Robinhood vs M1 Finance

M1 Finance versus Robinhood for online investing. Compare cost, brokerage fees, IRA accounts, and differences. Which firm is better in 2025?

Robinhood vs. M1 Finance Introduction

M1 Finance and Robinhood both offer many trading and banking services. They have some key differences. Review this comparison before selecting one firm:

Pricing

Broker Fees	Stock/ETF Commission	Mutual Fund Commission	Options Commission	Maintenance Fee	Annual IRA Fee
Robinhood	$0	na	$0 per contract	$0	$0
M1 Finance	$0	na	na	$0	$0

Services

Broker Review	Cost	Investment Products	Trading Tools	Customer Service	Research	Overall Rating
Robinhood
M1 Finance

Promotions

Robinhood: 3% deposit match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.

M1 Finance: Fund within 30 days of joining with $10,000 to get $75 bonus.

First Category: Investing Lineups

Both firms let you trade stocks, closed-end funds, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, and some OTC stocks. Robinhood also offers options. Neither provides other asset classes or advice.

You can open at M1 Finance. Robinhood offers joint, retirement, and individual accounts only.

M1 Finance vs robinhood

M1 Finance uses "Pies." You put assets in Pies and deposit cash. M1 automatically trades all assets in each Pie during set windows.

Robinhood lets you trade individual assets anytime. There are no trading windows.

M1 customers can subscribe to Plus for $10 per month for two daily trading windows, custodial accounts, and limited crypto trades.

Robinhood Gold costs $5 per month and adds perks like Level II quotes not available at M1.

Winner: Robinhood

Second Category: Banking Lineups

Both firms offer bank accounts with no minimums or fees and include benefits. Robinhood rounds up spare change into investments, offers FDIC insurance, paper checks, shopping bonuses, and access to many ATMs.

Robinhood pays a high rate on uninvested cash at 4.25% APY.

M1 Finance adds a savings account with . Plus members get early direct deposit, no forex fees, paper checks, FDIC insurance, a free debit card, and one ATM fee refund per month.

Winner: Robinhood

Robinhood vs M1

Third Category: Margin

Both firms offer margin trading. M1 includes margin automatically. Robinhood users enable margin in settings.

M1 Finance’s margin rate for Plus members is very low—.

Robinhood charges 5.75% for balances under $50K.

M1 shows margin details for tickers. For Spirit Airlines (SAVE):
Eligible for margin: Yes
Maintenance requirement: 45%

Winner: Robinhood

Robinhood charts are basic. M1’s site has no order form; you build Pies and M1 trades them automatically.

M1 vs robinhood

M1 charts offer one plot style and limited tools.

Winner: Robinhood

Fifth Category: Mobile Apps

Both apps mirror their websites. Robinhood’s app removes full-screen charting but keeps the six order types.

Robinhood vs M1 Finance

The M1 app lets you view and build Pies and access bank products via the bottom menu.

Robinhood or M1

Neither app supports social features or check deposits.

Winner: Robinhood

Sixth Category: Additional Services

Extended Hours: Only at Robinhood.

Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Both brokers.

Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Both brokers.

IPO Access: Only Robinhood.

Fractional-share Trading: Both, but M1 only offers fractional.

IRA Service: Both offer IRAs. Robinhood has Roth and Traditional; M1 adds SEP but charges $100 to close an IRA.

Winner: Robinhood

Our Recommendations

Stock and ETF Trading: Robinhood.

Beginners: Robinhood again.

Mutual Fund Trading: Consider Firstrade.

Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: Robinhood offers a 1% match.

Small Accounts: M1 Finance requires $500 for an IRA and $100 for a taxable account. Robinhood has no minimum.

Promotions

Robinhood: 3% deposit match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.

M1 Finance: Fund within 30 days of joining with $10,000 to get $75 bonus.