5 Robinhood alternatives: Which platform is right for you?
When considering Robinhood alternatives, determine what assets are most important to you. Some brokerages excel in cryptocurrency, while others have made their name in index funds and buy-and-hold methods.
Look at commissions and trading hours. Not all brokerages have the same specs. Find an investment firm that matches your goals and preferred working hours.
Decide how you want to store assets. Traditional brokers typically have limited crypto options and utilize ETPs, while crypto-native exchanges like Kraken support on-chain withdrawals and self-custody.
Intro to Robinhood and its alternatives 🔍
Robinhood launched in 2015, offering users a streamlined and gamified way to invest. At the time, many brokerages charged fees for trades, while Robinhood stood out by offering a commission-free model — all housed on a mobile app. New investors could download the software on their phone, set up an account and build a diversified portfolio in the palm of their hand.
Today, Robinhood is still an innovative platform, but investor needs are constantly changing. Commission-free trades alone are no longer a differentiator. Mobile apps UX has improved. Investors want more.
Other brokerages offer features like expanded crypto trading, advanced analytics tools and tokenized stocks. As such, consumers have more viable investment options than ever before.
This guide details a few of those options, helping you identify some of the best Robinhood alternatives for your financial needs.
Note: Fees may vary based on monthly trading volume, payment methods, promotional offers, platform membership level, etc.
1. Kraken: Best for multi-asset investors
- Assets available: 500+ cryptocurrencies, 11,000+ U.S. stocks and ETFs, tokenized securities (xStocks)
- Fees: Competitive fees for crypto trading. Commission-free* stock and ETF trading.
- Trading hours: 24/7 for crypto; 24/5 for xStocks; Traditional market hours for U.S. stocks.
- Notable products/features: Kraken+ subscription for lower fees, Kraken Pro’s technical charting and analysis tools, simplified dollar-cost averaging, Bundles to invest in groups of assets
Kraken is a multi-asset investment solution that brings U.S. stocks and ETFs, tokenized assets and cryptocurrency into one platform.
Kraken started in 2011 with a focus solely on crypto and was the first exchange to list Ethereum (ETH) as well as several other types of cryptocurrencies. All crypto investments are stored in a custodial wallet secured by Kraken’s institutional-grade security. Traders who prefer self-custody can also choose to transfer their assets to Kraken Wallet, a separate application that provides users with full control while connecting them to the decentralized web.
We also offer award-winning service, education services and security — a few reasons why we were named the best crypto platform of 2025 by Forbes.
Today, Kraken’s capabilities go far beyond the blockchain. United States-based clients can access over 11,000 stocks and ETFs — all commission-free*. Investors can choose to buy, sell or hold traditional stocks and ETFs they have on other brokerages from the same platform that allows them to access powerful features, such as futures trading, staking and much more
Whether you're trading stocks or Solana (SOL), Kraken places security above everything. We offer SSL encryption, 2FA, API key permissions and more that keep your assets and information secure. Since its founding in 2011, Kraken-managed custodial wallets have never been breached.
Overall, Kraken’s all in one access to crypto, stocks and ETFs backed by advanced security measures makes it a complete platform for multi-asset investors.
2. Fidelity: For stock-only investors
- Assets available: 500+ cryptocurrencies, 11,000+ U.S. stocks and ETFs, tokenized securities (xStocks)
- Fees: Competitive fees for crypto trading. Commission-free* stock and ETF trading.
- Trading hours: 24/7 for crypto; 24/5 for xStocks; Traditional market hours for U.S. stocks.
- Notable products/features: Kraken+ subscription for lower fees, Kraken Pro’s technical charting and analysis tools, simplified dollar-cost averaging, Bundles to invest in groups of assets
Kraken is a multi-asset investment solution that brings U.S. stocks and ETFs, tokenized assets and cryptocurrency into one platform.
Kraken started in 2011 with a focus solely on crypto and was the first exchange to list Ethereum (ETH) as well as several other types of cryptocurrencies. All crypto investments are stored in a custodial wallet secured by Kraken’s institutional-grade security. Traders who prefer self-custody can also choose to transfer their assets to Kraken Wallet, a separate application that provides users with full control while connecting them to the decentralized web.
We also offer award-winning service, education services and security — a few reasons why we were named the best crypto platform of 2025 by Forbes.
Fidelity vs. Kraken
Fidelity is a good choice for investors who are focused on traditional assets and wealth management, but it offers limited crypto access. Currently, Fidelity only offers investment opportunities in Ethereum, Bitcoin (BTC) and Litecoin (LTC).
Investors who choose Kraken over Fidelity typically want more cryptocurrency options to invest in alongside their stock, ETF and mutual fund investments. Kraken supports over 500 cryptocurrencies, giving users more opportunities to diversify their portfolios into the crypto ecosystem while also keeping access to their traditional portfolio.
Also, Kraken allows users to have full control of their crypto, including the ability to transfer assets to an external wallet — something that's not always possible with traditional brokers.
3. Vanguard: For buy-and-hold TradFi investors
- Assets available: U.S. and international stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, money market, CDs, bonds. No cryptocurrencies.
- Fees: Commission-free online U.S. stock, ETF and Vanguard mutual fund trading.$1 per $1,000 face amount on CDs, U.S. government agency securities, and corporate bonds.
- Trading hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET.
- Notable products/features: Savings account and financial planning services.
Vanguard is a market mainstay that introduced index funds to the marketplace nearly 50 years ago. Today, it specializes in U.S. stocks, ETFs, mutual funds and several other assets that set-and-forget investors use to grow their portfolios.
The brokerage has traditionally been conservative in its approach, advising clients to establish clear investment goals, maintain a balanced portfolio, minimize costs and exercise long-term discipline.
These principles, combined with commission-free trades, education materials and financial planning services, make Vanguard an attractive option for risk-averse investors.
Vanguard vs. Kraken
People who choose Kraken over Vanguard are typically interested in the high-growth potential and unique opportunities of the crypto ecosystem. Vanguard doesn't offer any cryptocurrency investing and has described crypto as highly speculative and a weak long-term investment.
Kraken offers 24/7 trading and access to a wide variety of emerging digital assets that are unavailable on many traditional brokerage platforms.
4. Charles Schwab: For TradFi banking integration
- Assets available: U.S. and international stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, money market, CDs, bonds, annuities, cryptocurrency.
- Fees: Commission-free online stock, ETF, mutual fund and bond trading. $6.95 for U.S. Over-The-Counter (OTC) Equities.
- Trading hours: Extended hours for all trading: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET.
- Notable products/features: Schwab Investing Themes™, Schwab Starter Kit™, Schwab Stock Slices™.
Charles Schwab is a brokerage that helps consumers consolidate everyday funds and investments. Account holders can set up a checking or savings account with Charles Schwab Bank and easily transfer funds to and from their Charles Schwab investment account.
As an investment firm, it offers support to help account holders reach financial goals. Schwab Investing Themes™ help traders tailor their portfolios to fit categories like AI or renewable energy.
Additionally, Schwab Stock Slices™ allow users to own fractional shares of S&P 500 companies, and the Schwab Starter Kit™ deposits $50 in a new client's account when they fund it with $50 or more.
Charles Schwab vs. Kraken
Many people choose Kraken because Charles Schwab lacks the specialized tools and functionality that modern investors need. Schwab, like other traditional brokers, primarily offers crypto-related ETPs — meaning investors don't have direct ownership of the underlying cryptocurrencies themselves.
Kraken, on the other hand, makes it easier to own and control crypto assets. It is a native crypto exchange that gives users full custody of their coins and allows for instant, round-the-clock trading. Kraken is also known for its institutional-grade security, which allows investors to trade and store both their crypto and stock with confidence.
5. Interactive Brokers: For traditional stock options trading
- Assets available: U.S. and international stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, hedge funds, bonds, cryptocurrency.
- Fees: Commission-free online stock/ETF for U.S. residents on IBKR Lite plan, 10 basis points x Face Value on bonds, 0.12%-0.18% trade value on crypto.
- Trading hours: U.S. stocks trading is available from 4:00 a.m. to 3:50 a.m. ET; nearly 24/5.
- Notable products/features: IBKR GlobalAnalyst and PortfolioAnalyst.
Interactive Brokers is a firm that allows investors to trade U.S. stocks and ETFs, index futures and options, and bonds on a nearly 24/5 schedule. The platform is designed for traders who want to monitor global assets and invest on their own schedule.
The IBKR GlobalAnalyst helps account holders search the global marketplace and find investment opportunities that fit their needs. Users can filter assets by market cap, EPS, growth rate, ROI and more; the platform returns a ranked list and shows where the assets trade on a worldwide map.
Additionally, the PortfolioAnalyst capability consolidates an investor's financial accounts and tracks performance and activity. From there, Interactive Brokers provides a portfolio analysis on future investment ideas and opportunities.
Interactive Brokers vs. Kraken
Interactive Brokers is a good choice for investors who want to dig deeper into stock trading, options and global markets; it's also a good Robinhood alternative for non-U.S. citizens.
Kraken offers margin and futures trading in select regions but does not provide traditional stock options trading. Where Interactive Brokers lacks compared to Kraken is in the cryptocurrency space.
Interactive Brokers only offers access to 11 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin. On the other hand, Kraken is tailored for the crypto market, providing access to a massive variety of digital assets, deep liquidity and a simple fee structure.
It's built for the crypto ecosystem from the ground up, with a track record of security and robust features like staking and a highly-regarded professional trading platform, Kraken Pro.
Start your trading journey with Kraken 💫
The investment landscape is changing, and there are plenty of alternatives to Robinhood, and apps like Robinhood for crypto, that you can use to hit your financial goals.
Kraken is an industry-leading platform that enables investors to access hundreds of cryptocurrencies, as well as commission-free trades on over 11,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs.
Most importantly, our comprehensive security practices ensure everyone can trade with confidence. Start trading crypto, stocks, ETF and more with Kraken today.