Webull versus Robinhood
Webull and Robinhood share several similarities in their core trading environment. Both offer commission-free equity and ETF trading, access to IPOs, and cryptocurrencies. Webull and Robinhood also share the same primary client base, millennial and GenZ traders with a preference for mobile trading, for which Webull and Robinhood developed proprietary mobile apps. Webull features a more advanced mobile app and offers a desktop trading platform and a web-based alternative.
Beginner traders get more educational content at Robinhood, and leveraged traders get notably lower margin rates versus Webull, which offers excellent order execution, transparency, and price improvement. Robinhood has a controversial history and lacks overall transparency but has pioneered commission-free trading in the US. Both brokers engage in payment for order flow.
We have conducted an in-depth review of Webull and Robinhood to determine which one presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- Robinhood vs. Webull - Verdict
United States United States N/A SEC 2013 2017 Market Maker ECN/STP $0 $0 Proprietary platform Proprietary platform Get Started Get Started
Features and Platforms
Get Started Get Started
Noteworthy:
Webull and Robinhood allow fractional share dealing, where the former has a minimum transaction size of $5 and the latter of $1. Webull has IRA accounts, and Robinhood provides branded debit cards to traders.
Available Markets
N/A N/A Get Started Get Started
Webull offers 7,016 equities listed on the NYSE, the NASDAQ, and the AMEX. It also provides traders with 3,057 Canadian equities, including small caps listed on the TSXV and 4,687 Chinese stocks. ETFs, options contracts, nine currency pairs, and 48 cryptocurrencies are also available. Robinhood offers the same sectors but lacks overall transparency.
Typical Spreads and Fees
Webull ranks among the cheaper US-based brokers, except for financing costs, where this broker features higher mark-ups. Financing costs range between 3.99% and 6.99% versus 2.50% at Robinhood. Both brokers offer commission-free trading, but Robinhood has higher non-leveraged trading costs. Webull and Robinhood suffer from an overall lack of pricing transparency and earn income by selling order flow.
Security and Trust
United Kingdom, United States United States N/A SEC 165998, 8-69188, 823590 289063, 8-69978 1, 1 1 Get Started Get Started
Both brokers are also members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Client protection is available via the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), up to $500,000 per net equity or $250,000 for cash claims. Webull also has membership with The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the NASDAQ, and the CBOE EDGX Exchange (CBOE EDGX) with a clean FINRA record.
Webull started IPO talks in 2021 with valuations of around $400 million. Robinhood is a publicly listed company on the NASDAQ. Between 2019 and 2021, Robinhood faced several security breaches, resulting in over five million stolen e-mail addresses, two million names, and at least 300 extensive thefts of personal information.
Robinhood vs Webull – Verdict
Robinhood
Pros | Cons |
Fractional share dealing from $1.00 and access to IPO trading | Limited deposit and withdrawal options |
Debit card for swift financial transactions | Debit card for swift financial transactions |
Beginner traders get a wealth of educational content in written form | |
Optimized mobile app |
Webull
Pros | Cons |
Quality proprietary trading platform with Level 2 data and advanced mobile app | Low leverage and high financing costs on overnight positions |
A secure trading environment with an additional third-party insurance policy | Limited deposit and withdrawal options |
Broad-based equity selection and fractional share dealing | High deposit requirements for margin trading and short selling accounts |
Excellent order execution statistics and transparency |
Margin traders can achieve lower costs at Robinhood, despite higher spreads. Webull offers better order execution and price improvement. The trading platform at Webull remains more sophisticated, but neither supports algorithmic trading. Robinhood provides superior research and education.
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FAQs
Is Webull better than Robinhood?
It depends on individual requirements. Webull has a superior trading platform, mobile app, asset selection, and order execution, but Robinhood presents lower financing costs and superior research and education.
Can Webull be trusted?
Webull has a clean FINRA track record, making it a trustworthy brokerage.
Is Webull really free?
Webull offers commission-free trading, but regulatory and exchange fees apply. It also charges higher financing costs for margin trading.
Who charges more: Webull or Robinhood?
Traders report lower spreads at Webull, but Robinhood has lower financing costs. Regulatory and exchange fees apply at both brokers.