You have probably heard about the Robinhood app on YouTube and want to know if it is available in Ireland, right?
Robinhood is a modern and easy-to-use investment app from the US that popularised commission-free trading in financial products such as stocks and ETFs, alongside rivals like Webull, Charles Schwab (which absorbed TD Ameritrade in 2023), and Morgan Stanley’s E*TRADE.
Want to know if Robinhood is available in Ireland, its expansion plans, and the alternatives available for Irish users? We’ve got you covered!
Is Robinhood available in Ireland?
Yes, Robinhood is available in Ireland, and not just for cryptocurrencies anymore.
Robinhood initially launched its cryptocurrency trading service in the European Union, allowing users to buy, sell, and hold over 25 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. It has since added features like crypto transfers and staking, positioning itself as a low-cost, user-friendly platform for EU crypto investors.
But as of April 2026, Robinhood has expanded its offering:
- European users, including those in Ireland, can now also trade tokenised versions of more than 200 US stocks and ETFs through Robinhood. These “stock tokens” give investors fractional, 24/5 access to major US-listed equities like Apple and Tesla, without requiring a traditional brokerage account.
While these stock tokens are not the same as owning real shares (they are issued by a licensed financial institution and backed 1:1 by the underlying assets), they allow Irish users to gain price exposure to the US stock market through Robinhood’s app.
Please note that by investing in a stock token, you are not covered by any investor compensation scheme. This is clearly stated in the Key Information Document (KID) of each stock. As an example, here is the KID of Nvidia.
If this is a significant issue for you, please consider investing in “real” stocks (not tokens) with any of the brokers mentioned below.
In addition, in April 2025, the Bank of Lithuania granted Robinhood an A-category brokerage licence, paving the way for a broader stock trading rollout across the EU. This licence is a strong signal that Robinhood may be working towards launching full stock brokerage services – not just tokenised access – in Ireland and other EU countries in the near future.
Robinhood alternatives in Ireland
To help us answer this question, we focused on low-cost brokers, which are available in most countries in Ireland. Given that, here are our suggestions:
eToro
Commission-free stock and ETF trading (not all ETFs are free). You can also copy other traders/investors. Slick, modern, and easy for anyone to use. It is trusted by over 38 million clients worldwide.
Disclaimer: eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products (stocks, ETFs, Options,…), and low currency conversion fees (FX fees).
💡 Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors.
Lightyear
Investing in ETFs is free of Lightyear execution fees (other fees may apply). It gives you access to US, UK and European stocks and one of the highest interest on uninvested cash in the market for EUR, USD and GBP. It charges 0.45% per trade for cryptocurrencies.
Disclaimer: Capital at risk.
DEGIRO
One of the leading online brokers in Europe due to its low-cost structure. It offers a wide product portfolio.
Disclaimer: Investing involves risk of loss.
Top tier regulators supervise all the companies mentioned here, like the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
1# eToro
52% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Founded in 2007, eToro is a well-known global fintech and the leader in social trading – letting you follow and automatically copy other investors’ trades through its CopyTrader feature. With over 40 million registered users worldwide, it floated on the NASDAQ (ticker: ETOR) in May 2025, adding another layer of transparency and scrutiny.
For Irish investors, eToro offers commission-free real stocks and ETFs (though not all ETFs are commission-free), alongside crypto, commodities, currencies, and CFDs. Beyond copying individual investors, you can put money into ready-made Smart Portfolios built around themes and strategies. The platform is intuitive and simple, making it a strong choice for beginners, and you can practise with a free virtual (demo) account before committing real funds. eToro’s accounts in Europe are provided by eToro (Europe) Ltd, regulated by CySEC, and the eToro Academy offers free educational content.
On the downside, spreads can be high on some products, eToro’s base currency is the US dollar (so EUR deposits and withdrawals incur a conversion fee), and there is a $5 withdrawal fee.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.Crypto investments are risky and may not suit retail investors; you could lose your entire investment. Understand the risks here https://etoro.tw/3PI44nZ
Zero commission means that no broker fee will be charged when opening or closing the position and does not apply to short or leveraged positions. Other fees apply including FX fees on non-USD deposits and withdrawals. Your capital is at risk. For more information, click here.
2# Interactive Brokers
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed on the NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that has weathered major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk-management process.
Interactive Brokers offers an advanced investment platform spanning a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, and currencies) across more than 150 markets, solid trade execution (IB SmartRouting), and a set of technical and fundamental tools to support your investment decisions.
Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve can be steep, which is why we mainly recommend it to more advanced traders. Customer service also gives clear answers to your questions, so there is no need to go back and forth.
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is quite complex, the registration process is lengthy but entirely online, and the broker does not offer commission-free trading for Irish clients. However, when you factor in its low FX fees, narrower spreads, and stock-lending programme, Interactive Brokers’ clients still enjoy significant savings compared with most brokers.
Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app for stocks, options, and ETFs, ideal for beginner investors. Some of its features include automatic currency conversions, fractional shares, and a demo account.
Want to know more about Interactive Brokers? Check our Interactive Brokers review.
3# Lightyear
Terms apply, seek guidance if necessary. When you invest, your capital is at risk.
The next entry in our list of best trading apps in Ireland is Lightyear, a UK-founded broker whose trading platform recently launched in Ireland, among other European countries. It operates through the entity Lightyear Europe AS, authorised and regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision Authority (licence number 4.1-1/31).
Lightyear also offers one of the highest interest rates on uninvested cash through money market funds in EUR, GBP, and USD.
The broker provides one of the best stock trading apps in Ireland, offering easy and inexpensive access to international markets via both mobile (Android and iOS) and web apps. The app is easy to use, stock trading commissions do not exceed €/$/£1 per order, and there is a flat 0.35% currency conversion fee. Lightyear also aims to support investors with news and professional analysis on the stocks they hold.
The app is suitable for beginners and intermediate investors, who can also invest in fractional shares. With an easy-to-use interface and more than 5,000 stocks available across the US, UK, European, and Asian markets, Lightyear is an excellent way to round off our list of the best stock trading apps in Ireland.
Lightyear also offers a free share worth up to €100 with our promo code.
If you would like to know more about Lightyear, check out our Lightyear review!
Disclaimer: Capital at risk. The provider of investment services is Lightyear Financial Ltd for the UK and Lightyear Europe AS for the EU. Terms apply: lightyear.com/terms. Seek qualified advice if necessary.
4# DEGIRO
Investing involves risk of loss.
Founded in 2008 (and opened to retail investors in 2013), DEGIRO is a low-cost brokerage that has become very popular thanks to its low rates. With over 3 million users, the platform is widely known for its “do-it-yourself” philosophy: you have everything at your disposal to start investing on your own. It offers a wide range of assets, including stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, warrants, investment funds, and some leveraged products (not quite the same as CFDs – more info here).
For instance, you can trade ETFs at low cost (a €1 flat handling fee for external costs still applies) with no minimum amount required. The web platform is basic but efficient and straightforward, and you get used to it within minutes; the same goes for the mobile app. On the downside, there is little in the way of in-depth fundamental research, a €2.50 connectivity fee applies, and price alerts are missing.
On security, DEGIRO operates as the Dutch branch of flatexDEGIRO Bank AG (a German-regulated bank). In the unlikely event that segregated assets cannot be returned to clients, DEGIRO falls under the German Investor Compensation Scheme, which covers losses from non-returned assets up to 90% (with a maximum of €20,000) – so bear this in mind if you plan to invest much larger volumes. In addition, any cash deposited in a DEGIRO Cash Account with flatexDEGIRO Bank AG is protected up to €100,000 under the German Deposit Guarantee Scheme.
Still have doubts? Go through our DEGIRO review!
Robinhood’s next steps in Europe
Yes, Robinhood is now available in Ireland, but with important caveats: you can trade cryptocurrencies and tokenised versions of US stocks and ETFs, not real equities. Tokenised stocks give you price exposure but not full shareholder rights or investor compensation scheme protection – a significant difference from traditional brokerage accounts.
If you want real stock ownership with proper investor protection in Ireland, consider the alternatives in this article:
- For the most global market access and lowest FX fees: Interactive Brokers
- For commission-free ETF trading with social features: eToro
- For a modern mobile-first experience with interest on cash: Lightyear
- For low-cost buy-and-hold ETF investing: DEGIRO
Keep an eye on Robinhood’s European expansion – if and when the company launches real equity brokerage in Ireland under its Lithuanian license, it could become a more compelling option for Irish retail investors.
FAQs
Can I use Robinhood from Ireland with a VPN?
No, Irish investors cannot use a VPN to open a Robinhood account. Upon account opening, Robinhood requires specific documentation that proves that you are a US citizen.
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 the selling of 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.
