock and ETF trades, and access to over 6,000 no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds, E*TRADE is also a cost-effective choice. You can trade options, futures, and bonds, or go hands-off with a managed portfolio for an added fee. Active traders will love the Power E*TRADE platform, which is packed with pro-level tools and delivers a slick mobile experience.

Best for Real Estate : Rocket Dollar


Image shows Rocket Dollar's logo against a white background.

 Rocket Dollar

  • Investment Specialty: Checkbook control
  • Roth Contributions Supported: Yes
  • 401(k) Loans Supported: Yes

Rocket Dollar’s solo 401k account is Investopedia’s top choice for real estate investors because it gives customers the ability to invest in anything that is allowed by the IRS, while still enjoying the tax advantages of a solo 401(k) account.

Pros
  • Access to real estate and other alternative investments

  • Supports 401(k) loans

  • Roth contributions supported

  • Premium account comes with powerful features

Cons
  • High monthly and setup fees

Unlike the traditional brokerage platforms discussed so far, Rocket Dollar specializes in self-directed retirement accounts. A key part of its business model is the access it provides to alternative investments in the solo 401(k) account. Self-employed investors can invest in cryptocurrency, private equity, and real estate, including rental properties, fix-and-flip real estate, and land. In fact, the company stands out for its claim to offer access to all investments allowed in a solo 401(k) account by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). 

For such a diverse investment pool, Rocket Dollar does charge a premium relative to its traditional brokerage competition. The Gold account costs $30 per month after a $600 setup fee and includes additional features such as no Custodian sign-off on transactions, no assets under management (AUM) fees, an IRA Trust checking account (LLC available), and more. For investors who want granular control over non-traditional investments for retirement, Rocket Dollar’s support for real estate purchases with an account checkbook could make it the right choice for your investments.

Why You Should Trust Us

Investopedia collected data on 21 criteria that are critical to investors, from 9 of the top solo 401(k) providers. We used this data to review each platform for investable assets, costs, account amenities, and other key features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews and ensure our readers make the right decision for their investing needs. Investopedia has been helping readers find investing tools and products since it launched in 1999

How We Chose the Best Solo 401(k) Companies

Investopedia is dedicated to providing investors with unbiased, comprehensive reviews and ratings of solo 401(k) providers. Our review of the best solo 401(k) companies is the result of a thorough evaluation of four categories and 21 criteria that are critical to readers choosing the right solo 401(k). We used this information to develop a comprehensive rubric for evaluating a total of 9 solo 401(k) companies based on their available investments, account amenities, customer service, and other features to help our readers make the right decision for their needs.

Our team of subject matter experts and data collectors developed quantitative weights to score each company based on a set of categories that are important to students taking online technical analysis courses. The following category weights were used to rate each course: 

  • Account Amenities: 36.00%
  • Pricing and Fees: 32.00%
  • Product Selection: 21.00%
  • Customer Service: 11.00%

We used this data to develop a comprehensive rubric for evaluating each platform based on their brokerage integrations, robo-advisor capabilities, checkbook controls, and several other features, to help our readers choose the right solo 401(k). For each company, Investopedia's team of researchers and full-time editorial staff analyzed data obtained directly from company websites and representatives. Our data collection and scoring process ran from March 23 to March 26, 2025.

Disclosures

**$0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and options (+ $0.65 per contract fee) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list of ETFs subject to this service fee [here]. There is an Options Regulatory Fee that applies to both option buy and sell transactions. The fee is subject to change. Other exclusions and conditions may apply. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.**

Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read [Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options]. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request.


There is an Options Regulatory Fee that applies to both option buy and sell transactions. The fee is subject to change. See Fidelity.com/commissions for details.

Article Sources
Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.
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  7. Rocket Dollar. "What It Means To Have ‘Checkbook Control’ of Your IRA or 401(k)."

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  9. Rocket Dollar. "Gold."