Side-by-Side Comparison
Category
Investment Platforms
Investment Platforms
Price
Free or $3/mo M1 Plus
Free or $10/mo Premium
Pricing Model
Freemium
Freemium
Overall Rating
4.5/5
4.1/5
Ease of Use
4.4/5
4.3/5
Value for Money
4.6/5
4.5/5
Support Quality
4.0/5
3.9/5
Free Tier
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Mobile App
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Platform
Web, iOS, Android
iOS, Android, Web
Founded
2015
2019
Users
500K+ investors
3M+ members
Best For
Long-term investors wanting automation, those building diversified portfolios, passive investors
Social-first investors, those wanting community insights, diversified asset class access
Data as of January 2026. Always verify current pricing on vendor websites.
🏆 Bottom Line Verdict
M1 Finance is the stronger choice for most users, scoring 4.5/5 overall vs Public.com's 4.3/5. However, Public.com may be the better fit if you prioritize social-first investors.
Choose M1 Finance if: Long-term investors wanting automation, those building diversified portfolios, passive investors
Choose Public.com if: Social-first investors, those wanting community insights, diversified asset class access
📊 Key Differentiators
M1 Finance and Public.com both serve the investment platforms market, but their strengths diverge in three specific areas:
- Pricing: M1 Finance starts at Free or $3/mo M1 Plus vs Public.com's Free or $10/mo Premium. Both offer free tiers to test before committing to a paid plan.
- Ease of use: M1 Finance rates 4.4/5 on ease of use; Public.com rates 4.3/5. M1 Finance is the simpler option — better for teams that want quick onboarding.
- Value for money: M1 Finance scores 4.6/5 on value; Public.com scores 4.5/5. M1 Finance delivers more per dollar at its price point.
Founded: M1 Finance (2015) · Public.com (2019) · User base: 500K+ investors vs 3M+ members
Ratings Breakdown
🥧 M1 Finance
Automated investing with pie-based portfolio building
Overall
4.5★★★★½
Ease of Use
4.4★★★★☆
Value
4.6★★★★½
Support
4.0★★★★☆
🌐 Public.com
Social investing platform with stocks, ETFs, crypto, and bonds
Overall
4.1★★★★☆
Ease of Use
4.3★★★★☆
Value
4.5★★★★½
Support
3.9★★★½☆
M1 Finance — Pros & Cons
✅ PROS
- Free automatic rebalancing
- Pie-based portfolio builder
- Fractional shares of any stock or ETF
- Automated investing on schedule
- No management fees
❌ CONS
- No real-time trading (executes once daily)
- No mutual funds
- Limited tax-loss harvesting on basic plan
- Complex for true beginners
Public.com — Pros & Cons
✅ PROS
- Stocks, ETFs, crypto, and bonds in one app
- Social feed shows what others are buying
- Fractional shares from $1
- High-yield cash account
- Treasury bills direct purchase
❌ CONS
- Social features can distract from fundamentals
- Premium tier required for advanced tools
- Limited research vs full brokerages
- No options trading
Key Features Compared
M1 Finance
- Pie portfolio builder
- Auto-rebalancing
- Smart transfers
- Fractional shares
- Borrow feature
Public.com
- Social investing feed
- Fractional shares
- Treasury bills access
- High-yield cash account
- Alternative assets
Frequently Asked Questions
Is M1 Finance better than Public.com?
M1 Finance scores higher overall (4.5/5) vs Public.com (4.3/5). Choose M1 Finance for long-term investors wanting automation; choose Public.com for social-first investors.
How much does M1 Finance cost vs Public.com?
M1 Finance costs Free or $3/mo M1 Plus (Freemium). Public.com costs Free or $10/mo Premium (Freemium). Always verify current pricing on vendor websites.
How much does M1 Finance cost in 2026?
M1 Finance costs Free or $3/mo M1 Plus as of 2026. The pricing model is Freemium. A free tier is available.
Does M1 Finance have a free tier?
Yes — M1 Finance offers a free tier, making it easy to test before committing to a paid plan. Public.com also offers a free tier.
What's the main difference between M1 Finance and Public.com?
M1 Finance is best for long-term investors wanting automation, while Public.com is better suited for social-first investors. Both tools have comparable overall ratings.
Related Comparisons & Resources
ℹ️ Data Verified Ratings and features researched as of January 2026. Pricing may change — always verify on vendor websites before purchase.
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