Roth vs Traditional Calculator
Which retirement account saves you more?
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Compare Roth vs Traditional
Enter your current and expected retirement income, contribution amount, and time horizon to see which account type results in more after-tax retirement wealth.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Roth better than Traditional?
Roth tends to win when you expect your tax rate in retirement to be higher than today — common for younger workers in lower brackets. Traditional tends to win when your current rate is higher than your expected retirement rate.
What about tax-free growth?
If tax rates stay the same, Roth and Traditional produce identical after-tax results. The advantage of Roth comes from the possibility of rates increasing, the flexibility of tax-free withdrawals, and no required minimum distributions.
What are the 2025 contribution limits?
IRA: $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+). 401(k): $23,500 ($31,000 if 50+). These limits apply to total contributions across Roth and Traditional of the same type.
Roth vs Traditional Retirement Calculator
Should you contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA/401(k)? This calculator models the tax impact of pre-tax vs after-tax contributions based on your current income, expected retirement income, and investment timeline.