Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA Calculator (2026)

This calculator compares what you would keep after tax with a Roth IRA and with a Traditional IRA. A Roth is funded with money you have already paid tax on, grows tax-free and has no RMDs for you. A Traditional IRA gives you a tax deduction now at your current rate, but withdrawals in retirement are taxed as ordinary income. For the Traditional side, the calculator assumes you invest the tax you save each year in a taxable account that earns 85% of the IRA’s return. It does not check the income limits for Roth contributions or Traditional deductions.