You have probably heard about the Robinhood app and want to know if it is available in Australia, 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 Robinhood is available in Australia, what its expansion plans are, and which alternatives are available for Australian investors? We have got you covered.
What is Robinhood?
Founded in 2013, Robinhood has played a major role in disrupting the brokerage industry by allowing US retail investors to trade with no commissions. In the US, Robinhood offers stocks, ETFs, options, futures, cryptocurrencies and prediction markets.
The results are clear: Robinhood counted 28.6 million funded customers and $384 billion in total platform assets at the end of August 2026. The company is listed on NASDAQ under the ticker HOOD since July 2021 and joined the S&P 500 in September 2025. In response to Robinhood’s growth, several well-established US brokers moved to eliminate trading commissions in late 2019, including E*TRADE (subsequently acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020) and Charles Schwab (which absorbed TD Ameritrade, whose brand has since been fully retired).
Is Robinhood available in Australia?
Robinhood is not yet available in Australia. Robinhood is, however, no longer US-only. It has launched in the UK (2024, via Robinhood U.K. Ltd, regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) and expanded across Europe through Robinhood Europe UAB, supervised by the Bank of Lithuania. In July 2026 it also launched its brokerage in Canada.
Asia-Pacific is the next frontier. In April 2026 the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) granted Robinhood Singapore an in-principle approval, and the company has since obtained its capital markets services licence there. At the time of writing, Robinhood Singapore is still running a waitlist rather than accepting clients.
Robinhood has not announced a launch date for Australia, and Australia is not among the markets it has named for its brokerage expansion.
What about Robinhood Stock Tokens? Since July 2026, Robinhood has offered tokenised versions of US stocks through its self-custody Robinhood Wallet in more than 120 countries, with availability varying by jurisdiction. These tokens live on a blockchain and are not shares held in a brokerage account, so they are not a substitute for a regulated Australian broker with CHESS sponsorship.
In the meantime, Australian investors can access several strong Robinhood alternatives already operating locally, offering low-cost access to Australian and international markets, all of them licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
Robinhood alternatives in Australia
To help you answer this question, we focused on low-cost online brokers available in Australia. Given that, here are our suggestions:
eToro
eToro is the leading social investing platform (copy and follow other traders and investors). It offers commission-free ETF trading (other fees apply) and an AUD account.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 55% 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.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 more), 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.
Tiger Brokers
A popular choice for retail investors and traders in Australia, Tiger Brokers focuses on providing an intuitive platform, superb execution, and a smooth trading experience.
Stake
Australian broker with access to more than 12,000 US and ASX stocks and ETFs, and a flat $3 brokerage on trades up to $30,000.
Robinhood alternatives compared
| Broker | ASX shares | US shares | Brokerage | AUD account | Australian licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | Yes | Yes | $1 or $2 per stock trade, $0 on ETFs | Yes | eToro AUS Capital Limited (AFSL 491139) |
| Interactive Brokers | Yes | Yes | Varies by market and pricing plan | Yes | Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd (AFSL 453554) |
| Tiger Brokers | Yes (CHESS sponsored) | Yes | Varies by market | Yes | Tiger Brokers (AU) Pty Limited (AFSL 300767) |
| Stake | Yes (CHESS sponsored) | Yes | $3 per trade up to $30,000 (0.01% above) | Yes | Stakeshop AFSL Pty Ltd (AFSL 548196) |
Main features of the Robinhood alternatives in Australia, based on each broker’s Australian website (October 2026). eToro charges its commissions in USD.
eToro
eToro at a glance
Founded in 2007, eToro is a leading global fintech and one of the world’s largest social trading platforms (allowing users to follow and copy other investors’ trades), with more than 4 million funded accounts. Australian investors can trade a wide range of products through eToro’s intuitive web and mobile platform, making it a solid option for beginners as well as more active retail traders.
On pricing, ETFs trade commission-free regardless of transaction size or how the order is placed, whether manually, through CopyTrader, or via Smart Portfolios. Stock trades carry a commission of $1 or $2 (USD), depending on the exchange, charged both when opening and closing a position. Whole and fractional shares are supported, and other fees apply. There is no inactivity fee.
Opening an account and depositing is straightforward, and you can practise first with a $100,000 virtual demo account. eToro also offers an AUD account, so you can deposit and withdraw in Australian dollars at no cost and buy more than 400 Australian stocks with no currency conversion fee. A conversion fee still applies when you use AUD to buy assets priced in another currency, such as US stocks. On the downside, spreads on some products can be relatively high.
For Australian residents, eToro is served by eToro AUS Capital Limited, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under AFS Licence 491139. eToro is also a NASDAQ-listed company (ticker: ETOR) following its May 2025 IPO. For more details, read our review of eToro in Australia.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers at a glance
Founded in 1978 and publicly listed on NASDAQ (ticker: IBKR; added to the S&P 500 in August 2025), Interactive Brokers is a global online broker that has weathered multiple financial crises, demonstrating resilience and a rigorous risk management framework. It had 5.58 million client accounts at the end of September 2026.
Interactive Brokers offers an advanced platform with a broad product range (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds and currencies) across 170 markets in 40 countries, including the ASX for Australian equities and Cboe Australia, alongside major global venues (NYSE, NASDAQ, LSE, Xetra, HKEX, TSE). Trade execution is supported by IB SmartRouting, and the platform includes a comprehensive set of technical and fundamental tools to support your investment decisions.
For Australian beginners and intermediate investors, educational content is available via IBKR Campus (formerly Traders’ Academy), although the main TWS platform has a steep learning curve. That is why we primarily recommend it to more advanced traders. Customer support typically provides clear and concise answers, reducing back-and-forth.
On the downside, Interactive Brokers’ fee structure is comparatively complex, the registration process is lengthy (though fully online), and the broker does not offer fully commission-free trading. However, when factoring in competitive FX fees (0.002% of the amount, with a $2 minimum), tight spreads, the Stock Yield Enhancement Program (SYEP), and cash interest on uninvested AUD/USD balances above certain thresholds, Australian clients can achieve significant savings versus most local brokers. Australian clients are served by Interactive Brokers Australia Pty Ltd, ASIC-regulated under AFS Licence 453554, with native AUD base currency support.
Interactive Brokers also offers IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile app for trading stocks, options, and ETFs, designed for beginner investors. Features include automatic currency conversion and fractional shares.
Tiger Brokers
Tiger Brokers at a glance
Tiger Brokers is one of the most popular discount brokers across Asia-Pacific for both retail and institutional investors. Australian users can access stocks and ETFs from the ASX (CHESS sponsored, so the shares are registered under your own HIN), US markets (NYSE, NASDAQ) and HKEX, plus US options.
Its pricing is competitive and varies by market. Tiger Brokers focuses on execution and ease of trading, and the mobile-first platform (Tiger Trade) delivers well on both fronts. The broker also serves as a gateway to US options trading, with a choice between fixed and tiered pricing, and offers margin lending in several currencies.
Tiger Brokers (AU) Pty Limited is licensed by ASIC under AFS Licence 300767. Parent Tiger Brokers is publicly listed on NASDAQ under the ticker TIGR, providing an additional layer of corporate transparency. This makes Tiger Brokers a solid option for active traders who value low costs and streamlined execution, particularly across US and Asian markets.
Stake
Stake at a glance
Stake is an Australian online broker used by more than 1 million people, offering access to over 12,000 stocks and ETFs on Wall Street and the ASX.
Its pricing is deliberately simple: $3 brokerage per trade on both US (USD 3) and ASX (AUD 3) orders up to $30,000, and 0.01% above that. The minimum deposit is AUD 10. Its trading platforms are modern and beginner-friendly, making Stake a strong option for Australian investors starting out.
Stake is operated by Stakeshop Pty Ltd, an authorised representative of Stakeshop AFSL Pty Ltd (AFSL 548196), licensed by ASIC. ASX shares are CHESS sponsored, meaning your holdings sit under your own Holder Identification Number (HIN), a safety feature valued by Australian investors. Stake also offers SMSF (self-managed super fund) administration through Stake Super.
On the downside, US trading on Stake is in USD, so you pay an FX fee of 0.55% (55 basis points) when funding your Wall St account from AUD. The product range is also narrower than at the largest global brokers, with a focus on shares and ETFs.
Which platform should you choose?
These are the factors worth checking when choosing an online broker in Australia:
- Licence: make sure the broker holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) from ASIC, and check which entity you sign up with.
- CHESS sponsorship: with a CHESS sponsored broker, your ASX shares are registered under your own HIN rather than held by a custodian.
- Brokerage: compare commissions on the markets you will actually use, ASX and US trades are often priced differently.
- Currency conversion: if you buy US shares, the FX fee can cost more than the brokerage itself. An AUD account helps on ASX trades.
- Product range: not all platforms offer Australian stocks, options or bonds.
The best online broker in your specific case will depend on your profile, preference, and objectives. Explore the websites 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 services and opportunities best suited for their risk, returns, and impact strategy.
FAQs
Does Robinhood offer options trading?
Yes, Robinhood offers options trading to its US customers. If you want to trade options, check our article on the best options trading brokers available in Australia.
Does Robinhood give you free stock?
Robinhood has offered free stock to new US customers through referral and sign-up promotions, but these are not available in Australia. Check our list of brokers with free stocks available in Australia.
Is Webull available in Australia?
Yes, Webull, one of Robinhood’s biggest competitors in the US, operates in Australia.
What about other US-based investment platforms? Are Betterment and Wealthfront available in Australia?
No, Betterment and Wealthfront are not available in Australia either. Only US citizens and residents are eligible to open an account on these platforms (some exceptions apply in the case of Betterment).
How exactly does Robinhood make money?
Robinhood earns most of its revenue from transactions (including payment for order flow, where market makers pay Robinhood to execute customers’ orders), net interest on customer cash and margin lending, and subscriptions such as Robinhood Gold.
Payment for order flow has drawn regulatory scrutiny. In December 2020, Robinhood paid $65 million to settle SEC charges that it misled customers about this revenue source between 2015 and 2018 and failed to seek the best execution for their orders.
Can Australians buy Robinhood Stock Tokens?
Robinhood offers Stock Tokens through its self-custody Robinhood Wallet in more than 120 countries, with availability varying by jurisdiction. They are blockchain tokens that track US shares, not shares held in a brokerage account, so they carry different risks and do not come with CHESS sponsorship or the protections of a regulated Australian broker.
What is CHESS sponsorship?
CHESS is the ASX settlement system. With a CHESS sponsored broker, such as Stake or Tiger Brokers, your ASX shares are registered directly in your name under a Holder Identification Number (HIN). With a custodial model, the broker or a custodian holds the shares on your behalf.
