Robinhood vs SoFi Invest in 2026: both are commission-free, app-first brokers popular with beginners, and both offer something most traditional brokers don’t — direct crypto trading. But the two platforms differ in fees, account types, and what else they bundle around investing. This honest comparison breaks down which one actually fits you.
Choose Robinhood if you want the simplest possible mobile experience and don’t mind fewer account types. Choose SoFi Invest if you want $0 options commissions with no per-contract fee, free access to Certified Financial Planners, and an all-in-one app that also covers banking and loans. Both charge $0 on stock and ETF trades, so the decision comes down to account breadth and ecosystem, not core trading costs.
Robinhood vs SoFi: Quick Comparison
Here’s how Robinhood vs SoFi Invest breaks down at a glance:
- Account MinimumBoth: $0
- Stock/ETF TradesBoth: $0 commission
- Options ContractsRobinhood: $0.65/contract (standard) / $0 with Gold | SoFi: $0, no per-contract fee
- Crypto TradingBoth: ✓ Yes, direct ownership
- Account TypesRobinhood: Brokerage, Roth/Traditional IRA | SoFi: Brokerage, Roth/Traditional/SEP/Rollover IRA
- Inactivity FeeRobinhood: ✗ None | SoFi: $25 after 6 months
- Free Financial PlanningRobinhood: ✗ No | SoFi: ✓ Yes, CFP access included
Where Robinhood Wins
Robinhood remains the simpler of the two apps for pure stock and ETF trading, with no inactivity fee to worry about if you leave your account untouched for a while — SoFi charges $25 after six months without a login. Robinhood Gold ($5/month) also eliminates the $0.65 options contract fee entirely, which can matter if you trade options frequently.
Where SoFi Wins
SoFi Invest charges $0 on options contracts with no per-contract fee at all, even without a paid subscription — a real cost advantage over Robinhood’s standard $0.65/contract rate. SoFi also offers more IRA variety (including SEP and Rollover IRAs), free access to Certified Financial Planners, and ties directly into SoFi’s banking and lending products if you want fewer apps to manage.
Crypto: The Common Ground
Both platforms allow direct crypto ownership — buying, selling, and holding coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum, not just crypto-linked ETFs. Robinhood has offered this consistently, while SoFi relaunched direct crypto trading in November 2025 after a roughly two-year pause required by its banking charter. Fee structures for crypto differ by platform and can change, so it’s worth checking each broker’s current spread before trading crypto specifically.
One practical difference worth noting: because SoFi’s crypto access is newer post-relaunch, its selection of supported coins may still be narrower than Robinhood’s more established crypto lineup. If holding a wide variety of altcoins matters to you specifically, it’s worth comparing each platform’s current coin list directly before deciding — this is one area where feature parity can shift quickly as both platforms continue expanding their offerings.
Who Should Choose Robinhood?
Beginners who want the simplest possible app experience, don’t need financial planning support, and want to avoid any inactivity fee on an account they might not check often.
Who Should Choose SoFi Invest?
Beginners who trade options and want to avoid per-contract fees, want free access to a Certified Financial Planner, or prefer consolidating investing with banking and loans in one ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for options trading, Robinhood or SoFi?
SoFi has the edge here — $0 commission with no per-contract fee, compared to Robinhood’s $0.65 per contract unless you subscribe to Robinhood Gold.
Does Robinhood or SoFi charge an inactivity fee?
SoFi does — $25 if you don’t log in for 6 months. Robinhood does not charge for inactivity.
Is this Robinhood vs SoFi comparison up to date?
Yes. This comparison reflects fees and features confirmed as of mid-2026. Always confirm current details directly on Robinhood’s official fee schedule and SoFi’s official fee schedule.
Read our full Robinhood review and SoFi Invest review, or check the complete comparison of the best online brokers for beginners in 2026.
For an unbiased overview of investor protections, see the SEC’s official guide to opening a brokerage account at Investor.gov.