Robinhood vs Webull vs SoFi (2026): Which Brokerage Is Better?

By Lennit Herrera · Updated October 11, 2026

Robinhood, Webull and SoFi Invest all let you buy stocks and ETFs with no commission and no account minimum, so the headline price is a tie. The differences are in the parts people only notice later: what a margin loan costs, how big the IRA match is, what a monthly subscription unlocks, and what it costs to leave. Every fee and rate below was read on Robinhood’s, Webull’s and SoFi’s own pages on October 11, 2026. Rates are variable and promotions change, so check the live numbers before you open an account.

Quick comparison

Trading costs: a three-way tie on stocks, small gaps on options

None of the three charges a commission on U.S. stocks or ETFs, and none requires a minimum deposit. Small regulatory pass-through fees on sales apply at all three, as they do at every U.S. broker.

Options are close too. Robinhood says there are no contract fees or commissions on stock and ETF options; index options carry a separate contract fee. Webull charges no commission on options but lists a $0.50 per-contract fee on certain index option trades. SoFi says its options trading comes with $0 commissions or contract fees, though its options access is narrower (more on that below).

Like most zero-commission brokers, Robinhood and Webull earn money from payment for order flow, interest on customer cash, margin lending and stock lending. Webull states this plainly on its own fee schedule. That model is not a hidden fee, but it is why “free” trading still has a business behind it.

IRAs and the match: Webull pays the most, if you subscribe

All three now offer IRAs, and all three add a match to your contributions.

• Robinhood pays a 1% match on IRA contributions, or 3% if you subscribe to Robinhood Gold ($5/month). Robinhood’s own page puts the Gold match at up to $225 based on the 2026 contribution limit. To keep the full match, you have to stay subscribed to Gold for a year and leave the money in the IRA for five years.
• Webull pays a 3.5% match on IRA contributions with Webull Premium, which its IRA page lists at $40 a year. For a limited time, transfers and rollovers also qualify for a 1% match. Webull offers traditional, Roth and rollover IRAs.
• SoFi pays a 1% match on IRA contributions and rollovers, with no subscription.

If you plan to max out an IRA every year, Webull’s 3.5% (minus the Premium fee) is the largest match of the three, and Robinhood’s 3% with Gold is close behind. If you don’t want a subscription at all, SoFi and Robinhood both pay 1%, and SoFi’s also applies to rollovers. Read each match’s terms before you count on it: the clawback rules are where they differ.

Margin: Robinhood is cheapest for most balances

Robinhood’s margin rate is 5.25% on balances up to $50,000, falling to 5.05% from $50,000 and 4.75% from $100,000 (rates as of September 17, 2026, per Robinhood). Gold members get the first $1,000 of margin with no interest.

Webull’s own table lists 8.74% at every balance tier for standard accounts. Premium members pay much less: 5.20% under $25,000, stepping down to 3.90% on the largest balances. Webull requires at least $2,000 in equity for a margin account.

SoFi says eligible investors may be able to access margin loans; its main self-directed account is a margin account. Check SoFi’s current margin disclosure for the rate before you borrow.

Margin is a loan against your portfolio. You can lose more than you deposit, and a falling market can force sales. Treat these rates as a cost comparison, not a reason to borrow.

Tools and research: Webull for charts, SoFi for simplicity

Webull is the most trader-oriented of the three. It offers a desktop platform, a browser platform, a paper-trading account and a TradingView connection, and it offers futures, index options and overnight trading. If you want to study charts and option chains before you trade, Webull gives you the most to work with.

Robinhood has moved well past its bare-bones start. Robinhood Legend is its advanced trading platform (no extra cost), and Gold adds research, a $0.50 per-contract futures fee and $0.35 per-contract index options fees. Its app is still the simplest of the three for buying a stock and getting on with your day.

SoFi Invest is the most basic for active trading: stocks, ETFs, fractional shares from $5, stop and stop-limit orders, extended-hours trading, and Options Level 1 for eligible investors. Its strength is that it sits next to SoFi’s banking, loans and credit cards in one app. If you already bank with SoFi, that convenience is the main reason to choose it.

Cash: Robinhood Gold pays on uninvested cash

Robinhood Gold members earn 3.6% APY on eligible uninvested brokerage cash, with no cap and no minimum (as of October 11, 2026). That makes Gold’s $5 a month pay for itself once roughly $1,700 sits in cash. Instant withdrawals cost 1.5%; a standard bank transfer is free but can take four to five days. Webull and SoFi both offer their own cash programs; compare the current rates on their sites if idle cash is a big part of your account.

Crypto

All three let you buy and sell crypto in the same app. Robinhood supports sending crypto to and from outside wallets and says it does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees for crypto transfers. Webull lists 70+ coins through Webull Pay and no custody fees. SoFi offers crypto trading and is currently running a promotion for moving crypto in. Crypto held at any of the three is not covered by SIPC or FDIC.

Safety and leaving

All three brokerages are SIPC members, which protects securities and cash up to $500,000 per customer (including a $250,000 cash limit) if the broker fails. SIPC does not protect against market losses. Webull adds excess SIPC coverage through its clearing arrangement.

Moving out costs money at Webull: $75 per outgoing stock transfer. Check the fee schedule of the broker you’re leaving before you move a portfolio, and ask the receiving broker whether it reimburses transfer fees.

Which one should you pick?

Pick Robinhood if you want the simplest app, the lowest margin rate without a subscription, or a $5/month Gold plan that pays 3.6% on idle cash and a 3% IRA match.

Pick Webull if you trade often and want the deeper charting, desktop tools and paper trading, or you want the largest IRA match (3.5% with Premium).

Pick SoFi Invest if you already use SoFi for banking or loans, want a 1% IRA match on rollovers without a subscription, and mostly buy and hold stocks and ETFs.

For more depth on each, see our Robinhood review and SoFi Invest review. If you’re weighing a traditional brokerage instead, our Schwab vs Fidelity comparison covers the full-service side.

Frequently asked questions

Is SoFi better than Robinhood?

For long-term investors who already bank with SoFi, it can be: no commissions, a 1% IRA match on contributions and rollovers, and everything in one app. Robinhood is the better fit if you want cheaper margin, more trading tools, or Gold’s 3.6% APY on idle cash and 3% IRA match.

Does Webull charge for options?

Webull charges no commission on stock and ETF options. It lists a $0.50 per-contract fee on certain index option trades, plus the usual regulatory fees.

Which has the biggest IRA match?

Webull, at 3.5% on IRA contributions with Webull Premium. Robinhood pays 3% with Gold or 1% without it, and SoFi pays 1% on contributions and rollovers.

Which has the lowest margin rate?

Without a subscription, Robinhood: 5.25% under $50,000, against Webull’s standard 8.74%. With Webull Premium, Webull’s rate drops to 5.20% under $25,000 and 3.90% at the top tier.

Can I move crypto off Robinhood?

Yes. Robinhood supports sending crypto to outside wallets and receiving it, and says it does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees for those transfers.

We have no affiliate relationship with Robinhood, Webull or SoFi and earn nothing if you open an account through this page. This article is general information, not investment advice.

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