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Head to head
tastytrade or Robinhood? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The cheapest serious options broker in the US — built by people who trade premium for a living.
The cheapest way to trade options and the best trading app ever built — attached to the thinnest research desk and the longest enforcement record in the sector.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall tastytrade takes it, 4.2 against 3.9 out of 5. On commissions there is little between them — €0.00 against €0.00 for a reference EUR 5,000 order. tastytrade scores 82 against 78 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. tastytrade covers more ground with 9 of 14 asset classes against 7. On platform and app tastytrade is ahead, 4.6 against 4.4 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
tastytradeRobinhoodtastytradeRobinhoodtastytradeRobinhoodtastytradeRobinhoodtastytradeRobinhoodUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.2 — Better | 3.9 |
| Group index | 82 of 100 | 78 of 100 |
| Best for | Options premium sellersHigh-volume multi-leg tradersSmall-account futures tradersActive US derivatives traders | Active options tradersMobile-first investorsMargin usersCrypto and equities in one appSmall starting balances |
| Regulation | FINRASECNFA | SECFINRACFTCFCABank of Lithuania |
| Top-tier licences | 3 | 4 — Better |
| Investor protection | US$500,000 | US$500,000 |
| Listed group | Yes | Yes |
| Banking licence | No | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | No | No |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | 4 |
| Founded | 2015 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Chicago, IL, US | Menlo Park, US |
| Fees | 4.6 | 4.8 — Better |
| Safety & regulation | 4.2 — Better | 3.6 |
| Trading platform | 4.6 — Better | 3.9 |
| Product range | 3.6 — Better | 3.4 |
| Mobile app | 4.5 | 4.8 — Better |
| Research | 3.8 — Better | 2.8 |
| Customer support | 3.8 — Better | 3.0 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 3.8 | 4.0 — Better |
| Account opening | 4.3 | 4.7 — Better |
| Education | 4.4 — Better | 3.4 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Stocks (per order) | Free | Free |
| US stocks | Free | Free |
| ETFs | Free | Free |
| Options | US$1 | Free — Better |
| Futures | US$1 | US$0.75 — Better |
| Crypto | 1 % | in the spread |
| Bonds (order) | US$25 | Not offered |
| Funds (order) | Not offered | Not offered |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | n/a |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | n/a | n/a |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
| Custody fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | free — Better | US$25 |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 9 — Better | 7 |
| Exchanges | n/a | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | No |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | Yes | No |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | tastytrade desktoptastytrade webtastytrade mobile (iOS / Android)TradingView integrationOpen API | Robinhood MobileRobinhood WebRobinhood Legend |
| Demo account | Yes | No |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | US Regulation T margin: 2:1 overnight and 4:1 intraday on marginable equities for pattern day traders. | 1:2 |
| Account opening | Same day for US residents; 1–3 business days for international applicants | Minutes in-app; approval usually the same day |
| Account types | Cash accountMargin accountPortfolio marginTraditional / Roth / SEP IRAInternational individual or joint | Robinhood brokerage accountRobinhood GoldRobinhood Retirement (Traditional / Roth IRA)Stocks and shares ISA (UK only) |
| Payment methods | Bank transferChequeCrypto | Bank transferCrypto |
| Account currencies | USD | USDGBPEUR |
| Deposit time | ACH same day to 1 business day; wire same day | Instant up to your instant-deposit limit; 3–5 business days to fully clear |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days by ACH; same day by wire |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | English | EnglishSpanish |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chat | Live chatEmailPhone |
| Availability | Mon–Fri, extended US market hours; 24/5 trade desk for futures | 24/7 in-app chat and callback |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
tastytrade
The cheapest serious options broker in the US — built by people who trade premium for a living.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Robinhood
The cheapest way to trade options and the best trading app ever built — attached to the thinnest research desk and the longest enforcement record in the sector.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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