Yes, you can buy bonds on Robinhood, but the selection and process differ from stocks

Robinhood offers corporate bonds and Treasury bonds through its bond trading feature, but you cannot buy individual municipal bonds or savings bonds on the platform. The bonds available are secondary market trades — meaning you are buying from other investors, not directly from the issuer. You search for bonds by ticker or CUSIP number (a nine-character identifier), place an order just like a stock trade, and the bond settles in your account within two business days.

The catch is that Robinhood's bond inventory is smaller than what you would find at a traditional brokerage. Not every bond trades frequently enough to show up in Robinhood's system. If you are looking for a specific bond and cannot find it, that does not mean it does not exist — it means Robinhood does not currently have a seller for it.

Key Takeaways

  • Robinhood lets you buy corporate bonds and Treasury bonds, but not municipal bonds or I Bonds.
  • You search for bonds by ticker or CUSIP number and place an order like you would for a stock.
  • Bonds on Robinhood are secondary market trades, meaning you buy from other investors at whatever price the market sets that day.
  • Settlement takes two business days, and you will see the bond listed in your holdings once it settles.
  • Robinhood charges no commission on bond trades, but the price you pay already includes a markup called the spread.

What types of bonds Robinhood actually offers

Corporate bonds are debt issued by companies. Robinhood carries a selection of these, though the inventory changes based on what other investors are selling. You might find bonds from large companies like Apple or Microsoft, but smaller or less-traded corporate bonds may not be available.

Treasury bonds (also called T-bonds) are debt issued by the U.S. government. Robinhood offers these, and they tend to be more liquid — meaning easier to buy and sell — than corporate bonds because the government bond market is much larger.

Robinhood does not offer municipal bonds (issued by cities and states), I Bonds (savings bonds sold directly by the U.S. Treasury), or Series EE bonds. If you want to buy I Bonds or Series EE bonds, you must go to TreasuryDirect.gov. If you want municipal bonds, you will need a brokerage that specializes in them, such as Fidelity or Charles Schwab.

How to search for and buy a bond on Robinhood

Open the Robinhood app or website and tap or click the search icon. Type the bond's ticker symbol (if it has one) or its CUSIP number. A CUSIP is a nine-digit code that uniquely identifies a bond — you can find it on the bond issuer's website, on financial news sites, or by asking your financial advisor.

Once you find the bond, tap or click it to see the current price, yield, maturity date, and coupon rate. The price shown is what you will pay per $100 of face value — so if a bond is listed at $98, you pay $98 per $100 of principal. Review these details carefully, because they determine how much income the bond will generate and when you get your money back.

Tap "Buy" and enter the quantity. Robinhood measures bond quantity in $100 increments, so if you want to buy $1,000 of a bond, you enter 10. Place the order, and it will execute at the current market price. The bond will appear in your holdings once it settles, which takes two business days.

Understanding the price you pay and the spread

Robinhood advertises zero commission on bond trades, which is true — you do not pay a separate fee. However, the price you see already includes a markup called the spread. The spread is the difference between what Robinhood paid for the bond and what it charges you. This is how the platform makes money on bond trades.

The spread varies depending on the bond. Highly traded bonds like Treasury bonds typically have smaller spreads. Less-traded corporate bonds may have larger spreads, meaning you pay more than you would at a brokerage that negotiates prices directly with dealers. You cannot see the spread as a separate line item — it is baked into the price.

Before you buy, compare the yield and price to what you see on financial websites like Bloomberg or your bank's bond trading platform, if you have access to one. This gives you a sense of whether Robinhood's price is reasonable for that particular bond.

What happens after you buy a bond on Robinhood

Once your bond settles, it appears in your Robinhood account under "Bonds" or in your holdings list. You will see the purchase price, current market value, and annual income (coupon payments). Robinhood tracks these details for you.

When the bond pays a coupon (interest payment), the cash lands in your account automatically. The frequency depends on the bond — most corporate and Treasury bonds pay twice a year, but some pay quarterly or annually. You can reinvest that cash by buying more bonds, stocks, or other investments, or you can leave it sitting in your account.

If you want to sell the bond before it matures, you can do so through Robinhood's trading interface. The price you receive depends on market conditions at the time of sale. If interest rates have risen since you bought the bond, the market price will be lower. If interest rates have fallen, the market price will be higher.

When Robinhood is not the right choice for bonds

Robinhood works well if you want to buy a few corporate or Treasury bonds and hold them to maturity. It does not work well if you are building a large bond portfolio or if you want access to a wide range of bond types.

If you are looking for municipal bonds (which often have tax advantages), you need a different brokerage. If you want I Bonds or Series EE bonds, go directly to TreasuryDirect.gov. If you want bond funds or ETFs instead of individual bonds, Robinhood does offer those, and they may be simpler if you are new to bonds.

If you are a frequent bond trader or you need to negotiate prices on large trades, a traditional brokerage like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard may offer better pricing and more inventory. These firms have dedicated bond desks and can sometimes negotiate better spreads, especially on larger purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to hold a bond until it matures?

No. You can sell a bond on the secondary market at any time through Robinhood. The price you receive depends on what the market will pay that day. If interest rates have risen, the bond's market value will be lower than what you paid. If interest rates have fallen, it will be higher.

What is the minimum amount I can invest in a bond on Robinhood?

Robinhood's minimum is typically $100 of face value (one unit). Some bonds may have higher minimums depending on the issuer, but most start at $100. Check the bond details before you place an order.

Can I buy Treasury bonds directly from the government through Robinhood?

No. Robinhood sells Treasury bonds on the secondary market, meaning you buy from other investors. To buy Treasury bonds directly from the U.S. government at issue, go to TreasuryDirect.gov. Direct purchases have no spread, but you cannot sell them before maturity without moving them to a brokerage first.

What happens if the bond issuer defaults?

If a company stops paying interest or principal on a corporate bond, you lose money. Treasury bonds carry no default risk because they are backed by the U.S. government. This is why Treasury bonds typically offer lower yields — they are safer. Corporate bonds pay higher yields to compensate for the higher risk.

Can I set up automatic reinvestment of coupon payments?

Robinhood does not offer automatic reinvestment of bond coupons. When your bond pays interest, the cash lands in your account, and you decide what to do with it. You can manually reinvest it in more bonds or other investments, or leave it as cash.