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Robinhood vs Public
Robinhood vs Public.com—which app is better in 2025? Compare investing accounts, online
trading fees, stock broker extended hours, and differences.
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Public.com vs. Robinhood Introduction
If you want a brokerage with very low trading costs, Robinhood and Public.com are two good options.
Extra features do have a fee, so it’s best to know beforehand which services you’ll need.
Public and Robinhood Cost
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
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Robinhood
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$0
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na
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$0 per contract
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$0
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$0
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Public
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$0
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na
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$0.50 per contract
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$0
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$0
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Public and Robinhood Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
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Robinhood
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Public
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Investing and Trading
Both firms in this comparison only have self-directed accounts. Neither has continuous advisory services, although Robinhood does provide a one-time advisory feature suggesting an ETF portfolio for retirement at no cost.
Self-directed traders at Robinhood can buy and sell stocks, options, ETFs, futures, and cryptocurrencies.
Public offers the same products except for futures, though it adds closed-end funds. In the crypto area, Public carries 7 coins, while Robinhood has 22.
For more unusual assets, Public lets you buy fractional shares of things like sneakers or paintings.
In terms of account types, both Robinhood and Public offer either taxable or IRA accounts.
Winner: Robinhood
Banking
Robinhood customers can sign up for a cash management program called Cash Card. This includes a debit card (plus the ability to send checks by mail), fractional crypto or stock rewards, and a cash-back benefit.
Robinhood also has an FDIC sweep for uninvested cash, which can pay up to 4.25% APY with a premium plan. Public has a similar FDIC-insured cash service paying 4.1% APY without a premium plan, though it doesn’t come with a debit card or other perks.
Winner: Robinhood
Premium Services
Robinhood’s Gold plan is $5 per month and includes Morningstar research, Level II quotes, and a $1,000 margin loan at no cost.
Public’s Premium plan is $10 per month and delivers charting tools (not available to free users), priority support, and enhanced research tools.
Winner: Robinhood
Promotions
Robinhood: 3% IRA match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Margin
Both firms only offer self-directed accounts, which can be either cash or margin, and you can convert from cash to margin on either broker’s website.
Robinhood lets margin users pick from two systems. The first is a standard interest-based system, currently 5.75% yearly on borrowed amounts under $50,000.
Public’s margin rates range from 9.5% to 5.5%.
Winner: Robinhood
Computer Trading
Robinhood’s website is straightforward and focuses on ease of use. It’s also the only platform Robinhood has (no desktop or separate browser platform).
The site includes an order ticket with several choices (stop, trailing, limit). You can also set up Recurring Investing, allowing repeated share or ETF purchases.
Charts on Robinhood are pretty simple. Expanded mode includes a few technical indicators and two chart styles.
Public.com’s site has even less advanced charting for free users. Premium members get a full-screen view with extra tools.
Public offers three order types (stop, market, limit), which is fewer than Robinhood. Similar to Robinhood, there’s no desktop or additional browser platform. However, Public has something Robinhood lacks: a community forum for discussing assets.
Winner: Robinhood
Mobile Trading
The only other platform at each firm is its mobile app. Robinhood’s app replicates the web version’s order ticket and charting, except you can’t rotate charts horizontally.
Public’s mobile app likewise doesn’t allow horizontal charts. It has watchlists and alerts like Robinhood’s. The social feature from Public’s site is here, too.
Winner: Robinhood
Supplementary Services
IRAs: Both brokers have Roth and Traditional accounts.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Both offer it.
Fractional-share Trading: Available at both.
DRIP: Both firms support it.
Extended Hours: Both provide pre-market and after-hours trading, though Public requires Premium
for it. Crypto is 24/7 at both. Robinhood has 24/7 trading for some stocks.
IPO Access: Only Robinhood.
Winner: Robinhood
Promotions
Robinhood: 3% IRA match and up to $200 FREE stock at Robinhood.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Our Recommendations
Small Accounts: Neither requires a minimum, so both are fine.
Long-Term Investing and Retirement Planning: Robinhood is the only one offering a 1% IRA match, so it wins.
Beginning Traders: IRAs at Robinhood can use its one-time ETF recommendation. Neither broker provides ongoing investment advice.
Active Stock Trading: Robinhood now features an advanced trading platform.
Public vs Robinhood Verdict
While Public.com offers alternative investments, that’s not enough to outperform Robinhood.
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Updated on 1/29/2025.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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