What's the core difference?

Traditional IRA = tax deduction now, taxed on withdrawals in retirement. Roth IRA = no deduction now, but withdrawals (including all growth) are tax-free in retirement.

When does Roth usually win?

When you expect to be in a similar or higher tax bracket in retirement than today, or you have decades of compounding ahead. Roth also has no RMDs in your lifetime, which helps in tax planning later.

When does Traditional usually win?

When you're in a high tax bracket today and expect to be in a lower bracket in retirement. Pre-tax contributions also reduce current-year AGI, which can preserve eligibility for credits and deductions.

Traditional vs Roth IRA Calculator

Compare Traditional and Roth IRA outcomes side-by-side. Adjust your current tax bracket vs your expected retirement bracket and see which actually leaves you with more spendable money.

All calculators
Savings vs Investing
Debt Payoff
Investment Projection
Emergency Fund
Inflation Power