Interactive Brokersvs
RobinhoodStock Broker Comparison
Two brokers, two career paths: expansive market access vs streamlined, commission-free trading. The axis of tension is price structure, platform depth, and global reach.
Who should choose Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood?
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you need global market access and powerful trading tools, including Trader Workstation and API access.
Choose if…
Choose Robinhood if you prefer commission-free trading and a simple, mobile-first experience with fractional shares.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood: Side-by-Side Stock Broker Comparison
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.8/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
| Min deposit | No minimum | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | N/A |
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood Stock Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
- Access to 150+ global markets across 33+ countries
- Industry-leading low commissions for active traders
- IBKR Lite tier offers commission-free US stock trading
- Powerful TWS platform with DMA, options, and API access
- Regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC and other Tier 1 bodies
- IPO access available through IBKR IPO platform
Cons
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
5
Interactive Brokers
criteria wins
0
Robinhood
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Pass | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Pass | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Pass | Pass |
| IPO access | Pass | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Pass | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood: Frequently Asked Questions
Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice: it rates 4.8/5 versus 3.8/5 for Robinhood, a gap that reflects clear differences across regulation, fees, and platform quality in our review.
Interactive Brokers starts from 0.2. Current spread data is not available for Robinhood. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Interactive Brokers requires no minimum deposit required. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Robinhood.
Both Interactive Brokers and Robinhood hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
Minimum deposit and negative balance protection data are not confirmed for this pair. Both hold top-tier regulatory status, meaning client fund protections apply to both. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site.
Interactive Brokers lists maximum leverage of 1:4, while Robinhood lists up to 1:4. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Robinhood are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Robinhood supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS).
Yes, both Interactive Brokers and Robinhood offer commission-free stock trading according to our data. Keep in mind that commission-free brokers may still charge spread costs, foreign exchange fees, or platform fees — always check the full fee schedule on each broker's website.
Yes, both Interactive Brokers and Robinhood offer fractional share investing. This makes it easier to invest in high-priced stocks with smaller amounts of capital, which is particularly useful for long-term portfolio building. Check each broker for the specific stocks eligible for fractional purchases.
