TD Ameritrade vs. Robinhood: 2022 Comparison
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The biggest difference between TD Ameritrade and Robinhood is that TD Ameritrade typically appeals to advanced, active traders, offering a wide investment selection, several high-quality trading platforms and a deep library of research and data. Robinhood, on the other hand, seeks to attract beginner investors who prioritize streamlined mobile trading and low costs.
Compare TD Ameritrade and Robinhood in detail below:
Robinhood is best for:
Mobile users.
Individual taxable accounts and IRAs.
Margin accounts.
Robinhood at a glance
Account minimum | $0 for brokerage accounts, Robinhood Gold accounts and IRAs. |
Stock trading costs | $0. |
Options trades | $0. Options not currently available in IRAs. |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | No annual, inactivity or ACH transfer fees. $100 ACAT outgoing transfer fee. (Robinhood Gold costs $5 a month.). Matching funds in IRAs may be taken back if money is withdrawn after less than five years. |
Tradable securities | • Stocks. • ETFs. • Options. (Not available in IRAs.) • Cryptocurrency. (Not available in IRAs.) • American Depositary Receipts for over 650 global companies. • Fractional shares. |
Crypto availability | 18 coins in 48 states. (Not available in IRAs.) |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | Not rated. |
Trading platform | Web platform is simple but meets basic investor needs. |
Mobile app | Mobile trading platform includes customizable alerts, news feed, advanced charting and ability to listen live to earnings calls. |
Research and data | News available from Benzinga, Reuters, Bloomberg and WSJ. Gold members have access to research from Morningstar, Nasdaq, Nasdaq Totalview level II Market Data for an additional $5 per month. Portfolio recommendations available for IRAs for no additional charge. |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website) | Email, social media, chat, in-app request-to-call service 24/7. |
TD Ameritrade is best for:
Beginner investors.
Advanced traders.
Investor education/advice.
Fund investors.
TD Ameritrade at a glance
Account minimum | $0 |
Stock trading costs | $0 |
Options trades | $0.65 per contract. |
Account fees (annual, transfer, closing, inactivity) | No annual or inactivity fee. $75 full transfer; $0 partial transfer. |
Number of no-transaction-fee mutual funds | More than 1,600. |
Tradable securities |
|
Crypto availability | No direct access to cryptocurrencies, but crypto coin trusts are available over-the-counter, and qualified clients can trade Bitcoin futures from CME. |
Trading platform | Two platforms: TD Ameritrade web and thinkorswim (desktop). |
Mobile app | TD Ameritrade mobile app, TDA thinkorswim app. |
Research and data | Research, analysis, commentary and news available from 15 providers, including Argus, CFRA, Reuters, Vickers and Morningstar. |
Customer support options (includes how easy it is to find key details on the website). | Phone, email and live chat support 24/7. In person at local branches. Support also available via text, Facebook Messenger, Twitter direct message, Apple Business Chat and Amazon Alexa. |
» Compare more options: View our picks for the best stock apps
NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 | NerdWallet rating 5.0 /5 |
Fees $0 per trade for online U.S. stocks and ETFs | Fees $0.005 per share; as low as $0.0005 with volume discounts | Fees $0 per trade |
Account minimum $0 | Account minimum $0 | Account minimum $0 |
Promotion Get $100 when you open a new, eligible Fidelity account with $50 or more. Use code FIDELITY100. Limited time offer. Terms apply. | Promotion Exclusive! US resident opens a new IBKR Pro individual or joint account receives 0.25% rate reduction on margin loans. Tiers apply. | Promotion Get up to $600 or more when you open and fund an E*TRADE account |
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