Robinhood was one of the more popular commission-free brokerages in its early days. Back then, some people could even draw Apple stock, but the signup lottery mechanism has since changed. Reader ragdoll drew a Visa share worth $190.
The odds are actually not very high. According to Robinhood’s official description, the chance of getting Visa is 1/250. There are three stocks in this tier, including Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson, each worth at least $150.
You have a 1 in 250 chance of getting Microsoft ($200.8) , Visa ($195.06) , or Johnson & Johnson ($148) .You have a 1 in 350 chance of getting Kinder Morgan, PG&E, or Halliburton.
If you haven’t signed up before and want to try your luck:
- Sign up: Robinhood signup link
- After signing up, make a deposit and you’ll get one free stock; you can deposit as little as $0.01
Some lucky readers have also received Tesla from Moomoo (worth $700 at the time; he later sold it) and Microsolf from Firstrade (worth $200).
Other brokerages and investment accounts introduced on this site are listed below.
Stock Market Basics
- How to Choose a U.S. Brokerage in 2026: A Full Comparison for Long-Term Investing, Active Trading, Chinese Users, and Account-Opening Bonuses
- Introduction to the U.S. Stock Market
- U.S. Stock Market Basics: What Are ETFs and ETNs, and How Do You Buy and Invest in Them?
- How to Choose Stocks as a Beginner: A Step-by-Step Guide!
- How Are U.S. Stock Investments Taxed?
- How to Transfer Stocks Between Brokerages (ACATS)
- Introduction to Paper Trading U.S. Stocks (2026 Update)
- Are Chinese-Owned Brokerages in the U.S. Safe?
- How to Invest in Chinese Stocks Listed in the U.S. (Using Moomoo)
- How to Invest in Hong Kong Stocks from the U.S.
Here are some popular U.S. stock brokerages and their account-opening bonuses:
| Overview | Sign-Up Bonus | Quick Take |
|---|---|---|
| Moomoo | $200 in stock vouchers + $1,000 in Anthropic stock + 8.1% APY | Feature-rich with a strong Chinese-language experience. Its market data, Level 2 quotes, options, and cash management features are useful for everyone from beginners to active traders. |
| TradeUp | 50 shares of NVDA + a chance to win 5 shares + 4% for three months | Well suited to active trading, with competitive trading fees and margin rates for U.S. tax residents. It supports Web Trading and Level 2 quotes and offers Chinese-language customer service. |
| Webull | 12 fractional shares + one month of Premium membership | Strong charting and active-trading features, including technical indicators, options, and premarket and after-hours trading. A good fit for frequent traders. |
| BBAE | Up to $650 in rewards | Convenient for Chinese users to open an account; applications are accepted without an SSN or ITIN. It offers good Chinese-language support, but currently charges a platform fee, making it less suitable for frequent trading with small amounts. |
| Robinhood | A chance to win 1 share of stock | Its simple interface is easy to use, making it suitable for first-time U.S. stock investors. Gold members also get a higher yield on uninvested cash and lower margin rates. |
| Interactive Brokers | Up to $1,000 | A highly capable broker with access to global markets and multiple currencies. Its margin costs are competitive, and Chinese residents can also open accounts. A good fit for experienced investors and those investing globally. |
| TradeStation | $250 | Geared toward professional and active traders, with powerful advanced charting, strategy backtesting, and automated trading tools. Most long-term investors may not need these features. |
| Schwab | Up to $1,000 | Well suited to long-term investing and larger portfolios, with convenient access to ETFs and CDs. Checking accounts and global ATM access are also advantages, but the default yield on uninvested cash is relatively low. |
| Fidelity | Account opening link | A long-established full-service brokerage suited to long-term investing, ETFs, and retirement accounts. It also offers good cash management, making it a solid choice as a primary long-term brokerage. |
| BIT (formerly Matrixport) | Earn $210 by depositing and trading | Suitable for Chinese users and digital asset investors. You can use funds such as USDT and USDC to invest in U.S. stocks. It is not a traditional U.S. brokerage, so review its fees and asset custody structure separately. |
| SoFi Invest | $75 for opening an account | Easy to use and supports Stock Bits, making it suitable for small investments and long-term investing. It has fewer advanced market data and trading tools, so it is not ideal for frequent trading. |
| M1 Finance | Get $10 when you deposit | Focused on Pies and automated investing. It is well suited to setting a stock and ETF allocation and investing regularly over the long term, but not to active trading. |
If you don’t have an SSN or ITIN but still want to invest in U.S. stocks, consider the brokerages and platforms below. They accept a full set of Chinese documents, and you can register with a national ID card or passport. None participates in China’s CRS.
- BBAE: Welcoming to Chinese users; no SSN or ITIN required to open an account
- BIT (formerly Matrixport): Open an account with a national ID card; approval can take just a few hours.
- Bitget: Complete identity verification with a national ID card or Chinese passport
If you’re in China and want to invest in U.S. stocks, see this overview:
