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Popular American broker Robinhood is known for being the low-cost app of choice among millennial traders. It may well be the most widely recognised online broker today.
The only problem is, Australians don't have access to it. Despite being regularly cited in the media, the app has not launched in Australia.
So we've tracked down a list alternative platforms that offer the same low or zero brokerage fees for US stocks as Robinhood.
What is Robinhood?
Robinhood is a US trading platform founded in 2013 that offers zero commissions on stocks, options and ETFs.
The good thing about Robinhood is it's cheap. Thanks to its low fees, range of trading options and minimalist design targeting younger investors, it's popular among traders.
Users of the app often trade stock options and other assets such as cryptocurrencies using leverage. This is a higher-risk form of trading because both your profits and losses are amplified. You can check out our Robinhood review from Finder US for more on the app. However, you can't access it unless you hold US residency.
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With an eToro trading account, you get commission-free AU, US, European and Hong Kong stock trading plus access to forex, cryptocurrencies, ETFs and commodities.
eToro may well be the closest app to Robinhood that we have available. Like Robinhood, it's a low-cost platform angled at the next generation of traders. The great thing about eToro is it does not charge commissions on US stocks and it allows you to trade a mix of stocks, commodities and currencies using leverage.
Brokerage fee: $0 for AU, US, EU and Hong Kong shares
Inactivity fee: US$10 per month if there’s been no log-in for 12 months
Products: AU stocks, US stocks, European stocks, US ETFs, forex, cryptocurrency and commodities
Trading CFDs and forex on leverage is high-risk and you could lose more than your initial investment. It may not be suitable for every investor. Refer to the provider’s PDS and consider the risks before trading.
An IG share trading account offers zero brokerage fees on international and US stocks.
Like Robinhood, IG offers zero brokerage trading for US stocks and ETFs, but it goes a step further and adds an international offering. It provides access to stock markets in Australia, Germany, Ireland and the UK. Users can also trade forex, cryptocurrencies and commodities using IG's platform.
Brokerage fee: From $5 for ASX shares; $0 for global shares
Inactivity fee: $50 per quarter
Products: Australian and international shares, forex and CFDs
Zero commission on US and global shares from the mobile and desktop app.
If you're looking for low fees, CMC has you covered. It has some of the lowest fees in Australia for both global and Australian (CHESS-sponsored) shares. With CMC's stock trading account, you get zero brokerage fees on stocks and ETFs from the US, the UK, Canada and Japan, although like most platforms, you do pay a small currency conversion fee. Australian shares start at $0 brokerage for trades of up to $1,000.
Brokerage fee: From $0 for ASX stocks; $0 for US, UK, Japanese & Canadian stocks
Inactivity fee: $0
Products: Australian and global shares, options, managed funds and cryptocurrency
Trade US equities, ETFs and options for $0 commissions in the first month.
Like Robinhood, Webull is hugely popular in the US thanks to its low costs and relatively easy-to-use platform. Having launched in Australia in late 2022, the online broker offers US, Australian and Hong Kong stocks and ETFs plus US options.
Brokerage fee: $0 brokerage for the first month, then US$0.00025 X total trade amount (min. US$0.01; max. US$6.49 per trade).
Inactivity fee: No
Products: US-listed stocks, ETFs and options, Australian stocks and ETFs, Hong Kong stocks and ETFs, China (A-Shares) stocks and ETFs.
Trade over 19,000 stocks from 46 different markets, including Australia, the US, China and Japan.
Saxo Invested has one of the biggest global stock offerings in Australia, with users able to trade on more than 40 global exchanges. Similar to Robinhood, you can trade a mix of stocks (including options), ETFs, forex, commodities and cryptocurrency markets.
Brokerage fee: From $8 for ASX stocks; US$8 for US stocks
Inactivity fee: $0
Products: ASX-listed stocks, global stocks, forex, CFDs and stock options
Stake is a minimalist zero brokerage trading app for US stocks and ETFs. It's one of the few US stockbrokers headquartered and launched in Australia.
Stake is Australia's first zero brokerage trading app for US-listed stocks. Users can trade thousands of stocks and ETFs listed on the NYSE and Nasdaq on their mobile or desktop. Unlike Robinhood, it doesn't allow trading with leverage and users don't have access to other assets such as forex or cryptocurrency.
Selfwealth is a low-cost Australian broker that offers both US and Australian shares for a flat fee of $9.50.
Selfwealth is not the cheapest for US stocks, but it distinguishes itself by offering a flat $9.50 brokerage fee for CHESS-sponsored ASX stocks. Selfwealth doesn't offer leveraged options such as CFDs or forex. However, it comes with solid stock research and portfolio tools, making it suited to long-term investors.
Brokerage fee: US$9.50 for US stocks; $9.50 for ASX stocks
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Important: The standard brokerage fee displayed is the trade cost for new customers to purchase $1,000 of either Australian or US shares. Where a platform charges different fees for both US and Australian shares we show the lower of the two. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.
IG Share Trading
$0 brokerage for US and global shares plus get an active trader discount of $5 commission on Australian shares.
Enjoy some of the lowest brokerage fees on the market when trading Australian and international shares, plus get access to 24-hour customer support.
ETF provider Betashares has launched a $0 brokerage investment platform that lets you buy units in individual ASX-listed ETFs or auto-invest into ETF portfolios.
The criminal trial against Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the founder of disgraced crypto exchange FTX, starts in the first week of October. SBF is alleged to have defrauded customer funds for his own use in business operations and political donations.
Interactive Brokers Australia has been slapped with an $832,500 fine by ASIC for failing to identify suspicious trading activity by one of its clients.
Sharesies has introduced a new monthly fee structure of $5, $10 or $20 per month for unlimited trades up to a certain amount. Alternatively, you can still pay as you go.
Tiger Brokers has launched an AI-powered chat bot called TigerGPT. While the feature is still in beta mode, Tiger says the AI bot will be able to access live stock data and subscription-only investment data.
Robinhood frequently asked questions
Unfortunately, Robinhood is not available to Australian investors. You can't sign up to the broker from here.
However, if you were to travel to Australia, the platform states it should work. According to Robinhood, its platform should work in all countries, with the exception of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria and the Crimea region of Ukraine.
If you're looking for a low-cost broker that allows you to trade in the US, there's actually a stack of options available to Australian investors. eToro might be the closet broker to Robinhood as it does not charge commission on US trades, has a mix of investment options and will also let you trade crypto assets.
Robinhood became one of the more popular US brokers due to its retail trader-friendly features including low costs and an easy-to-use trading app.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
Kylie Purcell is the senior investments editor and analyst at Finder. She has completed a Certificate of Securities and Managed Investments (RG146) and specialises in investment products including online brokers, robo-advisors, stocks and ETFs.
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