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Robinhood vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

March 11, 2025

In this head to head comparison of Robinhood vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

Robinhood
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

When comparing Robinhood and Public.com, both platforms offer a user-friendly experience for trading stocks, fractional shares, and options, alongside with the possibility of crypto trading with 22 available coins. However, there are notable differences in investment options: Public.com provides access to OTC stocks, while Robinhood offers the flexibility of traditional and Roth IRA accounts, which Public.com doesn’t. Both platforms are similarly rated for their range of investments at 3.5 stars, yet they differ slightly in their ranking positions, with Robinhood at #12 and Public.com at #14 among 15 brokers evaluated by StockBrokers.com.

Both Robinhood and Public.com cater to investors looking to engage in stock and options trading. They also stand on equal footing in their offerings of crypto trading opportunities. Although neither platform offers mutual funds, forex, or futures trading, Robinhood distinguishes itself with the ability to open IRA accounts, which could be appealing for individuals focusing on retirement planning. In contrast, Public.com offers trading in OTC stocks, appealing to those interested in a broader spectrum of equity offerings beyond standard exchanges.

In summary, both Robinhood and Public.com present solid choices for those interested in stock, options, and crypto trading without delving into complex investment products like futures or forex. If retirement savings plans, such as IRAs, are of interest to an investor, Robinhood might be preferable. Conversely, Public.com holds appeal for traders looking for OTC stocks. Each platform offers distinct advantages, allowing users to select based on personal investment goals and interests.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info No Yes
Mutual Funds info No No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes info Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 22
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing Robinhood and Public.com, Robinhood generally stands out for its trading platforms and tools. It offers a wider selection of charting features and customization options that may appeal to traders looking for more detailed and flexible strategies. With 16 technical indicators and 23 drawing tools, Robinhood allows for a more comprehensive trading experience compared to Public.com, which lacks these features. This advantage is partly why Robinhood has received a slightly higher rating of 3.5 stars out of five, while Public.com is rated at 2 stars.

Neither Robinhood nor Public.com offers a downloadable trading platform for Windows or Mac users, but both provide browser-based platforms, making trading accessible from any device with internet access. While neither platform offers paper trading or a trading journal, Robinhood users benefit from the ability to make adjustments directly on stock charts, add notes, and use index overlays. In contrast, Public.com does not support these features, potentially limiting the trading experience for those seeking detailed chart analysis.

When it comes to customizing charts, Robinhood offers more tools and features compared to Public.com. Users can set custom date ranges, save multiple chart profiles, and add simple moving averages with some customization. Meanwhile, Public.com does not provide the ability to create custom studies or extensively modify charts, which could be a disadvantage for traders who prioritize chart personalization. Consequently, Robinhood is ranked higher for its trading platforms and tools, placing 9th out of 15 brokers, whereas Public.com is ranked 14th according to StockBrokers.com.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Paper Trading info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 3 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 16 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 23 0
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

When it comes to enhancing the knowledge of beginner investors, both Robinhood and Public.com offer educational resources focused on stocks, ETFs, and options. While neither platform provides educational content on mutual funds or bonds, they both host webinars, aimed at deepening investor understanding. However, Public.com edges slightly ahead in one aspect by offering educational videos, which Robinhood does not. Despite this, both platforms lack certain features such as paper trading, educational quizzes, and the ability to track learning progress, which may be important for some users seeking a comprehensive educational experience.

In terms of educational ratings and rankings, Robinhood holds a slightly higher position compared to Public.com. With a 4-star rating, Robinhood surpasses Public.com's 3.5-star rating for overall education. According to StockBrokers.com, Robinhood ranks 9th out of 15 brokers, while Public.com follows at 12th place. These differences, while not vast, may influence investors looking for the best educational support when choosing between these two platforms. Overall, both aim to equip investors with essential knowledge, yet their offerings vary, making it crucial for users to consider their specific educational needs when selecting a preferred broker.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

When it comes to mobile stock trading apps, Robinhood holds a commanding position with a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 7th out of 15 brokers on StockBrokers.com. Public.com, on the other hand, garners a 3.5-star rating, placing it at the 14th spot. These rankings suggest that for users seeking a more robust and feature-rich trading experience, Robinhood might be the preferred choice. However, Public.com still stands as a viable alternative for those who prioritize different aspects of trading.

Both Robinhood and Public.com offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, ensuring users can trade on-the-go. Robinhood extends its accessibility further with an Apple Watch app, a feature not available with Public.com. After-hours trading is also possible on Robinhood, though information about this feature on Public.com remains unclear. For options traders, both platforms offer support for mobile options trading. However, Robinhood distinguishes itself by providing stock alerts, which are absent in Public.com.

Robinhood excels in charting capabilities, offering six technical studies, after-hours charting, and the ability to view multiple time frames, albeit without landscape view or stock comparison features, which Public.com offers. While both platforms allow customization of watch list columns, only Robinhood provides the ability to create custom watch lists. Streaming quotes, offered on Robinhood, is another feature where it takes a lead, as Public.com does not provide this service. While neither service offers streaming live TV or on-demand videos, the comprehensive set of tools and features available at Robinhood might meet the needs of active traders more effectively than Public.com.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies info 6 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When deciding between Robinhood and Public.com for trading, it's essential to consider the differences in account fees and other charges. Robinhood stands out with its $0 minimum deposit, making it accessible for casual investors, while Public.com requires a $20 minimum. Both platforms offer commission-free trading for stocks and options, catering to those aiming to maximize their investments without being weighed down by transaction costs.

While neither Robinhood nor Public.com charges fees for IRA accounts, Robinhood provides a slight edge with lower interest rates on margin balances. Specifically, Robinhood charges 5.75% for balances under $25,000 and gradually decreases to 5.55% for balances between $50,000 and $99,999. In contrast, Public.com charges a margin rate ranging from 8.75% for smaller balances to 6.75% for the higher bracket. Additionally, both platforms avoid options exercise and assignment fees, emphasizing their user-friendly commitment.

However, Robinhood has higher fees for account transfers, with both partial and full transfers costing $100, compared to Public.com's $75 charge. Investors looking to frequently move their accounts should take this into account. Overall, Robinhood's lack of deposit requirements and lower margin rates may appeal to newcomers and budget-conscious traders, whereas Public.com's lower account transfer fees might be favorable for those considering potential platform switches.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00 info
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

When comparing Robinhood and Public.com for day trading, both platforms present some limitations for active traders. Neither Robinhood nor Public.com provides streaming time and sales for stocks or streaming live TV. Additionally, both platforms lack direct market routing and trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry, which might be essential for some traders who seek speed and efficiency. While Robinhood does allow ladder trading, a feature not offered by Public.com, this might be a marginal benefit given the absence of level 2 quotes and more advanced trading tools on either platform.

For those particularly focused on strategy and analysis, neither Robinhood nor Public.com offers basic or advanced strategy backtesting, meaning traders cannot test their trading strategies on past data. Lastly, tools such as a short locator for real-time availability of shares to short or order liquidity rebates are also missing from both platforms. Overall, if you are prioritizing advanced day trading features, both Robinhood and Public.com might not fully meet your needs at present.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No info No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

When it comes to market research capabilities, Robinhood and Public.com exhibit similar profiles, each securing a 2-star rating. Both platforms provide research options for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, yet neither delves into mutual funds or bonds. Despite a tie in the fundamental offerings, Robinhood edges out slightly in rankings, placing 10th among 15 brokers as per StockBrokers.com, compared to Public.com's 12th place ranking.

Exploring more specific features, both Robinhood and Public.com omit several advanced research capabilities such as portfolio allocation views by asset class, social media sentiment data, and ESG research. Additionally, neither platform offers any downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds. This lack of comprehensive features might contribute to their moderate star ratings and comparable standing in the brokerage research landscape.

Focusing on select tools, Robinhood presents an advantage with a stock screener for generating trade ideas, a feature that Public.com does not provide. However, both platforms come up short when it comes to offering screeners for ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, which limits their appeal to users seeking broad-based investment strategies. Ultimately, both Robinhood and Public.com serve as basic, entry-level options for investors prioritizing straightforward stock and ETF research over in-depth analysis tools.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Robinhood and Public.com, there are some clear differences in their offerings. Both Robinhood and Public.com do not provide checking or savings accounts, nor do they offer CDs or mortgage loans. However, when it comes to card services, Robinhood holds an advantage. Robinhood offers both debit and credit cards to its users, which can enhance the convenience of managing your finances. On the other hand, Public.com does not provide either debit or credit cards. This distinction makes Robinhood a more versatile choice for those seeking some traditional banking-like features in an investment platform.

Feature Robinhood logoRobinhood
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info No No
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 15 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Robinhood is better than Public.com. Robinhood finished with an overall score of 77.3%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.

Robinhood is very easy to use and its educational content is a joy to read. But, in today’s competitive market for your investing dollars, there are several more compelling options among brokerages.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Robinhood or Public.com?

Robinhood and Public.com both provide crypto trading, each offering 22 different coins for users to trade. Whether you choose Robinhood or Public.com, you'll have access to an identical selection of cryptocurrencies for diverse investment opportunities.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Robinhood or Public.com offer IRAs?

Robinhood provides both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with no annual or closure fees, while Public.com does not offer IRA accounts, positioning Robinhood as a more comprehensive choice for users seeking diverse retirement investment options.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

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Overall Rating Robinhood Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service N/A N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Robinhood Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Robinhood Public.com
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand)
Research Gallery (click to expand)
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand)
Education Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Robinhood Public.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info N/A $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info N/A n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info N/A n/a
Margin Rates Robinhood Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 5.75% 8.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 5.75% 8.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 5.55% 6.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 5.25% 6.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 5.25% 5.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 5.25% 5.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 5% info 5.75%
Account Fees Robinhood Public.com
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $100.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $100.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Robinhood Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info No Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes info Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 22
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info No Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info No Yes
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Robinhood Public.com
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes info
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes No
Order Type - OCO info No No
Order Type - OTO info No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info No No
Beginners Robinhood Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info No Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info No Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Robinhood Public.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features Robinhood Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting Robinhood Public.com
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 6 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info No Yes
Trading Platforms Robinhood Public.com
Active Trading Platform info Robinhood Legend n/a
Desktop Trading Platform info No No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info No No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Trade Journal info No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 3 3
Stock Chart Features Robinhood Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 16 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 23 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 1 0
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Robinhood Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No info No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Robinhood Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info No No info
Stock Research Robinhood Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 info 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info No No
Stock Research - Social info No No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info No No
ETF Research Robinhood Public.com
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No info No
Mutual Fund Research Robinhood Public.com
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info No No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading Robinhood Public.com
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes No
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info Yes No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 17 4
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info Yes No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info Yes No
Banking Robinhood Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service Robinhood Public.com
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info No No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall Robinhood Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 3.5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Robinhood Review Public.com Review
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