Many investors start building their portfolios online, and with the rise of mobile apps offering brokerage services at your fingertips, choosing the right platform can be overwhelming. Stash and Robinhood are two popular choices for beginners exploring mobile trading. We’ll break down their fees, services, online experience and mobile features to help you decide which best suits your needs. If you prefer a more personalized approach to investing, working with a financial advisor can help you develop a tailored financial plan aligned with your goals.
Overview of Stash vs. Robinhood
Stash is a two-tiered personal finance app that helps individuals improve their financial lives by combining banking and investing. In exchange for a monthly base rate, the Stash app allows users to budget, build a portfolio, save for retirement and grow in their ability to handle money. The table below breaks down key advantages and disadvantages for users.
Stash Overview
| Pros | Cons |
| – You can pick your investments – Has a diverse selection of ETFs and stocks – You get a strong mobile offering – Fractional share purchase is available – There is no minimum balance required | – There are high ETF expense ratios |
On the other hand, Robinhood is a commission-free trading app whose basic service has two portions: Robinhood Financial and Robinhood Crypto. Robinhood Financial allows users to make unlimited trades in stocks, ETFs and options. The app is free to use. The table below breaks down key advantages and disadvantages for users.
Robinhood Overview
| Pros | Cons |
| No-commission fees cryptocurrency, ETF, option and stock trading – Highly rated mobile app | – No human advisors – Minimal customer support |
Stash vs. Robinhood: Fees
Stash, which doesn’t charge any add-on trading commissions or electronic statement fees, has two subscription plans. For $3 a month, users are enrolled in Stash Growth. It includes banking with the Stock-Back card, investing, budgeting and personalized advice. In addition, Stash Growth offers a Roth or traditional IRA capability. Stash Plus is the second tier and costs $9 per month. It includes everything that Stash Growth does, plus custodial investment accounts for kids and an exclusive monthly market insights report. Check the firm’s website for pricing details.
Robinhood does not charge fees or commissions to trade, and there are no inactivity fees, no fees for moving money in or out of your account, and very few non-trading fees. Instead, Robinhood makes money by pocketing the small difference between the buying and selling price of an asset. This generates very little money, typically only pennies or less per share traded, but over millions of transactions, those pennies add up.
Robinhood Gold also offers margin trading to subscribers who pay a $5 monthly fee, which allows margin trading at interest rate between 4.7% and 5.75%, as well as 4% APY on idle cash. Both figures are current as of March 2025.
Stash vs. Robinhood: Services and Features
Both Robinhood and Stash offer taxable investment accounts and provide access to a diverse range of investment options. Both platforms also feature mobile apps compatible with iOS and Android devices. However, each has distinct features that set them apart.
Stash differentiates itself with its socially responsible investing (SRI) portfolios, allowing users to align their investments with their personal values. It offers more than 100 investment options and includes a banking feature to hold funds when they are not actively invested. Stash primarily operates through fractional shares, enabling investors to start with low initial amounts. This means the platform purchases full shares and divides them into smaller portions, allowing users to invest in high-value stocks with minimal capital.
Robinhood, on the other hand, allows commission-free trading of stocks, ETFs, and other assets, including cryptocurrency and options trading. The platform provides a wealth of educational resources, including articles and guides on investing strategies and specific asset classes. While Robinhood does not offer financial advisory services in its free version, Gold subscribers gain access to premium research from Morningstar, helping investors make more informed decisions.
Stash vs. Robinhood: Online and Mobile Experience
Robinhood’s mobile trading platform allows users to customize their alerts, look at charts of their investments and even listen to live earnings calls. The app also allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies with ease.
Stash’s app has a wealth of educational materials and investment information, as well as a banking option. The app allows users to buy fractional shares of stocks as well as has a robust budgeting platform in addition to its buying and selling platform.
Who Is Stash Good For?
The company provides some help and guidance for first-time investors. If you want to start investing but don’t know where to start, Stash teaches you how to select suitable investments, manage your portfolio and offers insight on good trading tactics.
If you want a hands-on investing experience, Stash might also be a good option. Often, robo-advisors pride themselves on creating a hands-off experience for users. This is because they tend to do all of the investing and trading. But with Stash, you make the trading and investing decisions.
Additionally, this app’s socially responsible investing options make it appealing to people who want to invest based on their values, such as concern for the environment and the desire to invest in socially responsible ventures.
Who Is Robinhood Good For?
While Robinhood doesn’t necessarily require you to have ample investment experience prior to joining, it’s helpful if you can be an independent investor. Outside of some light educational content on its website, the firm does not have advisory representatives to aid you in your investment choices. In other words, Robinhood is a good choice for a savvy investor who wants to buy and sell stocks without fees. Active traders will feel at home on the friction-free platform as they can buy and sell at will.
Given that Robinhood is a mobile- and internet-centric brokerage firm, prospective investors should be technologically literate. Robinhood does not have physical branches that you can visit. The firm’s app and website are available throughout all 50 states and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Bottom Line
Stash and Robinhood are both investment apps designed to make investing accessible to individuals. Robinhood’s commission-free model appeals to active traders and those looking to trade without incurring fees. On the other hand, Stash is ideal for beginners and investors who want to gain a deeper understanding of their investments. Both platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and low entry barriers, making it easy to invest in stocks, ETFs and more. Choosing the right app depends on your individual investment goals and experience level.
Tips on Investing
- Consider talking to a financial advisor about whether using an online brokerage platform is a good fit for your financial plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- Whether you use Stash or Robinhood or one of their rivals, a free, easy-to-use asset allocation calculator can be a valuable tool as you make investment decisions.
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