Introduction
Two modern, exciting brokerage firms are Robinhood and tastytrade. If you want to know which one is
better than the other overall and in key areas, keep reading.
Comparison Table
First, We Need to Look at Investment Lineups
Robinhood offers self-directed accounts and managed accounts through Robinhood Strategies. Robinhood clients can buy and sell the following investment products:
- Options
- Cryptocurrencies
- ETFs
- Futures
- Stocks
tastytrade has all five of these asset classes plus closed-end funds and options on futures. tastytrade
doesn’t offer OTC stocks. Robinhood has a few of them.
Winner: Tie
Second, We Will Examine Mobile Software
tastytrade has two mobile apps. The tastylive app is for education and live market news. The main app is for trading, and there are some decent tools on it. We found bracket orders (take profit and stop loss) plus 4 basic trade types (market, limit, stop, and stop limit). While the platform is fairly easy to use and has integrated option spreads, charting is on a very low level with no tools.
Robinhood solves the problem with charting by adding technical indicators and 2 plot styles (candlestick and line). However, a chart cannot be rotated horizontally, which is possible on the tastytrade app.
Robinhood’s app has integrated option spreads and a strategy builder, which is great for beginners. Profit-loss diagrams are icing on the cake.
Cryptocurrencies can be traded on either the tastytrade or Robinhood app.
Winner: Pretty even
Third, Let’s Have a Look at Their Websites
Robinhood’s website is fairly simple, although its basic outline does make it easy to navigate. A search bar at the top of the site makes finding cryptocurrencies and securities quite painless, and they both can be added to any number of watchlists.
Robinhood’s trade ticket has six order types and two duration choices. A graph can be displayed the full width of the computer screen, and a trade button sits at the top of the chart. Robinhood also has Robinhood Legend, a browser-based desktop platform with more advanced trading and charting tools.
tastytrade has an actual browser platform. The website is used for account management, and there are several useful tools. The site’s trade ticket has four order types and two time-in-force choices. A graph cannot be blown up the entire width of the PC monitor.
Winner: Robinhood
Fourth Is Desktop Programs
tastytrade customers who don’t find what they’re looking for on the website can use the company’s very good desktop program. This platform does have good charting. For example, we found hundreds of technical studies and ten plot styles, and a chart can be displayed full-screen. A dual-charting mode is an added bonus.
The order ticket has multiple modes, and they provide a lot of features in total. A short/long button in the strategy field makes it really easy to switch between the two trade types.
tastylive resources are integrated into the platform, which means there are details on trading activity of tastytrade executives and live streaming of video news.
Robinhood now has Robinhood Legend, a browser-based desktop platform for stocks, options, crypto, and other supported products. However, tastytrade still has the more advanced downloadable desktop program.
Winner: tastytrade
Up Next Is Margin
Margin and cash accounts are both available at both broker-dealers in this comparison. tastytrade offers portfolio margin with a $125,000 activation minimum and a $100,000 maintenance minimum.
A cash account at Robinhood can apply for margin access through the company’s website. tastytrade customers must also apply and be approved for margin privileges.
The cost of using borrowed money at tastytrade to trade securities is on a tiered schedule. It starts at
10.25% and reaches a low of
7.25% at a margin debit of $1 million.
Robinhood customers pay 5% for debit balances under $50K.
Winner: tastytrade
The Sixth Category Is Day Trading
Level II Quotes: Robinhood offers them with a Gold subscription.
Direct Access to Market Venues: Neither brokerage firm has direct-access routing on any of its platforms.
Extended Hours: Robinhood clients can buy and sell eligible stocks and ETFs during extended hours and through 24 Hour Market trading from Sunday evening through Friday evening. tastytrade also offers extended-hours trading and 24-hour equities trading in select stocks and ETFs. Cryptocurrencies are nearly 24/7 at both firms.
Short Positions: Shorting is not possible at Robinhood, but it is at tastytrade.
Routing Fees and Rebates: Not available at either broker-dealer.
Winner: Robinhood
Finally, It’s Extra Services
Individual Retirement Accounts: Both firms offer Roth and Traditional IRAs. Only tastytrade has the SEP IRA, although only tastytrade charges an IRA closeout fee ($60 at the time of publication). Robinhood offers a 1% IRA match for non-Gold customers and a 3% match for Gold customers on eligible annual contributions.
Cash Management Tools: Robinhood, but not tastytrade, offers spending and card products, including the Robinhood Cash Card and Robinhood Gold Card.
IPO Access: Robinhood customers, but not tastytrade clients, can participate in some upcoming stock offerings when available and eligible.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Both Robinhood and tastytrade offer free DRIP service.
Fractional Shares: Both Robinhood and tastytrade offer fractional-share trading, although tastytrade charges a small clearing fee per fractional-share transaction. Digital currencies trade in whole dollars at both firms.
Winner: Robinhood
Promotions
tastytrade:
Get $100 for signing up at Tastytrade with this referral link.
Robinhood:
Free stock + 3% IRA match or 2% transfer match at Robinhood.
Our Recommendations
Beginners: tastylive would definitely be a good resource for newbies. For actual trading, we
think Robinhood’s software is a little easier to use.
Small Accounts: Neither firm imposes any fees or minimums on taxable accounts. Due to tastytrade’s
$60 IRA termination fee, we would go with Robinhood for an IRA.
Active Stock Trading: tastytrade’s desktop program delivers the most advanced downloadable trading experience
in this survey. Robinhood also offers browser-based desktop trading through Robinhood Legend and fractional-share trading.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: With Robinhood’s IRA match, it gets the endorsement.
Robinhood vs tastytrade Summary
These two broker-dealers are pretty close overall. Robinhood definitely has the better cash management
tools, while tastytrade is the top dog for futures trading.
Updated on 5/29/2026.
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