If you're deciding between Webull vs. Robinhood, the good news is that you can't go wrong with either broker. Both offer commission-free trades, access to a wide range of asset classes, and full-featured mobile apps. But there are some important differences in terms of how the apps perform, the trades you can make, and more.
Read on to learn more about where Webull and Robinhood shine -- and where they fall short -- to decide on the brokerage firm that's best for you.
Webull vs. Robinhood: At a glance
| Offer | Webull | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars. 4.0/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
| Commissions | $0 per trade | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold |
| Account Minimum | $0 | $0 |
| Next Steps | Open Account for Webull Read Full Review | Open Account for Robinhood Read Full Review |
Unique perk: Deposit matching
Robinhood does something we typically don't see from stock brokers. It matches all customer IRA deposits 1%. It matches Robinhood Gold members deposits 1% and 3% on taxable and retirement accounts. It's the opposite of a commission: it's extra cash in your accounts. The catch is you need to keep deposits in Robinhood accounts for years to earn your full match. It's worth keeping in mind when weighing Robinhood's fees vs. other brokers'.
Webull vs. Robinhood: Commissions & fees
Both Webull and Robinhood market themselves as commission-free and fee-free brokers. They largely live up to that promise. You won't pay a commission for buying stocks, ETFs, options trading, or cryptocurrencies with either brokerage firm. Neither charges account maintenance fees.
However, if you want access to Robinhood Gold -- which is necessary to gain access to advanced data, 3% IRA match, and the best margin rates -- you'll need to pay $5 per month.
And you'll have to download a separate Webull Pay app to trade crypto through the company. Robinhood has a separate crypto app as well, but you can trade many currencies directly from the main Robinhood app, no extra downloads required.
| Webull | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock & ETF commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Options commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Crypto commissions | $0 (100-basis point spread on both sides of crypto trades) | $0 |
| Mutual fund commissions | N/A | N/A |
| Account transfer fee | $75 to transfer stock out of Webull | $100 |
| Account maintenance fee | $0 | $0, or $5 per month for Robinhood Gold |
Data sources: Webull and Robinhood.
Webull vs. Robinhood: Investments available
Both Webull and Robinhood provide access to stocks, ETFs, and options. Fractional share trading is also available from both brokers, although Webull requires a minimum $5 investment while Robinhood allows you to buy as little as 1/1000000 of a share.
Neither Webull nor Robinhood provide access to mutual funds, CDs, bonds, futures, or currencies. If you're hoping to add these asset classes to your portfolio, you'll need a different brokerage account to do it. Webull has rolled out a waitlist for futures trading.
Robinhood and Webull both allow cryptocurrency trading, although Webull's selection of available cryptocurrencies outpaces Robinhood's. If you're primarily interested in crypto trading, it's worth taking this into account.
| Webull | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual funds | No | No |
| CDs | No | No |
| Bonds | No | No |
| Futures | Waitlist | No |
| Crypto | Yes, on Webull Pay | Yes |
| Currencies | No | No |
Data sources: Webull and Robinhood.
Webull vs. Robinhood: Account types available
Robinhood and Webull both offer a taxable brokerage account, but neither provides access to a joint or custodial account.
Both Webull and Robinhood allow you to open traditional and Roth IRAs. Robinhood offers a 1% match on IRA contributions, rising to 3% for Robinhood Gold subscribers.
Webull offers a high-yield cash management account. Deposits earn interest and Webull charges zero monthly fees. Your money is FDIC insured.
Robinhood offers a spending account with a linked debit card that earns rewards, but spending account deposits don't earn interest. Instead, Robinhood offers an optional "brokerage cash sweeps" program that earns customers interest on uninvested cash.
Only Webull offers robo-advisor services. It charges an annualized fee of 0.2%, low for the industry, and requires a $100 minimum deposit. Feel free to compare it to some of the best robo-advisors out there.
| Webull | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable brokerage | Yes | Yes |
| Joint tenant | No | No |
| Margin | Yes | Yes |
| Robo-advisor | Yes | No |
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Other IRA | Rollover IRAs | No |
| Custodial | No | No |
| Checking | No | No, but offers a spending account |
| Savings | No, but offers a high-yield cash management account | No, but offers brokerage cash sweeps |
| Credit card | No | Waitlist |
Data sources: Webull and Robinhood.
Webull vs. Robinhood: Mobile apps and trading platforms
Both Webull and Robinhood are heavily focused on mobile apps and allow trading on the go, but both offer full-featured desktop apps.
Both brokers' apps are highly rated. Webull earns a 4.7 and 4.3 out of 5 stars on the iOS and Google Play store, and the Robinhood app earns 4.2 and 4.1 star ratings.
However, while both apps make mobile trading easy, they are geared toward different kinds of investors:
- New investor: Robinhood's app is simple by design and aimed at making it easy for novice investors to quickly execute trades.
- Experienced investor: Webull's app is designed for a more experienced investor, with more technical data available on the main trading screen.
LEARN MORE: Best Online Stock Brokers for Beginners
Final take
Both Webull and Robinhood are great options for the mobile-first investor who is interested in being able to easily trade stocks, ETFs, fractional shares, and cryptocurrencies.
Those who prefer easier access to technical data may prefer Webull and its advanced charting. On the other hand, Robinhood's intuitive trading platform makes it an ideal choice for investors hoping to keep things simple. Robinhood's IRA match may appeal to retirement investors.
Since both brokers charge no commission and offer full-featured apps, the right choice comes down to a matter of which interface is a better fit for your needs.
Alternatives to Consider
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2024.
| Account | Fees | Account Minimum | |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold | $0 | Open Account for Robinhood |
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars. 5.0/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades; trade fractional shares for as little as $1 | $0 | Open Account for Fidelity |
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars. 4.0/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 per trade | $0 | Open Account for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing |
FAQs
Generally speaking, Robinhood is better for investors who prioritize simplicity and a clean user experience. Webull caters to investors who want more choices and technical features, such as advanced dashboard and robo-advisory services.
You may want to switch to Webull if you want access to technical charts, robo-advisory services, or a place to earn interest on cash that's separate from uninvested brokerage cash.
Our Brokerages Experts
By:Christy Bieber
Writer
Christy Bieber is a full-time personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. She has a JD from UCLA as well as a degree in English, Media and Communications with a Certificate in Business Management from the University of Rochester. In addition to writing for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, her work has also been featured regularly on MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today. She also ghost writes textbooks, serves as a subject matter expert for online course design, and is a former college instructor.
By:Cole Tretheway
Cole Tretheway is a full-time personal finance writer whose articles have been featured on The Ascent and The Motley Fool. He has a degree in English with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication from California Polytechnic University, SLO.
Fact CheckedEric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
