Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of TradeStation vs Robinhood, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
TradeStation vs Robinhood: If you want the widest mix of investments, TradeStation comes out ahead, earning 4.5 stars and a #5 spot out of 14 for Range of Investments from StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood holds 3.5 stars and ranks #12. TradeStation adds mutual funds and broad market access, whereas Robinhood shines for newer investors who want crypto, fractional shares, and advisor services. In short, choose TradeStation for breadth; pick Robinhood if crypto and small-share buying matter most.
Both brokers cover the core basics: stock trading, margin trading, options trading, OTC stocks, futures trading, and neither supports forex. Key differences include fractional shares (available at Robinhood, not at TradeStation) and mutual funds (available at TradeStation, not at Robinhood). Crypto is another divider: TradeStation doesn’t offer crypto, while Robinhood does, with trading in 22 coins.
For accounts, both support Traditional and Roth IRAs. Robinhood also offers advisor services, while TradeStation does not. Weigh whether you value mutual funds and a wider product lineup (TradeStation) or fractional shares, crypto access, and guidance features (Robinhood) to pick the better fit for your goals.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
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
Bottom line: for trading platforms and tools, TradeStation comes out ahead of Robinhood. TradeStation earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #9. If you want deeper charting, paper trading, and a Windows desktop platform, TradeStation is the better fit. If you prefer a simpler, browser-first experience, Robinhood can work for everyday trading.
Platforms: TradeStation offers a downloadable Windows desktop platform (no Mac download) and a browser-based platform; Robinhood offers a browser-based platform only, with no Windows or Mac downloads. Paper trading is available on TradeStation but not on Robinhood. Neither broker includes a built-in trading journal. Both let you adjust open orders directly on a stock chart. For watchlists, TradeStation supports 341 data columns versus Robinhood’s 34. When editing a simple moving average study, TradeStation provides 12 settings versus Robinhood’s 6. TradeStation also lets you build custom studies; Robinhood does not.
Charting features favor TradeStation: 294 technical indicators vs 90 on Robinhood, plus the ability to add notes, display corporate events, show automated chart patterns, and overlay your historical trades—none of which are available on Robinhood except notes. Both brokers let you set custom date ranges and save multiple chart profiles. For drawing tools, TradeStation lists 23 while Robinhood lists 2,326. Overall, TradeStation offers more analysis firepower, while Robinhood covers basics with simpler charts.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 341 | 34 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 90 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 2326 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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TradeStation and Robinhood both offer stock and options education along with educational videos. Robinhood also includes learning on ETFs and bonds, while TradeStation does not. Neither broker provides mutual fund education, quizzes, or tools to track your learning progress. For hands-on practice, TradeStation offers paper trading and hosts webinars; Robinhood lacks paper trading and does not offer webinars.
For beginner and investor education, TradeStation is rated 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 13th out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Robinhood earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 8th. Pick Robinhood if you want broader coverage that includes ETFs and bonds. Choose TradeStation if you value paper trading and live webinars to practice and learn.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
TradeStation and Robinhood are both strong picks for a stock trading app. Each earns 4.5 stars, with Robinhood ranked #7 of 14 by StockBrokers.com and TradeStation close behind at #8. If you want Apple Watch support and more built‑in indicators, Robinhood has the edge. If those aren’t must‑haves, TradeStation delivers a very similar mobile trading experience.
App availability is broad for both: iPhone and Android are supported by TradeStation and Robinhood. Only Robinhood adds an Apple Watch app. On the trading side, both apps offer mobile options trading, streaming quotes, after‑hours charting, stock alerts, and custom watch lists with customizable columns. Neither app provides streaming live TV or videos on demand. TradeStation supports mobile after‑hours stock trading; the provided info does not confirm this for Robinhood.
For charting, both apps let you view multiple time frames and include after‑hours data, but neither supports landscape chart view or side‑by‑side stock comparisons on charts. Indicator depth differs: TradeStation offers 45 technical studies, while Robinhood offers 90.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 90 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When choosing between TradeStation and Robinhood, it's crucial to consider the specifics of their account fees and other charges to align with your financial goals. While both platforms offer commission-free trading on stocks, they differ significantly in other fee structures. Robinhood clearly takes the lead for cost-conscious investors by offering zero charges for options contracts and several other services that TradeStation does charge for, such as options exercise and assignment fees. Users who engage in margin trading will also find Robinhood's lower interest rates appealing compared to TradeStation's higher ones. Overall, Robinhood emerges as the more affordable option for investors mindful of costs.
TradeStation and Robinhood both have a minimum deposit requirement of $0, making them accessible for new investors. Regular stock trades are commission-free with both brokers, simplifying the decision for those focused solely on stock transactions. However, when trading options, investors will face different costs—TradeStation charges $0.60 per contract, while Robinhood offers this service for free. For investors considering margin trading, the difference in interest rates is notable: TradeStation charges 13.0% for balances under $25,000, while Robinhood charges a considerably lower 5.75%. As balance amounts increase, Robinhood continues to offer more competitive rates.
Additional fees further highlight the disparities between the two brokers. TradeStation imposes an IRA annual fee of $35 and a closure fee of $50, which Robinhood does not charge, making Robinhood a more attractive option for retirement account holders. When it comes to account transfers, TradeStation asks $125 for both partial and full Account Transfers (ACAT), while Robinhood charges $100, slightly reducing costs for those transferring assets. Lastly, TradeStation's options exercise and assignment fees further inflate its costs compared to Robinhood's lack of charges in these categories, reinforcing Robinhood's position as the lower-fee alternative.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
Choosing a day trading platform often comes down to the tools you get for speed, insight, and order control. TradeStation gives streaming time and sales for stocks, direct market routing, ladder trading, keyboard hotkeys, and Level II quotes. Robinhood supplies ladder trading and Level II quotes, but it does not include streaming time and sales, direct routing, or hotkeys—features many active day traders rely on for faster entries and better order control. Neither platform streams live TV, which won’t matter to most traders focused on charts and order flow.
For planning and testing, TradeStation stands out with both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, while Robinhood offers none. Short selling support also differs: TradeStation has a real-time short locator so you can see share availability before you trade; Robinhood does not. If you care about trading costs and execution quality, TradeStation also supports maker/taker order rebates, something Robinhood doesn’t provide. Bottom line: TradeStation is the better fit for serious day trading with its deeper toolset and order-routing control, whereas Robinhood suits casual traders who place occasional trades and don’t need these specialized features.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: for market research, TradeStation and Robinhood look and feel alike—and fairly basic. Both earn 2 out of 5 stars, with Robinhood ranked #10 and TradeStation #11 out of 14 brokers. If you want straightforward stock and ETF insights plus a simple screener, either works; if you need in-depth reports, specialty data, or research on funds and bonds, neither will satisfy.
What they do offer is nearly identical. Each provides stock and ETF research, Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, a stock screener for trade ideas, and a portfolio allocation view by asset class so you can see how your investments are spread out. These core tools cover simple idea generation and basic portfolio checkups.
Both miss the same features: no mutual fund or bond research; no ETF, mutual fund, or bond screeners; no social media sentiment or ESG research; and zero downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds. With so much overlap, neither gains a real edge on research—hence the matching 2-star scores and near-neighbor rankings.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking features of online brokers TradeStation and Robinhood, there are some key differences to consider. TradeStation does not provide checking or savings accounts, and it also doesn’t offer debit or credit cards. Mortgage loans and certificates of deposit (CDs) are not part of TradeStation’s offerings either. In contrast, Robinhood also lacks checking and savings accounts, mortgage loans, and CDs, but it does provide users with debit and credit card options. Therefore, if having access to debit and credit cards through your brokerage platform is important to you, Robinhood may be the preferable choice.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
Robinhood
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes |
| Credit Cards | No | Yes |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Brokerage CDs | No | 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 TradeStation is better than Robinhood. TradeStation finished with an overall score of 80.2%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.
TradeStation supports casual traders through its web-based platform and active traders through its desktop platform. We like the web-based platform and mobile app, but the flagship desktop platform could use a refresh.
TradeStation does not offer crypto trading, while Robinhood provides access to 22 different cryptocurrencies, making Robinhood a more appealing choice for those interested in crypto investments.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both TradeStation and Robinhood provide options for traditional and Roth IRA accounts, but TradeStation charges a $35 annual fee and a $50 closure fee, whereas Robinhood offers these services with no annual or closure fees, making Robinhood a cost-effective choice for IRA account management.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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| Review | TradeStation Review | Robinhood Review |
| Broker Screenshots | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
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| Trading Fees | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | $0.75 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | N/A |
| Margin Rates | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.0% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.0% | 5.75% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.5% | 5.55% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.0% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.0% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 7.5% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | 5% |
| Account Fees | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | $0.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $125.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $125.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | TradeStation | 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 | No | Yes | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 1 |
| Order Types | TradeStation | 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 | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | No | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | 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 | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | 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 | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 90 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | TradeStation 10 | Robinhood Legend | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 341 | 34 |
| Stock Chart Features | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 90 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 12 | 6 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
| Day Trading | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | Yes | No |
| Research Overview | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | No |
| ETF Research | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | Yes | |
| Debit Cards | No | Yes | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | Yes |
| Overall | TradeStation | Robinhood | |
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| Research |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TradeStation Review | Robinhood Review |
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