Scalping on Robinhood
Key takeaways:
• Scalping is possible with a brokerage account at Robinhood.
• Robinhood’s browser-based Legend platform can be used by scalpers.
• Robinhood does not currently support bracket orders, which some scalp traders may want.
If you’re a scalper looking to make a profit through many trades while keeping costs low, Robinhood is worth considering. Although the brokerage firm offers several resources scalp traders need, some advanced order-entry features are missing.
Overview of Scalping
Scalping is a form of ultra-short-term trading that uses many quick day trades to try to generate numerous small profits. It is a form of day trading, but it does not necessarily require a margin account. Cash accounts can place day trades with settled funds, while margin accounts allow traders to reuse unsettled proceeds from stock and options sales.
Scalping at Robinhood
Robinhood offers both cash and margin brokerage accounts. Robinhood no longer uses the pattern day trader trade-count restriction or requires a $25,000 portfolio value for day trading in a margin account. Instead, the broker uses an intraday margin system that monitors whether an account has enough equity relative to its market exposure. The $2,000 minimum-equity requirement still applies before an investor can use borrowed margin.
Cryptocurrency and futures positions are held through separate Robinhood accounts and entities rather than through the Robinhood Financial securities margin account. Crypto and futures are not subject to the former $25,000 PDT minimum, although futures positions have their own margin requirements, and both products have separate fees and trading risks.
Because scalping involves many trades in a single day, a margin account can be useful, but it is not required for securities trading. Cash-account customers can trade with settled funds, while margin-account customers can trade with unsettled proceeds from stock and options sales. To switch from cash to margin status on Robinhood’s website, select Account, Settings, Investing, and Account type, and then select the option to switch to a margin account.
On the Investing page, customers can review their account type and margin settings. Robinhood monitors margin accounts in real time to prevent activity from creating or increasing an intraday margin deficit. Repeated failures to satisfy intraday margin requirements can lead to account restrictions.
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Platforms
Once the account is set up, it is time to start scalping. Robinhood customers can trade through three main software platforms: the mobile app, Legend, and the regular website.
Legend is a browser-based platform that can be opened after logging into Robinhood on the web; look for the Robinhood Legend link on the site. On any of the three platforms, it is easy to submit trades quickly. The mobile app will most likely prove to be the most cumbersome of the three for scalping, so scalpers will probably want to opt for computer trading.
The order ticket on all three platforms has the following trade types for stocks and ETFs:
- Market
- Limit
- Stop loss
- Stop limit
- Trailing stop
A market order can accept either a dollar or share amount. For options, Robinhood supports market, limit, stop-limit, and stop-market orders, although options market orders are not yet available on the regular website. Unfortunately for scalpers, Robinhood does not currently support bracket orders.
Legend has the best graphing tools for stocks and funds among Robinhood’s platforms. A chart can be expanded to the full width of the monitor, and there are many tools. During our review, we found 10 chart types. Equivolume and hollow candles are two examples. Legend also provides more than 50 technical indicators. Its drawing tools include Fibonacci tools and several types of lines.
The shortest interval a graph on Legend has is tick-by-tick. This choice can be selected underneath a graph. Other choices include 144 ticks, 1 second, 30 seconds, and 1 minute.
The former PDT counter and one-time PDT-flag removal are no longer relevant because Robinhood has removed PDT flags, day-trade-count restrictions, and the $25,000 day-trading minimum from its margin accounts.
Robinhood Scalping Fees and Minimums
Robinhood charges $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and their options, and there are no per-contract fees for stock and ETF options, although regulatory fees can apply. Crypto orders using exchange routing, including crypto trades placed through Legend, can have maker or taker fees based on trading volume. Futures cost 75¢ per contract, per side without Robinhood Gold and 50¢ with Gold, plus exchange and regulatory fees. Index options cost 50¢ per contract without Gold and 35¢ with Gold on both purchases and sales, plus exchange and regulatory fees.
Robinhood Scalping Judgment
Robinhood presents both advantages and disadvantages for scalpers. Its pricing schedule is highly competitive, but its software still lacks some advanced order-entry features, including bracket orders.
Visit Robinhood Website
Visit Robinhood Website
Updated on 7/20/2026.
Chad Morris has been analyzing investment firms for Brokerage-Review.com since 2015. Backed by FINRA Series 65, 66, and SIE credentials, his work reflects a deep knowledge of the retail brokerage industry and digital trading tools.
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