Guideline comparisons
Guideline is compared head-to-head with Ameritas Retirement Plans, Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services and Human Interest and more: 7 head-to-heads in 401(k) Software, each with the specs and prices we checked.
Guideline head-to-head
- Guideline vs Ameritas Retirement Plans
- Guideline vs Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services
- Guideline vs Human Interest
- Guideline vs Employee Fiduciary
- Guideline vs Vestwell
- Guideline vs Merrill Small Business 401(k)
- Guideline vs Transamerica Retirement Solutions
Guideline vs each of them
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Plan types | Employee enrollment | Investment options | Compliance support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Guideline | No | Traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Profit Sharing, Solo 401(k) | Yes | Managed | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 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) | Yes | Mixed | Yes | 9.3 | ||
| 2 | Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services | No | 401(k); defined contribution; ESOP; profit-sharing; money purchase; defined benefit; nonqualified deferred compensation | Yes | Mixed | Yes | 9.1 | |
| 3 | Human Interest | No | $80/mo | 401(k), 403(b) retirement plans | 8.8 | |||
| 5 | Employee Fiduciary | No | $500/yr | Traditional 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Solo 401(k), 403(b) | Mixed | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 6 | Vestwell | No | $45/mo | 401(k), 403(b), profit-sharing, cash-balance plans | 8.2 | |||
| 7 | Merrill Small Business 401(k) | No | $95/mo | 401(k); Roth 401(k); Safe Harbor 401(k) | Yes | Mixed | Yes | 8.0 |
| 8 | Transamerica Retirement Solutions | No | Defined contribution; defined benefit; pooled plan; nonqualified deferred compensation | 7.8 |
Compare Guideline with any 401(k) software
These are the matchups our editors wrote up. The compare tool pairs Guideline with any other product in 401(k) Software — and up to four at once — from the same checked specs.
Compare Guideline with any tool side by side →
Every 401(k) software head-to-head →
Our full Guideline verdict, pricing and fact sheet →
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Compared by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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