Compare Robinhood vs. WellsTrade
Key Points:
• Self-directed and automated investing accounts are available through both Robinhood and Wells Fargo.
• Cryptocurrencies, futures, and event contracts are available only at Robinhood.
• Financial planning, bonds, and mutual funds are available only through Wells Fargo.
If you want a broker for investing and trading, Robinhood and Wells Fargo Advisors (along with its lower-cost offering, WellsTrade) deserve a close look. Here’s a straightforward comparison of the two firms:
Pricing
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
|
Robinhood
|
$0
|
na
|
$0
|
$0
|
$0
|
|
WellsTrade
|
$0
|
$35
|
$0.65 per contract
|
$0
|
$0
|
Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
|
Robinhood
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WellsTrade
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Promotions
Robinhood: Free stock worth up to $200 and 3% match when you open an account.
WellsTrade: does not offer promotions.
Trading and Investing
At Robinhood and WellsTrade, investors can open self-directed brokerage accounts and trade the following asset classes:
Robinhood clients also get access to cryptocurrencies, futures, and event contracts. WellsTrade customers add bonds, mutual funds, OTC stocks, and closed-end funds.
Then there are managed accounts. Both Wells and Robinhood offer automated investing. Robinhood’s program, called Strategies, can hold ETFs and, at higher balances, individual stocks as well.
Through Wells Fargo Advisors, investors can also open full-service brokerage and managed accounts. These accounts come with human financial advisors for planning and guidance. In-person help is also available through branch offices. Robinhood has no comparable full-service setup.
Winner: Wells Fargo
Mobile Apps
Looking first at mobile apps, the WellsTrade experience is built into the main Wells Fargo app; you simply tap on the investment account to reach the trading features. During our review, we found a trade ticket with 4 order types:
- Market
- Limit
- Stop
- Stop limit
There are only 2 duration choices (GTC and day).
Charts in the WellsTrade app are pretty limited, with no tools and only a single plot style (line). Rotating the screen sideways doesn’t improve things very much.
On Robinhood’s app, charting is much stronger, with technical studies, different plot styles, and auto scaling. There still isn’t a landscape mode, though. The order ticket has 6 trade types.
Winner: Robinhood
Websites
Just like the mobile app, the WellsTrade website is part of the larger Wells Fargo site, which brings banking and brokerage accounts together in one login. The trading area uses the same order form found on mobile. Here, charts do include useful tools like drawing features, plot styles, and technical studies. A chart still cannot fill the entire screen, and there is no right-click menu.
On Robinhood Legend, which is the broker’s browser-based platform, there is a right-click menu that includes a trade command. Other useful features on the Robinhood site include an options strategy builder, Level II quotes, and other research tools.
Winner: Robinhood
Margin Trading
A brokerage account at either WellsTrade or Robinhood can be established as a cash or margin account. Robinhood margin traders can use some option spreads, which WellsTrade does not provide.
Using margin always means paying interest. WellsTrade uses a tiered schedule that begins at 12.5% and falls to 8.5%. Clients with larger balances can qualify for discounts of up to 2.5%.
Robinhood’s stepped margin pricing starts at 5% and falls to 3.95%; Gold members who pay $5 per month get the first $1,000 included at 0.00%.
Winner: Robinhood
Additional Services
Fractional Shares: Whole-dollar trades can be placed at Robinhood and WellsTrade.
Initial Public Offerings: Robinhood brokerage customers can buy shares in select IPOs.
DRIP Service: Both brokers provide free dividend reinvestment.
Periodic Mutual Fund Investing: WellsTrade clients can set up recurring mutual fund purchases. Robinhood users can set up recurring investments in stocks and ETFs.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Robinhood customers can generate income by lending out their shares.
IRA Lineups: Retirement accounts are available at both firms; WellsTrade charges $49.95 to close an IRA.
Extended Hours: WellsTrade customers can trade after the market closes. Robinhood offers pre-market, after-hours, and overnight stock trading, plus 24/7 crypto trading and nearly 24-hour futures trading.
Winner: Robinhood
Recommendations
Mutual Funds: WellsTrade is the only option here.
Small Investors: Neither firm requires a minimum to open a brokerage account. Robinhood Strategies requires $50, while Wells Fargo Intuitive Investor requires $500.
Beginners: A managed account at either firm is a solid way to begin. Because Intuitive Investor includes professional guidance, we would lean toward Wells.
Retirement Savers & Long-Term Investors: Most retirement planning tools and advisor support will be found through Wells Fargo Advisors branch offices.
Active Stock Trading: Robinhood has the stronger software, although only WellsTrade lets you trade OTC stocks. It’s fairly close.
Promotions
Robinhood: Free stock worth up to $200 and 3% match when you open an account.
WellsTrade: does not offer promotions.
Wells Fargo vs Robinhood Verdict
WellsTrade works well for investors who want a more traditional and straightforward setup. For most other uses, Robinhood comes out ahead.
Written by Alex Bost
Updated on 4/22/2026.
|