You have probably heard about the Robinhood app and want to know if it is available in the Philippines, right?
Robinhood is a modern, easy-to-use investment app from the US that popularised the concept of commission-free trading in financial products such as stocks and ETFs.
Do you want to know if the Robinhood app is available in the Philippines, what its expansion plans are, and which alternatives are available locally? We have got you covered.
What is Robinhood?
Founded in 2013, Robinhood has played a major role in reshaping the brokerage industry by allowing US retail investors to trade with no commissions. The platform offers stocks, ETFs, options, futures (launched October 2025), and cryptocurrencies.
The results are clear: Robinhood now counts over 27 million funded customers and approximately $324 billion in assets under custody. It has been listed on NASDAQ under the ticker HOOD since July 2021 and joined the S&P 500 in 2025. In response to its rapid growth, several established US brokers eliminated trading commissions in late 2019, including E*TRADE (subsequently acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020) and Charles Schwab (which absorbed TD Ameritrade, a brand since fully retired).
Is Robinhood available in the Philippines?
Robinhood is not available in the Philippines. Account opening requires a US Social Security number and a US residential address for its core brokerage service, so Philippine residents cannot register regardless of citizenship.
Robinhood has expanded internationally in recent years, though its focus has been markets with established regulatory frameworks. It launched in the UK in early 2024 through Robinhood U.K. Ltd (FCA-regulated), and rolled out across the EU in 2025 via Robinhood Europe UAB, supervised by the Bank of Lithuania. In April 2026, the Monetary Authority of Singapore granted Robinhood an in-principle approval for a Major Payment Institution licence, paving the way for a crypto launch in Asia following its June 2025 acquisition of Bitstamp.
The Singapore approval is the closest Robinhood has come to the region, but Southeast Asia beyond that has not featured in any announced plans. For a Philippine launch, Robinhood would need authorisation from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the Philippines, and there is no indication that process is under way.
The good news is that Philippine investors have access to several well-regulated international brokers offering commission-free or low-cost access to global markets, which we cover below.
Best Robinhood alternatives in the Philippines
To help us answer this question, our assumption was only to focus on low-cost brokers available in the Philippines. Given that, here are our suggestions:
1. XTB
69-80% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Founded in 2002 in Warsaw and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (ticker: XTB), XTB is a major European broker with more than 1.7 million clients across 16 countries. Its proprietary platform, xStation 5, is regularly recognised for usability and execution quality, with strong charting and technical analysis tooling.
XTB offers 0% commission on real stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 of monthly turnover (0.2% above, with a €10 minimum), alongside CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Stock and ETF CFD spreads average around 0.08%, while forex and commodity pricing starts from 0.1 pips. Note that product availability varies by country, so Philippine residents should confirm which instruments are accessible before opening an account.
The platform’s tools lean toward technical analysis rather than fundamental research, where XTB’s data is comparatively limited. Opening an account and transferring funds is quick and fully online, with a demo account available alongside the XTB Trading Academy for newer investors.
On the downside, XTB charges a €10 monthly inactivity fee after one year without trading and no deposit in the past 90 days.
XTB is supervised by top-tier regulators including the FCA (UK), KNF (Poland), CySEC (Cyprus), BaFin (Germany), and DFSA (Dubai).
Want to know more about XTB? Check our XTB review.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76-83% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with XTB.
2. Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed on NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR, an S&P 500 constituent since 2024), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that has weathered multiple financial crises, demonstrating resilience and a rigorous risk management framework. It serves over 3 million client accounts worldwide.
Interactive Brokers offers an advanced platform covering stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, currencies, and cryptocurrencies across 170+ markets in 36+ countries, with solid execution via IB SmartRouting and a comprehensive set of technical and fundamental tools.
Beginners and intermediate investors have educational resources through IBKR Campus (formerly Traders’ Academy), though the main TWS platform has a steep learning curve, which is why we primarily recommend it to more experienced investors. Customer support typically provides clear, concise answers.
On the downside, the fee structure is comparatively complex, registration is lengthy (though fully online), and IBKR does not offer fully commission-free trading. However, factoring in FX conversion at 0.20 basis points (minimum $2), tight spreads, and the Stock Yield Enhancement Program, clients achieve significant savings versus most brokers. There is no minimum deposit. For a Philippine investor converting pesos to dollars, that conversion cost typically matters more than the trading commission itself.
Philippine clients are served through IBKR’s overseas entities, regulated by the SEC and FINRA in the US, with SIPC protection up to $500,000 (including a $250,000 cash sub-limit). This covers broker failure rather than investment losses.
Interactive Brokers also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile app for trading stocks, options, and ETFs, well suited to beginner investors, with automatic currency conversion, fractional shares from $1, and a $10,000 virtual demo account.
Want to know more? Check our Interactive Brokers review.
Which platform should you choose?
Several factors are worth weighing when choosing an online broker from the Philippines:
- Total cost: look beyond headline commissions to currency conversion, inactivity fees, and withdrawal charges. Converting pesos to dollars is a recurring cost that often outweighs the trading commission itself;
- Regulation: none of these brokers is licensed by the SEC Philippines, so you would be contracting with an overseas entity. Verify which entity holds your account and what protection applies – SIPC coverage in the US, or an equivalent scheme elsewhere;
- Real shares versus CFDs: a fundamental distinction. With real shares you own the asset; with CFDs you hold a leveraged position against the broker, with no ownership and a high risk of rapid losses. For long-term investing, real assets are the appropriate route;
- Product range: check the broker covers what you intend to trade, whether that is US stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, or access to the Philippine Stock Exchange for local equities;
- Tax obligations: income from foreign investments may carry reporting obligations with the BIR. Keep clear records of purchase dates and prices, and consider consulting a local tax adviser before investing substantial amounts.
The best broker for you will depend on your profile, preferences, and objectives. Explore the platforms above and decide for yourself.
A reminder that the above should not be seen as investment advice and should be considered information only. Investors should do their own research and diligence about the best-suited services and opportunities for their risk, returns, and impact strategy.
FAQs
Is Webull available in the Philippines? Can I use Webull in the Philippines?
No, Webull (Robinhood’s biggest competitor in the US) is also not available in the Philippines. Due to compliance rules, Webull is not able to do trading besides the United States, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, and Australia.
Does E*TRADE work in the Philippines? Can foreigners use E*TRADE?
No, Etrade is not available in the Philippines either. Only US citizens/Green Card holders can open an account on this platform (some exceptions apply).
What about other US-based investment platforms? Are Acorns or M1 Finance available in the Philippines?
No, Acorns and M1 Finance are not available in the Philippines either. Only US citizens/Green Card holders are eligible to open an account on these platforms.
How exactly does Robinhood make money?
The online broker earns money from interest earned on customers’ cash balances (money in your account not invested) by selling order information to third parties (high-frequency traders, for instance) and margin lending.
Regarding selling orders, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is still investigating Robinhood for not fully disclosing its practice of selling clients’ orders to high-speed trading firms.
Until October 2018, Robinhood would not clearly state that it was receiving payments for order flows. By law, any financial company must reveal all the material facts an investor would want to know before making any investment decision.
