Best Employee Fiduciary Alternatives in 2026
The top Employee Fiduciary alternatives are Ameritas Retirement Plans, Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services and Human Interest: 13 401(k) software our editors would look at instead of Employee Fiduciary, in our ranking order.
Employee Fiduciary: A compliance-focused retirement plan service with clear annual fees and payroll connections. Where it falls short: standard 401(k) carries a $1,500 annual base fee.
Switching from Employee Fiduciary? For most 401(k) software buyers the best Employee Fiduciary alternative is Ameritas Retirement Plans, built for organizations seeking broad retirement plan administration. On a budget, Betterment starts at $5/mo. Betterment has a free plan, which Employee Fiduciary does not.
Why People Look for an Employee Fiduciary Alternative
- Standard 401(k) carries a $1,500 annual base fee
- Both annual plans also charge 0.08% of plan assets for custody
- Access is web-only
- No free plan — 1 of the alternatives below has it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallAmeritas Retirement Plans9.3
Organizations seeking broad retirement plan administration
Visit Ameritas Retirement Plans - Lowest priceBetterment6.5
Paid plans from $5/mo
Visit Betterment - Best free optionBetterment6.5
Has a free plan (Employee Fiduciary has none)
Visit Betterment
All 13 Employee Fiduciary Alternatives, Ranked
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
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Best forOrganizations seeking broad retirement plan administration
- Better than Employee Fiduciary:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 8.4
Broad retirement-plan administration with enrollment, payroll, fiduciary and participant services.
- Employee enrollment
- Compliance support
- Participant mobile app
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Ameritas -
Best forMid-market and enterprise employers
- Better than Employee Fiduciary:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 8.4
A broad 401(k) service for employers seeking administration, compliance support, and participant tools.
- Employee enrollment
- Compliance support
- Participant mobile app
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Charles Schwab -
Best forSmall businesses needing payroll connectivity
- Better than Employee Fiduciary:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 8.4
Payroll-connected retirement plan administration with tiered compliance support.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Human Interest -
Best forSmall businesses wanting simple managed 401(k)s
- Better than Employee Fiduciary:
- Editor score 8.6 vs 8.4
Guideline combines 401(k) administration, payroll automation, compliance and managed portfolios.
- Employee enrollment
- Compliance support
- Participant mobile app
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Guideline -
Best forLow-cost plans with automated contributions
A flexible 401(k) platform with plans starting at $45 per month.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Vestwell -
Best forSmall employers preferring Merrill-managed plans
A focused small-business 401(k) with managed administration and ACH contributions.
- Employee enrollment
- Compliance support
- Participant mobile app
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Merrill -
Best forEmployers needing multiple retirement plan types
A broad retirement-plan service covering four plan types with web and mobile access.
- Participant mobile app
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Transamerica -
Best forSmall and mid-market employers needing essentials
Workplace plan setup, administration, and participant account access for small and mid-market employers.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Ubiquity -
Best forEmployers seeking E*TRADE 401(k) support
401(k) services pair employer administration support with participant account access.
7.0/10★★★★☆Visit E*TRADE -
Best forMid-market and enterprise benefits enrollment programs
A benefits enrollment decision tool, not core 401(k) administration software.
6.8/10★★★☆☆Visit ADP -
Best forIndividuals seeking retirement investing tools
- Better than Employee Fiduciary:
- Free plan
A personal investing and retirement-planning platform, not employer 401(k) administration software.
6.5/10★★★☆☆Visit Betterment -
Best forCompanies managing equity compensation instead of 401(k)s
Equity plan administration for companies managing stock compensation, not 401(k)s.
6.2/10★★★☆☆Contact Empower -
Best forMid-market and enterprise employers
Workplace retirement plan services for mid-market and enterprise employers.
6.0/10★★★☆☆Visit site
Employee Fiduciary Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Employee Fiduciary?
Ameritas Retirement Plans: #1 in our 401(k) Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. Broad retirement-plan administration with enrollment, payroll, fiduciary and participant services.
Is there a free alternative to Employee Fiduciary?
Yes. Betterment has a free plan or a free tier.
What is the cheapest paid alternative to Employee Fiduciary?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Betterment starts lowest, at $5/mo.
Why do people look for Employee Fiduciary alternatives?
Standard 401(k) carries a $1,500 annual base fee; Both annual plans also charge 0.08% of plan assets for custody; Access is web-only.
How do I switch from Employee Fiduciary?
Export your data from Employee Fiduciary (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Employee Fiduciary.
How to Switch from Employee Fiduciary
- Export your data from Employee Fiduciary (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Employee Fiduciary.
Employee Fiduciary vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Plan types | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Employee Fiduciary | No | $500/yr | Traditional 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Solo 401(k), 403(b) | 8.4 |
| 1 | Ameritas Retirement Plans | 401(k); profit-sharing; multiple employer (MEP); pooled employer (PEP); money purchase; ERISA 403(b); solo 401(k); 457(b); prevailing-wage 401(k); defined benefit; cash balance; governmental; safe harbor 401(k) | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services | No | 401(k); defined contribution; ESOP; profit-sharing; money purchase; defined benefit; nonqualified deferred compensation | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Human Interest | No | $80/mo | 401(k), 403(b) retirement plans | 8.8 |
| 4 | Guideline | No | Traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Profit Sharing, Solo 401(k) | 8.6 | |
| 5 | Vestwell | No | $45/mo | 401(k), 403(b), profit-sharing, cash-balance plans | 8.2 |
| 6 | Merrill Small Business 401(k) | No | $95/mo | 401(k); Roth 401(k); Safe Harbor 401(k) | 8.0 |
| 7 | Transamerica Retirement Solutions | No | Defined contribution; defined benefit; pooled plan; nonqualified deferred compensation | 7.8 | |
| 8 | Ubiquity Retirement + Savings | No | 7.3 | ||
| 9 | E*TRADE Corporate Retirement Services | No | 401(k) | 7.0 | |
| 10 | ADP Help Me Choose | 6.8 | |||
| 11 | Betterment | Yes | $5/mo | 6.5 | |
| 12 | Empower Stock Plan Services | 6.2 | |||
| 13 | T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services | 6.0 |
Head-to-Head
- Employee Fiduciary vs Ameritas Retirement Plans
- Employee Fiduciary vs Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
- Employee Fiduciary vs Human Interest
- Employee Fiduciary vs Guideline
- Employee Fiduciary vs Vestwell
- Employee Fiduciary vs Merrill Small Business 401(k)
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update