Vanguard Workplace Solutions
Vanguard Workplace Solutions Pricing
Vanguard Workplace Solutions pricing: 5 plans and the extra fees to budget for.
Vanguard Workplace Solutions plans
VRPA bundled, up to 15 participants
$4,850/yr1
$4,850 a year under $10M in assets, $4,075 above $10M
- Recordkeeping and plan administration
VRPA bundled, 16-50 participants
$4,850/yr1
$4,850 a year base (under $10M) plus $75 a year per participant above 15
- Recordkeeping and plan administration
VRPA unbundled (with a TPA), up to 15 participants
$3,775/yr1
$3,775 a year under $10M in assets, $3,000 above $10M
- Recordkeeping by Vanguard, plan administration by a third-party administrator
Direct recordkeeping
Quote only1
Quoted
- Maximum control and plan design flexibility
Pooled employer plan (PEP)
Quote only1
Quoted
- A large share of fiduciary responsibility delegated to a consultancy
Price at a glance
Extra and hidden costs
Implementation fee
Implementation: Plan installation and setup fees are charged separately; amounts not published.
Plan installation and setup fees
Listed by the vendor1
Participant transaction fees for distributions and loans
Listed by the vendor1
Ancillary services such as self-directed brokerage accounts and financial wellness
Listed by the vendor1
Conversion fee
Listed by the vendor1
Price comparison
| Product | Starting price | Pricing model | Pricing details |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fidelity Workplace Investing | $100/mo2 | Base fee + per employee | What Fidelity Workplace Investing costs |
 Human Interest | $80/mo + $5/employee/mo3 | Base fee + per employee | Human Interest pricing |
 Betterment at Work | $100/mo + $5/employee/mo4 | Base fee + per employee | Betterment at Work plans and prices |
 Principal Financial Group | $145/mo + $6/employee/mo5 | Base fee + per employee | What Principal Financial Group costs |
| Vanguard Workplace Solutions | See plans | Base fee + per employee | Vanguard Workplace Solutions pricing |
 Empower | Quote only | What Empower costs |
Lowest published monthly price of a plan for 401(k) providers, cheapest first at 25 employees. “See plans”: priced on another basis; “Quote only”: no published price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Vanguard 401(k) cost?
For VRPA, the bundled annual fee starts at $4,850 for up to 15 participants under $10M in assets ($4,075 above $10M), plus $75 a year for each participant from 16 to 50. In the unbundled program, $3,775 covers Vanguard's recordkeeping alone; a separately paid TPA handles plan administration.
What fees are not included in VRPA pricing?
Plan installation and setup fees, participant transaction fees for distributions and loans, ancillary services and conversion fees.
Can a VRPA plan use non-Vanguard funds?
Yes. VRPA plans can combine Vanguard's low-cost funds with nonproprietary funds; Vanguard cites about 12,000 non-Vanguard funds.
Can a Vanguard plan use a 3(38) fiduciary?
Yes. VRPA accommodates firm-specific 3(21) and 3(38) arrangements and model portfolios.
What do alternatives to Vanguard Workplace Solutions cost?
Vanguard Workplace Solutions has no flat price per employee a month; at 25 employees, the most similar alternatives compared here that publish one are Betterment at Work ($225), Fidelity Workplace Investing ($100), and Human Interest ($205), a month at list price.
What does Vanguard Workplace Solutions charge beyond the subscription?
Vanguard Workplace Solutions lists 4 extra costs: Plan installation and setup fees, Participant transaction fees for distributions and loans, Ancillary services such as self-directed brokerage accounts and financial wellness, and Conversion fee.
Does Vanguard Workplace Solutions charge an implementation fee?
Yes. Vanguard Workplace Solutions lists an implementation fee: Plan installation and setup fees are charged separately; amounts not published.
Which Vanguard Workplace Solutions plan should I choose?
VRPA bundled, up to 15 participants ($4,850/yr): recordkeeping and plan administration. VRPA bundled, 16-50 participants ($4,850/yr): recordkeeping and plan administration. VRPA unbundled (with a TPA), up to 15 participants ($3,775/yr): recordkeeping by Vanguard, plan administration by a third-party administrator. Direct recordkeeping: maximum control and plan design flexibility.
Who makes Vanguard Workplace Solutions?
Vanguard Workplace Solutions (a 401(k) providers provider) is made by Vanguard. Vanguard was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, USA. Vanguard is privately held.
How this page was made
What it is built from
15 verified facts, each checked against the vendor's own pages or another primary source, most recently on Nov 3, 2026.
Method
Scored and compared with the LeadChange methodology, version 1.5. Read the methodology
Independent review
Our independent review of Nov 3, 2026 asked for changes. How we review
Hands-on testing
We have not tested Vanguard Workplace Solutions hands-on: this page uses public information only.
Who made it
The LeadChange Research Team, following a written research process. No named expert has reviewed this page. About us
Independence and errors
Who pays us never changes a score or a rank. If something here is wrong, tell us and we correct it publicly. Request a correction
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What changed
PricingWe no longer list Fund expense ratios in Vanguard Workplace Solutions’ extra costs.
PublishedFirst published.
Sources
The 7 pages this page's facts come from. The date beside each is our last check of the facts taken from it (the oldest, when they differ). The numbers beside the figures above link here.
Quotes from the sources
- Vanguard workplace.vanguard.com/content/dam/inst/iig-transformation/offers/vrpa/pdf/build-your-retirement-business-with-Vanguard-Retirement-Plan-Access-Advisor-pricing.pdf“Up to 15 $4,850 $4,075 —” “16–50 $4,850 $4,075 $75 per participant above 15”
- Fidelity Investments fidelity.com/retirement-ira/small-business/401k-plans“$100 monthly fee”
- Human Interest humaninterest.com/pricing“Per eligible employee $5 / mo”
- Betterment betterment.com/work/pricing“monthly record-keeping fee per participant”
- Principal simplyretirement.com/business-owners/why-simply-retirement“a $6 monthly fee per participating employee”
- Vanguard corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/sets-us-apart/facts-and-figures.html“Vanguard commences operations May 1, 1975” “Vanguard is owned by its funds, which are owned by Vanguard's fund shareholders.”
- Vanguard corporate.vanguard.com/content/corporatesite/us/en/corp/who-we-are/pressroom/press-release-vanguard-adds-three-new-funds-including-vanguard-500-index-fund-to-vanguard-investor-choice-102125.html“VALLEY FORGE, PA (October 21, 2025)—Vanguard today announced”