Robinhood vs. tastytrade Introduction
Two new and interesting brokerage firms are Robinhood and tastytrade. If you want to know which is better overall and in specific areas, keep reading.
Comparison Table
|
|
|
| Rating |
|
|
| Stocks |
$0 |
$0 |
| Options (per contract) |
$0.50 |
$0 |
| Mutual Funds |
n/a |
n/a |
| Initial Funding Requirement |
$0 |
$0 |
| Inactivity Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| IRA Annual Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| Full Account Transfer |
$75 |
$100 |
| Partial Account Transfer |
$75 |
$100 |
| Account Closing Fee |
$0 |
$0 |
| Trading Experience & Technology |
|
|
| Mobile |
|
|
| Research Amenities |
|
|
| Portfolio & Analysis Reports |
|
|
| Customer Service and Education |
|
|
First, We Need to Look at Investment Lineups
Robinhood and tastytrade both only have self-directed accounts. Neither offers investment-advisory services. Robinhood users can trade these products:
* Options
* Cryptocurrencies
* ETFs
* Futures
* Stocks
tastytrade offers all those, plus closed-end funds and options on futures. tastytrade does not have OTC stocks, but Robinhood has a few.
Winner: Tie
Second, We Will Examine Mobile Software
tastytrade has two apps. tastylive is for education and live market news. The main app is for trading and has useful tools. We found bracket orders (take profit and stop loss), and four trade types (market, limit, stop, stop limit). It is easy to use, has option spreads, but charting is basic and has no tools.
Robinhood’s app fixes the charting issue by offering four technical indicators and two plot styles (candlestick and line). But, you can’t rotate charts horizontally as you can in tastytrade.
Robinhood’s app has option spreads, a strategy builder, and profit-loss diagrams that are helpful for beginners.
Both tastytrade and Robinhood apps support cryptocurrency trading.
Winner: Pretty even
Third, Let’s Have a Look at Their Websites
Robinhood’s website is simple and easy to use. There is a search bar at the top, and you can find and add securities and cryptocurrencies to any number of watchlists.
Robinhood’s trade ticket has six order types and two durations. You can expand a chart to the full width of your screen, and the trade button is at the top of the chart.
tastytrade has a browser trading platform, while the website is mainly for account management. The trade ticket has four order types and two durations. Charts can’t be made full screen.
Winner: Robinhood
Fourth Is Desktop Programs
tastytrade users can use a good desktop program. It has strong charting, with hundreds of technical studies, ten plot styles, and full-screen charts. You can also use dual charts.
The order ticket has several modes and features, with a button to switch between long and short.
tastylive resources are also built in, giving you info on what tastytrade executives are trading and streaming live market news.
Robinhood does not have a desktop program, but it probably should.
Winner: tastytrade
Up Next Is Margin
Both Robinhood and tastytrade have margin and cash accounts. Only tastytrade offers portfolio margin (needs $175,000 minimum).
You can upgrade a Robinhood cash account to margin on their website, but tastytrade makes you open a new account for margin.
tastytrade’s margin rates use a tiered schedule, starting at 10.5% and going as low as 7.5% for a million-dollar margin debit.
Robinhood users pay 5.25% for margin balances under $50K.
Winner: tastytrade
The Sixth Category Is Day Trading
Level II Quotes: Robinhood provides these for Gold users.
Direct Access to Market Venues: Neither firm allows direct-access routing.
Extended Hours: Robinhood allows trading stocks and ETFs from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm EST. tastytrade’s trading is from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Both offer nearly 24/7 crypto trading.
Short Positions: You can’t short on Robinhood, but you can on tastytrade.
Routing Fees and Rebates: Not offered by either broker.
Winner: Robinhood
Finally, It’s Extra Services
Individual Retirement Accounts: Both offer Roth and Traditional IRAs. Only tastytrade has SEP IRAs, but only tastytrade charges a $60 IRA closing fee. Only Robinhood gives a 1% match on all IRA contributions.
Cash Management Tools: Robinhood has a bank account with a Visa debit card. You can turn purchases into fractional shares of stocks or digital coins. tastytrade does not have this.
IPO Access: Only Robinhood lets users join in new stock offerings.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Both offer free DRIP services.
Fractional Shares: Only Robinhood allows buying stocks with any dollar amount. Both firms allow crypto in whole dollars.
Winner: Robinhood
Promotions
Tastytrade:
Get $250 for each person you refer with this referral link.
Robinhood:
Up to $200 free stock + 3% IRA match + transfer fee refund at Robinhood.
Our Recommendations
Beginners: tastylive is a great learning tool for new investors. For trading, Robinhood’s app is a bit easier to use.
Small Accounts: Neither has account minimums or fees for regular taxable accounts. Because tastytrade charges a $60 IRA closing fee, Robinhood is better for IRAs.
Active Stock Trading: tastytrade’s desktop program is more advanced. But only Robinhood offers fractional-share trading.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: Robinhood is the pick because of the 1% IRA match.
Robinhood vs Tastytrade Summary
Both firms are close overall. Robinhood is better for cash management. tastytrade is best for futures trading.
Updated on 7/25/2025.
Continue Reading