Software · head to head
Investopedia Stock Simulator vs Robinhood
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Investopedia Stock Simulator market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education; Robinhood robinhood Gold costs 5 USD a month after a 30 day free trial
- They diverge on capability: Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Robinhood covers Commission-free trading.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Investopedia Stock Simulator and Robinhood actually diverge.
| Attribute | Investopedia Stock Simulator | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | freemium |
| Platforms | Web | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2009 | 2013 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Virtual stock trading
- Real-time market data
- Portfolio management
- Educational resources
- Market data
Only in Robinhood
- Commission-free trading
- Options trading
- Crypto trading
- Fractional shares
- Bank accounts
- Crypto wallets
- IOS support
- Android support
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Budget Managementnot Robinhood
- Expense Trackingnot Robinhood
- Investment Trackingnot Robinhood
Robinhood
- Commission free trading of US stocks and ETFs from a phonenot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Options and futures trading for retail investorsnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Holding an IRA with a contribution matchnot Investopedia Stock Simulator
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Investopedia Stock Simulator
- Market data is delayed by 15-20 minutes, inadequate for real-time trading education
- Limited order type support compared to modern trading platforms
- Simplified fill simulation does not replicate real trading execution
- Platform has not received significant updates in many years
Robinhood
- Robinhood Gold costs 5 USD a month after a 30 day free trial
- The 3.35 percent APY on brokerage cash is available only to Gold subscribers
- The 3 percent IRA contribution match requires keeping the Gold subscription for one year and leaving the assets in the IRA for five years, and is capped at 225 USD against 2026 contribution maximums
- Reduced contract fees of 0.50 USD per futures contract and 0.35 USD per index option apply only to Gold subscribers
- Management fees are waived only above 100K USD in expert managed portfolios
Pricing, plan by plan
Investopedia Stock Simulator
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Investopedia Stock Simulator review.
Robinhood
Free- FreeFree
- Commission-free trading
- Real-time data
- Mobile app
- Gold$4.99/month
- All Free features
- Extended hours trading
- Premium research
Which should you pick?
Choose Investopedia Stock Simulator if
- You need virtual stock trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You also want real-time market data.
Choose Robinhood if
- You need commission-free trading.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want options trading.
Questions people ask
- Is Investopedia Stock Simulator or Robinhood better?
- Neither clearly leads. Investopedia Stock Simulator starts at Free and Robinhood at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Investopedia Stock Simulator or Robinhood?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator starts at Free and Robinhood at Free.
- Does Investopedia Stock Simulator or Robinhood run on more platforms?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator runs on Web. Robinhood runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Investopedia Stock Simulator for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Investopedia Stock Simulator best used for?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Robinhood is typically brought in for.
- What can Investopedia Stock Simulator do that Robinhood cannot?
- Investopedia Stock Simulator covers Virtual stock trading, Real-time market data, Portfolio management, Educational resources. Robinhood covers Commission-free trading, Options trading, Crypto trading, Fractional shares. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Investopedia Stock Simulator: Is the Investopedia Stock Simulator free?
Yes, the Investopedia Stock Simulator is completely free to use after creating an account. No real funds are required for simulated trading.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What is included in the simulator?
Users receive a $100,000 virtual portfolio to trade stocks, with integrated educational content including articles, tutorials, and a financial dictionary for learning investing.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: What are the limitations of the Investopedia Simulator?
The simulator uses delayed market data (typically 15-20 minutes), has limited order type support, simplified fill simulation, and has not received proper updates in many years.
SourceInvestopedia Stock Simulator: Can you compete with other traders?
Yes, you can join existing games or create custom games with configurable rules including options, margin trading, and adjustable commission rates, competing with thousands of Investopedia traders.
Source