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.
| All Robinhood customers | Robinhood Gold |
|---|---|
|
|
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.
Compare other brokers
Compare brokers by available asset types, stock trade fee, minimum deposit, cash sweep APY and signup bonus. Select Go to site to sign up for an account or More Info to read our comprehensive review.
What is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 147 key metrics we collected directly from 18+ brokers and assessed each provider’s performance based on eight different categories, weighing each metric based on the expertise and insights of Finder’s investment experts. We then scored and ranked each provider to determine the best brokerage accounts.
We update our best picks as products change, disappear or emerge in the market. We also regularly review and revise our selections to ensure our best provider lists reflect the most competitive available.
Paid non-client promotion. Finder does not invest money with providers on this page. If a brand is a referral partner, we're paid when you click or tap through to, open an account with or provide your contact information to the provider. Partnerships are not a recommendation for you to invest with any one company. Learn more about how we make money.
Finder is not an advisor or brokerage service. Information on this page is for educational purposes only and not a recommendation to invest with any one company, trade specific stocks or fund specific investments. All editorial opinions are our own.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
Ask a question
More guides on Finder
-
6 eToro Alternatives to Try in 2026
Compare 6 eToro alternatives — Robinhood, Public, Webull, Fidelity, SoFi and Moomoo — for the IRAs, mutual funds and professional-grade tools eToro doesn’t offer.
-
Moomoo vs. Fidelity 2026: Fees, IRAs and Crypto Compared
Moomoo pays up to $600 to switch, but Fidelity charges nothing to leave. See how these two very different brokers compare on fees, IRAs, crypto access and safety in 2026.
-
10 Best Options Trading Platforms of 2026
SoFi, Robinhood, Tastytrade, Webull, Interactive Brokers, E*TRADE, eToro and others top our list for the best options trading platforms.
-
Top 10 Best Stocks for Beginners With Little Money (2026)
Our top 10 beginner-friendly stocks and ETFs, and why we picked them — plus 7 more.
-
Sweep Account: What It Is and Top Picks in 2026
Cash sweep accounts let you earn interest on your uninvested cash. Learn how they work and how to choose the best one here.
-
9 Cheapest Discount Stock Brokers of 2026
These are the best discount brokers of 2026 according to Finder’s comprehensive review.
-
5 Moomoo Alternatives to Try in 2026
Thinking of switching from Moomoo? Compare 5 alternatives, including Fidelity and Charles Schwab, for account types and assets Moomoo does not offer.
-
6 Top Publicly Traded Graphene Stocks to Invest in 2026
We’ve rounded up stats on some of the most popular graphene stocks, along with information on how they compare and how to invest.
-
10 Top Oil Stocks in 2026
We’ve rounded up stats on some of the most popular oil stocks, along with information on how they compare and how to invest.
-
Moomoo Review 2026: Fees, Features & Is It Legit?
An in-depth, fact-checked look at Moomoo’s fees, features, safety and limitations — everything you need before opening an account.
