Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Robinhood vs TradeZero
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Robinhood |  TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, CryptoCovers more | Stocks, Options |
| Regulators | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC | AFM |
| Margin rate | 3.95%Lower | 9% |
| Options contract fee | $0Lower | $0.59 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $100 outgoing transfer | $15 wire transfer out |
| Platforms | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 10X | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Inactivity fee ($0), Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Robinhood scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC.
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Founded is lower at Robinhood: 2013 vs 2015.
- Robinhood is licensed in 1 more country.
- Margin rate is lower at Robinhood: 3.95% vs 9%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Robinhood: $0 vs $0.59.
- Markets: only Robinhood offers ETFs, Futures, Crypto.
- Platforms: only Robinhood offers Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend.
- Platforms: only TradeZero offers ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile.
Our verdict on each
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.
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
Score breakdown
| Area | Robinhood | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.6 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Robinhood | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 13 of 471 | 169 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 1 of 103 | 58 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 2 of 22 | 18 of 22 |
| Brokers for beginners | 6 of 88 | 44 of 88 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Robinhood | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Lithuania | Bank of Lithuania (LSC) MiCA CASP 254900GTP4UXQO1UMI36 LT_BL PSD_PI 306377915 | Not confirmed |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 69916 | Not confirmed |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Robinhood | TradeZero |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Beginners, Day traders | Experienced, Beginners, Day tradersCovers more |
| Legal entity | Robinhood Europe UAB | TradeZero Europe B.V. |
| Headquarters | Lithuania | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2013Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Chat, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Robinhood | TradeZero | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 3.95%lowest quarter | 9%above the median | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0lowest quarter | $0.59below the median | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
Who each suits
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with forex, cfds and stocks.
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Robinhood vs Nexo
- Robinhood vs Afranga
- Robinhood vs Nectaro
- Robinhood vs Merrill Edge
- Robinhood vs Interactive Brokers
- Robinhood vs Plus500
- Robinhood vs FOREX.com
- Robinhood vs Charles Schwab
- Robinhood vs Public
- Robinhood vs Finhabits
- Robinhood vs Optimus Futures
- Robinhood vs Trading 212
- Robinhood vs Titan
- Robinhood vs Axos Invest
- Robinhood vs Vantage
- Robinhood vs IG
- Robinhood vs Ally Bank
- Robinhood vs Trade Nation
- Robinhood vs Moneybox
- Robinhood vs Capital.com
- Robinhood vs ActivTrades
- Robinhood vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- Robinhood vs XTB
- Robinhood vs NAGA
- Robinhood vs UNest
- Robinhood vs Linxea
- Robinhood vs bunq
- Robinhood vs Mintos
- Robinhood vs Bitpanda
- Robinhood vs Kraken
- Robinhood vs EBC Financial Group