Robinhood Review

Robinhood is very easy to use and its educational content is a joy to read. Though it’s a pioneer in making investing fun and accessible to beginners, other brokers have stepped up their novice games. Several brokers now offer jargon-light education and market commentary, ease of use, colorful presentation, and fractional shares.

Pros & Cons

Overall summary

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Investment options

Robinhood offers stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrency trading. Mutual funds, fixed income, closed end funds, and preferred stocks aren’t supported, nor is futures trading. Robinhood has limited support for OTC stocks. I was able to get quotes for a few of the larger over-the-counter U.S. stocks, but not many. There are 650 OTC American Depository Receipts available.

Cryptocurrency: Robinhood is strong in crypto. Though many brokers have dramatically reduced their crypto roster over the past year, Robinhood still allows users to trade 15 cryptocurrencies with no commissions, fees, or markups and markdowns. Instead, it makes money from selling order flow. Robinhood also allows crypto transfers, an unusual feature among the brokers we review.

Commissions and fees

Like many other $0 commission-free brokers, Robinhood charges no commission for trading stocks, ETFs, options, or cryptocurrency. Robinhood makes money from payment for order flow, or PFOF, a common practice in which the broker sells a customer’s order to wholesale market makers.

Penny stocks: Robinhood has constraints on over-the-counter stocks. I tried to get quotes for several U.S. OTC stocks priced between $1 and $5, but no dice. I guess that’s a nope on penny stocks. But if you want to invest in international equities, there are 650 American Depository Receipts available that do trade on the OTC.

Robinhood Gold: We think Robinhood Gold is pricey for investors who keep low balances and, if you have over a few thousand dollars to invest, you’ll want more features than what Robinhood offers anyway. There are exceptions to this, though. If you’re socking away max contributions into your Robinhood IRA, Gold enhances the deposit bonus into your retirement account.

Robinhood Gold costs $5 per month to gain access to Morningstar reports, Level 2 streaming quotes, and better margin and uninvested cash interest rates. Competitors Fidelity, E*TRADE, and Charles Schwab aall offer more stock research and trading tools and much better customer service for the same $0 per stock trade price. You can find a beginner-friendly investing experience (though not as friendly as Robinhood’s) without paying a $5 monthly charge.

Mobile trading apps

Robinhood's mobile app is fast and simple. On those qualities, it’s one of the best. For occasional stock trading, Robinhood has the functionality required to be productive: watch lists, stock quotes with charts, analyst ratings, recent news and a basic order trade entry. Ease of use: Robinhood initially led the way in the field in terms of ease of use when it came to its mobile app. Now that others have caught up in this realm while offering more features, Robinhood is finding it more difficult to stand out. It’s still one of the easiest to use, though.

Ease of use: Robinhood initially led the way in the field in terms of ease of use when it came to its mobile app. Now that others have caught up in this realm while offering more features, Robinhood’s appeal has dimmed.

Watch lists: Robinhood's focus on simplicity leads to several notable drawbacks. Other than automatically syncing across devices, the watch list functionality is slim. In comparison, TradeStation, tastytrade and Schwab's thinkorswim offer hundreds of options for their watch lists. Admittedly, few investors ever need more than a dozen options, but it’s nice to know they’re available.

Charting: When pulling a stock quote, charts cannot be modified beyond six default date ranges and two chart types. There are only six technical indicators and landscape mode is not supported for horizontal viewing.

Trading tools: Knowledgeable traders will find Robinhood a mighty small sandbox to play in. Trading-focused brokers offer more studies, chart types, customization, automated chart analysis, and even specialized desktop platforms and mobile apps. You won’t find those on Robinhood.

Other trading platforms and tools

Robinhood is designed for individuals who are new to investing and want to start with the core basics. At that, it excels. As your account size and investing confidence grows, you may find Robinhood too limiting. There are no 529 plans, custodial accounts, or individual bonds, and financial planning tools are most noticeable by their absence.

Platforms overview: In addition to the mobile app, there is a web-based platform that is similar to the app. That makes it attractive to beginners and frustrating to experienced investors.

Trading tools: The trading tools and features available on Robinhood's website are minimal compared to category leaders, but beginners will find that what it does have is very easy to use. Like the mobile app, charts are rudimentary and come with just six technical indicators, but at least the six are the most popular ones. There are no bracket orders or hotkeys, and Level 2 quotes are an additional charge. Chart traders routinely mark up charts with lines and notes, but that’s not available here.

Fractional shares: Robinhood’s recurring investment tool enables you to automatically invest a fixed dollar amount periodically, such as once per week. Like most other brokers, if you enable dividend reinvestment (DRIP) in your account, Robinhood automatically reinvests any earned dividends from stocks or ETFs, provided the related symbols support fractional share trading.

Options trading: Options trading in Robinhood is easier than falling off a logarithm. Its option chains are unorthodox, but we like them and expect many beginners will prefer them to the traditional chain layout. The options watch list is a standout feature. It makes it simple to watch option price changes before investing. Many brokers allow options on watch lists, but Robinhood presents them exceptionally well.

The drop-down for each option does include the Greeks and you can build multi-leg option strategies very easily. When you do, you are presented with an “expected profit and loss” diagram, as well as the max profit, the max loss and the breakeven, all of which are very useful and clearly presented.

IRA accounts: In late 2022 Robinhood began promoting “Robinhood Retirement,” which offers a 1% bonus on IRA contributions. The premium Gold plan sweetens the offer to 3%, which might make Gold attractive to big retirement savers.

User experience

Robinhood initially led the way in the field in terms of ease of use when it came to its mobile app. Now that others have caught up in this realm while offering more features, Robinhood is finding it more difficult to stand out. It’s still one of the easiest to use, though.

Robinhood’s relatively sparse information won’t win over professional or even serious investors, but there’s enough for casual investors to get started and it’s a hoot to use. There’s color, motion, and urgency. The downside to the party-like atmosphere is that you might be tempted into gambling-like behavior.

For example, the mobile app’s home page shows your real-time portfolio value on a graph that makes a change of a few bucks look like you can retire early or that you need to panic sell.

Research

Robinhood's overall research experience is severely lacking across the board and trails industry leaders Charles Schwab, E*TRADE and Fidelity, who all also offer $0 trades.

Stock and ETFs research: Robinhood offers analyst ratings, "people also bought" recommendations and sections such as "about" for company profiles. It's a cut-and-dried experience focused on simplicity. There are also lists on Robinhood, which are akin to predefined stock screeners with few information points such as market cap size and current prices. This is adequate for some; most will want more.

Gaining access to Morningstar research reports requires subscribing to Robinhood Gold for $5 per month ($60/year). At competitors such as Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or E*TRADE, customers have access to third-party reports for free.

Got Snacks?: If there is one highlight with Robinhood's research, it is the Snacks newsletter. Snacks is produced by Sherwood Media (get it?), a subsidiary of Robinhood Markets. The Snacks editorial team summarizes the market each day in an easy-to-understand, digestible (snacks, digestible… get it?) format. Whether or not you decide to open an account at Robinhood, we do recommend you at least grab… read… a Snack.

Education

Robinhood has investing education unlocked. It’s kept light, but it’s still worth your time and a pleasure to read or watch.

Alongside the standout Snacks newsletter and podcast, Robinhood’s education is aimed primarily at beginner investors, but the rapidly growing library has plenty of interesting articles for advanced investors, too.

Learning center: The library contains a range of articles with beginners in mind, including topics such as “What is a stock?” and “What is a crypto wallet?” The writing is engaging. It might be the best in the business. Few brokers have educational pieces that open like this: “Short selling is kind of like Opposite Day.” The reason why so few brokers do it is because so few writers are that good.

The disappointing thing about Robinhood Learn is how poorly it’s organized. Browsing through Robinhood Learn is akin to seeing Tiffany jewelry stocked in a dollar store. There are gems of articles on important and fascinating topics, but the only way you can find topics you’re specifically looking for is through browsing. Competing brokers should hope Robinhood doesn’t spend the few hours it would take to index their content.

Robinhood's YouTube channel has only 17,500 subscribers, which might be why new content hasn’t been added recently. That’s a damn shame, because the ones I checked out are superb. The options videos explain a complicated topic clearly and present risks right along with the potential upside. Do they want to lead you to open an account and trade on Robinhood? Most definitely. But there’s enough value in the proposition to make them a “must watch” for options beginners.

Banking services

Robinhood is not a traditional bank with branch offices, credit cards, mortgages, wire transfers, and the like. For a list of brokers that are also banks, read our guide to the best brokerages for banking services.

Cash management: Robinhood offers a “Cash Card,” a prepaid debit card issued by a partner bank. The account carries some perks, such as direct deposit and the ability to earn bonuses that are invested in the separate brokerage account.

If you’re looking for solid credit card rewards or a good high-yield savings account, be sure to check out the comprehensive and (I don’t know how they do it) often hilarious guides on our sister site, investor.com.

Final thoughts

For investors looking for a simple, easy-to-use stock and crypto trading app, Robinhood gets the job done. As its name suggests, Robinhood serves budding investors. The Sheriff of Nottingham and King John will find better fits elsewhere. Here are our top takeaways on Robinhood for 2023:

1. Thanks to a clean design that focuses on the basics, Robinhood's mobile app will continue to appeal to beginner investors.
2. Robinhood provides a bare-bones trading experience, making it a poor choice for investors seeking the best trading platform. Also, Robinhood's stock research tools are lacking when compared to $0 commission brokers such as E*TRADE, Charles Schwab, and Fidelity.
3. At $5/month ($60 per year), the Robinhood Gold account level isn't a killer deal unless you have a large account balance, frequently place trades and consistently use margin. See "Robinhood Gold" under Commissions and Fees below.

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Is Robinhood completely free?

The short answer is yes, technically Robinhood is free and charges $0 for stock, options, and cryptocurrency trades. However, certain features require a $5/month subscription to Robinhood Gold, and Robinhood does accept payment for order flow, or PFOF.

Is Robinhood good for beginners?

Yes, Robinhood is good for beginners. Robinhood led the industry in making the market more accessible to beginners. The broker is frequently criticized for encouraging irresponsible investing, a concern I share.

Is Robinhood 100% safe?

Robinhood is safe, but no broker is “100% safe.” There’s always a risk of cyber fraud whenever your information is online. In the unlikely event of broker insolvency, your account is protected up to $500,000 ($250,000 in cash) per customer by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC. This insurance doesn’t protect against market losses, only broker insolvency. If your account is larger than $500,000 or you have more than $250,000 in cash, there are other brokers that carry higher amounts of coverage.

Is Robinhood FDIC insured?

Securities brokers aren’t covered by FDIC insurance. In the U.S., clients are protected by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). Robinhood does offer a program that deposits your free cash (up to $2 million) into FDIC-insured partner banks.

Can you make money on Robinhood?

Yes, you can make money on Robinhood, as you can with all the brokers we review. Brokerage firms in the United States are tightly regulated. Your investment results will depend far more on your investing knowledge, time in the market, and self-discipline than your choice of broker.

Can you lose money with Robinhood?

All investments carry some risk of loss, and Robinhood’s primary focus is on the riskier choices, such as cryptocurrency, stocks and options, though it does pay interest on cash and has fixed income exchange-traded funds. Other brokers offer a broad choice of conservative investments, such as certificates of deposit, Treasury, municipal and corporate bonds, and fixed income mutual funds.

What is the catch with Robinhood?

Unlike most online stock brokers, Robinhood does not offer trading of mutual funds; only stocks, ETFs, and crypto, are supported. And while Robinhood does offer commission-free trading, it earns money from your business in a number of ways.

For example, Robinhood receives Payment for Order Flow, or PFOF, from venues where it routes your trades; while PFOF is a common industry practice, it may not be fully understood by new traders. Robinhood also may earn a fee from the program banks to which it sweeps funds from customers’ cash management accounts. The broker also charges $5 per month for its premium Gold Pricing package, which provides Level II real-time data and research reports from Morningstar, in addition to other account service fees, including 5.75% charged for margin accounts with more than $1,000.

What is the downside to Robinhood?

The two major downsides to Robinhood are, first, its limited investment choices and tools, and second, maddeningly sparse customer support when compared to most other online brokers.

How do I get my money out of Robinhood without paying any fees?

First, sell all your stocks and any other positions. Next, transfer all your cash via ACH to your bank account (ACH transfers are free). Finally, contact Robinhood to close your account. If you transfer stock holdings to another broker, Robinhood will charge you a $75 ACAT fee. Switching brokers? See our list of the best online stockbrokers for 2023.

Do you actually own stocks on Robinhood?

Yes, you do. You may transfer whole shares in and out of your Robinhood account. Fractional shares are an exception. Those must be liquidated when your account is transferred or closed. Fractional shares are really accounting entries against shares that Robinhood holds in inventory, but fractional share owners will receive their proportionate interest in any dividends declared. If the stock is reorganized, Robinhood will liquidate the fractional interest.

Can I day trade stocks using Robinhood?

You need at least $25,000 in your account to day trade with Robinhood (all brokers require at least $25,000 by law), otherwise your account is restricted to just three day trades every rolling five business days. That said, even if you had $25,000, I wouldn't recommend Robinhood. Read our best day trading platforms guide.

Can I buy and sell Bitcoin with Robinhood?

Yes. Robinhood currently offers seven tradeable cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Ethereum Classic (ETC), and Bitcoin SV (BSV). Ten additional cryptocurrencies can be added to any watch list.

Can you trade penny stocks with Robinhood?

No. You cannot trade penny stocks on Robinhood. Over-the-counter (OTC) securities are not supported. However, Robinhood customers can trade company shares listed on the NASDAQ and NYSE whose stock price is currently below $1.00.

Can you trade international stocks with Robinhood?

Yes. Robinhood offers customers the opportunity to buy and sell over 250 popular American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), including shares in companies such as Adidas (ADDYY), Tencent (TCEHY), and Nintendo (NTDOY). That said, Robinhood does not support trading stocks on international exchanges, e.g., the Royal Bank of Canada on the Toronto stock exchange (RY.TO).

Do any of Robinhood’s competitors offer $0 trading?

Yes. E*TRADE, TradeStation, and Charles Schwab, among others, all offer $0 stock trades. Compare Robinhood vs E*TRADE.

Can I trade immediately after opening my Robinhood account?

When you open and fund an account with Robinhood, the broker is unique in that it provides you access to up to $1,000 in funds, available immediately for trading while your ACH transfer deposit processes. Under normal ACH transfers, the average processing time is two to three days.

How do I contact Robinhood customer support?

Unlike most of the best online brokers for beginners, Robinhood does not offer direct phone support or live chat support for prospective customers. Current account holders must email support@robinhood.com or use the app for live chat or to request a phone callback.

About Robinhood

Founded in 2013 and based in Menlo Park, California, Robinhood is an online broker that has raised $2.2 billion in venture capital funding and has more than 14 million monthly active users. The millennial- and Gen Z-focused broker is best known for offering $0 stock, ETF, options and cryptocurrency trades via an easy-to-use website and mobile trading app.

2023 Review methodology

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For the StockBrokers.com 13th Annual Review published in January 2023, a total of 3,332 data points were collected over three months and used to score 17 top brokers. This makes StockBrokers.com home to the largest independent database on the web covering the online broker industry. All research, writing and data collection at StockBrokers.com is done by humans, for humans. Read our generative AI policy here.

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Robinhood 2023 results

For the StockBrokers.com 2023 Annual Awards, published on Jan. 24, 2023, all U.S. equity brokers we reviewed were assessed on 196 different variables across eight areas: Commissions & Fees, Investment Options, Platforms & Tools, Research, Mobile Trading, Education, Ease of Use, and Overall.

StockBrokers.com also presented “Best in Class” awards to brokers for additional categories Beginners, Options Trading, Futures Trading, Active Trading, IRA Accounts, Investor Community, Penny Stock Trading, Banking Services and Customer Service. A “Best in Class” designation means finishing in the top five brokers for that category.

For more information, see how we test. New to investing? Check out the 5 step guide on how to invest on our sister site, investor.com.

Primary categories

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Robinhood fees and features data

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In addition to meticulous annual data collection by our in-house analyst, every broker that participates in our review is afforded the opportunity to complete an in-depth data profile. We then audit each data point to ensure its accuracy.

Trading fees

Account fees

Margin rates

Investment options

Order types

Beginners

Stock trading apps

Stock app features

Stock app charting

Trading platforms overview

Trading platform stock chart features

Day trading features

Investment research overview

Stock research features

ETF research features

Mutual fund research features

Options trading overview

Banking features

Customer service options

About the Editorial Team