★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool comparison edition
Tool Comparison
Robinhood vs Scalable Capital
Pick Robinhood instead if
Robinhood
Free • From $50/yr · Mobile · Web
- You care about options, something Scalable Capital doesn't offer
Start here
Scalable Capital
Free • Paid plans available · Web · Mobile
- You care about watchlist and downloadable tax reports, things Robinhood doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
Robinhood and Scalable Capital cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, brokerage, portfolio, and wealth management), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The real difference is focus: only Robinhood gives you options, and only Scalable Capital gives you watchlist and downloadable tax reports.
What readers say
Robinhood
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Scalable Capital
Vote once to reveal the community verdict.
Key differences at a glance
- Global coverage
- Scalable Capital
- Free trial
- Robinhood30 days
- Free plan
- Both
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Free • From $50/yr | Free • Paid plans available |
Free tier | Yes | Yes |
Free trial | 30 days | — |
Plan limits | 5 limits: Standard (Self-directed brokerage): index options contract fee: $0.50 per contract (non-Gold), Robinhood Gold (Monthly): interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 +3 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
Integrations | EDX Markets and Bitstamp USA | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders and Pro Retail | — |
Categories covered | 4 | 5 |
Regions | North America | Europe |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | Timezone: Europe/Berlin |
Data partners | EDX Markets, Inc. and Bitstamp USA, Inc. | — |
Capabilities | AI summaries: News | — |
Security | Status page | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Robinhood | Visit Scalable Capital |
Where each one shines
What Robinhood and Scalable Capital each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Robinhood and Scalable Capital each do best.What Robinhood does best
- Trade U.S. listed and OTC securities, including ETFs and closed-end funds, with $0 self-directed commissions where regulatory and other pass-through fees may still apply.
- Trade listed options after approval, with index options contract fees discounted for Robinhood Gold users in the local profile.
- Use Robinhood Gold for benefits such as Morningstar Equity Research, higher Instant deposits, preferred IRA match rate, first $1,000 of margin borrowing interest-free, and discounted derivatives fees.
- Evaluate the brokerage High-Yield Cash Program, Gold Card access, and mortgage offers as Gold-linked perks that depend on eligibility and current terms.
- Trade crypto through Robinhood Crypto, with costs depending on routing model, Smart Exchange Routing fees, network fees, and staking commissions where applicable.
What Scalable Capital does best
- Trade stocks and ETFs through supported European venues, with FREE and PRIME+ plans using different fee rules and order-size assumptions.
- Set up free savings plans, including small recurring investments where supported.
- Use PRIME+ when flat broker pricing for eligible trades matters more than paying per order on the FREE plan.
- Access supported stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, derivatives, and crypto ETPs from a web or mobile brokerage workflow.
- Use Scalable Wealth for automated ETF-based portfolios, with management fees that step down at higher account sizes.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Robinhood and Scalable Capital, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Robinhood and Scalable Capital, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsClosed-End FundsOptionsFuturesCryptos | StocksETFsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro Retail | Not specified |
Regions | North America | Europe |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker | 6 countriesExchanges: XETR, XMUN, and European Investor ExchangeIdentifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data partners | EDX Markets, Inc.Bitstamp USA, Inc. | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | EDX MarketsBitstamp USA | Not specified |
Export formats | Not specified | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Status page | Status page |
Capability signals | AI summaries: News | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Robinhood Markets, Inc.Country: United States | Scalable Capital GmbHCountry: GermanyFounded 2014Support: Email |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Standard (Self-directed brokerage)”index options contract fee: $0.50 per contract (non-Gold) | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $50/yr≈ $4.17/mo“Robinhood Gold (Annual)”interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 · index options contract fee: $0.35 per contract (Gold) | Subscription“PRIME+ Broker” |
| Top plan | $5/mo“Robinhood Gold (Monthly)”interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 · index options contract fee: $0.35 per contract (Gold) | — |
| Free trial | 30 days | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Robinhood and Scalable Capital?
Robinhood leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and options, while Scalable Capital puts more weight on brokerage, wealth management, and portfolio. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Robinhood and Scalable Capital cost?
Good news: both Robinhood and Scalable Capital have free plans, so you can run them side by side and only pay if you hit a wall.
Should I choose Robinhood or Scalable Capital?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Robinhood if options matter to you; go with Scalable Capital if you'd rather have watchlist and downloadable tax reports. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Robinhood and Scalable Capital cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Robinhood also handles closed-end funds, options, and futures. Scalable Capital adds mutual funds and bonds on top.
Which covers international markets: Robinhood or Scalable Capital?
Scalable Capital has documented international coverage (Europe), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Robinhood is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Robinhood and Scalable Capital?
Scalable Capital exports to CSV. Robinhood is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with Robinhood or Scalable Capital?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.