Paasa is a global investing platform for Indian residents and NRIs, with shares held in your own name and the LRS, FX and tax paperwork handled for you. Robinhood is a US broker for US residents, open only to people with a US address and Social Security Number, and an account can be restricted once that address is gone. Use Robinhood while you live in the US. Use Paasa once India is home, or to invest across global markets.
How do Paasa and Robinhood compare for US stocks at a glance?
The table compares Paasa and Robinhood as of October 2026, from their own pages.
| Feature | Paasa | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Who can open an account | Indian residents and NRIs with valid KYC | US residents with a Social Security Number and citizenship, a green card or a valid visa |
| Who holds your shares | Interactive Brokers LLC, in an account in your own name | Robinhood Securities LLC, its clearing firm |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to $500,000 plus Lloyd's excess up to $30 million, on your own account | SIPC up to $500,000 per account type plus a Lloyd's excess policy |
| Markets | 10 markets, each in its home currency | US-listed only, in USD |
| What you can buy | 15,000+ tickers, UCITS ETFs, SIPs | US stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. No UCITS ETFs |
| Minimum | $100 first deposit from an Indian bank, none from a foreign bank | Fractional shares from small amounts |
| Brokerage | 0.10% plus $0.15 per order, min $0.50, max $50. No monthly fee | No per-trade commission on US stocks and ETFs. Paid Gold subscription |
| Funding | Indian banks under LRS, or a wire from a US bank. Withdraw in any currency to any account in your name | Linked US bank account |
| Tax reports | Schedule CG, FA, OS/FSI, Form 67, ITR-2 checklist, Form 1042-S | US Form 1099 series. No Indian schedules |
| Moving your shares | Accepts in-kind ACATS transfers, cost basis preserved | ACATS transfers out, with its own outgoing fee |
| Advice and support | SEBI-registered advice and a relationship manager on Apex | Self-directed. In-app help centre and chat |
What is Paasa, and what is Robinhood?
Paasa is a global investing platform for Indian investors, built on Interactive Brokers. A Paasa account is an IBKR account in the investor's own name, open to Indian residents and NRIs with valid KYC. Paasa adds Indian onboarding, LRS and FX support, INR tax reports and SEBI-registered advice.
Robinhood is a US broker for US residents. Robinhood Financial LLC is the FINRA-member broker-dealer and Robinhood Securities LLC clears and holds the assets. Its app offers US-listed stocks, ETFs, options and crypto. As of October 2026, Robinhood does not offer accounts to residents of India.
Who can open an account, and what happens when you move to India?
Indian residents cannot open a Robinhood account, and an existing one is hard to keep after a move. Robinhood requires a US address, a Social Security Number and citizenship, a green card or a valid visa, with no exceptions, and says long-term travel brings restrictions. Paasa's guide on returning to India with a Robinhood portfolio reports accounts limited to closing positions once a US address is gone.
Paasa accepts Indian residents and NRIs with valid KYC, so you can open the account in the US and keep it after the move. Interactive Brokers LLC holds the shares in your own name, with SIPC protection up to $500,000, including $250,000 for cash, plus Lloyd's excess cover up to $30 million. See how your money is held and protected with Paasa.
What does each cost on a US trade?
Robinhood charges no per-trade commission on US stocks and ETFs, and Paasa a small percentage per trade. Paasa's figures are from its pricing page, October 2026.
Paasa's Access plan has no monthly fee. US brokerage is 0.10% of trade value plus $0.15 per order, with a $0.50 minimum and a $50 maximum. In-account currency conversion costs 0.03%, minimum $2, at the mid-market rate. Apex adds advice for 1% a year plus GST from $50,000, 0.7% from $100,000 and 0.5% from $500,000.
Robinhood earns from its Gold subscription, margin and order-flow payments. For a returning Indian the larger costs sit elsewhere. A forced sale before the move triggers tax, and US-listed holdings above $60,000 carry US estate-tax exposure for non-residents. Paasa's brokerage calculator and all-in cost comparison cover the trading side.
How do I send money to Paasa or Robinhood from India or the US?
Paasa accepts money from Indian and foreign banks, and Robinhood from a linked US bank account. From India, Paasa is funded under LRS. The RBI lets each resident remit up to USD 250,000 per financial year (RBI). Tax Collected at Source (TCS) applies at 20% on investment remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year (Income Tax Department TCS rates). TCS is not a fee. It is adjusted or refunded when you file your return.
With Paasa, partner banks HDFC, ICICI, Axis and Kotak offer preferred FX rates, and Paasa pre-fills Form A2 and Forms 15CA/CB. From the US, a wire from your bank or RSU broker funds Paasa with no minimum. Paasa's LRS guide and returning-from-US page cover the steps.
Which markets and products can I buy on each?
Paasa reaches 10 markets, and Robinhood the US only. Paasa covers 15,000+ tickers across the US, UK, Switzerland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada and Singapore, each in its home currency. It adds Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs in whole units or fractions, which sit outside the US estate tax on non-residents (IRS), plus SIPs.
Robinhood offers US-listed stocks, ETFs, options and crypto with fractional shares and extended hours, all in US dollars, with no UCITS ETFs or non-US exchanges. Its UK and EU entities are not open to Indian residents.
What do I get at tax time from Paasa and from Robinhood?
Paasa sends Indian tax paperwork, and Robinhood US tax forms. Each financial year, Paasa provides Schedule CG, FA and OS/FSI, Form 67, an ITR-2 checklist and Form 1042-S, all in INR. Paasa's Schedule FA guide, RNOR explainer and Paasa Tax cover the details.
Robinhood issues US Form 1099 statements, with no Indian gains figures, INR values or Schedule FA data. In the RNOR window, typically 2 to 3 years, US gains and dividends are generally outside Indian tax. As an ordinary resident, gains on US shares held over 24 months are taxed at 12.5%, shorter holdings at slab rate, and every foreign holding goes into Schedule FA.
What is day-to-day use like on Paasa and on Robinhood?
Paasa is built around one global account with human support, and Robinhood around a fast US trading app. On Paasa, uninvested USD above $10,000 earns interest, up to 3.38% a year as of October 2026. Paasa's team answers by email and WhatsApp on weekdays, and Apex clients get a relationship manager.
On Robinhood, US stocks, ETFs, options and crypto sit in one app. Support runs through an in-app help centre and chat.
When is Robinhood the better choice?
Robinhood may suit you better than Paasa if:
- You live in the US with a Social Security Number and plan to stay.
- You trade US options or crypto, which Paasa does not offer.
- You want a commission-free US app and do not need Indian tax reports.
Should I choose Paasa or Robinhood?
Choose Robinhood while you are a US resident. Choose Paasa if you live in India, are moving back, or want markets beyond the US with the paperwork handled.
| If you… | Better fit |
|---|---|
| Live in India and want US stocks or UCITS ETFs | Paasa |
| Are moving back to India with a US portfolio | Paasa |
| Want UCITS ETFs outside US estate tax | Paasa |
| Hold RSUs at a US broker | Paasa |
| Live in the US and trade options or crypto | Robinhood |
| Want a commission-free US-only app | Robinhood |
Already on Robinhood? Paasa accepts in-kind ACATS transfers of whole US shares and ETFs, with purchase dates and prices preserved and no sale. Robinhood sells fractional shares first, crypto moves separately, and Paasa takes full transfers only. See the transfer guide from Robinhood.
How does Paasa help investors coming from Robinhood?
- Paasa opens the IBKR account in your own name before or after the move.
- Paasa receives your Robinhood shares in-kind, so nothing is sold and no tax is triggered.
- Paasa sends Schedule CG, FA, OS/FSI and Form 67 every financial year.
Disclosures
Advisory services are offered by Arc Spire Advisory Private Limited, a SEBI Registered Non-Individual Investment Adviser, INA000021058. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. This article is not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax adviser for your situation.
