Robinhood or Tiger Brokers – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare Robinhood and Tiger Brokers in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
We do not recommend trading with Robinhood. Their business practices have harmed traders and their "free" trading offer has been criticized for actually costing their traders millions of dollars.
Robinhood is a stock broker and financial services firm based in California. The broker offers commission-free stocks, cryptos and ETFs, plus other products such as cash cards and retirement accounts. Despite its robust regulation, Robinhood has been involved in numerous scandals and security breaches since 2020. We urge investors to exercise caution.
Founded in 2014, Tiger Brokers is a stocks and securities broker based in China, offering 350+ products on a proprietary trading terminal. The broker is regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) among others, and is listed on NASDAQ. As of 2021, the broker has 2 million account holders with an annual trading volume of $404.3+ billion.
Pros
Intuitive mobile trading app with 24/7 live support and in-app stock market news
Interesting podcast hosted by the CEO and co-founder, covering topics such as blockchain and financial empowerment
Robinhood Cash Card offers weekly bonuses invested into stocks, as well as cashback on popular brands
I’m satisfied with the brokers strong industry reputation, with multiple awards, custodian backing (including from Interactive Brokers and DBS bank), and its appointed listing on the NASDAQ
I think Tiger Brokers competes well with similar brands when it comes to market coverage, with an excellent range of stocks and funds from US and Pacific exchanges
I appreciate that there’s no minimum deposit to get started on the powerful trading terminal, which is accessible via a stable desktop app or mobile device
I also appreciate that the broker supports fee-free deposits via bank wire and Wise, in a range of currencies including HKD, USD, AUD and EUR
I feel relatively safe registering with this broker since it holds reputable licenses with multiple bodies including the SEC, FINRA and MAS
There’s a free demo account available for those who want to browse the platform’s features before committing real funds
I found several customer service options, including a live chat, telephone number, WhatsApp and email
Cons
Limited research and education tools compared to top-rated brokers like IG
Previous lawsuits and negative press surrounding the firm's controversial business practices
Despite the actual app showing quote data in real-time, data may be delayed by up to 20 minutes
Robinhood does not support advanced order types or options trades, while limit orders are collared up to 5%
Concerning history of security breaches
I think some traders may feel restricted by the single proprietary platform offering, with no access to popular third-party stock trading terminals like MetaTrader 4
Compared to traditional brokers, there’s limited account funding methods which may be a drawback for traders used to depositing via e-wallets
Compared to some other brokers, I think the range of educational resources and market analysis tools is lacking a little
I’m a little disappointed that there’s no EMEA market access which would serve a wider cohort of investors
