J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Robinhood: Which Broker Is Right for You?
Review
Updated
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If you're looking to open a new investment account, there is no shortage of choices. Two popular options for newer investors are J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and Robinhood, which has a mission to make investing as economical and user-friendly as possible for everyone. In this J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Robinhood comparison, we'll take a look at the similarities and differences between the two, so you can determine if one might be a good fit.
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Rating
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Rating
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
| Commissions |
Commissions $0 per trade online $0 per trade |
Commissions |
| Account Minimum |
Account Minimum |
Account Minimum |
| Learn More |
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and Robinhood both offer $0 commission stock and ETF trades, like most brokers do. However, that's where the similarities end.
For options and cryptocurrency investors, Robinhood is a winner. J.P. Morgan's $0.65-per-contract charge is in line with most of its brokerage peers; both J.P. Morgan and Robinhood offer commission-free options trading, but Robinhood also charges no contract fees. Furthermore, Robinhood offers fee-free cryptocurrency trading, while J.P. Morgan doesn't (most bank-affiliated brokers don't offer direct cryptocurrency investment).
On the other hand, mutual fund commission is a standout area for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing. The firm charges no commissions whatsoever for mutual funds -- not just those on a no-transaction-fee (NTF) list. This is a rarity in the industry. Robinhood doesn't offer mutual fund investing at all.
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Stock & ETF commissions | $0 | $0 |
| Options commissions | $0.65/contract | $0 |
| Crypto commissions | N/A | $0 |
| Mutual fund commissions | $0 | N/A |
| Account transfer fee | $75 | $100 |
| Account maintenance fee | $0 | $0 |
Robinhood is designed as a simplified investing platform, and therefore its selection of investment options is somewhat limited. It offers stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies on its platform, but you can't use Robinhood's platform to invest in mutual funds or fixed-income investments like bonds and CDs.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers more investment choices, including stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds.
For new investors especially, it's important to mention that Robinhood offers the ability to buy fractional shares of stock, while J.P. Morgan doesn't. This can be a big perk for newer investors without a ton of money to invest. For example, if Amazon stock is trading for $3,000 per share, you would need at least that much money to buy one share through J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing. However, you can buy a fractional share of Amazon with just a few dollars through Robinhood.
Neither platform offers futures or foreign currency (forex) trading, so if either is a part of your investing strategy, you'll need to look elsewhere.
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual funds | Yes | No |
| CDs | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Currencies (Forex) | No | No |
$0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴
$0
This brokerage is a clear standout for its well-rated mobile app and 1% IRA match.⁸ It also has unique investment offerings like IPOs, options,⁴ and fractional shares.³
On SoFi Invest's Secure Website.
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
$0
Robinhood is a simple, low-cost brokerage with a few rare perks. It matches retirement deposits like an employer, the interface is gorgeous, and it's extremely affordable. No matter what or how you trade, Robinhood fees tend to match or beat the competition. It's worth a look.
On Robinhood's Secure Website.
Commission-free; other fees apply
$0
E*TRADE offers low fees and tons of account types. If you need it, chances are, E*TRADE has it. You can access advanced features through its popular Power E*TRADE platform. Open an E*TRADE account to trade fee-free mutual funds and do all your investing in one place.
On E*TRADE's Secure Website.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and Robinhood both offer standard taxable brokerage accounts for individuals, as well as traditional and Roth IRAs. Each offers the ability to trade on margin, too. Robinhood offers margin investing at some of the lowest rates we've encountered, even for investors who aren't Robinhood Gold members.
(Note: J.P. Morgan has announced that it will be shutting down its robo-advisory investment platform J.P. Morgan Automated Investing in the second quarter of 2024.) If you'd like to use something similar, consider other best in class robo-advisory services.
With that in mind, neither of these brokers offer an excellent selection of investment account types. There are no options for self-employed retirement accounts like SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRAs, and you can't open a custodial account like an UGMA or UTMA.
In short, if your investment needs extend beyond a standard individual investment account, or traditional or Roth IRA, you're better off reading more broker reviews to find the right one for you.
| J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| Taxable brokerage | Yes | Yes |
| Joint tenant | No | Yes |
| Margin | Yes | Yes |
| Robo-advisor | No, beginning Q2 2024 | No |
| Traditional IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Other IRA | No | No |
| Custodial | No | No |
| Checking | Yes | No, but offers a cash card |
| Savings | Yes | No, but offers brokerage cash sweeps |
| Credit card | Yes | Yes |
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and Robinhood both offer a mobile investing app, but they are rather different from one another. Robinhood's trading app is designed to provide the most user-friendly way to buy and sell stocks and options. J.P. Morgan's app is designed as an all-in-one banking app, allowing customers to access and manage their banking, credit, and investing accounts in a single app.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing holds ratings of 4.7 and 4.0 out of 5 stars on the App Store and Google Play Store, respectively, and Robinhood's ratings are 4.2 and 4.1. (Note: Robinhood's ratings were significantly higher prior to the "meme stock" craze of early 2021, when it was forced to suspend trading in certain volatile stocks to the disappointment of many customers.)
Robinhood offers a web-based trading platform, but is a mobile-first broker. It doesn't have sophisticated trading tools, educational resources, or many of the other features you'd find on a lot of other brokers' trading platforms. J.P. Morgan's trading platform offers several useful features, such as its highly regarded Portfolio Builder tool that can help investors construct a portfolio to help meet their goals.
It's worth noting that neither offers a particularly sophisticated trading platform. If you're an active options trader, or want complex charting tools to develop your strategy, you'll probably want to look for a broker that offers a more feature-packed platform.
Both J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing and Robinhood are solid brokerage platforms with $0 trading fees on stocks and ETFs, but neither is right for all investors. In some cases, the decision is easy. If you want to invest in mutual funds, for example, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing is clearly the better of the two. On the other hand, if you want to buy cryptocurrencies as part of your investment strategy, Robinhood might be the better option.
However, neither of these brokers offers everything. If you need a standard type of investment account to buy and sell stocks, ETFs, and/or mutual funds, one of these could be a good choice. But if you need anything other than a standard account or IRA, or if you want to trade different investment vehicles like futures, for example, neither of these will likely meet your needs.
Want another option? Check out Motley Fool Money's Forex.com Review.
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.
A no-frills platform with $0 mutual fund fees, J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing offers easy trading, an optional robo-advisor, and seamless Chase integration.
$0 per trade
$0
Earn a bonus up to $700 when you open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account (retirement or general) with qualifying new money by 7/22/2025.
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website.
2025 Award Winner
A top pick for beginners, Robinhood combines $0 commission trades, an easy-to-use app, and a rare retirement deposit match.
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options
$0
On Robinhood's Secure Website.
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2025.
| Broker | Best For | Commissions | Learn More |
|---|---|---|---|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Managing your finances under one roof | $0 for stocks,¹ $0 for options contracts⁴ |
Learn More for SoFi Active Investing
On SoFi Active Investing's Secure Website. |
|
Rating image, 4.0 out of 5 stars.
4.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low mutual fund fees. | $0 per trade |
Learn More for J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
On J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing's Secure Website. |
|
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair = Poor |
Low fees on stocks, ETFs, crypto, and options | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options |
Learn More for Robinhood
On Robinhood's Secure Website. |
You can open a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account for $1.
It's a debit card issued by a Robinhood partner bank. To get the card, Robinhood users must open a spending account. Users can fund the account with direct deposits or by transferring money into the account from another bank. The Robinhood Cash Card is linked to the Spending account. Perks include zero overdrafts, early paychecks, and money back at stores like the Gap.
They'll be converted to J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing accounts.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Motley Fool Money is 100% owned and operated by The Motley Fool. Our knowledgeable team of personal finance editors and analysts are employed by The Motley Fool and held to the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
J.P Morgan Disclosure
INVESTMENT AND INSURANCE PRODUCTS ARE: NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE
Robinhood disclosure
All investments involve risk and loss of principal is possible.
Securities are offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Cryptocurrency services are offered through an account with Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840). Robinhood Crypto is licensed to engage in virtual currency business activity by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Cryptocurrency held through Robinhood Crypto is not FDIC insured or SIPC protected. For more information see the Robinhood Crypto Risk Disclosure.
Trades of stocks, ETFs and options are commission-free at Robinhood Financial LLC. Other fees may apply. Please see Robinhood Financial’s Fee Schedule to learn more.
Fractional shares are illiquid outside of Robinhood and are not transferable. Not all securities available through Robinhood are eligible for fractional share orders. For a complete explanation of conditions, restrictions and limitations associated with fractional shares, see the Fractional Shares section of our Customer Agreement.
Robinhood Gold is an account offering premium services available for a $5 monthly fee. Not all investors will be eligible to trade on Margin. Margin investing involves the risk of greater investment losses. Additional interest charges may apply depending on the amount of margin used. Bigger Instant Deposits are only available if your Instant Deposits status is in good standing.
Investing is risky. Bonus offers subject to terms and conditions, visit robinhood.com/hoodweek for more information. Margin is not suitable for all investors. Robinhood Gold is offered through Robinhood Gold LLC and is a subscription offering services for a fee. Brokerage services offered through Robinhood Financial LLC (member SIPC), a registered broker dealer.
SoFi Disclosure:
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
Value Prop Disclosures
Promotion Disclosures
E*TRADE services are available just to U.S. residents.
SoFi Disclosure:
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED • ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED • MAY LOSE VALUE
Value Prop Disclosures
Promotional Disclosures
