Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs Robinhood
Where Kraken and Robinhood differ
| Compare |  Kraken |  Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | $100 outgoing transfer |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | 10X |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 3.95% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- Robinhood scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Robinhood: $0 vs $1.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Forex.
- Markets: only Robinhood offers Options.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only Robinhood offers Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend.
- Features: only Robinhood offers Fractional shares, Options, Futures.
- Pricing model: only Robinhood offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
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 | Kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. |
| Offer | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 9.3 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 28 of 490 | 13 of 490 |
| Futures trading platforms | 6 of 83 | 3 of 83 |
| Brokers for beginners | 10 of 88 | 6 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, Experienced | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Lithuania |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1below 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 | Not confirmed | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0lowest quarter | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
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
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €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
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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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