Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Robinhood vs TradeStation, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In the Robinhood vs TradeStation matchup, both brokers cover the basics—stocks, options, and futures with margin—but they differ in a few key areas. Robinhood is the better pick if you want cryptocurrency trading (22 coins), fractional shares, and access to advisor services. TradeStation stands out if you need mutual funds. Both earn 4 stars for Range of Investments, though StockBrokers.com ranks TradeStation higher (#6 of 14) than Robinhood (#10 of 14).
Investable assets: Both offer stock trading, including OTC stocks, along with options and futures. Neither supports forex. Robinhood adds crypto trading with 22 supported coins; TradeStation does not offer crypto. For funds, TradeStation offers mutual funds while Robinhood does not. For small-dollar investing, Robinhood supports fractional shares while TradeStation does not. Margin trading is available on both.
Accounts and extras: Both brokers support Traditional and Roth IRAs. Robinhood also provides advisor services, while TradeStation does not. If you prefer owning slices of stocks and exploring crypto in one app, Robinhood is the clearer fit. If you need mutual funds and focus on the classic markets, TradeStation will feel more at home.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 0 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: TradeStation offers a deeper, more feature-rich experience for active traders, while Robinhood keeps things simple for everyday investors. TradeStation supplies desktop platforms for Windows and Mac plus advanced charting, paper trading, and custom scripting. Robinhood focuses on an easy web experience with solid basics but fewer pro tools. Reflecting this, StockBrokers.com rates TradeStation 4 stars (ranked #3 of 14) and Robinhood 3 stars (ranked #8 of 14) for trading platforms and tools.
Platform access is a clear divider in the Robinhood vs TradeStation matchup. Robinhood has no downloadable desktop platform for Windows or Mac, but it does have a browser-based platform. TradeStation offers all three: Windows desktop, Mac desktop, and a web platform. Paper trading is available on TradeStation and not on Robinhood. Neither broker includes a built-in trading journal. Both let you adjust open orders directly on a chart and set custom date ranges, save multiple chart layouts, and add notes. TradeStation goes further with automated chart pattern detection, historical trade markers, and corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts—features Robinhood lacks.
If you care about depth and customization, the numbers favor TradeStation. Watch lists can show 341 fields on TradeStation versus 34 on Robinhood. Charting offers 294 technical indicators and 45 drawing tools on TradeStation, compared with 90 indicators and 26 drawing tools on Robinhood. Editing a simple SMA study presents 12 customization fields on TradeStation versus 6 on Robinhood. You can also create custom studies on TradeStation; Robinhood does not allow this.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 34 | 341 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 294 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 26 | 45 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Comparing education for beginners, Robinhood offers wider coverage than TradeStation. Robinhood includes learning on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, while TradeStation focuses on stocks and options and does not cover ETFs or bonds. According to StockBrokers.com, Robinhood earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 7th of 14 brokers for education; TradeStation scores 2 stars and ranks 14th.
Feature-wise, both brokers provide educational videos. TradeStation stands out for hands-on learning with paper trading and hosts webinars—two things Robinhood does not offer. Neither broker offers mutual fund education, quizzes, or tools to track your learning progress. Pick Robinhood if you want more topics to study, especially ETFs and bonds; pick TradeStation if you prefer practicing with a simulator and attending webinars.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: both Robinhood and TradeStation deliver capable stock trading apps, and each holds a 4-star rating from StockBrokers.com. TradeStation ranks slightly higher (#6 of 14) than Robinhood (#7 of 14). If Apple Watch support and a larger set of technical studies matter, Robinhood has an edge; if published rankings sway you, TradeStation gets the nod. Mobile after-hours trading is available on Robinhood, while TradeStation’s mobile after-hours availability isn’t confirmed here.
On mobile access and core features, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps. Robinhood also supports Apple Watch; TradeStation does not. Both apps support options trading and streaming quotes. Neither app includes streaming live TV or videos on demand. You’ll find stock alerts, custom watch lists, and the ability to customize watch list columns on both.
For charts, both apps include after-hours charting and let you view multiple time frames, but neither supports landscape chart view or stock-to-stock comparisons on charts. Robinhood offers 90 technical studies in its mobile app, while TradeStation offers 45. Ratings are tied at 4 stars, with TradeStation ranked #6 and Robinhood #7 by StockBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 90 | 45 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line: in the Robinhood vs TradeStation fees matchup, Robinhood is generally cheaper for most everyday costs. Both brokers have a $0 minimum deposit and $0 commissions for stock trades, but Robinhood also charges $0 per options contract and $0 for options exercises and assignments. TradeStation adds a $0.60 per‑contract options fee, applies fees on options events, and has higher margin interest and IRA charges, which can increase your total cost.
Trading costs at a glance: stock trades are $0 at both brokers. Options pricing is where they differ—Robinhood is $0 per contract, while TradeStation is $0.60 per contract. For options events, Robinhood lists $0 for both exercises and assignments; TradeStation charges $14.95 to exercise and $5.95 for assignment.
Margin and account fees further separate the two. Robinhood’s margin rates are 5.75% below $50,000 and 5.55% from $50,000 to $99,999. TradeStation’s are 12.5% below $50,000 and 11.5% from $50,000 to $99,999. For retirement accounts, Robinhood has $0 IRA annual and closure fees, while TradeStation charges $35 annually and $50 to close. Transfer fees (ACAT) run $100 for partial or full at Robinhood versus $125 for partial or full at TradeStation.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.60 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $14.95 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.95 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $35.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $50.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
For day trading, TradeStation offers a wider set of tools than Robinhood. Both online brokers support ladder trading and Level 2 quotes, but TradeStation adds streaming time and sales, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, basic and advanced strategy backtesting, a short locator for real-time short availability, and maker/taker rebates. Robinhood does not provide those extras. Neither platform includes streaming live TV.
If you scalp or need precise order control, TradeStation’s routing options, time and sales, and hotkeys can speed entries and exits, while its backtesting helps fine-tune strategies before you trade. The short locator and liquidity rebates are useful for active traders. Robinhood suits simple, fast tap-to-trade use with Level 2 and a ladder, but the lack of hotkeys, routing, backtesting, short locator, and rebates can limit frequent traders. In the Robinhood vs. TradeStation day trading matchup, choose based on how many tools you need for intraday decisions.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | Yes |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | Yes |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes |
| Short Locator | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: Robinhood and TradeStation deliver similar, entry-level market research. Both earn 2.5 out of 5 stars, with Robinhood ranked slightly higher (#10) than TradeStation (#11) by StockBrokers.com. The main difference is that TradeStation includes an ETF screener, which can help if you like to filter funds. Otherwise, their research depth and tools are largely alike.
For coverage, both brokers offer research on stocks, ETFs, and OTC/pink sheets. Neither provides research for mutual funds or bonds. Extras like ESG insights and social media sentiment are not available on either platform. Downloadable PDF research reports are also absent for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. On the portfolio side, both let you view your allocation by asset class.
When it comes to idea generation, both Robinhood and TradeStation include a stock screener. TradeStation stands out by adding an ETF screener, while Robinhood does not. Neither broker offers screeners for mutual funds or bonds. If ETF screening matters to you, TradeStation has the edge; if not, the research experience is comparable on both.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | No | Yes |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
Comparing Robinhood vs. TradeStation for banking capabilities: neither broker offers traditional bank accounts such as checking or savings, and neither provides mortgage loans or certificates of deposit (CDs). The main difference is in card access—Robinhood offers both a debit card and a credit card, while TradeStation does not offer a debit card or a credit card. If you need bank-like features, Robinhood has limited options through its cards, whereas TradeStation focuses solely on investing without banking products.
| Feature |
Robinhood
|
TradeStation
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Brokerage CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Robinhood is better than TradeStation. Robinhood finished with an overall score of 69.6%, while TradeStation finished with a score of 68.4%.
Robinhood is best known for its commission-free trading, modern mobile and desktop platforms, and low-cost access to options, margin, and futures trading.
Robinhood vs TradeStation: Robinhood offers crypto trading with 22 supported coins, whereas TradeStation does not offer cryptocurrency trading (0 coins).
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both Robinhood and TradeStation offer traditional and Roth IRA accounts, but Robinhood stands out with no annual or closure fees, while TradeStation imposes a $35 annual fee and a $50 closure fee for IRA accounts.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
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| Review | Robinhood Review | TradeStation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
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| Trading Fees | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | N/A | $0.01 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | N/A | $14.95 | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.60 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $0.75 | $1.50 | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | N/A | $25 |
| Margin Rates | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 5.75% | 12.5% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 5.75% | 12.5% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 5.55% | 11.5% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 5.25% | 11.5% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 5.25% | 12.0% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 5.25% | 7.5% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 5% | 7.5% |
| Account Fees | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $35.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $50.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $100.00 | $125.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $100.00 | $125.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $14.95 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $5.95 |
| Investment Options | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | No | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 0 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | No | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | No | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 1 | 0 |
| Order Types | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | No | Yes |
| Beginners | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 90 | 45 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | Robinhood Legend | TradeStation 10 | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | Yes | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 34 | 341 |
| Stock Chart Features | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 294 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 26 | 45 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 12 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | Yes |
| Day Trading | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | Yes | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | Yes | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | Yes | |
| Short Locator | No | Yes | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | Yes |
| Research Overview | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | Yes | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Research | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | No |
| ETF Research | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | No | Yes | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | Yes | No |
| Overall | Robinhood | TradeStation | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Robinhood Review | TradeStation Review |
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