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Best Merrill Small Business 401(k) Alternatives in 2026

#7 of 14 in 401(k) Software

The top Merrill Small Business 401(k) alternatives are Ameritas Retirement Plans, Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services and Human Interest: 13 401(k) software our editors would look at instead of Merrill Small Business 401(k), in our ranking order.

8.0/10Editor score
Visit Merrill
Merrill Small Business 401(k)8.0 Visit Merrill

Merrill Small Business 401(k): A focused small-business 401(k) with managed administration and ACH contributions. Where it falls short: the group 401(k) charges $5 per participant each month for recordkeeping..

Switching from Merrill Small Business 401(k)? For most 401(k) software buyers the best Merrill Small Business 401(k) alternative is Ameritas Retirement Plans, built for organizations seeking broad retirement plan administration. On a budget, Betterment starts at $5/mo, against $95/mo for Merrill Small Business 401(k). Betterment has a free plan, which Merrill Small Business 401(k) does not.

Why People Look for a Merrill Small Business 401(k) Alternative

  • The Group 401(k) charges $5 per participant each month for recordkeeping
  • Published pricing also combines asset-based fees with plan fees
  • Contribution processing is through ACH rather than a named payroll integration
  • No free plan — 1 of the alternatives below has it
  • Paid from $95/mo — Betterment is $5/mo

Quick Picks by What You Need

All 13 Merrill Small Business 401(k) 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.

  1. Ameritas Retirement Plans

    Best forOrganizations seeking broad retirement plan administration

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Editor score 9.3 vs 8.0

    Broad retirement-plan administration with enrollment, payroll, fiduciary and participant services.

    • Employee enrollment
    • Compliance support
    • Participant mobile app
    Pricing on request Our Ameritas Retirement Plans verdict → Visit Ameritas
    9.3/10★★★★★
    Visit Ameritas
  2. Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services

    Best forMid-market and enterprise employers

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Editor score 9.1 vs 8.0

    A broad 401(k) service for employers seeking administration, compliance support, and participant tools.

    • Employee enrollment
    • Compliance support
    • Participant mobile app
    Pricing on request Our Charles Schwab Retirement Plan Services verdict → Visit Charles Schwab
    9.1/10★★★★★
    Visit Charles Schwab
  3. Human Interest

    Best forSmall businesses needing payroll connectivity

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Paid from: $80/mo vs $95/mo
    • Editor score 8.8 vs 8.0

    Payroll-connected retirement plan administration with tiered compliance support.

    Our Human Interest verdict → Visit Human Interest
    8.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Human Interest
  4. Guideline

    Best forSmall businesses wanting simple managed 401(k)s

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Editor score 8.6 vs 8.0

    Guideline combines 401(k) administration, payroll automation, compliance and managed portfolios.

    • Employee enrollment
    • Compliance support
    • Participant mobile app
    Our Guideline verdict → Visit Guideline
    8.6/10★★★★☆
    Visit Guideline
  5. Employee Fiduciary

    Best forSolo owners and small employers needing compliance support

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Editor score 8.4 vs 8.0

    A compliance-focused retirement plan service with clear annual fees and payroll connections.

    • Compliance support
    Our Employee Fiduciary verdict → Visit site
    8.4/10★★★★☆
    Visit site
  6. Vestwell

    Best forLow-cost plans with automated contributions

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Paid from: $45/mo vs $95/mo
    • Editor score 8.2 vs 8.0

    A flexible 401(k) platform with plans starting at $45 per month.

    Our Vestwell verdict → Visit Vestwell
    8.2/10★★★★☆
    Visit Vestwell
  7. Transamerica Retirement Solutions

    Best forEmployers needing multiple retirement plan types

    A broad retirement-plan service covering four plan types with web and mobile access.

    • Participant mobile app
    Pricing on request Our Transamerica Retirement Solutions verdict → Visit Transamerica
    7.8/10★★★★☆
    Visit Transamerica
  8. Ubiquity Retirement + Savings

    Best forSmall and mid-market employers needing essentials

    Workplace plan setup, administration, and participant account access for small and mid-market employers.

    Pricing on request Our Ubiquity Retirement + Savings verdict → Visit Ubiquity
    7.3/10★★★★☆
    Visit Ubiquity
  9. E*TRADE Corporate Retirement Services

    Best forEmployers seeking E*TRADE 401(k) support

    401(k) services pair employer administration support with participant account access.

    Pricing on request Our E*TRADE Corporate Retirement Services verdict → Visit E*TRADE
    7.0/10★★★★☆
    Visit E*TRADE
  10. ADP Help Me Choose

    Best forMid-market and enterprise benefits enrollment programs

    A benefits enrollment decision tool, not core 401(k) administration software.

    Pricing on request Our ADP Help Me Choose verdict → Visit ADP
    6.8/10★★★☆☆
    Visit ADP
  11. Betterment

    Best forIndividuals seeking retirement investing tools

    • Better than Merrill Small Business 401(k):
    • Free plan
    • Paid from: $5/mo vs $95/mo

    A personal investing and retirement-planning platform, not employer 401(k) administration software.

    Free plan Our Betterment verdict → Visit Betterment
    6.5/10★★★☆☆
    Visit Betterment
  12. Empower Stock Plan Services

    Best forCompanies managing equity compensation instead of 401(k)s

    Equity plan administration for companies managing stock compensation, not 401(k)s.

    Pricing on request Our Empower Stock Plan Services verdict → Contact Empower
    6.2/10★★★☆☆
    Contact Empower
  13. T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services

    Best forMid-market and enterprise employers

    Workplace retirement plan services for mid-market and enterprise employers.

    Pricing on request Our T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services verdict → Visit site
    6.0/10★★★☆☆
    Visit site

Merrill Small Business 401(k) Alternatives: Common Questions

What is the best alternative to Merrill Small Business 401(k)?

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 Merrill Small Business 401(k)?

Yes. Betterment has a free plan or a free tier.

What is the cheapest paid alternative to Merrill Small Business 401(k)?

Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Betterment starts lowest, at $5/mo.

Why do people look for Merrill Small Business 401(k) alternatives?

The Group 401(k) charges $5 per participant each month for recordkeeping; Published pricing also combines asset-based fees with plan fees; Contribution processing is through ACH rather than a named payroll integration.

How do I switch from Merrill Small Business 401(k)?

Export your data from Merrill Small Business 401(k) (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 Merrill Small Business 401(k).

How to Switch from Merrill Small Business 401(k)

  1. Export your data from Merrill Small Business 401(k) (most tools have an export in their settings).
  2. Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
  3. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
  4. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Merrill Small Business 401(k).

Merrill Small Business 401(k) vs Each Alternative

#ToolFree planPaid fromPlan typesScore
7Merrill Small Business 401(k)No$95/mo401(k); Roth 401(k); Safe Harbor 401(k)8.0
1Ameritas Retirement Plans401(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
2Charles Schwab Retirement Plan ServicesNo401(k); defined contribution; ESOP; profit-sharing; money purchase; defined benefit; nonqualified deferred compensation9.1
3Human InterestNo$80/mo401(k), 403(b) retirement plans8.8
4GuidelineNoTraditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Profit Sharing, Solo 401(k)8.6
5Employee FiduciaryNo$500/yrTraditional 401(k), Safe Harbor 401(k), Solo 401(k), 403(b)8.4
6VestwellNo$45/mo401(k), 403(b), profit-sharing, cash-balance plans8.2
7Transamerica Retirement SolutionsNoDefined contribution; defined benefit; pooled plan; nonqualified deferred compensation7.8
8Ubiquity Retirement + SavingsNo7.3
9E*TRADE Corporate Retirement ServicesNo401(k)7.0
10ADP Help Me Choose6.8
11BettermentYes$5/mo6.5
12Empower Stock Plan Services6.2
13T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services6.0

Head-to-Head

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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