Robinhood is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Robinhood wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 1.
Self-directed investors who want a fast, simple brokerage app
Online shoppers who want buyer protection and a quick, card-free checkout
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Robinhood | PayPal |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #12 of 16 | #15 of 16 |
| Developer | Robinhood Markets, Inc. | PayPal |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Robinhood better than PayPal?
Robinhood is the better app overall, scoring 8.4 to 8.1. Robinhood wins on 4 of the 5 scores, PayPal on 1.
Which is cheaper, Robinhood or PayPal?
Robinhood: Free stock and ETF trades; Gold is $5/month or $50/year after a 30-day trial. PayPal: Free to send from balance or bank in the US; cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. On value for money, Robinhood scores higher.
Do Robinhood and PayPal work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, Robinhood or PayPal?
Robinhood scores higher on privacy (5.8/10). App Store label lists identifiers as used to track you, and links a wide range of data to you, including contacts, browsing and search history, location and financial info, some of it for marketing.
Strengths and weaknesses
Robinhood
- Clean, fast app that makes trading easy to understand
- No commissions on stock and ETF trades
- Gold's 3% IRA match is a rare perk for $5 a month
- Relies partly on payment for order flow
- Event contracts and quick trades can encourage over-trading
- App Store label shows broad data collection and tracking
Robinhood made investing feel simple, and it is still the slickest way to buy stocks, ETFs, options and crypto from your phone. Stock and ETF trades are commission-free, and the $5-a-month Gold plan adds a higher cash yield, a 3% IRA match and cheaper margin. Prediction markets and AI tools keep arriving. The catch is a design that nudges you toward frequent trading, so treat it as a tool, not a game.
Full Robinhood review
PayPal
- Accepted at a huge number of online stores
- Purchase Protection when eligible orders go wrong
- Free to send to US friends from balance or bank
- Sending with a card costs 2.9% plus 30 cents
- Sending abroad costs 5% (up to $4.99) plus currency fees
- App Store label lists usage data used for tracking
PayPal is still one of the easiest ways to pay online without typing your card number, and Purchase Protection helps if an eligible order never shows up. Sending money to friends in the US is free from your balance or bank, while cards cost 2.9% plus 30 cents. The app also covers Pay in 4, savings, crypto and cash back offers. It tracks a lot, and sending abroad or converting currency gets pricey.
Full PayPal review
