Interactive Brokers
Robinhood
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Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while Robinhood was established in 2013 and is based in USA. Interactive Brokers holds licences including the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, while Robinhood is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; Robinhood has 10,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Brokers and $0 at Robinhood.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Regulation | the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, ASX 24 and Chi-X Australia. Is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA register entry number 208159. Is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427). Is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) under no. H-EN-III-623/2020. Is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Is a member of NSE, BSE, SEBI. Regn. No. SEBI Registration No. INZ000217730; NSDL: IN-DP-NSDL-301-2008. CIN-U67120MH2007FTC170004. Is regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No.187). Is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS100917). | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Financial Supervision Commission (FSC) |
| Founded | 1977 | 2013 |
| Country | United States | USA |
| Clients | 1,000,000+ | 10,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and Robinhood, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Robinhood has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $1 at Interactive Brokers). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Robinhood does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Robinhood charges deposit fees; Interactive Brokers does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | Yes | Yes |
Platforms
Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, while Robinhood supports a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | Yes | No |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Interactive Brokers and Robinhood compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Brokers accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Robinhood supports 1 (bank transfer). Interactive Brokers uniquely supports credit/debit card among the two brokers. Interactive Brokers scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | No |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Interactive Brokers and Robinhood offer live chat support. Interactive Brokers offers phone support; Robinhood does not. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Brokers supports 2 languages and Robinhood supports 13, giving Robinhood broader global reach. Interactive Brokers scores higher overall on customer support in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | No |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, Deutsch, Nederlands, Espanol, Francais, Italiano, Polski, Srpski, Norsk, Svenska, Cesky, Romana, Turkce |