Finding penny stocks on Robinhood starts with the search bar at the top of the app or website

Open Robinhood and tap or click the search icon at the top. Type the ticker symbol of the stock you want to find — for example, SNDL or PROG — and the app will show you that security if it's available to trade. Robinhood does not have a dedicated "penny stocks" filter or category, so you search by the specific company name or ticker you already know about.

If you don't know a ticker symbol yet, you can search by company name instead. Type "Ford" and Robinhood will show you Ford Motor Company (F), along with any other companies with similar names. Once you find the stock, tap it to see the price, chart, and trading details.

Robinhood's search works the same way whether you're on a phone, tablet, or computer. The results show you the current price, whether the market is open or closed, and a link to view more information about that security.

Key Takeaways

  • Robinhood's search bar is the main way to find penny stocks — type the ticker symbol or company name to see if it's available.
  • Penny stocks on Robinhood trade during regular market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern) and extended hours (4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern), depending on the stock.
  • You can view a stock's price history, trading volume, and news on its detail page before you decide to trade.
  • Not all penny stocks are available on Robinhood — the app does not offer every over-the-counter (OTC) stock, only those listed on major exchanges or certain OTC markets.

Using Robinhood's stock detail page to research before trading

After you search for a penny stock and find it, Robinhood shows you a detail page with the stock's current price, a price chart, and trading volume. Scroll down to see news articles, recent earnings reports, and analyst ratings if they exist for that stock.

The chart lets you view price movement over different time periods — one day, one week, one month, three months, one year, or all-time. You can see how many shares traded in a given period by looking at the volume bars below the price line. Lower volume often means fewer buyers and sellers, which can make it harder to sell your shares at the price you want.

Robinhood also shows you the stock's 52-week high and low, the number of shares outstanding, and the market capitalization. These numbers help you understand the stock's size and price range, though they do not tell you whether the stock is a sound trade.

Which penny stocks Robinhood actually offers

Robinhood does not carry every penny stock. The app focuses on stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the NASDAQ, and certain over-the-counter (OTC) markets. Many penny stocks trade on the OTC Markets Group's Pink Sheets or OTCQB, and Robinhood offers some of these but not all.

If you search for a penny stock and Robinhood says it's not found, that stock either trades only on an exchange Robinhood does not support, or it's too illiquid (too few shares trading) for the platform to offer. You can check whether a stock exists by searching for its ticker on the OTC Markets Group website, which lists all over-the-counter stocks and their trading status.

Robinhood updates its available stocks regularly, so a stock that was not available last month might be available now. If you cannot find a penny stock you want, you can try searching again in a few weeks, or you can use a different brokerage that offers a wider range of OTC stocks.

Setting up price alerts for penny stocks you're watching

Once you find a penny stock on Robinhood, you can set a price alert so the app notifies you when the price moves. Tap the bell icon on the stock's detail page, then choose whether you want an alert when the price goes above or below a certain level.

Price alerts help you track stocks without checking the app constantly. You can set multiple alerts on the same stock — for example, one alert if the price drops to $2 and another if it rises to $5. Robinhood sends these alerts as push notifications on your phone or as in-app messages on the website.

Alerts do not place a trade for you — they only notify you that the price has moved. You still have to open the app and place a buy or sell order yourself.

Understanding trading hours and liquidity for penny stocks

Most penny stocks trade during regular market hours, which run from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Some penny stocks also trade during extended hours — 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern in the evening and 4 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the morning — but not all brokerages offer extended-hours trading, and not all stocks participate.

Robinhood does offer extended-hours trading for stocks that support it, but you have to enable it in your account settings. Extended hours often have lower trading volume, which means fewer buyers and sellers, and prices can move more dramatically on smaller trades.

Penny stocks typically have lower trading volume than larger stocks, meaning fewer shares change hands each day. This can make it harder to sell your shares at the exact price you want, especially if you own a large number of shares or if the stock is thinly traded. Before you trade a penny stock, check its average daily volume on the detail page to understand how active it is.

Browsing lists and watchlists instead of searching

If you don't have a specific penny stock in mind, you can browse Robinhood's built-in lists and categories. Tap the "Lists" tab at the bottom of the app to see collections like "Top Movers," "Most Popular," "Biggest Gainers," and "Biggest Losers." These lists update throughout the trading day and show you stocks that are moving or drawing attention.

You can also create your own watchlist by tapping the heart icon on any stock's detail page. This adds the stock to a custom list you can check anytime. Watchlists let you track multiple penny stocks in one place without placing a trade.

The "Top Movers" and "Biggest Gainers" lists often include penny stocks because their small share prices mean a small dollar move looks like a large percentage gain. A stock that rises from $0.50 to $0.75 has gained 50 percent, even though the dollar move is only $0.25.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I trade penny stocks on Robinhood during after-hours?

Yes, if the penny stock supports extended-hours trading and you have enabled it in your account settings. Not all penny stocks trade after hours, and volume is usually much lower in the evening and early morning. Check the stock's detail page to see whether extended-hours trading is available for that security.

What's the minimum price for a stock to be considered a penny stock on Robinhood?

Robinhood does not use an official definition of "penny stock." Traditionally, a penny stock is any stock trading below $5 per share, though some people use $1 as the cutoff. Robinhood lets you trade stocks at any price, from fractions of a cent to hundreds of dollars per share.

Why can't I find a penny stock I know exists?

Robinhood may not offer that stock because it trades only on exchanges or OTC markets the platform does not support, or because it has too little trading volume. You can verify the stock exists by searching for its ticker on the OTC Markets Group website or by checking a financial data site like Yahoo Finance.

Do I need a minimum account balance to trade penny stocks on Robinhood?

Robinhood does not require a minimum balance to open an account or trade penny stocks. However, if you place four or more day trades in five business days, your account will be flagged as a pattern day trader and you will need to maintain $25,000 in your account to continue day trading.