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Public.com vs SoFi Invest® 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

February 20, 2025

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

Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info
SoFi Invest®
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $5.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When weighing your options between Public.com and SoFi Invest®, it's crucial to consider what each platform offers. Both online brokers provide stock, margin, options, fractional shares, and OTC stock trading. However, SoFi Invest® distinguishes itself with mutual funds and IRA accounts, making it a more comprehensive choice for long-term investment strategies. In contrast, Public.com shines in the crypto arena, offering trading in 22 cryptocurrencies, which SoFi Invest® does not support. Ultimately, your investment needs and goals will guide you to the right platform.

Public.com is recognized for its straightforward approach to investing, enabling investors to trade a range of assets, including stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies, without the complexity of mutual funds or traditional and Roth IRAs. Its unique appeal lies in the ability to trade fractional shares and access to OTC stocks, catering to both novice and experienced investors alike. While it lacks advisory services, Public.com offers a platform tailored for those keen on managing their own investments, including a notable selection in the cryptocurrency space.

On the other hand, SoFi Invest® provides a more diverse suite of investment options, appealing to those interested in traditional financial growth vehicles. Apart from offering the standard stock, margin, and options trading, SoFi Invest® gives access to mutual funds and supports traditional and Roth IRA accounts, facilitating a comprehensive retirement planning experience. Additionally, SoFi Invest® offers advisor services, assisting investors in navigating their financial landscape with expert insights, though it falls short in not providing cryptocurrency trading, which might deter crypto enthusiasts.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info No Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes No info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 0
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 deciding between Public.com and SoFi Invest® for trading platforms and tools, it's important to note that both have notable limitations. Public.com narrowly edges out SoFi Invest® in terms of ratings, earning 2 stars compared to SoFi's 1.5 stars. Additionally, in a ranking of 16 brokers, Public.com is placed at #15, while SoFi Invest® ranks at #16, pointing to a slight preference for Public.com regarding the trading experience offered.

In terms of platform accessibility, both brokers lack downloadable desktop options for Windows and Mac users, but they do offer browser-based platforms. Neither offers a trading journal or paper trading options, which can be essential for beginners looking to track or simulate trading strategies. Both platforms provide limited watchlist customization with just three fields, and neither allows for adjustments on stock charts or offers technical indicators and drawing tools. This can be a setback for traders seeking to perform detailed technical analysis.

Charting capabilities also highlight differences between the two platforms. Public.com stands out by allowing index overlays on charts, a feature absent in SoFi Invest®. However, neither can show historical trades or corporate events on charts, nor can they set custom date ranges or display automated technical analysis, highlighting a shared limitation. While customization in chart studies like SMA is non-existent for both, the overall offerings suggest that users seeking more comprehensive tools may need to consider alternatives. Nonetheless, Public.com provides slightly better charting functionalities overall compared to SoFi Invest®.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
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 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: 7 Best Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025

Featured Offers


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Beginners and education

When it comes to investor education and resources tailored for beginners, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® offer a range of tools to help you get started. Pubic.com provides educational materials on stocks, ETFs, and options, along with the option to engage in educational webinars and access a library of videos. However, they do not cover mutual funds or bonds, nor do they offer paper trading or learning progress tracking features. SoFi Invest®, on the other hand, presents a slightly broader educational spectrum, encompassing stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds. Although lacking in educational videos and quizzes, SoFi Invest® matches Public.com with its webinar offerings.

Public.com enjoys a respectable educational ranking, earning 3.5 out of five stars and placing 12th among 16 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. Comparatively, SoFi Invest® boasts a higher rating of 4.5 stars and secures a top-six position on the same list. While both platforms serve novice investors well, SoFi Invest® edges out as a more comprehensive choice, especially for those interested in mutual funds and bonds education.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No Yes
Education (Bonds) info No Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025

Stock trading apps

Public.com and SoFi Invest® are both highly accessible for mobile trading with apps available for both iPhone and Android users. However, they differ in specific functionalities. Public.com stands out by offering mobile after-hours stock trading and mobile options trading, which SoFi Invest® lacks. Moreover, Public.com provides the option to customize watch list columns, whereas this feature is not available with SoFi Invest®. Both platforms allow viewing multiple time frames for charting, but only Public.com supports displaying stock comparisons on mobile app charts.

Despite their distinctive features, neither Public.com nor SoFi Invest® provides streaming quotes, live TV, videos on demand, or stock alerts, which might limit real-time information access for traders. They both also lack the ability to create custom watch lists and view charts in landscape mode, which might be appealing to some advanced users. Furthermore, neither app offers any technical studies for chart analysis, potentially reducing their attractiveness for technical traders looking for in-depth analytical tools.

When ranked by StockBrokers.com, Public.com holds a slight edge over SoFi Invest®, being ranked 15th compared to SoFi Invest®’s 16th in stock trading apps. Despite this, they score equally with a 3.5-star rating out of five, indicating a moderate level of customer satisfaction. Both brokerages cater well to novice investors looking to trade on-the-go, but may need further enhancements in app features to attract more experienced traders seeking comprehensive trading functionalities.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Stock Alerts info No info No
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

When comparing online brokers Public.com and SoFi Invest®, both platforms provide zero commission trading for regular stock trades and options contracts. The major differentiators lie in their account fees and charges. Public.com requires a higher minimum deposit of $20 compared to SoFi Invest®'s $5, but generally offers lower fees for services such as margin borrowing and account transfers. SoFi Invest® stands out with no charges for IRA annual fees but imposes certain fees for IRA closures and options exercises.

For investors who plan on using margin, Public.com's rates are generally more competitive, with a 6.75% rate for balances between $50,000 and $99,999 compared to SoFi Invest®'s consistent 11.25% across similar balance tiers. However, Public.com does charge $75 for both partial and full Account Transfers (ACAT), which is slightly cheaper than SoFi’s $100 charge for the same service. Additionally, Public.com does not charge options exercise or assignment fees, which can make a difference for active options traders.

SoFi Invest® waives the IRA annual fees, making it potentially more appealing for retirement-focused investors despite its $20 fee for closing an IRA account and $5 charges for exercising or assigning options. Public.com, on the other hand, shines for those looking for a lower-cost margin investing experience and who prefer to avoid fees on basic trading operations. Overall, the choice between the two platforms might hinge on what specific services an investor prioritizes.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Minimum Deposit info $20.00 $5.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 info $0.00
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 info $0.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $5.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $5.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $20.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025

Day Trading

If you're considering day trading with Public.com or SoFi Invest®, it's essential to understand the capabilities they provide. Both platforms are designed for ease of use but don't offer specialized day trading tools. Neither Public.com nor SoFi Invest® provides streaming time and sales for stocks, streaming live TV, or direct market routing. Additionally, they lack ladder trading features, trading hotkeys for quick trade entry, and more advanced capabilities like level 2 quotes or strategy backtesting. This means that more complex day trading strategies might be hard to implement on these platforms.

For traders interested in using specialized tools for more strategic trades, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® might not meet all your needs. They don't offer a short locator tool to check real-time availability of shortable shares, nor do they provide order liquidity rebates. Potential users seeking these components for day trading should consider this aspect carefully. While both platforms have their strengths, such as low fees and user-friendly interfaces, dedicated day traders may find the lack of advanced features limiting.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No 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 comparing the market research capabilities of Public.com and SoFi Invest®, it's clear that Public.com provides a more comprehensive research suite. Public.com supports stock, ETF, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, earning a rating of 2 stars for market research and securing the 12th spot out of 16 brokers. Meanwhile, SoFi Invest® falls short, offering only the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. It earns a modest 0.5 stars, placing it at the bottom, ranked 16th among its peers.

Public.com stands out for investors looking to explore a broad range of assets, as it delivers insights into stocks, ETFs, and more obscure markets like Pink Sheets and OTCBB. However, it lacks mutual fund and bond research, downloadable PDF reports, and screeners for trade ideas. While it doesn't offer ESG research, it remains a viable option for those who prioritize stock and ETF analysis.

Conversely, SoFi Invest® primarily focuses on providing tools for portfolio allocation by asset class but falls short on market research. It doesn't deliver research on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, and lacks screener tools for generating trade ideas. Like Public.com, it does not support ESG research or downloadable PDF reports, limiting its appeal to investors seeking in-depth market insights. As a result, investors may find greater value in Public.com's offerings when research functionality is a priority.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Research - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info No No
Research - ETFs info Yes No
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 0.5/5 Stars

Banking

When it comes to banking options, SoFi Invest® stands out with a comprehensive range of services, making it a one-stop shop for users. Unlike Public.com, which does not provide any banking services, SoFi Invest® provides checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, as well as mortgage loans, offering better flexibility for managing your finances. While neither platform offers certificates of deposit (CDs), SoFi Invest® covers almost all other essential banking needs, making it a better choice for those seeking integrated financial services alongside their investment platform.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Checking Accounts info No Yes
Savings Accounts info No Yes
Debit Cards info No Yes
Credit Cards info No Yes
Mortgage Loans info No Yes
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 16 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Public.com is better than SoFi Invest®. Public.com finished with an overall score of 69.6%, while SoFi Invest® finished with a score of 64.6%.

Public is easy to use and offers a fascinating array of investment options. Along with stocks, ETFs, and crypto, there are managed Treasury bill accounts and alternative investments, such as shares in comic books and Banksy art. On the downside, Public uses its refusal to accept payment for order flow as justification for some startlingly high fees and spreads.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Public.com or SoFi Invest®?

When comparing online brokers, Public.com stands out by offering crypto trading with access to 22 different coins, while SoFi Invest® does not provide any crypto trading options, which may influence the decision-making process for investors interested in cryptocurrency markets.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Public.com or SoFi Invest® offer IRAs?

Public.com does not offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts, whereas SoFi Invest® provides both types of IRA accounts with no annual fee but charges a $20.00 closure fee.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Overall Rating Public.com SoFi Invest®
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 0.5/5 Stars
Customer Service N/A 4.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review SoFi Invest® Review
Broker Screenshots Public.com SoFi Invest®
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 Public.com SoFi Invest®
Minimum Deposit info $20.00 $5.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 info $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $2.99 N/A
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info n/a $0
Options (Per Contract) info $0.00 info $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) info (Not offered) $0.00
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info n/a N/A
Margin Rates Public.com SoFi Invest®
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 8.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 8.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 6.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 6.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 5.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 5.75% 11.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 5.75% 11.25%
Account Fees Public.com SoFi Invest®
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $20.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $5.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $5.00
Investment Options Public.com SoFi Invest®
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 0 0
Futures Trading info No No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info Yes No info
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 22 0
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 6000
Bonds (US Treasury) info Yes No
Bonds (Corporate) info Yes No
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info No Yes
Roth IRAs info No Yes
Advisor Services info No Yes
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Public.com SoFi Invest®
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes info Yes
Order Type - Stop info Yes No
Order Type - Trailing Stop info No No
Order Type - OCO info No No
Order Type - OTO info No No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info No No
Beginners Public.com SoFi Invest®
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No Yes
Education (Bonds) info No Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info No No
Videos info Yes No
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps Public.com SoFi Invest®
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info No No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes No
Trading - Complex Options info No No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info No No
Stock App Features Public.com SoFi Invest®
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info No info No
Option Chains Viewable info Yes No
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info No No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info No No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes No
Stock App Charting Public.com SoFi Invest®
Charting - After-Hours info No No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info No No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 0 0
Charting - Study Customizations info No No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes No
Trading Platforms Public.com SoFi Invest®
Active Trading Platform info n/a 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 Public.com SoFi Invest®
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 0 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 0 0
Charting - Notes info No No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info No No
Charting - Corporate Events info No No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info No No
Charting - Save Profiles info No No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 0 0
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Public.com SoFi Invest®
Streaming Time & Sales info No No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hotkeys info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info No 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 Public.com SoFi Invest®
Research - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info No No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info No info Yes
Stock Research Public.com SoFi Invest®
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 info 0
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes No
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 Public.com SoFi Invest®
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes No
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info No No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info No Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info No No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info No No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research Public.com SoFi Invest®
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 Public.com SoFi Invest®
Option Chains - Basic View info No Yes
Option Chains - Strategy View info No No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 4 0
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 0
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes No
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis info No No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info No No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info No No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Public.com SoFi Invest®
Bank (Member FDIC) info No Yes
Checking Accounts info No Yes
Savings Accounts info No Yes
Credit Cards info No Yes
Debit Cards info No Yes
Mortgage Loans info No Yes
Customer Service Public.com SoFi Invest®
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Phone Support (Current Customers) info No Yes
Email Support info Yes No
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Public.com SoFi Invest®
Overall 3.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 2/5 Stars 1.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 3.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 2/5 Stars 0.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Public.com Review SoFi Invest® Review
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