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Robinhood vs. E*TRADE: Clash of the Brokerage Titans

Review Updated
Ryan Wilcox
Author: Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox
Ryan Wilcox
Full-Time Personal Finance Writer

Ryan Wilcox is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, covering credit cards, bank accounts, investing, auto insurance, and other personal finance topics. Ryan has been writing about credit cards and savings since 2022. Before joining Motley Fool Money, he was a full-time writer at The Points Guy, where he focused on maximizing credit card rewards and travel strategies. He holds a bachelor’s degree in English and American History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he also spent four years reporting for The Daily Tar Heel. With a background in both journalism and consumer finance, he brings a clear and thoughtful voice to money topics. Outside of work, Ryan is likely reading, writing, or updating his Letterboxd account.

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Looking to start investing and deciding between Robinhood and E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley? You've got great taste. They're easily two of my favorite brokerages out there, and two of the most popular.

Both offer strong platforms with commission-free stocks and ETF trading, which means they're both great for most investors. But there are a handful of key differences that set them apart.

Here's what to know about Robinhood vs. E*TRADE and how to know which one is right for you.

Robinhood vs. E*TRADE: At a glance

Offer


Rating

Rating

4.80/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor

Rating

4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Commissions

Commissions

$0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.

Commissions

Commission-free; other fees apply
Account Minimum

Account Minimum

$0

Account Minimum

$0
Learn More
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

Read Full Review
Learn More for E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

On E*TRADE's Secure Website.

Read Full Review

Overview of features

Robinhood and E*TRADE share plenty of core features, like:

  • Commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs
  • Mobile app and desktop platforms
  • Options trading
  • Fractional shares (more limited with E*TRADE)
  • Individual taxable brokerage accounts
  • IRA accounts (traditional and Roth)
  • Margin trading

But Robinhood also offers:

  • A built-in IRA match (1% standard, up to 3% with Robinhood Gold)
  • Commission-free crypto trading (with spread pricing)
  • Access to branded credit card products with Robinhood Gold

While E*TRADE comes with:

  • Mutual funds
  • Bonds and CDs
  • Futures
  • Managed portfolios and robo-advisors
  • Strong research tools, screeners, and analyst reports
  • 24/7 customer support

Investments and fees

Investments available

Here's where some of the bigger differences pop up. With Robinhood, you'll get access to:

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Fractional shares
  • Options
  • Cryptocurrency

E*TRADE, meanwhile, offers:

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Fractional shares (limited)
  • Mutual funds
  • Bonds and CDs
  • Options
  • Futures

With access to mutual funds, bonds, and CDs, E*TRADE offers a wider range of investments, especially for long-term investors.

Robinhood, meanwhile, offers access to cryptocurrency, if that matters to you. It's commission-free, although prices include a built-in spread.

It's also worth noting that Robinhood offers $0 options contracts, while E*TRADE charges ~$0.65 per contract. That makes Robinhood cheaper for casual options traders.

Retirement accounts

Both Robinhood and E*TRADE offer traditional and Roth IRAs with automated contributions. But Robinhood stands out here with its IRA match. You'll get:

E*TRADE doesn't offer a contribution match, but it makes up for it with a wider range of retirement investments, including mutual funds and bonds. If you're trying to choose between the two brokerages, it really comes down to what you value.

Interface and resources

Both platforms have some of the better investing interfaces out there, but they're geared toward slightly different audiences.

A Robinhood account is easy to open, and keeps things simple with:

  • A clean, simple interface
  • Fast trade execution
  • Minimal learning curve

That makes it a strong pick for beginners. E*TRADE is a bit more in-depth, meanwhile, with:

  • Advanced charting tools
  • Power E*TRADE platform for active trading
  • Third-party research, like analyst reports
  • Screeners
  • 24/7 customer support

That makes it better suited for more active investors, or anyone who loves to dig in on data on their holdings.

Final thoughts

Both Robinhood and E*TRADE are strong options -- they're popular for a reason. They're definitely built for slightly different audiences, however.

Robinhood is best for:

  • Beginners
  • Investors who want a simple app
  • Crypto traders
  • Retirement savers who want an IRA match

Want a simple investing app with commission-free trades and an IRA match of up to 3% with Robinhood Gold? Open a Robinhood account today to start your investing journey.

E*TRADE is best for:

  • Long-term investors
  • Anyone who wants mutual funds or bonds
  • Active traders who want advanced tools

Want access to mutual funds, bonds, advanced tools and more? Open an E*TRADE account today to start growing your money.

The right choice comes down to your goals. If you want simplicity, go with Robinhood. If you want more investment options and deeper tools, E*TRADE is the better fit.

Alternatives to Consider

We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2026.

Broker Best For Commissions Learn More
Logo for Fidelity
5.00/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Full-service investing at every experience level $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETFs*. No account fees****.
Learn More for Fidelity

On Fidelity's Secure Website.

Logo for Charles Schwab
4.90/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low-cost investing with a full-featured platform $0 stock, ETF, and Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource® trades. No fees to buy fractional shares.
Learn More for Charles Schwab

On Charles Schwab's Secure Website.

Logo for Robinhood
4.80/5 Circle with letter I in it. Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale. 5 stars equals Best. 4 stars equals Excellent. 3 stars equals Good. 2 stars equals Fair. 1 star equals Poor. We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
 = Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options $0 on trades of stocks, ETFs and their options. Other fees may apply.
Learn More for Robinhood

On Robinhood's Secure Website.

FAQs

  • It depends on your needs. Robinhood is better for beginners and crypto traders. E*TRADE is better for long-term investors who want more investment options and research tools.

  • Yes, both offer traditional and Roth IRAs. Robinhood also offers a 1% match (up to 3% with Robinhood Gold), while E*TRADE has more investment options.

  • E*TRADE offers thousands of mutual funds. Robinhood does not currently support mutual fund investing.