Robinhood pioneered commission-free trading and offers a simple mobile-first platform for stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto.
✓ Pros
- $0 commissions everywhere
- Simple mobile app
- Fractional shares
- Crypto trading included
✗ Cons
- Limited research tools
- Payment for order flow
- No mutual funds
- Customer service issues reported
Fees & costs
- Min. deposit
- €$0
- Trading
- $0 for stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto
- Stock fee
- $0
- Spread
- N/A (commission-free, payment for order flow)
- Deposits
- Free
- Withdrawals
- Free
- Inactivity
- None
Platforms & features
✓
Mobile App
Intuitive mobile-first trading experience
✓
Web Platform
Browser-based trading available
✓
Fractional Shares
Buy stocks starting from $1
✓
Crypto Trading
Trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies
✓
Options Trading
Commission-free options trading
✓
Robinhood Gold
Premium subscription with instant deposits, margin, and research
✗
Paper Trading
Practice trading with virtual money
✓
Cash Card
Debit card with cash back rewards
Who this fits best
✓ Beginners✓ mobile_first_traders✓ young_investors
Note: limited research tools.
Account opening steps
- 1.
Download the App
Get the Robinhood app from the App Store or Google Play
- 2.
Sign Up
Enter your email, create a password, and provide basic information
- 3.
Verify Identity
Provide your SSN and answer a few questions for identity verification
- 4.
Link Bank Account
Connect your bank account via Plaid for instant deposits
- 5.
Start Trading
Fund your account and start buying stocks, ETFs, options, or crypto
Frequently asked
Is Robinhood really free?
Yes, Robinhood offers $0 commission trading on stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto. However, they make money through payment for order flow, Robinhood Gold subscriptions, and interest on cash balances.
Is Robinhood safe?
Robinhood is regulated by the SEC and FINRA, and is a member of SIPC, protecting securities up to $500,000. Cryptocurrency is not covered by SIPC.
What is Robinhood Gold?
Robinhood Gold is a $5/month subscription that provides instant deposits up to $50,000, margin trading, professional research from Morningstar, and Level II market data.
Can I buy fractional shares on Robinhood?
Yes, Robinhood offers fractional shares, allowing you to invest in stocks and ETFs with as little as $1.
Does Robinhood offer crypto trading?
Yes, Robinhood offers commission-free trading for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and other cryptocurrencies.
Does Robinhood have a desktop platform?
Yes, Robinhood offers a web platform, but it's primarily designed as a mobile-first app with more features on mobile.
What is payment for order flow?
Payment for order flow (PFOF) is when Robinhood routes your orders to market makers who pay for the order flow. This is how Robinhood offers $0 commissions, but it has raised concerns about execution quality.