How to Transfer Between Robinhood and Charles Schwab
As you get more investing experience, or need a different set of features over time, you may decide to change brokerage firms. One of the most common moves is from Robinhood to Charles Schwab and, in some situations, from Charles Schwab to Robinhood.
Robinhood is a well-known starter brokerage for many investors. It was one of the first firms to help make commission-free trading mainstream, and its service is built heavily around its mobile app, which makes trading easy while you’re away from a desktop. So what are some of the common reasons to move a Robinhood account to Charles Schwab?
Mutual funds. Robinhood does not offer mutual fund trading, so investors who want access to mutual funds may prefer Charles Schwab.
Account types. Robinhood offers individual and joint brokerage accounts along with Traditional or Roth IRAs,
but investors who need additional account types such as custodial accounts or trusts may need to use another brokerage.
Education and trading tools. Although Robinhood’s educational materials and market data have improved, larger brokerage firms usually offer a wider selection of research tools and trading platforms. For example, Schwab offers thinkorswim with advanced charting, screening, and complex options order capabilities, along with portfolio-building and advisory tools.
With these services and features available, why might a Schwab client think about moving an account to Robinhood?
Low margin rates. Robinhood offers relatively low margin rates compared to many traditional brokers.
Options commissions. Schwab charges $0.65 per options contract, while Robinhood does not charge per-contract commissions for options trades. Active options traders may save on per-contract fees at Robinhood.
Cryptocurrency. Schwab clients who want direct exposure to cryptocurrency cannot place spot crypto trades in a regular Schwab brokerage account. Robinhood offers direct cryptocurrency trading in several major digital assets.
There are plenty of reasons an investor may want to move an account, but how is it actually done? Selling everything and moving only cash can take time and may create tax consequences. Fortunately, both Robinhood and Schwab support ACATS transfers, which let many eligible holdings move directly between the two firms.
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3% deposit match and FREE stock worth up to $200 at Robinhood.
ACATS Overview
Before moving an account, it helps to know how the process works.
The Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) lets brokerage accounts be transferred
electronically without selling most eligible holdings. In other words, ACATS moves securities along with
cost basis information, which helps preserve tax records for long-term capital gains when applicable.
ACATS can move many standard assets such as stocks, ETFs, options, and cash, but keep the following in mind when transferring between Schwab and Robinhood:
1. ACATS does not support cryptocurrency transfers, so any crypto held at Robinhood cannot be moved to Schwab.
2. Robinhood does not support mutual funds, bonds and other fixed-income securities, or preferred stocks in its brokerage account, and futures positions cannot be transferred into Robinhood through ACATS. These assets held at
Schwab generally cannot be transferred into Robinhood and may need to be liquidated or left behind.
Assuming there are no problems with asset eligibility or account setup, many ACATS transfers involving Robinhood are completed in about 5 to 7 business days, although some transfers can take longer.
Ready to get started? Let’s go over the process.
Transfer From Robinhood to Charles Schwab
If you want access to more advanced research and trading tools, moving from
Robinhood to Schwab can be a smart choice.
All ACATS transfers are started with the receiving brokerage. That means instead of asking Robinhood to send the account first, you begin the process with Schwab, and Schwab works with Robinhood to complete the transfer.
Here are the steps:
1. Open a Charles Schwab account. From your Schwab account dashboard, go to the “Move Money” section and choose the option to transfer an account.
2. Select Robinhood as the outgoing firm. Keep in mind:
a. If you have margin at Robinhood, your Schwab account must be approved for margin to receive margin positions.
b. Schwab does not accept cryptocurrency transfers, so crypto must be excluded or liquidated before transfer.
3. Enter your Robinhood account number and choose whether to complete a full or partial transfer. For partial transfers, you will list the specific assets to be moved.
4. Review your information, confirm account details and tax information, and submit the transfer request.
Note – Robinhood currently charges a $100 transfer-out fee for ACATS transfers. Schwab does not charge an incoming transfer fee.
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How Long Transfer From Robinhood to Schwab Takes?
After your Schwab account is open, ACATS transfers from Robinhood to Schwab usually take about 5 to 7 business days once the request has been submitted. Delays can happen if there are asset eligibility problems or errors in the transfer request.
Transfer From Schwab to Robinhood
If you want access to Robinhood’s crypto trading, lower options costs, or app-based experience, you can transfer a Schwab account into Robinhood. The process is similar to moving assets into Schwab.
Robinhood supports ACATS transfers of stocks, ETFs, and options that
expire more than seven business days out. Assets that Robinhood does not support, such as mutual funds, bonds and other fixed-income securities, preferred stocks, and futures positions, cannot be transferred in.
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3% deposit match and FREE stock worth up to $200 at Robinhood.
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Instructions
Once your Robinhood account is open,
you can initiate the transfer from within the app:
1. In the app, open your main account menu and select “Transfers.”
2. Select “Transfer Accounts in.”
3. Choose Charles Schwab from the list of brokerages.
4. Follow the prompts to enter your Schwab account details and select whether to complete a full or partial transfer. If you select a full transfer but hold unsupported assets, the request may be rejected, so unsupported positions should be excluded or liquidated beforehand.
Note – Schwab charges a $50 fee for a full outbound ACAT from a brokerage account. Robinhood reimburses up to $75 of that fee for transfers of $7,500 or more in eligible equity, options, and cash assets.
How Long Transfer From Schwab to Robinhood Takes?
After your Robinhood account is opened, ACATS transfers from Schwab to Robinhood usually take about 5 to 7 business days. Actual timing can vary depending on asset eligibility and whether any issues come up during processing.
Updated on 4/6/2026.
Arthur Chachuna is a professional personal finance blogger, and the owner of Brokerage-Review.com.
He has been an avid investor for 25 years, and has a background in both applied math and programming.
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