Robinhood Gold costs $5 per month
Robinhood Gold is a paid membership tier within the Robinhood brokerage platform. The subscription costs $5 per month, charged to your linked bank account or cash balance. You can cancel at any time without penalty.
The $5 monthly fee is the only cost to maintain the membership itself. However, Robinhood Gold unlocks features that involve borrowing money to trade — and borrowing carries interest charges separate from the membership fee. Those interest costs depend on how much you borrow and for how long.
Key Takeaways
- Robinhood Gold membership is $5 per month, billed monthly to your account.
- The membership gives you access to margin borrowing, which lets you trade with money you don't have — but you pay interest on borrowed amounts.
- Interest rates on margin loans vary based on your account balance and how much you borrow, typically ranging from 2.5% to 12.5% annually.
- You can use Gold features only if you have at least $2,000 in your account, a requirement set by financial regulators, not Robinhood alone.
- Canceling Gold stops the $5 charge immediately, but you must pay back any borrowed money before you can withdraw cash.
What margin borrowing costs beyond the $5 monthly fee
When you hold a Robinhood Gold membership, you can borrow money from Robinhood to buy stocks, options, or other securities. This borrowed money is called margin. Robinhood charges interest on the amount you borrow — this is separate from the $5 membership fee.
The interest rate Robinhood charges depends on your account balance. Accounts with larger balances pay lower rates. Rates typically range from 2.5% annually on large balances down to 12.5% annually on smaller balances, though Robinhood can adjust these rates. Interest accrues daily and is charged to your account monthly.
For example: if you borrow $1,000 at 8% annual interest, you owe roughly $6.67 per month in interest charges, on top of the $5 Gold membership fee. If you borrow for a full year without repaying, you would owe $80 in interest alone.
The $2,000 minimum account balance requirement
You cannot use Robinhood Gold features unless your account holds at least $2,000 in cash or securities. This is a regulatory requirement from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), not a Robinhood policy. If your account balance drops below $2,000, Robinhood will restrict your margin borrowing until the balance rises again.
The $2,000 minimum applies to the total value of your account — stocks, cash, and other holdings combined. If you have $1,500 in stocks and $600 in cash, your account meets the requirement. If you withdraw or lose value and fall below $2,000, you lose access to margin until you deposit more money.
How to cancel Robinhood Gold and stop the $5 charge
You can cancel Robinhood Gold at any time through the app or website. Open your account settings, find the membership section, and select the option to downgrade. The $5 monthly charge stops immediately after cancellation.
If you have borrowed money (margin balance), you must repay it before you can withdraw cash from your account. Canceling Gold does not automatically repay borrowed funds — you need to sell securities or deposit cash to cover the debt. Once the margin balance reaches zero, you can withdraw normally.
How Robinhood Gold compares to a standard Robinhood account
A standard Robinhood account is free. You can buy and sell stocks, options, and other securities without paying any membership fee. The trade-off is that you cannot borrow money to trade — you can only use cash you have already deposited.
Robinhood Gold adds margin borrowing, which means you can trade with more money than you have in your account. This can amplify gains, but it also amplifies losses. You also gain access to Robinhood's research tools and extended trading hours (4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern time instead of the standard 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Standard accounts trade only during regular market hours.
| Feature | Standard Robinhood | Robinhood Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | Free | $5 |
| Margin borrowing | No | Yes (with interest) |
| Extended trading hours | No | Yes |
| Research tools | Limited | Full access |
| Minimum account balance | None | $2,000 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I try Robinhood Gold for free first?
Robinhood does not offer a free trial for Gold. You pay the $5 monthly fee starting immediately when you upgrade. You can cancel within the first month if you decide it is not worth it, and you will only be charged once.
What happens if my account balance drops below $2,000 while I have Gold?
Robinhood will suspend your margin borrowing ability until your balance rises back above $2,000. You keep the Gold membership and continue paying $5 per month, but you cannot borrow or trade on margin. You can still trade with cash you have on hand.
Do I pay interest if I borrow money and pay it back the same day?
Interest accrues daily, so even same-day borrowing incurs a small charge. The amount is minimal — typically a few cents — but it is not zero. Robinhood charges interest from the moment you borrow until the moment the debt is repaid.
Is the $5 monthly fee worth it if I only trade occasionally?
That depends on whether you use margin borrowing. If you only trade with cash you already have, Gold provides no benefit beyond extended trading hours and research tools. For occasional traders, the $5 monthly fee may not justify the cost. For active traders who use margin regularly, the fee is typically small compared to the trading volume.