Mobile appFintech & paymentsOriginal by Robinhood Markets
Robinhood opened investing to a younger audience by offering stock trading commission-free and mobile-first. Account opening is quick, the interface avoids clutter yet feels extremely smooth, and finding and buying a stock takes seconds. Bringing stocks, ETFs, options and crypto into one app removes the need to hop between platforms.
To build something similar you need, alongside the mobile app and web interface, a strong backend connected to brokerage, clearing and custody processes. Remote account opening, order routing, margin and risk calculations, corporate actions (dividends, splits), tax documents and customer-support tools are all developed. These activities must run through a licensed entity in your market, so starting with a licensed infrastructure partner reduces risk.
How Robinhood works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Investor app
The main mobile app for stock, ETF and crypto trading, with watchlists and a news feed.
Web platform
A desktop interface with advanced charts, multiple watchlists and access to account documents.
Risk and compliance panel
A team screen for monitoring margin calls, unusual activity and know-your-customer processes.
Support and operations panel
An internal tool for managing money transfers, corporate actions and customer requests.
Critical features of a product like Robinhood
Instant access to deposits
Risk rules allow trading up to a set limit before a bank transfer has fully settled.
Smart order routing
Orders are sent to brokers and market makers under a best-execution policy and recorded for audit.
Options trading flow
Complex derivatives are offered through a simplified flow, with a knowledge and risk test as a prerequisite.
Corporate actions
Dividends, stock splits and bonus issues are reflected in positions automatically.
Personalised notifications
Price moves, earnings dates and news are filtered to the user's portfolio before being delivered.
Tax and statement generation
Year-end gain and loss summaries and periodic account statements are produced automatically.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Remote account opening and identity verification
- Deposits and withdrawals through a bank connection
- Stock and ETF trading
- Watchlist and price notifications
- Portfolio screen and account statements
Later releases
- Crypto trading
- Options and margin trading
- Premium subscription and research reports
- Retirement accounts or recurring investment plans
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 36 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 203 person-days for the full scope and 121 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
| Third-party API integration | First version |
| In-game economy / LiveOps | Later release |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €700 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Regulatory obligations
Best execution, investor protection, record keeping and complaint handling directly shape the technical design.
Uninterrupted access
An outage during market turbulence causes major reputational damage; a multi-region architecture and load testing are essential.
Risk management
Instant deposits and margin require continuous monitoring against abuse and collateral shortfalls.
Business model
In a commission-free model, revenue comes from interest earned on cash balances, margin lending interest, the spread on crypto trades and a premium subscription. Payment for order flow, used in some markets, may not be permitted elsewhere; revenue lines must be confirmed against local rules with legal advice. Revenue per user rises over time as the product range widens.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like Robinhood
Most people searching “build an app like robinhood” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the Robinhood name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like Robinhood?
A first version with stock trading and a portfolio screen, connected to a licensed broker, can ship in a few months. Options, margin and crypto need separate compliance work and are left for later phases.
Is a commission-free investing app possible in my market?
It is possible, but the activity must run through a licensed broker. Confirm early with legal counsel that the revenue model complies with local regulation.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The mobile investing business model and features are generally free to use, but the name, logo, the feather icon and similar visuals, interface design and code cannot be copied. This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an app like Robinhood?
Look for experience with high-traffic financial systems, real-time data and security audits. Be sure to ask how they test outage scenarios.
