TradingCritique

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Robinhood vs E*TRADE : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Robinhood

Robinhood

VS
E*TRADE

E*TRADE

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

STP

Both ECN and STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2013

1982

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

24.2 M

5.2 million client accounts


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA,SIPC, SEC

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Future Trends Corporates Award -2024, Future Trends Leader Award- 2024

Investor App and #1 Web Trading Platform for 2024, Benzinga's 2023 Global Fintech Awards

Security Measures

SIPC, FDIC

SIPC

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

No

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

5000+ trading instruments

Over 50,000 offerings, including US Treasury trades

Currency Pairs

No

No

Commodities

No

No

Indices

No

No

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

No

CFDs

No

No

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Yes

Options

Yes

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

No

Yes

Mutual Funds

No

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

No

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

No

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

No

Copy Trading

No

No

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Mobile, web trading, Desktop trading

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Margin, IRA, and cash account

Brokerage, Retirement, Core portfolio, Managed portfolio, Small business retirement , bank

Demo Account (Yes/No)

No

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$0

Leverage Available

2:1

No

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

Depends on assets class

Commission (per account type)

$0

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners

Beginners to experienced traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

ACH, Instant bank transfer, Debit card, Wire transfer

Transfer money, Wire transfer, Transfer an account, Deposit a check ,Direct Deposit

Withdrawal Methods

Instant bank transfer, Debit card, Standard bank transfer

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

Electronic transfer


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

No

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Learning Tutorials, Webinars, Market news and insights, Support and community

Educational Resources, Tools, Market News and Insights, Tutorials and Webinars


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Exchange and regulatory fees: $55 per trade, with a maximum of $0.02, Margin fees: 5.75%

Stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs- $0, Bonds- $1, FINRA trading activity fee- $0.000166

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

NA

NA

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

$0.01

$0.65

Futures Contract Fees

NA

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

0.50%

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

NA

Maximum Leverage

2:1

No


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$5 per month

NA

Advisory Fees

NA

0.30%

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

NA

Statement or Document Fee

$2 per month

$2

Account Opening Fee

$0

NA

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

$15/ month

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

0.03%

Direct trade-$0.005 per share, Broker assisted trader- $25

Withdrawal Fee

Withdrawal : 1.75%, Bank transfers- 0, Outgoing wire transfer $25 Domestic overnight check delivery $20, ACATS, Outgoing $100

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

8 PM ET Sunday until 8 PM ET Friday

Sunday 5 p.m. CT to Friday 4 p.m. CT


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

7 AM - 9 PM ET

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

App chat 24/7 , Phone- 650-761-7789, Robinhood Crypto- 888-275-8523

Live chat, FAQ, Phone- 800-387-2331, 800-838-0908, Beneficiary Services: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected]

Support Languages

1

1


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Menlo Park, California , U.S.

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
While Robinhood maintains low trading fees with no minimum deposit, E*TRADE includes some charges for premium features and certain asset trades, making Robinhood the better option for budget-focused traders.
Robinhood uses a digital-first onboarding approach with clear instructions and fast ID verification. E*TRADE goes a step further with manual checks and optional account tiers, ideal for serious professionals.
Robinhood platform is great for fast-paced day trading, especially with features like one-click trading.E*TRADE platform, by comparison, is built for strategy testing and long-term portfolio management.
Robinhood strength lies in high-performance trading, while E*TRADE provides a more accessible route for everyday investors.