Side-by-Side Comparison
Category
Investment Platforms
Investment Platforms
Price
Free or $10/mo Premium
Free or $5/mo Gold
Pricing Model
Freemium
Freemium
Overall Rating
4.1/5
4.0/5
Ease of Use
4.3/5
4.6/5
Value for Money
4.5/5
4.8/5
Support Quality
3.9/5
3.3/5
Free Tier
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Mobile App
✅ Yes
✅ Yes
Platform
iOS, Android, Web
Web, iOS, Android
Founded
2019
2013
Users
3M+ members
23M+ users
Best For
Social-first investors, those wanting community insights, diversified asset class access
Young investors, active traders, options traders, crypto investors
Data as of January 2026. Always verify current pricing on vendor websites.
🏆 Bottom Line Verdict
Robinhood 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 Public.com if: Social-first investors, those wanting community insights, diversified asset class access
Choose Robinhood if: Young investors, active traders, options traders, crypto investors
📊 Key Differentiators
Public.com and Robinhood both serve the investment platforms market, but their strengths diverge in three specific areas:
- Pricing: Public.com starts at Free or $10/mo Premium vs Robinhood's Free or $5/mo Gold. Both offer free tiers to test before committing to a paid plan.
- Ease of use: Public.com rates 4.3/5 on ease of use; Robinhood rates 4.6/5. Robinhood is the simpler option — better for teams that want quick onboarding.
- Value for money: Public.com scores 4.5/5 on value; Robinhood scores 4.8/5. Robinhood delivers more per dollar at its price point.
Founded: Public.com (2019) · Robinhood (2013) · User base: 3M+ members vs 23M+ users
Ratings Breakdown
🌐 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☆
🎯 Robinhood
Commission-free investing for the mobile generation
Overall
4.0★★★★☆
Ease of Use
4.6★★★★½
Value
4.8★★★★½
Support
3.3★★★☆☆
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
Robinhood — Pros & Cons
✅ PROS
- Commission-free stocks, ETFs, options, and crypto
- Clean intuitive mobile app
- Fractional shares
- IPO access
- Robinhood Gold for margin and better rates
❌ CONS
- Payment for order flow controversy
- Limited research tools
- Customer support historically poor
- No mutual funds or bonds
Key Features Compared
Public.com
- Social investing feed
- Fractional shares
- Treasury bills access
- High-yield cash account
- Alternative assets
Robinhood
- Commission-free trading
- Options trading
- Crypto trading
- Fractional shares
- Cash management account
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Public.com better than Robinhood?
Robinhood scores higher overall (4.5/5) vs Public.com (4.3/5). Choose Public.com for social-first investors; choose Robinhood for young investors.
How much does Public.com cost vs Robinhood?
Public.com costs Free or $10/mo Premium (Freemium). Robinhood costs Free or $5/mo Gold (Freemium). Always verify current pricing on vendor websites.
How much does Public.com cost in 2026?
Public.com costs Free or $10/mo Premium as of 2026. The pricing model is Freemium. A free tier is available.
Does Public.com have a free tier?
Yes — Public.com offers a free tier, making it easy to test before committing to a paid plan. Robinhood also offers a free tier.
What's the main difference between Public.com and Robinhood?
Public.com is best for social-first investors, while Robinhood is better suited for young 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.
Need Help Choosing?
Answer a few questions and get matched to the right investment platforms for your situation.
Get AI-Powered Match →