Robinhood 2020 Review and Tutorial

Minimum Initial Deposit

There is no initial deposit minimum for a standard Robinhood account. However if you have a Gold Margin account you will need $2000, as the minimum rule. Of course, you also need enough capital to buy one share of a Nasdaq stock or an ETF, for example. Such a minimum deposit requirement is a real bonus to this broker, as many competitors require more than $1,000 to open an account.

Spreads, Commissions & Leverage

Not only is there zero commission on in-app trading, but Robinhood has implemented a transparent fee structure for their Gold margin account. While many exchanges charge mind-boggling annual interest rates, Robinhood charges a monthly fee based on the amount of equity you borrow. For example, with an account balance of $5,000 and $2,000 margin, your monthly fee is $10. As a result of this pricing framework, Robinhood is one of the cheapest online brokers around.

Other Trading Fees

User reviews happily indicate no hidden costs. There are zero activity, ACH or withdrawal fees. Having said that, there is a transfer fee of $75 ACAT. There are also participating bonuses and special promotions to keep an eye out for. For example, sometimes Robinhood offers a referral offer where you can get free shares when you bring a friend to the network. Head over to the official website to see the ongoing specials.

Robinhood Trading Platform

As the web platform’s release date was announced for 2018, an impressive 640,000 customers quickly signed up to the waiting list. Once you’re logged in, the online platform is more robust than the mobile app, but still falls short compared to competitors. From the menu, users will be able to access:

• Analyst ratings and market reviews from Morningstar
• For example data prices and current stock prices, such as Japanese stocks, for example
• The Ticker Profile will offer a list of recently purchased stocks and index funds, which can help users identify potentially profitable assets.

However, when viewing stock prices and accessing features from the menu may be direct, the charting package will be limited. Also, online platforms will not have backtesting facilities or sophisticated analysis tools. Having said that, Robinhood was quick to announce it would provide guidance on how to use the new web-based platform. This means that all desktop customers can quickly sign in with their web login details and start speculating on popular financial markets.

Mobile App

Opinions of the trading platform were divided when it offered the Robinhood mobile app, which until 2018 was the only way users could place trades. First, it’s worth noting that they offer apps for iPhone and Android users that can be downloaded from their respective app stores in just a few minutes. A quick software review to highlight the platform is clearly aimed at new traders. As a result, the user interface is simple but effective. You won’t get screens, backtesting tools or advanced features. In addition, not everything is in one place. Therefore, you need to go elsewhere to conduct your technical research and then return to the application to execute the trade. Having said that, it’s not too rare. For example,

• Run a trade
• Check the watch list
• Keep up with the news
• Pull stock price flow
• Deposit or withdrawal of funds
• Change your security settings
• See charts with basic metrics
• Conduct basic market research

In addition, information pops up to help you get the most out of the application. Customer support is just a tap away and after the update, new feature details are quickly shown. How to Use Robinhood App Review Robinhood app that admits placing trades is very easy. You can access the trading screen from the ticker profile. Alternatively, if you swipe left on the ticker while in the watchlist, a ‘Buy’ button will appear. You can also delete the ticker by swiping left. iOS and iPhone reviews note there are some things you can’t do. For example, you get an empty option column on the watch list above the last price. Also, when you pull a stock quote, you cannot change the chart, except for the six default data ranges. Besides, you cannot run technical analysis. Finally, there is no landscape mode for horizontal viewing. App Verdict It’s great Robinhood offers free stock trading for Android and iOS users. Built-in user protection is also great for new traders as they limit high-risk investments. However, a survey of stockbrokers will point to competitors offering more comprehensive mobile applications for those who are comfortable with the risks associated with high volatility instruments.

Payment method

Once you sign up for a Robinhood account, you need to deposit funds before you can start trading. Fortunately, you can link your bank account directly to Robinhood to make both deposits and withdrawals. Plus, verifying your bank account is quick and easy. Note Robinhood does not recommend linking a Checking account and not a Savings account. This can prevent potential transfer reversals. Following customer feedback, the broker is also considering supporting alternative funding methods, including PayPal and virtual wallets.

Robinhood account

Robinhood offers three different account types:

1. Standard account – When you register you will be assigned this account automatically. It gives you access to instant deposits. In addition, you don’t have to wait for your money to be processed when trading stocks and making deposits of up to $1,000.
2. Gold account – This upgraded account gives you additional buying power, larger instant deposits, and extended trading hours. Because it is a margin account, you need to hold a minimum balance of $2,000. The outlook for gold is positive, with clients enjoying the benefits of margin accounts and more trading hours. The price of a gold account will vary depending on which tier you choose. You will pay a flat monthly fee based on margin. It should be noted that trading on margin may be risky. In fact, you may lose more than your initial investment.
3. Cash account – A cash account allows you to place commission-free trades in equities, without immediate deposits and placements. Note you can also downgrade to cash accounts from standard Robinhood accounts and Gold accounts.

According to broker reviews, clients appreciate the choice of account types, allowing them to find the right access for their trading needs. Account verification is also fast, so traders can fund their accounts and get to speculating on the market right away.

Demo Account

Whether you’re trading forex, the S&P 500 or penny stocks, practicing with a demo account first can help you create an effective strategy before you risk real capital. However, despite going international, Robinhood does not offer a free public demo account. Although you can argue that there is no need for one since you have access to free trading applications, virtual trading with simulated money is still a great way to test drive trading software and get to know the market. Until practice accounts are introduced, reviews will continue to highlight this as a significant weakness to Robinhood’s system.

Additional features

Robinhood’s investment reviews are quick to highlight the lack of resources and research resources. Instead, networks are built more for those who implement simple strategies. Because the exchange only offers stocks, ETFs and crypto trading, users get zero information about alternative securities, such as options and futures. Although there are plans to facilitate this type of trading in the future. Having said that, you will find the basics, rating statistics and news feed in the app. Although for comprehensive news coverage you may be better off turning to the likes of Yahoo Finance. Also, although the site offers support articles and tips, there is a lack of training videos and different user guides to help customers make the most of the platform. Limited resources are the real downfall to broker deals. For example, because of cryptocurrency trading in the UK and everywhere else, the company can really help users by providing information about blockchain technology and digital currency tokens.

Rules & Licenses

Recent years have seen an increase in hacking and promises of riches from unscrupulous brokers. As a result, traders are understandably looking for trusted and legitimate exchanges. Fortunately, as the account review highlights, Robinhood is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. In addition, SIPC promises up to $500,000 per customer, with a sub-limit of $250,000 for cash claims. In addition, additional insurance is secured through Lloyds and several other London underwriters. This ensures customers have excess coverage in the event SIPC’s standard limits are insufficient.

Benefits

There are several very good reasons to choose Robinhood, including:

• Cost – Exchanges charge zero trading fees to buy or sell stocks and ETFs. This commission-free structure is suitable for traders with low capital. It’s not until you take Robinhood vs Coinbase, Vanguard, Fidelity and others that you realize how low Robinhood’s trading fees are.
• No account minimums – Blogs and trading forums are often full of complaints about the high barrier to entry due to the significant initial deposit requirement. However, it is free to open a Robinhood account and cash accounts have no account minimums.
• Easy to use – Their simple app is clean, fast and easy to pick up. This is perfect for beginners who don’t want to be bogged down in complex features and options.
• Free bank transfers – ACH transfers are always free. Again this will appeal to new traders who have limited starting capital.
• Mobile users – Robinhood provides a good mobile trading app for iOS and Android users. Users can conduct market research, trade and manage their accounts easily from within the application.

Weakness

Despite the positive numbers, there are also certain downsides to Robinhood’s offering, including:

• Limited research & education – Investment reviews quickly point out that Robinhood falls short in terms of in-depth analysis and research tools. This may deter new traders looking for additional resources that will help them grow as traders.
• Limited products – Although brokers have made progress towards offering cryptocurrency trading, user reviews indicate that there are alternatives that offer a wider variety of tradable instruments.
• Basic charts – Charts and patterns form an important part of your market analysis. Unfortunately, take Robinhood vs Etoro, Etrade and TD Ameritrade and it quickly becomes clear the former offers a very basic charting package. In fact, users only get check information and historical price data, with no customization capabilities.
• Real-time data concerns – Although the actual application shows collection data in real-time, the terms and conditions indicate that the data may be delayed up to 20 minutes.
• Basic order types – Robinhood does not support advanced order types or trading options, while limit orders are scaled up to 5%.
• Accessibility – Because the Robinhood broker is still in its infancy, for EU and UK investment and trading, Robinhood is not an option. Fortunately, as their net worth continues to grow, the company seems ready to welcome traders from new countries.
• Negative purchasing power – Robinhood Gold users are at risk of having a negative balance. Although this may not lead to a margin call, you will need to deposit additional funds. This should remind users that it is all too easy to lose more than your initial capital.

Trading Hours

Robinhood trading hours depend on the asset you are trading as they generally follow the market. Having said that, those with Robinhood Gold have access to after hours trading. As a result, users can trade for 30 minutes before the market opens, as well as two hours after it closes. This is because many companies announce earnings reports after the market closes. But the downside of buying and selling during the after-hours session is reduced liquidity, which can result in higher bid/ask spreads.

Contact & Customer Support

Robinhood Financial offers many ways to get in touch, including:

• Telephone
• Email
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Google+
• LinkedIn

However, as user reviews are quick to point out, these resources are not available 24/7. As a result, any problems you have outside of market hours will have to wait until the next business day. Although there are limited options, customer reviews indicate that the support staff is quite knowledgeable and can help you if your platform is down or the website is down. They can also help with various account queries. Robinhood also tries to drive users towards an online help center and FAQ page, where most of the user’s questions and queries are answered in detail. Note that customer service assistants cannot give tax advice. Instead, go to their official website and select Tax Center for more information.

Safety & Security

In addition to insurance, Robinhood has multiple layers of security to keep personal data and information safe, including TPS encryption. User login details and passwords can be combined with two-factor authentication in the form of an SMS security code. Alternatively, if you have a fingerprint ID for your iOS or Android device, you can sign in with touch ID. This makes accessing and exiting your investment application quick and easy.

Robinhood verdict

If low cost is your priority then you can’t beat Robinhood’s free trading service. But while the broker offers enough for users to trade comfortably, it is probably best suited for beginners looking for a simple and user-friendly design. As product and platform reviews, experienced traders may want to look elsewhere for advanced tools and additional resources.

Accepted Countries

Robinhood only accepts traders from the United States.