Carry.com Solo 401k Review: The 2025 Approach

If you're self-employed or running a solo business, chances are you've looked into setting up a Solo 401k. It's one of the most powerful retirement tools available for individuals without full-time employees. 

Carry is one of the newer names in the Solo 401k space, but it’s already making some noise for its clean design, modern features, and automation-friendly approach.

This review walks through what Carry’s Solo 401k actually offers, what you can and can’t do with it, and how it stacks up feature-wise—not in hype, but in reality. No hard sell here. Just facts.

What Is Carry?

Carry is a platform designed specifically for business owners, freelancers, and independent professionals who want access to tax-advantaged accounts like the Solo 401k, SEP IRA, and Traditional/Roth IRAs. 

Their interface feels more startup-friendly than your average legacy financial institution, and everything — from onboarding to account management — is digital-first.

Instead of mailing paper forms or dealing with outdated dashboards, you can create your plan, customize contributions, and manage investments entirely online. This approach sets Carry apart from more traditional custodians and speaks to a growing audience of digital-native business owners who expect modern fintech experiences.

In this article, we’ll focus solely on Carry’s Solo 401k offering. 

Core Features of Carry’s Solo 401k

Here’s what Carry includes with its Solo 401k plan:

Roth, Pre-Tax, or Both

Carry allows contributions to a Roth Solo 401k (after-tax), a traditional Pre-Tax Solo 401k, or a combination of both. This gives users flexibility when it comes to tax planning. You can lower your taxable income today using pre-tax contributions or pay taxes upfront and enjoy tax-free withdrawals in retirement via Roth.

Mega Backdoor Roth Support

Carry supports after-tax contributions with the option to convert them into Roth via the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy. This feature enables high-income earners who have maxed out their Roth IRA and want to sock away even more into tax-advantaged accounts. Not many providers do this as seamlessly or natively. 

Tax-Free Loan Capability

Carry permits loans from your 401k—up to 50% of your vested balance or $50,000, whichever is lower—without early withdrawal penalties, in accordance with IRS rules. This can be helpful for short-term cash flow needs without sacrificing your long-term financial plan. 

Spouse and Partner Support

You can add your spouse or a business partner to the same plan. Each person will need their own Carry account, but the overall plan accommodates them without requiring a completely separate Solo 401k setup. This is ideal for family businesses or co-owned consultancies.

Integrated Election Calculator

Before setting up your plan, you can use Carry’s contribution calculator to estimate how much you can put away each year. This tool aids in planning, especially for those aiming to front-load retirement contributions or maximize annual limits.

EACA Tax Credit Eligibility

Carry supports plans eligible for the $1,500 Eligible Automatic Contribution Arrangement (EACA) credit, which some users may qualify for depending on setup. This lesser-known incentive can help offset initial plan costs.

Payroll Integration with Gusto

If you use Gusto for payroll, Carry allows you to automate contributions directly from your paycheck. It ensures consistency and accuracy while reducing the administrative burden that often comes with Solo 401k contributions. 

Investment Options

With Carry’s Solo 401k, can you invest in:

Traditional Assets: YES

You can invest in stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds—many of which include low-fee options from Vanguard and other well-known providers. Carry’s platform is custodian-agnostic and allows for diversified public market exposure. 

Alternative Assets: YES

Carry also supports investing in private equity, real estate, and other alternative assets. This puts it in line with other modern Solo 401k providers that offer more than just basic index funds. Alternative investments can provide new return profiles and tax strategies for those with larger balances. 

Crypto Access: YES (Via IRA)

You can invest in crypto—just not directly through the Solo 401k. Crypto support is available through Carry’s IRA product, which means you can still gain exposure to digital assets, but you’ll need to manage those holdings separately.

Roboadvisor Option: YES

Don’t want to manage your own portfolio? Carry offers a built-in roboadvisor that can manage your allocations for you. This is useful if you want exposure to the market but don’t want to spend time researching and rebalancing your own portfolio.

Rollover Support

If you already have an existing Solo 401k or IRA, Carry lets you roll that over into their platform. The rollover process is largely digital, and Carry provides step-by-step instructions. 

You can also transfer eligible Traditional IRAs or older employer-sponsored 401ks into your Carry Solo 401k. This is useful if you’re consolidating multiple accounts and want better control over your retirement assets.

What You Can’t Do with Carry’s Solo 401k

No platform is perfect, and Carry has a few limitations:

• No mobile app (yet) – The site is mobile-friendly, but there’s currently no standalone app.
• Limited banking integrations – Besides Gusto, other payroll or bank integrations are not yet supported.
• Some features may require plan upgrades – Certain tools like roboadvisors and alternative asset investing require the Pro or VIP plans.

These may not be deal-breakers for most users, but they’re worth noting if you need more hands-on flexibility.

Pricing

Carry’s pricing is now publicly available and comes in three tiers:

• Basic Plan – $29/month or $299/year: Includes Solo 401k, IRA, and brokerage account access. Mega Backdoor Roth automation is included, and you can optionally pay for Certified Financial Planner™ access.
• Pro Plan – $49/month or $499/year: Adds support for investing in alternative assets and crypto (via IRA), and integrates directly with Gusto for payroll.
• VIP Plan – $500–$1,500/month: Designed for high-income business owners ($200K+ in profit annually), this tier includes white-glove services like tax planning, integrated tax filing, bookkeeping, and personalized planning with a financial expert.

This tiered structure gives users flexibility depending on whether they need just the basics or a full-suite financial partner.

Who It’s Best For

Carry’s Solo 401k is well-suited for:

• Freelancers and solopreneurs who want to manage retirement savings digitally
• Self-employed individuals seeking Roth or Mega Backdoor Roth flexibility
• Investors interested in both traditional and alternative assets
• Gusto users looking for seamless payroll contributions with their Solo 401k software

It’s also ideal for users tired of legacy platforms with confusing paperwork and hard-to-navigate interfaces. Carry is clearly built for people who want clarity and control without the learning curve.

My Thoughts

Overall, Carry.com’s Solo 401k is a modern, flexible platform that packs in powerful features like Roth support, Mega Backdoor Roth automation, and payroll integration. Its user interface is clean, its investment options are broad, and it brings Solo 401ks into the 2025 era with tools that feel actually usable.

It’s not the only player in the space, but if you’re looking for an experience that balances tech-forward design with tax-advantaged firepower, Carry is definitely worth a closer look.

Just keep in mind that if you’re looking to invest in crypto directly through your Solo 401k or need a mobile app, you may want to consider alternatives—or wait to see if those features roll out in the near future.

Carry checks nearly every box for solo business owners serious about optimizing their retirement strategy.