Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood
Business model, scale, and a side-by-side Litmus framework score — which model wins, and for whom.
Robinhood wins on app simplicity and first-time US retail; IBKR wins on assets, global depth, margin pricing, and professional tooling.
At a glance
| Metric | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $6.2B (FY2025) | $4.5B (FY2025); $1.07B in Q1 2026 |
| Profit | ~$4.4B net income (FY2025) | $1.9B net income (FY2025); $346M in Q1'26 |
| Active users | 4.1M+ accounts | 27.4M funded customers |
| Employees | ~3,000 | ~3,800+ |
| Founded | 1978 | 2013 |
| HQ | Greenwich, Connecticut | Menlo Park, USA |
LLitmus Framework Score
Overall: Interactive Brokers 91 · Robinhood 82
Customer Segment
90
88
Value Proposition
95
85
Marketing Channel
80
82
Engagement
91
80
Income Source
98
86
Asset Validation
93
83
Core Operations
91
78
Strategic Alliance
81
75
Expense Validation
96
84
Interactive Brokers leads 8 modules, Robinhood leads 1. Overall edge: Interactive Brokers.
Head to head
| Dimension | Interactive Brokers | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Client assets / equity | $780B+ client equity | ~$200B platform assets |
| Accounts | 4.1M+ accounts | 27.4M funded customers |
| Global market access | 150+ markets, 34 countries | Thin international access |
| Product depth | Stocks, options, futures, FX, bonds, crypto | Limited futures/bonds/FX |
| Margin rate edge | Fed funds + thin tiered spread | No real margin-rate edge |
FAQ
Is Interactive Brokers or Robinhood a better business?
Robinhood wins on app simplicity and first-time US retail; IBKR wins on assets, global depth, margin pricing, and professional tooling. It depends on what you optimise for — see the module-by-module breakdown above.
What is the difference between Interactive Brokers and Robinhood's business model?
Interactive Brokers operates in Fintech (The Professional's Gateway to the World's Markets), while Robinhood is Fintech (Investing for Everyone). Their revenue, scale and Litmus scores are compared in detail above.
Which is more profitable, Interactive Brokers or Robinhood?
Interactive Brokers: ~$4.4B net income (FY2025). Robinhood: $1.9B net income (FY2025); $346M in Q1'26.