The choice comes down to one question: will your tax rate be higher now or in retirement? Enter your numbers to see which account leaves you with more after taxes.
Traditional and Roth accounts are mirror images. A Traditional IRA gives you a tax deduction now and taxes your withdrawals later. A Roth gives you no deduction now but tax-free withdrawals later. If your tax rate is identical in both periods, the two produce exactly the same after-tax result. The difference comes entirely from whether your rate is higher today or in retirement.
Roth tends to win if you expect the same or a higher tax rate in retirement, common for younger savers early in their careers, or anyone who believes tax rates will rise. Roth also has two structural advantages: no required minimum distributions, and tax-free inheritance for your heirs. Those benefits don't show up in a simple breakeven but matter in a real plan.
Traditional tends to win if you expect a lower tax rate in retirement, common for high earners in their peak years who will spend less later. The upfront deduction also frees cash to invest now. Many people hedge by holding both, since no one knows future tax law with certainty.