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Home / Compare / 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? vs 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? vs 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

Both 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? and 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? sit in the Investing & FIRE category. They share an underlying model (compound growth with annual contribution and employer match) but target different outcomes: 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? on one side, 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? on the other.

401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? and 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? comparison illustration

Photo: Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

The two tools at a glance

401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility?

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Use it when

  • Projecting a portfolio value at a future date
  • Stress testing a withdrawal plan in retirement
  • Comparing two contribution rates over decades
Math model. Compound growth with inflation deflation.
Open 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility?

401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

401k vs roth ira, roth ira vs 401k, which is better 401k or roth ira, retirement savings us, 401k roth comparison 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers?

Use it when

  • Projecting a portfolio value at a future date
  • Stress testing a withdrawal plan in retirement
  • Comparing two contribution rates over decades
Math model. Compound growth with inflation deflation.
Open 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

Side by side: every attribute

Attribute401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility?401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?
CategoryInvesting & FIREInvesting & FIRE
Primary input401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return
Primary outputFuture value at retirement, contributions vs growth splitFuture value at retirement, contributions vs growth split
Math modelCompound growth with annual contribution and employer matchCompound growth with annual contribution and employer match
Best forProjecting a 401(k) balance to retirement ageProjecting a 401(k) balance to retirement age
Runs in browserYes, no data leaves your deviceYes, no data leaves your device
Login requiredNoNo
CostFreeFree

How they differ

Under the hood, 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match fed by 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match fed by 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. The two are not substitutes; they answer adjacent questions in your workflow.

Pick 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? when your question is about 401(k) vs traditional ira: workplace plan vs your own ira - higher limits or more flexibility? and your inputs are 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. Pick 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? when the question shifts to 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? and your inputs become 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. If neither matches what you need, the Investing & FIRE category hub lists every tool we have for related questions.

Which one should you use?

Choose 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? if

Your task is long horizon planning and retirement targets and you already have contribution, return, time horizon, inflation. The output you need is a future value, withdrawal amount, retirement age.

Choose 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? if

Your task is long horizon planning and retirement targets and you have contribution, return, time horizon, inflation. The output you need is a future value, withdrawal amount, retirement age.

Neither fits?

Browse the Investing & FIRE hub for related tools, or the Investing & FIRE hub for the other side.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? and 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers??

401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? is designed to answer questions about 401(k) vs traditional ira: workplace plan vs your own ira - higher limits or more flexibility? using 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? is designed for 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? using 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. They are complementary tools that target different inputs and outputs.

When should I use 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility??

Use 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? when your task is projecting a 401(k) balance to retirement age and you need a future value at retirement, contributions vs growth split from 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return.

When should I use 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? instead?

Use 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? when the question is projecting a 401(k) balance to retirement age and your inputs are 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. The result is a future value at retirement, contributions vs growth split.

Are 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? and 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? free?

Yes. Both run entirely in your browser, require no login, and are free to use without limits. Your inputs are not transmitted to any server.

Is one more accurate than the other?

Accuracy depends on the inputs you provide, not on the tool. 401(k) vs Traditional IRA: Workplace plan vs your own IRA - higher limits or more flexibility? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match and is accurate for 401(k) vs traditional ira: workplace plan vs your own ira - higher limits or more flexibility? when its inputs are correct. 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match and is accurate for 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? under the same condition.

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