Index Funds and ETFs You Can Trade on Robinhood

What indexes you can actually trade on Robinhood

You cannot buy an index directly on Robinhood. Indexes are mathematical benchmarks — lists of stocks weighted a certain way — not tradeable securities themselves. What you can buy are index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track indexes. Robinhood offers thousands of ETFs, and most of the popular ones track well-known indexes like the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, or total market indexes.

The most commonly traded index-tracking ETFs on Robinhood include SPY, VOO, and IVV (all track the S&P 500), QQQ (tracks the Nasdaq-100), and VTI (tracks the total U.S. stock market). You can also find sector ETFs that track parts of the market — technology, healthcare, energy — and international indexes. Robinhood charges no commission on stock or ETF trades, so the cost difference between funds comes down to the fund's internal expense ratio, not trading fees.

Key Takeaways

Robinhood offers thousands of ETFs that track major indexes, with no commission charged when you buy or sell them.
The S&P 500 can be tracked through several ETFs (SPY, VOO, IVV), each with slightly different expense ratios and share prices.
Total market ETFs like VTI track the entire U.S. stock market rather than a single index segment.
Expense ratios — the annual cost to hold the fund — vary by ETF and matter more than trading commissions on Robinhood.

S&P 500 index funds on Robinhood

The S&P 500 is the most widely tracked index in the U.S., covering 500 large-cap stocks. Three major ETFs track it on Robinhood: SPY (SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust), VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF), and IVV (iShares Core S&P 500 ETF). All three hold nearly identical stocks in nearly identical weights, so the performance difference between them is minimal over time.

The practical differences are share price and expense ratio. SPY trades at a higher per-share price (around $400–$500 depending on market conditions), while VOO and IVV are lower. VOO has an expense ratio of 0.03% annually, IVV is 0.03%, and SPY is 0.09%. On a $10,000 investment, that means VOO or IVV costs about $3 per year while SPY costs $9. Over decades, that compounds, but the difference is small enough that any of the three is a reasonable choice.

Total market and broad-based index ETFs

If you want exposure to the entire U.S. stock market rather than just the 500 largest companies, VTI (Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF) is the most common choice on Robinhood. It holds roughly 3,500 stocks across large, mid, and small-cap companies. ITOT (iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF) does the same thing with a similar expense ratio.

The trade-off is that total market funds include smaller companies, which adds volatility but also captures growth outside the S&P 500. Many investors hold both an S&P 500 fund and a total market fund, though that creates some overlap since the S&P 500 stocks are already inside the total market fund. VTI's expense ratio is 0.03%, making it cost-competitive with S&P 500 alternatives.

Nasdaq-100 and technology-heavy indexes

QQQ (Invesco QQQ Trust) tracks the Nasdaq-100, which is heavily weighted toward technology and growth stocks. It holds 100 large-cap stocks, mostly from tech, but also healthcare, consumer, and other sectors. QQQ is more volatile than the S&P 500 because it concentrates on faster-growing companies, but it has outperformed the S&P 500 over many recent periods.

If you want pure technology exposure, XLK (Technology Select Sector SPDR) tracks the technology portion of the S&P 500. VGT (Vanguard Information Technology ETF) is another option. These are narrower bets than QQQ and will move more sharply when tech stocks rise or fall. Robinhood shows the holdings and expense ratios for each fund in the fund details page, so you can compare before you trade.

International and sector-specific indexes

Robinhood also offers ETFs tracking international indexes. VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock Market ETF) covers developed and emerging markets outside the U.S. IEMG (iShares MSCI EMERGING MARKETS ETF) focuses on emerging markets alone. These have higher expense ratios (typically 0.08–0.10%) because international markets are more expensive to track.

For sector bets, Robinhood carries the nine sector ETFs that break up the S&P 500 by industry: XLK (technology), XLV (healthcare), XLF (financials), XLY (consumer discretionary), XLP (consumer staples), XLE (energy), XLRE (real estate), XLI (industrials), and XLU (utilities). Each tracks the stocks in that sector within the S&P 500. These are useful if you want to overweight or underweight a particular part of the economy.

How to compare index funds on Robinhood

When you search for an ETF on Robinhood, the app shows the fund name, ticker, current price, and a link to details. Click into the fund details to see the expense ratio, the fund's holdings, and its performance over the past year and longer. The expense ratio is listed as a percentage and is the main cost difference between similar funds.

You can also see the fund's top 10 holdings to understand what you are actually buying. For example, SPY and VOO both track the S&P 500, but you can verify they hold the same stocks in the same order. Robinhood does not charge commissions, so the choice between two similar funds comes down to expense ratio and personal preference about share price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up automatic purchases of index ETFs on Robinhood?

Robinhood does not offer automatic recurring purchases or dividend reinvestment through the app itself. You have to manually buy shares each time. Some investors set phone reminders to buy on a schedule, or use a different brokerage if automatic investing is important to you.

Do index ETFs on Robinhood pay dividends?

Yes. Index ETFs that hold dividend-paying stocks will distribute dividends to you, usually quarterly. On Robinhood, you can choose to receive the cash or reinvest it, but reinvestment is not automatic — you have to manually buy more shares with the dividend money.

What is the difference between an index fund and an ETF?

Index funds are mutual funds that track an index, while ETFs are exchange-traded funds that do the same thing but trade like stocks throughout the day. On Robinhood, you can only buy ETFs, not traditional mutual funds. ETFs are fine for long-term investing and have lower expense ratios than most mutual funds.

Should I buy SPY, VOO, or IVV if they all track the S&P 500?

Any of the three will give you nearly identical results over time. VOO and IVV have lower expense ratios (0.03% vs. 0.09%), so they cost less to hold. SPY is older and more heavily traded, which some investors prefer. Pick one and stick with it rather than switching between them.

Can I trade index ETFs during after-hours on Robinhood?

Yes, Robinhood allows after-hours trading on most ETFs, though the bid-ask spread (the difference between buy and sell prices) is usually wider after hours. For index ETFs, which are heavily traded, the spread is still small, but you may get a slightly worse price than during regular market hours.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.