Robinhood vs Public.com 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.
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.
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes |
OTC Stocks | No | Yes |
Mutual Funds | No | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 22 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 16 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Videos | No | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
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 |
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|
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iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
Charting - Technical Studies | 6 | 0 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | No | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
Research - Bonds | No | No |
Screener - Bonds | No | No |
Research |
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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 |
|
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | No | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | Yes | No |
Credit Cards | Yes | No |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025
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.
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
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
Select Brokers
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Robinhood | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service | N/A | N/A | |
Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Robinhood Review | Public.com Review |
Broker Screenshots | Robinhood | Public.com | |
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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 | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | N/A | $2.99 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | N/A | n/a | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | N/A | n/a |
Margin Rates | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 5.75% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 5.75% | 8.75% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 5.55% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 5.25% | 6.75% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 5.25% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 5.25% | 5.75% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 5% | 5.75% |
Account Fees | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | ||
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | ||
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $100.00 | $75.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $100.00 | $75.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | No | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
Futures Trading | No | No | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 22 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | 0 | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | No | Yes | |
Bonds (Corporate) | No | Yes | |
Bonds (Municipal) | No | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
Advisor Services | No | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
Order Types | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OCO | No | No | |
Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | No | No |
Beginners | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Videos | No | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | No |
Stock App Features | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 6 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | Robinhood Legend | n/a | |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 16 | 0 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 23 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | No | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 1 | 0 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
Day Trading | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
Streaming TV | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No | |
Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | No | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
Short Locator | No | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Bonds | No | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
Screener - Bonds | No | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | No | No |
Stock Research | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | No | No | |
Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | No |
ETF Research | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overview | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | No | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
Options Trading | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 17 | 4 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis | No | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | No | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | Yes | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | Yes | No |
Banking | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
Checking Accounts | No | No | |
Savings Accounts | No | No | |
Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
Customer Service | Robinhood | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | No | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | No | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | No |
Overall | Robinhood | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease Of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Robinhood Review | Public.com Review |