Robinhood Intraday Trading Guide for Beginners and Pros Alike

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Intraday trading on Robinhood can be a thrilling way to trade, but it requires a solid understanding of the platform and the markets.

The key to successful intraday trading is setting clear goals and risk management strategies, which can be achieved by using Robinhood's built-in tools such as stop-loss orders and position sizing.

Intraday traders can take advantage of Robinhood's real-time market data to make informed decisions, including the ability to see real-time price movements and order book data.

To minimize losses and maximize gains, it's essential to stay disciplined and patient, as intraday trading can be a high-risk, high-reward endeavor.

Robinhood Features

Robinhood offers advanced features such as margin trading, margin calls, and stop losses, giving investors more control and flexibility when trading stocks. These features are now more accessible to both beginners and experienced traders, with the addition of advanced charts.

Robinhood's mobile app makes trading easy and convenient, allowing users to stay on top of the market and make quick decisions. The app is perfect for day traders who need to stay up-to-date on market trends and understand technical indicators.

Some key features of Robinhood's research and analysis tools include options chains, which allow traders to view current and historical options prices, view IV and HV for options, and research stock splits and dividends.

Tools Offered

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Robinhood offers investors advanced features such as margin trading, margin calls, and stop losses. These features give investors more control and flexibility when trading stocks.

Robinhood's trending lists allow investors to identify popular securities and perform a close analysis of performance with charting tools. Gold members have access to premium Morningstar research reports and Level 2 market data.

Robinhood's tools are quite comprehensive, with its options chains allowing traders to view current and historical options prices, view IV and HV for options, and research stock splits and dividends.

Webull offers a comprehensive charting platform, screeners, and a financial calendar to help traders make more informed decisions. Both platforms also offer stock and ETF news, as well as analyst ratings from multiple sources.

Robinhood's mobile app provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, with real-time market data and an array of analytics tools.

Webull offers more advanced features, including order management, customizable alerts, and support for multiple accounts.

Commission Free

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Robinhood offers commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs, a feature that's also available on Webull. Both platforms allow you to trade without paying a commission.

The only exception is with the purchase of fractional shares, where Robinhood charges a fee. This means you can trade stocks and ETFs without any extra costs, making it an attractive option for investors.

Both Robinhood and Webull offer real-time streaming of market data, as well as charting tools to help you make informed decisions. Extended-hours trading is also available on Webull, giving you more flexibility to trade.

One key difference between the two platforms is Robinhood's social features, which allow you to follow the trades of other investors and copy their portfolios. This can be a useful feature for learning from experienced traders.

Both platforms also offer $0 trading activity fees, and neither charges any maintenance fees either. This means you can focus on your investments without worrying about extra costs.

Trading on Robinhood

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You can day trade on Robinhood, but there are important rules and restrictions to be aware of. Robinhood, like all brokerage firms in the US, adheres to FINRA's Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule, which requires that you maintain a minimum account balance of $25,000 if you make four or more day trades within five business days.

Robinhood offers various tools for day traders, including trending lists and charting tools. Gold members also have access to premium Morningstar research reports and Level 2 market data.

You can use Robinhood's cash accounts to trade without hitting the $25,000 threshold, but keep in mind that this is not subject to the PDT rule and your trading frequency will be limited by the amount of settled funds in your account.

Trading on Robinhood

You can day trade on Robinhood, but be aware of the PDT rule, which requires a minimum account balance of $25,000 if you make four or more day trades within five business days.

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Robinhood adheres to FINRA's Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule, which can restrict your day trading activities if your account balance falls below $25,000.

To day trade on Robinhood without hitting the $25,000 threshold, consider opening a cash account, which is not subject to the PDT rule. This allows you to trade as often as your settled funds allow.

You can also explore alternative markets, such as forex and futures, which often allow for more flexibility and lower entry requirements.

Here are some tools Robinhood offers for day traders:

  • Trending lists to identify popular securities
  • Charting tools for close analysis of performance
  • Premium Morningstar research reports for Gold members
  • Level 2 market data for Gold members

Both Robinhood and Webull offer comprehensive research and analysis tools, including news and analytics, real-time quotes, options chains, and more.

How to

To get started with trading on Robinhood, you'll need to download and install the app on your smartphone or computer. This will give you access to their user-friendly interface and allow you to start trading right away.

The minimum age requirement to trade on Robinhood is 18 years old, as stated in their account opening requirements. This ensures that only mature individuals with a solid understanding of the risks involved can participate.

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To open an account, simply click the "Sign up" button on the Robinhood website or app, and follow the prompts to enter your basic information. This includes your name, email address, and password.

Robinhood offers a range of stocks, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies to trade, with over 7,000 stocks available for trading. This vast selection makes it easy to find the investments that suit your goals and risk tolerance.

Before you start trading, it's essential to fund your account with some money. This can be done by linking a bank account or transferring funds from a payment app like PayPal.

Paper

Paper trading on Robinhood is a fantastic way to test your ideas without risking any real money. You can buy and sell stocks through a paper account, just like you would in real life, but without actually spending any cash.

One big advantage of paper trading is that it allows you to gain exposure to a particular security or market sector without actually investing any money. This can be a great way to get a feel for how a stock might perform before you decide to buy it.

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Robinhood and Webull both offer paper trading options, making it easy to test out your ideas and see how they play out. This can be a huge confidence booster, and it's a great way to learn and improve your trading skills.

With Robinhood's user-friendly platform, you can get started with paper trading in no time. You can buy a stock, hold on to it for a short while, and then sell it before it goes up or down in price.

ATS vs Public Exchange

Trading on Robinhood involves using Alternative Trading Systems (ATS) like Blue Ocean ATS during extended hours. This is because public exchanges like NYSE or NASDAQ are not available outside of 4:00AM to 8:00PM ET.

Robinhood routes orders to Blue Ocean ATS, which acts as a matching engine, pairing buy and sell orders from various participants. This includes other retail investors and potentially institutional investors who have access to the ATS.

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During regular trading hours, public exchanges benefit from higher liquidity, making it easier to execute large trades without significantly affecting the stock's price. In contrast, ATS platforms like Blue Ocean typically have lower liquidity, especially during overnight hours.

The price discovery process is more efficient on public exchanges during regular market hours due to high volume and the number of participants. In contrast, overnight trading in ATS platforms may lead to less accurate price discovery.

ATS platforms have different fee structures compared to public exchanges. While Robinhood offers commission-free trading, the underlying ATS systems often impose fees on brokers, which could indirectly affect the retail trader.

Here's a comparison of the two:

Costs and Requirements

Trading on Robinhood can be an attractive option for those looking to save money on trading costs, as they offer $0 commission trades. However, it's essential to be aware that they do charge a fee for certain services, such as margin trading.

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Robinhood's trading costs are competitive with Webull, which also offers commission-free trades. However, Webull doesn't charge for margin trading, making it a more suitable option for those who need to borrow funds to trade.

To day trade on Robinhood, you'll need to follow some guidelines and requirements, including the Pattern Day Trader (PDT) rule. This rule is designed to protect traders and requires you to have at least $25,000 in your account to day trade.

Can You Live Without $25k?

You don't need $25,000 to day trade, but you do need to be aware of the PDT rule. This rule applies to U.S. margin accounts, limiting you to four or more day trades within a five-day period if you have less than $25,000.

You can switch to a cash account, which isn't subject to the PDT rule, but keep in mind that you can only trade with settled funds. This means you'll need to wait for trades to settle before you can use the funds to make another trade.

Credit: youtube.com, How To Avoid The PDT Rule On Robinhood | Robinhood Cash Account Tutorial

Opening multiple brokerage accounts can increase your day trades, but it can also become complicated. Each account gives you three day trades within five business days under the PDT rule.

Offshore brokers don't have the PDT rule, allowing for unlimited day trading with lower account balances. However, they often come with less regulatory oversight, so be sure to review each broker before opening an account.

Alternatively, you can try trading in markets that aren't subject to the PDT rule, such as forex and futures. These markets often allow for more flexibility and lower entry requirements, but also come with their own risks.

Costs

Robinhood offers $0 commission trades, making it an attractive option for those looking to save money on trading costs. However, Robinhood does charge a fee for certain services, such as margin trading.

Webull also offers commission-free trades, but doesn't charge for margin trading, giving users more flexibility. Additionally, Webull offers advanced charting and technical analysis tools.

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Robinhood Financial charges a standard margin interest rate of 11%, while Webull's average margin interest rate is 6.17%. This difference in rates makes Webull a better option for margin traders who plan to trade on a margin.

Webull only charges margin accounts interest for leveraged positions held overnight, which can help users save money on interest charges.

Do Instant Deposits Count Towards Minimum?

Instant deposits may give you a temporary boost in buying power, but they don't count towards the minimum requirements for pattern day trading.

Funds from instant deposits don't settle until five days later, so they're not considered part of your overall equity until then.

This means that even though instant deposits can be used to make trades, they won't contribute to meeting the $25,000 minimum requirement for pattern day trading until the funds have settled.

Keep this in mind when using instant deposits to trade, and make sure you understand the implications for your account.

Comparison and Alternatives

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Robinhood's intuitive user experience is a major plus, but Webull's advanced features might be what you need for more complex trading.

Robinhood's simplicity is a double-edged sword - it's great for beginners, but it lacks the features that experienced traders need, like customizable alerts and order management.

If you're looking for a more advanced trading platform, Webull's layout is easier to navigate, with a list of all investments on one page and the ability to filter stocks by company name or industry type.

Webull also offers multiple account support, which can be a game-changer for traders with multiple portfolios.

Comparing to Webull

Robinhood's website is more user-friendly than Webull's, allowing you to view your investments, account balance, and transactions in a straightforward way.

One notable difference between the two platforms is the level of customization available. Webull offers more advanced features, such as support for multiple accounts and customizable alerts, whereas Robinhood has fewer features, but still provides real-time updates and charting.

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Webull's layout is more organized, with a list of all investments on one page, making it easier to navigate. You can also filter stocks by company name or industry type for quicker navigation.

Robinhood's alert system is more limited, but it does allow you to customize your own alert style using different colors and icons from various categories.

Both platforms offer similar types of investment opportunities and share the same ease of use, with features like information about trending investments and companies that have filed for an IPO.

Compare Other Brokers

If you're not satisfied with your current broker, it's time to explore alternatives. You can compare brokers by available asset types, such as stocks, options, or cryptocurrencies.

Stock trade fees vary significantly between brokers, so it's essential to factor that into your decision. Some brokers charge as low as $0 per trade.

A minimum deposit is often required to open an account, ranging from a few dollars to several thousand. Research the minimum deposit requirements for each broker you're considering.

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Cash sweep APY (Annual Percentage Yield) is another key consideration when choosing a broker. Some brokers offer a higher APY than others, which can earn you interest on your idle cash.

Signing up for a new account can be a breeze, with some brokers offering a signup bonus to sweeten the deal.

Trading Strategies and Risks

Day trading on Robinhood requires a solid strategy to minimize risks and maximize profits. To get started, evaluate your risk tolerance and research ahead of time to develop a day trading strategy.

To avoid breaking the Robinhood day trading rules, follow these best practices: evaluate your risk tolerance, research ahead of time, understand order types, choose securities with high liquidity and volatility, watch the market closely, and make quick decisions.

Here are some key strategies to consider:

  • Use a stock research service to get more in-depth information about stocks.
  • Scan the market at night to prepare for the next day.
  • Keep your watch list to no more than 10 stocks.
  • Decide how much money you're willing to risk each day and plan your trades accordingly.

Remember, 24-hour trading can have a significant impact on the regular trading day, with lower volume and liquidity leading to more volatile price movements.

Options

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Options can be a powerful tool in your trading arsenal, but it's essential to understand the different platforms available. Webull and Robinhood are two popular options trading platforms that offer a range of features.

Robinhood is a commission-free platform that allows users to buy and sell options easily, with no commission fees. It's free to use and offers real-time stock tracking and price alerts.

One key difference between Robinhood and Webull is the fee structure. Webull charges a flat fee of 0.55% per options contract, which can add up quickly. On the other hand, Robinhood offers commission-free trades, making it a more attractive option for frequent traders.

Here are some key features to consider when choosing between Robinhood and Webull:

Ultimately, the choice between Robinhood and Webull depends on your individual trading needs and preferences. If you're looking for a simple, commission-free platform, Robinhood may be the way to go. However, if you're willing to pay a small fee for a wider range of options contracts, Webull may be a better choice.

Pros and Cons

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Robinhood offers commission-free trades, allowing you to trade stocks, options, ETFs, and crypto without any extra fees.

One of the biggest benefits of using Robinhood is its user-friendly interface, making it easy to navigate and execute trades quickly. This simplicity is a major advantage for those who are new to trading.

Here are some of the key pros of trading on Robinhood:

  • Commission-free trades
  • No options contract fees
  • User-friendly interface
  • Instant deposits
  • Pattern day trading tools

However, there are also some potential downsides to consider. Trading restrictions are in place, which may limit your ability to trade as frequently as you'd like. Additionally, there's a fee for order flows, which can eat into your profits.

Some of the specific cons of trading on Robinhood include:

  • Trading restrictions
  • Fees for order flows
  • Customer service issues

Active

Active traders need to be prepared to make quick decisions and stay on top of the market. This means understanding the order types allowed on Robinhood, including market orders, limit orders, stop orders, stop limit orders, and trailing stop orders.

To day trade on Robinhood, you'll need to follow best practices, such as evaluating your risk tolerance and developing a day trading strategy. This includes staying up-to-date on market trends, understanding technical indicators, and making sure you understand the rules.

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Active traders often choose securities with high liquidity and high volatility, as these offer the best chance to make a profit while day trading. However, this also means being prepared for more volatile price movements, which can be influenced by overnight activity.

Here's a brief rundown of the types of trades you can make on Robinhood:

To minimize your risk and maximize your chances of success, it's essential to keep your emotions in check and not fall into a gambling mindset. This means being disciplined and consistent in your trading strategy, and not getting caught up in the excitement of making a big profit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I do 4 day trades on Robinhood?

If you execute 4 or more day trades on Robinhood within 5 trading days, you'll be flagged as a Pattern Day Trader, which may impact your account requirements. This triggers additional rules and potential restrictions on your trading activities.

Can I make a living from intraday trading?

Yes, intraday trading can generate regular income, but it requires specialized knowledge and skills to achieve financial stability. To succeed, one must acquire the necessary expertise and dedication to trading.

Joan Corwin

Lead Writer

Joan Corwin is a seasoned writer with a passion for covering the intricacies of finance and entrepreneurship. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she has established herself as a trusted voice in the world of business journalism. Her articles have been featured in various publications, providing insightful analysis on topics such as angel investing, equity securities, and corporate finance.

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