It’s possible to day trade on Robinhood, but due to the inherent risks, it’s important to understand Robinhood’s day trade rules, limits and available tools to trade effectively and minimize potential losses.
Can I day trade on Robinhood?
Yes, you can day trade on Robinhood. For years, active traders had to follow FINRA’s pattern day trading rule, which required keeping at least $25,000 in a margin account if you made four or more day trades within five business days. That rule was eliminated on June 4, 2026, when FINRA replaced it with new intraday margin standards.(1) There’s no longer a pattern day trader designation or a $25,000 minimum, and Robinhood removed those flags and restrictions when the change took effect.(2),(3)
You can now day trade in a Robinhood margin account without meeting a $25,000 threshold. If you trade with leverage, a $2,000 minimum equity requirement still applies, and your account must hold enough equity to cover your market exposure during the trading day.(1)
How to day trade on Robinhood
To day trade on Robinhood, get familiar with the platform’s tools and the rules that apply to your account type.
Since June 2026, you no longer need $25,000 or a set number of trades to day trade — the pattern day trading rule is gone.(1) If you use a margin account with leverage, you’ll need at least $2,000 in equity and enough to cover your intraday positions. You can review your trading activity from the Investing page of your account.
If you’d rather avoid margin entirely, you can day trade in a cash account using settled funds. With a cash account, you trade only with money you’ve paid in full, so you can’t trade on unsettled funds or use leverage.
Can you day trade on Robinhood without $25k?
Yes. Since the pattern day trading rule was eliminated in June 2026, there’s no longer a $25,000 minimum to day trade in a Robinhood margin account.(1) If you trade with leverage, you’ll need at least $2,000 in equity, plus enough to cover your intraday market exposure.
You can also day trade in a cash account, which avoids margin requirements altogether. In a cash account, you trade only with settled funds — after you sell a security, you must wait for the trade to settle before reusing those funds. As of May 28, 2024, most securities transactions settle the next business day (T+1), so settled cash is available sooner than it used to be.(4) If you have enough settled cash, you can buy and sell the same security in the same day.
To switch from a Robinhood margin account to a cash account, go to the Investing page of your account, find Account type and select Switch to cash account.
What tools does Robinhood offer for day traders?
Robinhood gives all customers access to Robinhood Legend, its free advanced trading platform for active traders, along with charting tools, curated lists and market news. Gold members get extras like Level 2 market data and Morningstar research.
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Read our full Robinhood review
WATCH: How to day trade on Robinhood
Watch our short video on how to execute a trade on Robinhood, and how its charts and tools compare to other trading platforms.
Editor’s note: This video was recorded before Robinhood Legend launched and before the pattern day trading rule was eliminated in June 2026. Some tools and rules shown may differ from what’s described above.
Pros and cons of day trading on Robinhood
Consider these benefits and drawbacks before attempting to day trade on Robinhood:
Pros
- Commission-free trades. Trade stocks, options, ETFs and crypto without commission.
- No options contract fees. Trade equity options without per-contract fees.
- User-friendly interface. Robinhood is designed with simplicity in mind, making it easy to navigate and execute trades quickly.
- Free advanced platform. Robinhood Legend gives all users advanced charting, multiple charts and customizable layouts at no cost.
- Instant deposits. Get instant access to a portion of a pending deposit — up to $1,000 on a standard account, or up to $5,000 (or 3 times your portfolio value, whichever is greater) with Robinhood Gold.
Cons
- No paper trading. Robinhood doesn’t offer a paper trading feature, making it harder for beginners to practice day trading without risking real money.
- Some tools require Gold. Level 2 market data and Morningstar research are only available with a Robinhood Gold subscription.
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Bottom line
Day trading is risky under any circumstances. Robinhood has become far more capable for active traders with Robinhood Legend, its free platform offering advanced charting, short selling and futures — a big step up from its early days as a simple mobile app. Still, it has gaps: there’s no paper trading to practice with, and some data tools require a Gold subscription.
The right platform depends on your trading experience and long-term financial goals. Compare trading platforms to find the brokerage best suited to your needs.
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