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Written by StockBrokers.com
January 31, 2024
Is Robinhood better than Vanguard? After testing 18 of the best online brokers, our analysis finds that Robinhood (84.5%) is better than Vanguard (80.3%). Robinhood is very easy to use and its educational content is a joy to read. But, in today’s competitive market for your investing dollars, there are several more compelling options among brokerages.
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- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCiti Self Invest
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPublic.com
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSoFi Invest
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTD Ameritrade
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradier
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVanguard
- check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull
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Overall Rating | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Customer Service | N/A | ||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Robinhood Review | Vanguard Review |
Broker Screenshots | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC)info | N/A | $0.00 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | N/A | Varies | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $1.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | N/A | $25 |
Margin Rates | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12% info | 13.75% info | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12% info | 13.25% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12% info | 12.75% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12% info | 12.25% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12% info | 11.75% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 12% info | 10.5% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 12% info | Varies info |
Account Fees | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial)info | $100.00 | $0.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full)info | $100.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Tradinginfo | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Sharesinfo | Yes | No | |
OTC Stocksinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Options Tradinginfo | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legsinfo | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Tradinginfo | No | No | |
Forex Tradinginfo | No | No | |
Crypto Tradinginfo | Yes | No | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coinsinfo | 15 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load)info | 0 | N/A | |
Mutual Funds (Total)info | 0 | N/A | |
Bonds (US Treasury)info | No | Yes | |
Bonds (Corporate)info | No | Yes | |
Bonds (Municipal)info | No | Yes | |
Traditional IRAsinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Roth IRAsinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Advisor Servicesinfo | No | Yes | |
International Countries (Stocks)info | 0 | 0 |
Order Types | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Order Type - Marketinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limitinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - After Hoursinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Stopinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stopinfo | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OCOinfo | No | No | |
Order Type - OTOinfo | No | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assistedinfo | No | Yes |
Beginners | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks)info | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs)info | No | No | |
Education (Options)info | Yes | No | |
Education (Mutual Funds)info | No | No | |
Education (Bonds)info | No | No | |
Education (Retirement)info | No | Yes | |
Retirement Calculatorinfo | No | Yes | |
Investor Dictionaryinfo | Yes | No | |
Paper Tradinginfo | No | No | |
Videosinfo | No | Yes | |
Webinarsinfo | No | No | |
Webinars (Archived)info | No | No | |
Progress Trackinginfo | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzesinfo | No | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone Appinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Android Appinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch Appinfo | Yes | No | |
Trading - Stocksinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hoursinfo | Yes | No | |
Trading - Simple Optionsinfo | Yes | No | |
Trading - Complex Optionsinfo | Yes | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotesinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotesinfo | Yes | No |
Stock App Features | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers)info | Yes | No | |
Stream Live TVinfo | No | No | |
Videos on Demandinfo | No | No | |
Stock Alertsinfo | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewableinfo | Yes | No | |
Watch List (Real-time)info | Yes | No | |
Watch List (Streaming)info | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manageinfo | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Column Customizationinfo | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fieldsinfo | 3 | 9 |
Stock App Charting | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hoursinfo | Yes | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontallyinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Framesinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studiesinfo | 6 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizationsinfo | Yes | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisonsinfo | No | No |
Trading Platforms | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platforminfo | N/A | ||
Desktop Trading Platforminfo | No | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac)info | No | No | |
Web Trading Platforminfo | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Tradinginfo | No | No | |
Trade Journalinfo | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fieldsinfo | 3 | 9 |
Stock Chart Features | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chartinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studiesinfo | 6 | 9 | |
Charting - Drawing Toolsinfo | 0 | 0 | |
Charting - Notesinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Index Overlaysinfo | No | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Tradesinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Corporate Eventsinfo | No | Yes | |
Charting - Custom Date Rangeinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Barsinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysisinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Save Profilesinfo | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysisinfo | No | No | |
Charting - Study Customizationsinfo | 1 | 1 | |
Charting - Custom Studiesinfo | No | No |
Day Trading | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Salesinfo | No | No | |
Streaming TVinfo | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocksinfo | No | No | |
Ladder Tradinginfo | No | No | |
Trade Hot Keysinfo | No | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocksinfo | No info | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtestinginfo | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Advinfo | No | No | |
Short Locatorinfo | No | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebatesinfo | No | No |
Research Overview | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocksinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFsinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Fundsinfo | No | Yes | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBBinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Bondsinfo | No | Yes | |
Screener - Stocksinfo | No | Yes | |
Screener - ETFsinfo | No | Yes | |
Screener - Mutual Fundsinfo | No | Yes | |
Screener - Bondsinfo | No | Yes | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocationinfo | No | Yes |
Stock Research | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reportsinfo | 0 info | 2 | |
Stock Research - Earningsinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insidersinfo | No | No | |
Stock Research - Socialinfo | No | No | |
Stock Research - Newsinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESGinfo | No | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filingsinfo | No | No |
ETF Research | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overviewinfo | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Dateinfo | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratioinfo | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assetsinfo | Yes | No | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdingsinfo | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdingsinfo | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Sector Exposureinfo | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysisinfo | No | No | |
ETFs - Ratingsinfo | No | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMapinfo | No | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reportsinfo | No | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overviewinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chartinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysisinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectusinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratingsinfo | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdowninfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdingsinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocationinfo | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocationinfo | No | Yes | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocationinfo | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMapinfo | No | Yes |
Options Trading | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic Viewinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Option Chains - Strategy Viewinfo | No | No | |
Option Chains - Streaminginfo | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columnsinfo | 17 | 9 | |
Option Chains - Greeksinfo | 5 | 0 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysisinfo | Yes | No | |
Option Analysis - P&L Chartsinfo | Yes | No | |
Option Probability Analysisinfo | No | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Advinfo | No | No | |
Option Positions - Greeksinfo | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaminginfo | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysisinfo | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rollinginfo | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Groupinginfo | Yes | No |
Banking | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC)info | No | No | |
Checking Accountsinfo | No | No | |
Savings Accountsinfo | No | No | |
Credit Cardsinfo | No | No | |
Debit Cardsinfo | Yes | No | |
Mortgage Loansinfo | No | No |
Customer Service | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers)info | No | Yes | |
Phone Support (Current Customers)info | Yes | Yes | |
Email Supportinfo | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers)info | No | No | |
Live Chat (Current Customers)info | Yes | No | |
24/7 Supportinfo | Yes | No |
Overall | Robinhood | Vanguard | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Robinhood Review | Vanguard Review |
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Robinhood vs Vanguard Comparison
Comparing brokers side by side is no easy task. We spend hundreds of hours each year testing the platforms, mobile apps, trading tools and general ease of use among online brokerages, as well as comparing commissions and fees, to find the best online broker.
Though many U.S. brokers offer basic trading features, such as an app, charting tools, stock research and educational content, the depth of those features can vary widely. Let's compare Robinhood vs Vanguard.
Is Robinhood or Vanguard better for beginners?
In stock trading, the more you know, the better you’ll do. Taking advantage of resources like articles, webinars, videos and interactive elements is a great way to shorten the learning curve. In our analysis, we examine the availability of several different types of educational materials.
For 2024, our review finds that Robinhood offers more comprehensive new investor education for beginning investors than Vanguard. Robinhood offers investors access to Education (Stocks) and Education (Options), while Vanguard offers investors access to Videos, Education (Stocks) and Education (Retirement). Neither have Paper Trading, Education (ETFs), Education (Mutual Funds) and Education (Bonds).
What about Robinhood vs Vanguard pricing?
Robinhood and Vanguard charge the same amount for regular stock trades, $0.00. Option contracts are pricier at Vanguard, costing $1.00 per contract versus $0.00 per contract at Robinhood. Robinhood and Vanguard both charge (Not offered) per option contract. For a deeper dive, see our best brokers for free stock trading or options trading guides
Does Robinhood or Vanguard offer a wider range of investment options?
Looking at a full range of investment options, including order types and international trading, our research has found that Vanguard offers a more comprehensive offering than Robinhood. Robinhood ranks #14 out of 18 brokers for our Investment Options category, while Vanguard ranks #9.
Robinhood offers investors access to Stock Trading, Fractional Shares, Options Trading and OTC Stocks, while Vanguard offers investors access to Stock Trading, Options Trading, OTC Stocks, Mutual Funds and Advisor Services. Neither have Futures Trading and Forex Trading Looking at Mutual Funds, Robinhood and Vanguard both provide customers access to 0 no transaction fee (NTF) mutual funds.
Do Robinhood and Vanguard offer cryptocurrency?
In our analysis of top U.S. brokerages, we research whether each broker offers the ability to trade cash cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin and ethereum. Though crypto has risen steadily in popularity, availability still varies from broker to broker. Our review finds that neither Robinhood and Vanguard offer crypto trading.
Which trading platform is better: Robinhood or Vanguard?
To compare the day trading platforms of Robinhood and Vanguard, we focused on trading tools and functionality across both web and desktop-based platforms. Popular day trading platform tools include streaming real-time quotes, stock alerts, trading hotkeys, direct market routing, streaming time and sales, customizable watch lists, backtesting, and fully functional charting packages, among many others. For day trading, Robinhood offers a better experience.
Does Robinhood or Vanguard offer a better stock trading app?
After testing 25 features across the stock trading apps of Robinhood and Vanguard, we found Robinhood to be better overall. The best stock market apps are easy to use, have excellent design, and deliver a fully featured online trading experience. Robinhood ranks #9 out of 18 brokers, while Vanguard ranks #18.
Robinhood Trading App Gallery
Vanguard Trading App Gallery
Which broker is better for researching stocks?
For research, Vanguard offers superior market research than Robinhood. Robinhood ranks #14 and Vanguard ranks #9.
Over the years, we've found that the best brokers provide rich market commentary, a variety of third-party research reports, and thorough quote screens that are not just easy to navigate, but that also include a comprehensive selection of fundamental data. Robust stock, ETFs, and mutual fund screeners are also must-haves for trade idea generation.
How do Robinhood and Vanguard compare in terms of minimum deposit required?
Robinhood requires a minimum deposit of $0.00, while Vanguard requires a minimum deposit of $0.00. From our testing, we found that SoFi is the only broker that requires a minimum deposit.
Which broker offers better margin rates for accounts under $25,000?
Robinhood charges 12% for accounts under $25,000 while Vanguard charges a margin rate of 13.75%. The industry average of the 18 brokers we track is 9%.
Does Robinhood offer fractional shares? Does Vanguard?
Fractional shares are not offered by either broker. Our research has found that 39% of brokers offer fractional shares investing. Fractional shares allow traders to buy a part of a whole share of stock. For example, if Amazon is trading at $1,000, you could buy half a share for $500.
Can you trade penny stocks with Robinhood or Vanguard?
Both Robinhood and Vanguard allow you to trade penny stocks. Robinhood charges N/A per trade while Vanguard charges $0.00. Penny stocks are companies whose shares trade for under $5 and are listed over the counter (OTC). For brokers that do offer penny stock trades, the average commission is $3.
Does either broker offer banking?
Online banking can be a benefit for investors, and some brokerages do provide banking services to customers. Debit Cards are offered by Robinhood while Vanguard offers none. Neither have Checking Accounts, Savings Accounts, Credit Cards and Mortgage Loans.
Which broker offers stronger customer service?
StockBrokers.com partners with customer experience research group Confero to conduct phone tests from locations across the United States to thoroughly evaluate the quality and speed of brokerage customer service. (Read more about How We Test.) Here are the results of our current testing.
Robinhood’s customer service could not be tested or rated due to the fact it does not offer phone support for prospective customers.
Vanguard was rated 6th out of 13 brokers, with an overall score of 8.33 out of 10.
Is Robinhood good?
Robinhood is very easy to use and its educational content is a joy to read. But, in today’s competitive market for your investing dollars, there are several more compelling options among brokerages.
In the 2024 StockBrokers.com 2024 Annual Awards, Robinhood placed No. 1 for Ease of Use.
Is Vanguard good?
Vanguard is aimed squarely at buy-and-hold investors, and its platform reflects that focus. Vanguard is known for its low-cost funds, and the investment platform is really built for those looking to invest solely in mutual funds and ETFs.
Robinhood vs Vanguard Winner
Overall winner: Robinhood
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