A commission-free investing app with a social feed and a focus on transparency over PFOF.
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Public.com vs Robinhood
Comparing Public.com and Robinhood to help you pick the right Investing Platforms for your needs.
| Feature | Public.com | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Launched | 2019 | 2013 |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |
| Community votes | 245 | 567 |
Public.com Pros & Cons
- Explicit stance against payment-for-order-flow, with an alternative tipping-based revenue model
- Social feed lets users see and discuss others' investment rationale, not just copy trades
- Direct access to Treasury bonds alongside stocks and ETFs, less common among competitors
- Clean, modern interface with a strong focus on investor education content
- Smaller asset selection than larger, more established brokerages
- Social feed features may not appeal to investors preferring privacy around their holdings
- Smaller brand recognition than Robinhood or traditional brokerages
- Options trading and advanced features are more limited than dedicated active-trading platforms
Robinhood Pros & Cons
- Genuinely commission-free trading on stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto
- Simple, approachable mobile interface lowers the barrier to entry for new investors
- Fractional share investing lets users buy partial shares of expensive stocks
- IRA accounts include a matching contribution incentive not offered by most competitors
- Fast account opening and funding compared to traditional brokerages
- Simplified interface and gamification elements have drawn criticism for encouraging excessive trading
- Customer support has historically been harder to reach than at traditional full-service brokerages
- Limited research and analysis tools compared to established brokerages like Fidelity or Schwab
- Options and crypto trading carry real risk that a simplified UI can understate for inexperienced users
- Has faced regulatory fines and scrutiny over order execution and outage incidents
Verdict: Public.com vs Robinhood
Public.com and Robinhood both serve the Investing Platforms category well, but suit different priorities. Public.com is the more budget-friendly option, Based on community engagement, Robinhood is currently the more widely adopted choice (567 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is cheaper, Public.com or Robinhood?
- Public.com is the more affordable option overall — it's offered as free, while Robinhood is freemium. Check each tool's current pricing plans for exact figures, since promotional rates and annual discounts can shift the comparison.
- Is Public.com or Robinhood rated higher?
- Public.com and Robinhood currently hold comparable editorial ratings, so neither has a clear edge — the right pick depends more on which specific features and pricing fit your use case.
- Which platforms do Public.com and Robinhood support?
- Public.com is available on Web, iOS, Android. Robinhood is available on Web, iOS, Android. Both tools cover a similar range of platforms.
- Can I switch from Public.com to Robinhood (or vice versa)?
- Most investing platforms tools, including Public.com and Robinhood, support data export in standard formats, making migration possible though rarely fully automatic. Expect to manually verify that custom configurations, integrations, and historical data transfer correctly, and budget time for the team to adjust to workflow differences between the two products.
- Should I choose Public.com or Robinhood?
- Public.com and Robinhood both serve the Investing Platforms category well, but suit different priorities. Public.com is the more budget-friendly option, Based on community engagement, Robinhood is currently the more widely adopted choice (567 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.