MoneyMoodBoard
Best picks · Retirement

Best Solo 401(k) Providers for 2026

By Yinka Olayokun Published Reviewed

Quick Answer

The best Solo 401(k) providers for 2026 charge $0 in setup and annual fees, support Roth contributions, and (for high savers) allow after-tax contributions for the mega-backdoor Roth. The single biggest tradeoff is between free brokerage-hosted plans (no fees, limited features) and prototype-document plans like Solo401k.com (modest fees, every feature including loans and rollovers in).

How we picked

  • $0 setup and $0 annual maintenance fee (or low flat fee)
  • Roth Solo 401(k) option for tax-free growth
  • Supports after-tax contributions for the mega-backdoor Roth
  • Allows incoming rollovers from old 401(k)s and IRAs
  • Provides plan loans (up to 50% of balance, $50k cap)
#1

Free brokerage-hosted Solo 401(k)

Best for: Sole props who don't need loans or after-tax contributions

$0 setup, $0 annual fee, full pre-tax and Roth, covers 80% of what most self-employed savers need.

  • • Setup: $0
  • • Annual fee: $0
  • • Roth: yes
  • • Loans: no
  • • Mega-backdoor: no

Pros

  • Zero ongoing cost
  • Same brokerage as your other accounts
  • Roth Solo 401(k) included

Cons

  • No after-tax contributions (no mega-backdoor)
  • No participant loans
  • No rollover-in for some providers
#2

Custom prototype-document Solo 401(k)

Best for: High earners who want mega-backdoor and loans

Modest annual fee buys after-tax contributions, in-plan Roth conversion, loans, and incoming rollovers.

  • • Setup: ~$500 one-time
  • • Annual fee: ~$125
  • • Mega-backdoor: yes
  • • Loans: yes (up to $50k)

Pros

  • Mega-backdoor unlocks the full $71k cap
  • Loans available for liquidity
  • Flexible amendments

Cons

  • Annual fee
  • More paperwork at setup
#3

Robo-managed Solo 401(k)

Best for: Hands-off freelancers under $250k balance

Asset-allocation done for you, modest annual advisory fee on top of standard fund expenses.

  • • Setup: $0
  • • Advisory fee: 0.25%
  • • Roth: yes
  • • Mega-backdoor: no

Pros

  • No portfolio decisions
  • Auto-rebalance

Cons

  • Advisory fee compounds against returns
  • No mega-backdoor

Why a Solo 401(k) beats a SEP-IRA

Both let self-employed savers shelter large amounts of income, but the Solo 401(k) lets you make the $24,000 employee deferral on top of the 25%-of-net-earnings employer contribution, a SEP-IRA only allows the employer side. For most one-person businesses, the Solo 401(k) shelters more income at the same revenue.

The Solo 401(k) also offers Roth contributions and (with the right provider) the mega-backdoor route to $71,000 of total annual contributions. SEP-IRAs do neither.

What changed for 2026

SECURE 2.0 finalized rules now allow employer Solo 401(k) contributions to be made as Roth, every provider on this list will support Roth-employer contributions by mid-2026. Previously only the employee side could be Roth.

Related quick-reads

More from Retirement

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a Solo 401(k) and a regular 401(k) at a W-2 job?
Yes, but the $24,000 employee deferral is shared across all 401(k) plans you participate in. The employer-side limit is per-plan, so the Solo 401(k) is still useful for sheltering self-employment income on top of W-2 deferrals.
What happens when I hire my first employee?
A Solo 401(k) only covers the owner (and spouse). Once you hire a non-spouse W-2 employee, you must convert to a regular 401(k) within 12 months or terminate the plan.
What's the deadline to set up a Solo 401(k) for 2026?
The plan must be adopted by December 31, 2026. You then have until your tax-filing deadline (with extensions, October 15, 2027) to make the actual 2026 contributions.

Get Weekly Money Tips Straight to Your Inbox

Join thousands of readers getting practical finance advice every week. Free.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.