Robinhood and Public both offer fractional share trading, have no account minimums, and charge no commissions for buying stocks or ETFs. So how can you decide between Public vs. Robinhood?
Let's take a look at some of the key differences between what each of these brokerage firms offers so you can pick which is best for you.
Offer | Robinhood | Public |
---|---|---|
Rating | Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | Rating image, 3.5 out of 5 stars. 3.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. |
Commissions | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold | $0 commissions, 1%-2% crypto markups |
Account Minimum | $0 | $1 |
Next Steps | Open Account for Robinhood Read Full Review | Read Review |
Public vs. Robinhood: Commissions & fees
Neither Public nor Robinhood charge commissions or fees for trading stocks or ETFs. However, while Robinhood does not impose a markup on cryptocurrency, Public does. The markup is between 1% and 2%. This ends up effectively reducing the amount of cryptocurrency you purchase with each transaction. The different approaches to crypto markups could make Robinhood Crypto a better choice for buying virtual coins.
Both brokers are some of the best options trading platforms. Neither charges commission fees, and Public recently started sharing options revenue with customers. That means customers can earn an estimated $0.18 rebate per commission-free trade. (Public doesn't charge fees for options trading, but regulators do.)
Public | Robinhood | |
---|---|---|
Stock & ETF commissions | $0 | $0 |
Options commissions | $0 (up to 50% revenue sharing for options traders) | $0 |
Crypto commissions | 1% to 2% markup | 0% |
Mutual fund commissions | N/A | N/A |
Account transfer fee | $75 for outgoing transfers | $100 for outgoing transfers |
Account maintenance fee | $0 or $8 per month for Premium ($5 inactivity fee every 6 months for accounts <$20 that haven't traded in 90+ days) | $0, or $5 per month for Robinhood Gold |
Data sources: Public and Robinhood.
Both Robinhood and Public allow users to trade stocks and ETFs, as well as buy fractional shares. Recently, Public added bonds to the list, including federal and corporate. It also offers alternative investment options, including art and NFTs, for interested investors.
One unique feature Public offers that Robinhood doesn't is its social trading platform. You can follow the portfolio of fellow community members, monitor a news feed to see what others are trading and why, and participate in group chats and community discussions about trading opportunities. This can help those without a lot of investing experience to learn from their peers.
If you're looking for the best robo-advisors, though, neither Robinhood nor Public provides automated investing services so you'll have to look elsewhere.
Public | Robinhood | |
---|---|---|
Stocks and ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
Options | Yes | Yes |
Mutual funds | No | No |
CDs | No | No |
Bonds | Yes | No |
Futures | No | No |
Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Currencies | No | No |
Other | Yes | No |
Data sources: Public and Robinhood.
Alternatives to Consider
We recommend comparing brokerage options to ensure the account you're selecting is the best fit for you. To make your search easier, here's a short list of our best trading platforms of 2024.
Account | Fees | Account Minimum | |
---|---|---|---|
Featured Offer Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold | $0 | Open Account for Robinhood |
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars. 4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 for stocks, $0 for options contracts | $0 | Open Account for SoFi Active Investing |
Rating image, 5.0 out of 5 stars. 5.0/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs. | $0 commission for online U.S. stock and ETF trades. No fees to buy fractional shares. | $0, ($1 minimum per fractional share transaction) | Read Review |
Robinhood offers slightly more account types than Public. You can open a taxable brokerage account with either trading platform. But you can only open a traditional or Roth IRA on Robinhood -- in fact, it's one of the best brokers for IRAs. Neither broker offers custodial accounts or other IRAs. For those, you'll want to check out a full-service brokerage.
Public | Robinhood | |
---|---|---|
Taxable brokerage | Yes | Yes |
Joint tenant | No | No |
Margin | Yes | Yes |
Robo-advisor | No | No |
Traditional IRA | No | Yes |
Roth IRA | No | Yes |
Other IRA | No | No |
Custodial | No | No |
Checking | No | No, but offers a spending account |
Savings | No, but offers a high-yield cash account | No, but offers brokerage cash sweeps |
Credit card | No | No |
Data sources: Public and Robinhood.
Public vs. Robinhood: Mobile app and trading platforms
Both Public and Robinhood are focused heavily on their mobile apps. Their apps actually offer a better user interface and more features than their websites. This mobile-first focus has paid off in the form of user friendly, highly rated investing apps. In fact, Robinhood's app received a 4.2 out of 5-star rating on the iOS store, and Public's app received a 4.7-star rating.
Since Public is primarily a social investing platform, its app offers features that Robinhood's app doesn't. This includes a focus on community groups and the ability to follow other users' portfolios. However, neither Robinhood nor Public offer the type of advanced trading features many experienced investors would prefer, such as comprehensive charting tools.
Final take
Robinhood and Public are both top choices for those looking for a mobile trading experience or for apps that cater to beginner investors. Public stands apart due to the community aspect of its trading platform.
If you want to invest socially, or trade bonds, or invest in collectibles, Public may be a better fit.
If you'd like to trade crypto cheaply or open IRAs, Robinhood may be the right choice for you.
Both are discount brokers. Check out alternatives if neither Public nor Robinhood meets your needs. Some offer all-in-one options, including bank accounts and credit cards.
Open Account for Robinhood
OnRobinhood'sSecure Website.
Ratings Methodology
Featured Offer
Our Rating:
Rating image, 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4.5/5Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.5 stars equals Best.4 stars equals Excellent.3 stars equals Good.2 stars equals Fair.1 star equals Poor.We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best
= Excellent
= Good
= Fair
= Poor
Bottom Line
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Fees:
$0 for stocks, ETFs, and options; $5 monthly for Robinhood Gold
Account Minimum:
$0
Special OfferEarn a 1% bonus with no cap when you transfer your brokerage account to Robinhood, now through June 28, 2024. Terms apply.
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Open Account for Robinhood
OnRobinhood'sSecure Website.
FAQs
It depends on what you're looking for. Robinhood offers IRAs and commission-free crypto trading. Public offers social features and bonds trading. Both are excellent picks for options trading.
Many reasons, potentially. You can participate in Public options trading revenue-sharing, buy bonds, or avoid payment-for-order-flow (PFOF).
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By:Christy Bieber
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Christy Bieber is a full-time personal finance and legal writer with more than a decade of experience. She has a JD from UCLA as well as a degree in English, Media and Communications with a Certificate in Business Management from the University of Rochester. In addition to writing for The Ascent and The Motley Fool, her work has also been featured regularly on MSN Money, CNBC, and USA Today. She also ghost writes textbooks, serves as a subject matter expert for online course design, and is a former college instructor.
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Cole Tretheway is a full-time personal finance writer whose articles have been featured on The Ascent and The Motley Fool. He has a degree in English with a Certificate in Professional and Technical Communication from California Polytechnic University, SLO.
Fact CheckedEric McWhinnie
Eric McWhinnie has been writing and editing digital content since 2010. He specializes in personal finance and investing. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance.