Although both Roth IRAs and brokerage accounts are types of investment accounts, there are some distinctions between the two. The main difference between Roth IRAs and brokerage accounts is that with a Roth IRA, the money in the account grows tax-free. With a brokerage account, the money in the account grows tax-deferred.
Also, with a Roth IRA, you are typically only able to invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. With a brokerage account, you can also trade derivatives, such as options and futures contracts.