Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood
Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood: the differences
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | 3.95%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0Lower |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $100 outgoing transfer |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 10X |
| Interest on cash | 3.38% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2013.
- Margin rate is lower at Robinhood: 3.95% vs 4.38%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Robinhood: $0 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Forex, Funds.
- Markets: only Robinhood offers Crypto.
- Platforms: only Interactive Brokers offers Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile.
- Platforms: only Robinhood offers Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend.
Our verdict on each
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Robinhood
Robinhood suits first-time investors and small, regular investors who want nothing charged for holding or trading. It is the cheapest way in on our data, with a minimum deposit of $0, no account fee and no inactivity charge, under the Bank of Lithuania and SIPC.
Score breakdown
| Area | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.3 |
How they place
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 35 of 490 | 13 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 7 of 103 | 1 of 103 |
| Futures trading platforms | 8 of 83 | 3 of 83 |
| Margin trading brokers | 4 of 22 | 2 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | United States | Lithuania |
| Founded | 1978Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0lowest quarter | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Robinhood
Pros
- Nothing to pay to open or hold an account, with an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0
- Trading a share costs $0, so a small first order is not eaten by commission
- You can start with a deposit of $0, lower than most brands on our data
Cons
- Leverage is available at 10X, which magnifies losses as well as gains
- Outgoing transfers carry a charge of $100 outgoing transfer
- Margin borrowing is priced at a margin rate of 3.95%, so interest adds to your cost
Who each suits
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Robinhood
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
- Day-traders working in options, futures and crypto on mobile
- Retirement investors using an IRA, Roth IRA or joint account
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage if a flat minimum deposit of $5 suits you better
- CFI if you want forex and CFDs alongside shares, since its markets cover stocks, etfs and forex
- eToro if social copy trading matters more than options and futures
Questions about each
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
Robinhood
What does it cost to trade shares on Robinhood?+
Trading a share costs $0, and an options contract costs $0. There is also an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so nothing is taken for simply holding the account open. Borrowing on margin is charged at a margin rate of 3.95%, which is the main running cost if you use leverage.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a Robinhood account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can open an account and place a small first order without funding a large balance. It is worth comparing that with the deposits other brands ask for before you commit, since the figure varies widely across the market. Outgoing transfers are charged at $100 outgoing transfer, so factor that in if you plan to move money out early.
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