StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.

tastytrade vs Robinhood 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 20, 2025

In this head to head comparison of tastytrade vs Robinhood, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

tastytrade
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.50 info
Robinhood
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When comparing tastytrade and Robinhood, both platforms offer investors a solid range of options, but there are some notable distinctions. While tastytrade earns slightly better marks with a four-star rating for its range of investments, compared to Robinhood's 3.5-star rating, this slight edge may appeal to those seeking a broader array of trading opportunities. Despite their differences, both platforms excel in stock trading, options trading, and crypto trading, each with features tailored to suit different investor needs.

For basic stock and options trading, both tastytrade and Robinhood offer comprehensive services, including margin trading and fractional shares. However, tastytrade falls behind in crypto trading, offering only four coins, whereas Robinhood provides access to 22 different cryptocurrencies, making it a better choice for those interested in exploring diverse digital assets. In futures trading, tastytrade stands out as the clear winner, being the only one of the two to offer this service, which may appeal to more experienced traders looking to expand their portfolios.

Despite these differences, neither tastytrade nor Robinhood covers OTC stocks, mutual funds, forex trading, or advisor services. Both platforms offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, catering to those interested in retirement savings. Ranked #10 and #13 respectively by StockBrokers.com for their range of investments, tastytrade and Robinhood each present a mix of strengths and limitations, leaving the decision largely dependent on individual trading preferences and priorities.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes info Yes
OTC Stocks info No No
Mutual Funds info No No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info Yes Yes info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 4 22
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

In the realm of online trading platforms and tools, both tastytrade and Robinhood cater to modern investors but differ markedly in their offerings. Tastytrade shines with advanced charting capabilities, including a substantial array of 308 technical indicators and 31 drawing tools, surpassing Robinhood's more modest offerings of 16 indicators and 23 tools. Furthermore, tastytrade empowers users with downloadable platforms for both Windows and Mac, while Robinhood relies solely on its browser-based interface. This level of sophistication and flexibility has garnered tastytrade a 4-star platform rating and an 8th place ranking by StockBrokers.com, compared to Robinhood’s 3.5 stars and 9th place. Overall, tastytrade appeals to seasoned traders seeking a comprehensive toolkit, whereas Robinhood’s simplicity might better serve beginners or casual users.

Both platforms facilitate the adjustment of open orders directly on charts and provide the ability to add notes and index overlays. However, tastytrade extends its functionality by allowing traders to view historical trades and corporate events on charts, features missing from Robinhood's toolset. While Robinhood offers the convenience of setting custom date ranges for charts, tastytrade compensates with the ability to save multiple chart profiles and even create custom studies, providing traders with customizable and in-depth analytical options.

When it comes to organizing and monitoring stocks, tastytrade offers a significantly more detailed watchlist setup with 33 columns, compared to Robinhood's basic 3-column arrangement. Although neither platform provides paper trading or a trading journal, tastytrade's advanced level of customization and comprehensive charting tools grant traders a more enriched trading platform experience. Conversely, Robinhood delivers a straightforward approach, ideal for users who prioritize ease of use over feature depth.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Paper Trading info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 308 16
Charting - Drawing Tools info 31 23
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: 7 Best Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

Featured Offers


5/5 Stars

Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™.

5/5 Stars

Up to $10K on new retirement account*

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational offerings of tastytrade and Robinhood, both online brokers provide resources for beginners in stocks, ETFs, and options. However, they skip mutual funds and bonds education. While neither platform includes educational videos or quizzes, they both present webinars for users wanting live insights. A standout feature is tastytrade's ability to track your learning progress, a tool that Robinhood does not offer. Despite this, both platforms receive an equal education rating of 4 stars.

In terms of industry rankings, Robinhood edges out tastytrade, securing the 9th spot out of 16 brokers reviewed by StockBrokers.com, while tastytrade sits at 10th. This close competition highlights that while both brokers are solid choices for educational resources, each has unique features worth considering based on individual learning preferences and needs.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When it comes to picking a stock trading app, both tastytrade and Robinhood achieve an impressive rating of 4.5 stars, though Robinhood edges out a slightly higher ranking, positioned at #7 compared to tastytrade at #10 by StockBrokers.com. Each platform offers apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring broad device compatibility. The choice between the two will largely hinge on individual preferences such as feature sets and usability, as both provide robust functionalities tailored to the modern trader.

In terms of app features, both tastytrade and Robinhood provide essentials like mobile options trading, streaming quotes, and the ability to create and customize watch lists. Only Robinhood extends its compatibility to the Apple Watch, providing users with greater flexibility in receiving updates. While both platforms support after-hours trading and charting, tastytrade enhances its charting experience with landscape mode and multiple time frame viewing, although it does not offer technical studies or stock comparison on charts, a focus area that Robinhood addresses by offering six technical studies.

One of the standout differences is Robinhood's capability for sending stock alerts, a feature that tastytrade lacks. Conversely, although both services do not supply streaming live TV or videos on demand, tastytrade users often appreciate its nuanced chart visualization options, such as landscape mode, which Robinhood does not support. Ultimately, the decision between tastytrade and Robinhood might come down to whether you prioritize technical chart studies and alerts (Robinhood) or bespoke chart views and after-hours capabilities (tastytrade).

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Charting - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 6
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When deciding between tastytrade and Robinhood for online trading, it's essential to consider various fees and charges to identify which platform best suits your needs. Both platforms offer commission-free trading on regular stock trades and have no minimum deposit requirements, making them accessible to a broad range of investors. However, the difference in options trading fees, margin rates, and other charges might influence your decision based on your trading habits and investment strategies.

Tastytrade and Robinhood cater to options traders, but Robinhood takes the edge here by offering commission-free options trading, while tastytrade charges $0.50 per options contract. Margin rates at tastytrade start at 11% for balances below $25,000 and decrease slightly for higher balances, while Robinhood provides more competitive rates, beginning at 5.75% for balances up to $49,999 and decreasing to 5.55% as balances increase. Additionally, while both platforms waive IRA annual fees, tastytrade imposes a $60 charge for closing an IRA, whereas Robinhood keeps this service free of charge.

For account transfers, tastytrade charges $75 for both partial and full ACAT transfers, which is slightly more favorable compared to Robinhood's $100 fee. Moreover, tastytrade applies fees for options exercises and assignments at $5 each, while Robinhood side-steps these costs entirely. While both platforms have their strengths, your choice may ultimately depend on how you prioritize fees associated with options trading, margin rates, and account management services.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 info $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $5.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $5.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $60.00 $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing day trading features between tastytrade and Robinhood, both platforms have some limitations but also offer certain advantages tailored to specific trading styles. Neither tastytrade nor Robinhood provide streaming time and sales data for stocks, which can be a drawback for traders relying heavily on real-time information. However, tastytrade sets itself apart by offering streaming live TV, a feature Robinhood lacks, providing users access to financial news and insights directly through the platform. Both platforms do not offer the option for direct market routing or level 2 quotes, which might be essential for traders needing deeper insights into the markets.

Regarding supported trading strategies, neither tastytrade nor Robinhood offers basic or advanced backtesting capabilities, which might deter users who prefer to test their strategies before entering the market. Both platforms include ladder trading, offering a step-by-step order placement process, but neither supports keyboard trade entry through trading hotkeys, potentially slowing down trade executions for active day traders. While Robinhood doesn't have a dedicated tool for short selling, tastytrade provides a short locator tool to help traders find real-time availability of shares to short. Sadly, neither platform provides order liquidity rebates, potentially increasing trading costs for high-volume traders.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No info
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When evaluating the market research capabilities of tastytrade and Robinhood, both platforms have distinct offerings. While neither broker provides mutual funds or bonds research, TigerTrade shines in portfolio allocation features by offering insights on asset class distribution, which Robinhood lacks. However, Robinhood stands out by providing research on Pink Sheets/OTCBB and offering a stock screener, which can help users identify trade ideas more effectively. Overall, both brokers have room for improvement, with tastytrade rated at 1.5 stars and Robinhood slightly ahead with 2 stars for market research.

For investors interested in stocks and ETFs, both tastytrade and Robinhood provide research options, though neither offers downloadable PDF reports or uses social media sentiment data. ESG research is also unavailable on both platforms, suggesting a gap in sustainable investment insights. Despite these limitations, users can access the stock research needed to make informed decisions, though they might need additional tools or resources supplementing their investment strategies.

While tastytrade and Robinhood share several similarities in their market research offerings, Robinhood is ranked higher by StockBrokers.com, securing the 10th spot among 16 brokers, compared to tastytrade's 13th place. Investors looking for a specific type of research might prefer Robinhood for its additional features, but those seeking a more comprehensive portfolio view may find tastytrade a better fit. Ultimately, the choice between these brokers depends on the unique preferences and research needs of the individual investor.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info No Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Research 1.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When it comes to banking capabilities, neither tastytrade nor Robinhood provide traditional checking or savings accounts, which might be a drawback for those hoping to manage all their finances in one place. However, Robinhood offers a slight edge by providing debit cards and credit cards, adding some financial flexibility for its users. Tastytrade, in contrast, does not offer any debit or credit card options. Neither platform currently supports CDs or provides mortgage loans. For those seeking a more comprehensive digital banking experience, these offerings are important factors to consider when choosing between the two popular online brokers.

Feature tastytrade logotastytrade
Robinhood logoRobinhood
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info No Yes
Credit Cards info No Yes
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 16 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that tastytrade is better than Robinhood. tastytrade finished with an overall score of 80.1%, while Robinhood finished with a score of 77.3%.

tastytrade isn’t for every investor, but its platform is ideal for frequent options and futures traders, offering efficient workflow, useful risk management tools, killer design, and online content that makes you feel like you’re on a trading desk.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with tastytrade or Robinhood?

Tastytrade provides crypto trading with access to 4 different coins, while Robinhood expands your options by offering trading in 22 cryptocurrencies, making Robinhood a more diverse choice for crypto enthusiasts.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does tastytrade or Robinhood offer IRAs?

Both tastytrade and Robinhood offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual fees, but tastytrade charges a $60 closure fee while Robinhood does not.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

Popular trading guides

More trading guides

Popular broker reviews


Select Brokers

×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPublic.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSoFi Invest®
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating tastytrade Robinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 1.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review Robinhood Review
Broker Screenshots tastytrade Robinhood
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees tastytrade Robinhood
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $0.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info N/A N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info N/A info N/A
Options (Per Contract) info $0.50 info $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.25 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $0 N/A
Margin Rates tastytrade Robinhood
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 11% 5.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 10.5% 5.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 10% 5.55%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 9.5% 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 9% 5.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 8.5% 5.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 8% 5% info
Account Fees tastytrade Robinhood
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $60.00 $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $5.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $5.00 $0.00
Investment Options tastytrade Robinhood
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes info Yes
OTC Stocks info No No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes Yes info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 4 22
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info No info No
Bonds (Corporate) info No No
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types tastytrade Robinhood
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No Yes
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners tastytrade Robinhood
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No No
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Progress Tracking info Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps tastytrade Robinhood
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No Yes
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes Yes
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes Yes
Stock App Features tastytrade Robinhood
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No Yes
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes Yes
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting tastytrade Robinhood
Charting - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 6
Charting - Study Customizations info No Yes
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No No
Trading Platforms tastytrade Robinhood
Active Trading Platform info tastytrade Robinhood Legend
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 33 3
Stock Chart Features tastytrade Robinhood
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 308 16
Charting - Drawing Tools info 31 23
Charting - Notes info Yes Yes
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No Yes
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No Yes
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes Yes
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 7 1
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading tastytrade Robinhood
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info Yes Yes
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No No info
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview tastytrade Robinhood
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info No Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info No Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info Yes No
Stock Research tastytrade Robinhood
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info No Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research tastytrade Robinhood
ETFs - Strategy Overview info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info No Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No Yes
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No info
Mutual Fund Research tastytrade Robinhood
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading tastytrade Robinhood
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes Yes
Option Chains - Total Columns info 20 17
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info Yes No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes Yes
Banking tastytrade Robinhood
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No Yes
Debit Cards info No Yes
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service tastytrade Robinhood
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No Yes
Overall tastytrade Robinhood
Overall 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 1.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review tastytrade Review Robinhood Review
arrow_upward

close