Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs Robinhood, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
E*TRADE vs. Robinhood, in short: If you want the broadest investing lineup, E*TRADE is the stronger pick. StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #4 of 14 for Range of Investments, versus Robinhood’s 3.5/5 stars and #12 ranking. E*TRADE skips crypto and fractional shares, but adds mutual funds and advisor services many long-term investors want. Robinhood shines for small-dollar investing and active app users with fractional shares and access to 22 cryptocurrencies.
Investment options compared: Both online brokers offer stock trading, OTC stocks, options trading, margin trading, and futures trading; neither supports forex. The key differences are that E*TRADE offers mutual funds while Robinhood does not, and Robinhood supports fractional shares while E*TRADE does not. For crypto, Robinhood offers trading in 22 coins, while E*TRADE offers none.
Accounts and guidance: Both E*TRADE and Robinhood provide Traditional and Roth IRAs and advisor services. Pick Robinhood if you value crypto and fractional shares for small-dollar trades. Pick E*TRADE if you want mutual funds alongside stocks, options, futures, and OTC access for more complete long-term investing.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
E*TRADE vs Robinhood: E*TRADE takes the lead for trading platforms and tools, especially if you want desktop software and deeper chart features. E*TRADE earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #5 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood scores 3.5 stars and ranks #9. Robinhood is easy to use and shines with an unusually large set of drawing tools, but it misses some platform extras many traders expect.
Platform access is broader with E*TRADE: it offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform. Robinhood is browser-based only (no Windows or Mac downloads). E*TRADE also provides paper trading; Robinhood does not. Neither broker includes a trading journal. For watchlists, E*TRADE supports 43 fields versus Robinhood’s 34. Both let you adjust open orders directly on charts and save multiple chart profiles, and neither supports building fully custom studies.
In charting, E*TRADE supplies 121 technical indicators to Robinhood’s 90, while Robinhood counters with far more drawing tools (2,326 vs 37). Both let you add notes and set custom date ranges. E*TRADE alone can display historical trades on charts, show corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends, and offer automated chart pattern recognition. When editing a simple moving average, E*TRADE provides 8 customization fields versus 6 with Robinhood.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 43 | 34 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 90 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 2326 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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E*TRADE and Robinhood both offer beginner-friendly education on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, along with helpful videos. E*TRADE goes further with mutual fund education, live webinars, and paper trading so you can practice without risking money; Robinhood does not include mutual fund lessons, webinars, or a paper trading feature. Neither broker offers quizzes or tools to track your learning progress. Reflecting these differences, StockBrokers.com rates E*TRADE 5 out of 5 stars and ranks it #4 of 14 brokers for education, while Robinhood earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 of 14.
If you want deeper learning and hands-on practice, E*TRADE is the stronger pick. If you prefer quick reads and videos and don’t need webinars or a practice account, Robinhood covers the basics well. Both platforms can help new investors learn core investing concepts.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
Quick take: E*TRADE edges out Robinhood for mobile stock trading thanks to deeper charting tools and extras like streaming live TV. E*TRADE earns 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 on StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood earns 4.5 stars and ranks #7. Both apps are easy to use, but traders who want more analysis features will likely prefer E*TRADE; those who value a simple experience may lean toward Robinhood.
Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps plus Apple Watch support. You can trade options on mobile with either, get streaming quotes, set price alerts, build custom watchlists, and even customize watchlist columns. E*TRADE supports mobile after-hours trading; Robinhood’s status for mobile after-hours trading isn’t confirmed here. For charting basics, both provide after-hours charts and multiple time frames, but only E*TRADE lets you view charts in landscape mode.
When it comes to research on the go, E*TRADE provides 107 technical studies versus Robinhood’s 90, and E*TRADE lets you compare multiple stocks on a single chart while Robinhood does not. E*TRADE also streams live TV in the app, which Robinhood lacks. Neither app offers videos on demand. If you want fuller chart tools and in-app market TV, E*TRADE is the stronger pick; if you’re fine without those extras, Robinhood still delivers a capable mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 107 | 90 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When considering fees and charges, E*TRADE and Robinhood each offer distinct advantages to potential investors. Both platforms delight users with no minimum deposit requirement or fees for regular stock trades, making them accessible to beginners. However, E*TRADE charges $0.65 per options contract, while Robinhood offers these trades at no cost, providing a cost-saving advantage for options traders on Robinhood. On the flip side, Robinhood applies a $100 fee for both complete and partial account transfers, whereas E*TRADE has a zero-fee policy for partial transfers and a $75 charge for full transfers, which might be appealing for clients planning to move only part of their assets.
Margin account holders will notice notable differences as well. For balances under $25,000, Robinhood charges a lower margin rate of 5.75%, significantly less than E*TRADE's 12.95%. This pattern continues with Robinhood's consistent rate of 5.75% for balances between $25,000 and $49,999, whereas E*TRADE slightly drops to 12.7%. For higher balances between $50,000 and $99,999, Robinhood offers a 5.55% rate, while E*TRADE reduces its rate to 12.2%. Clearly, Robinhood stands out for those wanting to leverage borrowing for investments.
Both E*TRADE and Robinhood impressively avoid charging any fees for IRA accounts, whether annual fees or closure fees, making them appealing to retirement account holders. Additionally, both platforms ensure no added costs for options exercise and assignment fees. Choosing between E*TRADE and Robinhood will largely depend on what specific savings matter most to you: free options contracts, lower margin interest rates, or cost-effective account transfer options.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
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In an E*TRADE vs Robinhood day trading comparison, E*TRADE packs more built-in tools for active traders. It offers streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct market routing for stocks, trading hotkeys, and Level II quotes. Robinhood supports Level II quotes and adds ladder trading (a price ladder for quick order placement), but it lacks streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct routing, and hotkeys. Neither platform includes basic or advanced strategy backtesting, a short locator tool, or maker/taker rebates.
If you rely on tape reading, fast keyboard entries, choosing your market route, and live market TV, E*TRADE will feel more complete for day trading. If you prefer a simpler setup and want a ladder view, Robinhood may appeal, but you’ll give up time and sales, routing control, hotkeys, and streaming TV. Because both skip backtesting, short locates, and liquidity rebates, some day traders may still pair these accounts with third‑party analytics or execution tools.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
E*TRADE leads Robinhood for market research. According to StockBrokers.com, E*TRADE earns 5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 brokers, while Robinhood receives 2 stars and ranks #10. If you value deeper research coverage and more idea tools, E*TRADE is the stronger pick; Robinhood is better for basic checks.
E*TRADE covers more asset types: stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTC, and bonds. Robinhood offers research for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTC, but not mutual funds or bonds. Both brokers let you view your portfolio allocation by asset class. Only E*TRADE adds stock research using social media sentiment; neither platform provides ESG research.
On reports and tools, E*TRADE supplies eight downloadable PDF stock reports and also offers downloadable reports for ETFs and mutual funds; Robinhood offers none. For trade ideas, E*TRADE includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, while Robinhood’s screener is stock-only. In practice, E*TRADE suits investors who want detailed reports and screeners across markets, whereas Robinhood fits those who just need simple stock and ETF research.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of E*TRADE and Robinhood, E*TRADE provides a wider range of financial services. E*TRADE offers checking and savings accounts, giving you more options to manage your money, while Robinhood does not offer these accounts. Both platforms offer debit and credit cards, allowing users to make convenient transactions, but only E*TRADE extends its services to include mortgage loans and Certificates of Deposit (CDs), which are not available with Robinhood. This variety makes E*TRADE a more comprehensive choice for those seeking diverse banking solutions alongside their investment needs.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than Robinhood. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 95.4%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.
E*TRADE is a top-performing broker whose highlights include $0 trades, two excellent mobile apps and the Power E*TRADE platform. Crypto, however, is not available.
While E*TRADE does not provide crypto trading options, Robinhood offers a robust selection with 22 different cryptocurrencies available for trading.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both E*TRADE and Robinhood offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts without annual fees or closure fees, making them attractive options for individuals seeking cost-effective retirement investment solutions.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
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| Review | E*TRADE Review | Robinhood Review |
| Broker Screenshots | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
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| Trading Fees | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0.00 | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | $0.75 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.95% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.7% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.2% | 5.55% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.7% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.2% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 5% |
| Account Fees | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 22 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 1 |
| Order Types | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 107 | 90 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Power E*TRADE | Robinhood Legend | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 43 | 34 |
| Stock Chart Features | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 121 | 90 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 37 | 2326 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 8 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 8 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
| Customer Service | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | Yes |
| Overall | E*TRADE | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Research |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | E*TRADE Review | Robinhood Review |
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