Robinhood does not issue refunds for trades or investment losses
Robinhood is a brokerage platform where you buy and sell stocks, options, cryptocurrencies, and other investments. When you place a trade on Robinhood, that transaction is final — you cannot undo it and get your money back because the price changed or you changed your mind. If you bought a stock at $50 and it dropped to $40, Robinhood will not refund the $10 difference. That loss is yours to bear, just as any gain would be yours to keep.
The only refunds Robinhood issues are for money you paid to Robinhood itself — not for the investments you bought through it. This is an important distinction. Your brokerage account is separate from your investment holdings. Money you send to Robinhood as a fee, a duplicate deposit, or an accidental transfer can sometimes be refunded. Money you spent buying an investment cannot.
Key Takeaways
- Robinhood does not refund losses on trades or investments, even if you change your mind when ready after buying.
- You can only receive a refund for money paid directly to Robinhood — such as duplicate deposits, erroneous transfers, or subscription fees — not for the cost of the investments themselves.
- If you want to recover money from a bad investment, you must sell the position at whatever price the market will pay, which may be lower than what you paid.
- Robinhood's refund process for may be able to access payments typically takes three to five business days after approval.
When Robinhood will refund money to you
Robinhood will refund money in a few specific situations. If you accidentally transferred money into your account twice, or sent more than you intended, you can request that the extra amount be returned to your bank account. If you were charged a subscription fee in error — for example, if you were billed for Robinhood Gold when you did not authorize it — that fee can be refunded. If you deposited money and then realized you needed it back before investing it, you can withdraw it, though this is not technically a refund; it is straightforward moving your uninvested cash back out.
The key word is uninvested. Money sitting in your Robinhood account as cash, waiting to be used, can be withdrawn or refunded. Money that has already been converted into a stock, option, or cryptocurrency cannot be refunded — it can only be sold.
How to request a refund from Robinhood
To request a refund, open the Robinhood app or website and go to your Account settings. Look for the section labeled "Transfers" or "Banking." From there, you can view your deposit history and request a return of funds if you believe you made a duplicate deposit or were charged incorrectly.
If the issue is a subscription fee or a billing error, go to Account settings and then "Subscription" or "Billing." You can see your charges and request a refund for any that you believe were made in error. Robinhood will review your request and respond within a few business days. If approved, the money will return to the bank account you originally deposited from.
For more complex issues — such as unauthorized charges or a dispute with your bank — you may need to contact Robinhood's support team directly through the app or website. Response times vary, but Robinhood typically replies within one to three business days.
What happens if you sell an investment at a loss
If you bought a stock or other investment and the price fell, you cannot ask Robinhood to refund the difference. Instead, you have two choices: hold the investment and hope the price recovers, or sell it now and accept the loss. If you sell, the proceeds go back into your Robinhood account as cash, which you can then withdraw or reinvest.
This is how all brokerages work, not just Robinhood. The market price of an investment changes constantly, and once you own it, you own it at whatever price it becomes. Robinhood's role is to execute your buy and sell orders at the best available price — not to may provide that price or refund you if the market moves against you.
Refunds for failed deposits or payment issues
Sometimes a deposit from your bank to Robinhood fails. Your bank may reject the transfer, or Robinhood may not accept it for technical reasons. When this happens, the money stays in your bank account — it never reaches Robinhood, so there is nothing to refund. You will see a notification in the app explaining why the deposit failed, and you can try again or contact your bank to ask why they rejected it.
If money did reach Robinhood but your bank later reversed the deposit (called a chargeback), Robinhood may freeze your account or require you to repay the amount. This is rare, but it can happen if your bank disputes the transaction. In this case, you would need to work with both Robinhood and your bank to resolve the issue.
How long refunds take
Once Robinhood approves a refund, it typically takes three to five business days for the money to appear back in your bank account. This timeline depends on your bank as well — some banks process incoming transfers faster than others. Weekends and holidays can add extra days to the wait.
You can track the status of a refund in the Transfers section of your account. If more than five business days have passed and the money has not arrived, contact Robinhood support to ask for an update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I return a stock I bought and get my money back?
No. Once you own a stock, you own it at whatever price it is trading for. You can only sell it and receive whatever the market price is at that moment. If the price is lower than what you paid, you will receive less money than you invested.
What if I bought something by mistake on Robinhood?
You cannot undo the purchase, but you can sell it when ready. Open the position, tap "Sell," and confirm. The sale will execute at the current market price. If you sell right away, you may recover most of your money, though you could lose a small amount to price movement between when you bought and when you sold.
Does Robinhood refund trading fees?
Robinhood does not charge per-trade fees for stocks, options, or cryptocurrencies, so there are no trading fees to refund. However, if you are charged a subscription fee for Robinhood Gold and believe it was an error, you can request a refund through your Account settings.
Can I get a refund if the app crashed and I lost money?
If a technical problem caused you to lose money — for example, an order executed at an unexpected price due to a system error — contact Robinhood support with details. They will review the situation, but refunds for market losses caused by app issues are rare and not may provide.
What if I deposited money and changed my mind before investing it?
You can withdraw uninvested cash from your Robinhood account at any time. Go to Transfers, select "Withdraw," and choose the amount. The money will return to your bank account in three to five business days. This is not a refund; it is straightforward moving your own cash back out.