StockBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn how we make money.

Public.com vs SoFi Invest® 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

March 11, 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: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00

Range of investments

When deciding between Public.com and SoFi Invest® for your investment needs, it's important to consider their distinctive offerings. Both platforms excel in certain areas, but your choice should depend on your individual investment goals. If you're interested in a wide range of investment options, SoFi Invest® might be more appealing with its inclusion of mutual funds and IRA accounts. However, if your focus is on crypto trading, Public.com offers a significant advantage by providing access to 22 different cryptocurrencies, whereas SoFi Invest® does not support crypto trading at all. Both platforms are closely rated, with each earning a 3.5-star rating for their range of investments.

Public.com and SoFi Invest® both offer various trading opportunities, including stocks, options, and fractional shares. Additionally, both brokers facilitate margin trading and trading of OTC stocks, aligning with the diverse trading needs of investors. However, Public.com does not offer futures or forex trading, and it lacks traditional IRA and Roth IRA options, which SoFi Invest® does provide. Furthermore, SoFi Invest® stands out for offering advisor services, which can be beneficial for investors seeking guided financial advice for their portfolios.

The choice between Public.com and SoFi Invest® hinges on particular priorities. Whether your focus lies in cryptocurrency, offered by Public.com, or more traditional investment vehicles, like mutual funds and IRAs provided by SoFi Invest®, understanding these differences is crucial. Ultimately, both platforms offer unique advantages that cater to different investor preferences, earning them similar rankings for their range of investments according to StockBrokers.com.

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 considering online trading platforms, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® present basic options, with Public.com slightly edging ahead in terms of features. Neither broker offers a downloadable trading platform for Windows or Mac, nor do they provide paper trading or trading journals, which could be limiting for users looking for advanced trading tools. Public.com, however, allows users to add index overlays to charts, a feature absent in SoFi Invest®. Overall, Public.com receives a 2-star rating versus SoFi Invest®'s 1.5 stars for their trading platforms, ranking 14th and 15th respectively out of 15 brokers on StockBrokers.com.

Both brokers offer a browser-based trading platform, serving users who need a straightforward way to manage their investments online. The watch list functionality is similar for both platforms, offering three columns to organize important stocks. However, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® lack technical indicators, drawing tools, and options to customize or annotate charts. Neither platform allows users to adjust open orders directly on the stock chart or show historical trades and corporate events on charts.

Regarding customization, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® do not permit users to save multiple chart profiles or create custom studies for charts. The platforms are also limited without the option to set custom date ranges or show automated technical analysis. With no customization fields present for moving average studies, traders seeking dynamic charting capabilities might find these platforms lacking. However, for users focusing on basic features and ease of use, both brokers offer a simple and accessible starting point for online trading.

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

Featured Offers


5/5 Stars

Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™.

5/5 Stars

Get up to $1K on new brokerage account*

Beginners and education

When it comes to educating beginner investors and providing key learning resources, Public.com and SoFi Invest® both bring notable strengths to the table. Public.com offers educational content on stocks, ETFs, and options, supplemented with videos and webinars to enhance understanding. However, it lacks materials for mutual funds and bonds, and it doesn't provide the ability to engage in paper trading or track learning progress. Public.com receives a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars for its educational offerings, ranked #12 among 15 brokers surveyed.

On the other hand, SoFi Invest® stands out with education on stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, and bonds, providing a more comprehensive learning platform for beginner investors. Although SoFi Invest® does not offer educational videos, it compensates with webinars and educational support that earns it a higher rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Additionally, SoFi Invest® is ranked #6 for education out of 15 brokers by StockBrokers.com, indicating a better position in terms of educational resources for new investors.

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

When evaluating stock trading apps, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® present unique offerings but also share similarities. Both platforms boast iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility for most smartphone users. However, neither has ventured into the realm of Apple Watch apps. One of the significant distinctions lies in their mobile options trading capabilities—Public.com offers this feature, whereas SoFi Invest® does not. Additionally, Public.com provides the ability to customize watch list columns and display stock comparisons on charts, giving it a slight edge in chart personalization.

Both trading platforms allow users to engage in after-hours stock trading on mobile devices, a useful feature for those who prefer flexibility in their trading hours. Despite this, neither offers streaming quotes, live TV, nor videos on demand, focusing instead on core trading functionalities. Regarding charting capabilities, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® support viewing multiple time frames. However, neither platform includes technical studies or allows for landscape mode viewing, hinting at some limitations in charting features.

In terms of market perception, both Public.com and SoFi Invest® receive an average rating of 3.5 stars out of five for their stock trading apps. When ranked among 15 brokers by StockBrokers.com, Public.com holds the 14th position, slightly outperforming SoFi Invest®, which ranks 15th. While both platforms have their merits, Public.com offers a few more functionalities that might appeal to traders looking for additional customization and options trading on mobile. However, potential investors should consider their specific needs and preferences when choosing between these two brokers.

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 Public.com and SoFi Invest® for account fees and charges, each platform has unique advantages. Public.com requires a $20 minimum deposit, whereas SoFi Invest® offers flexibility with no minimum deposit requirement. Though both brokers provide commission-free trading on stocks and options contracts, Public.com holds an edge in margin trading fees and options-related fees. Meanwhile, SoFi Invest® attracts those seeking zero annual fees for IRA accounts, even though its closure fees are slightly higher.

Delving deeper into margin fees, Public.com offers more competitive rates, especially for balances above $50,000, with an 8.75% rate for amounts below $50,000 and a reduced 6.75% for balances ranging from $50,000 to $99,999. In contrast, SoFi Invest® maintains a steady margin fee of 11.25% across all tiers. Additionally, Public.com charges $75 for both partial and full account transfers via ACAT, while SoFi Invest® imposes a higher fee of $100 for the same services.

Furthermore, Public.com stands out with no fees for options exercises and assignments, a stark difference from SoFi Invest's $5 charge for each. While both platforms offer commission-free trading, it's clear that Public.com presents cost-effective solutions for active traders, particularly those engaging in options and margin trading. Conversely, SoFi Invest® remains appealing for investors focusing on IRA savings and seeking no minimum deposit requirements.

Feature Public.com logoPublic.com
SoFi Invest® logoSoFi Invest®
Minimum Deposit info $20.00 $0.00
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 it comes to comparing the market research capabilities of Public.com and SoFi Invest®, potential investors may find Public.com to be the more equipped platform. With a focus on providing stock and ETF research, plus insights into Pink Sheets and OTCBB, Public.com outshines SoFi Invest®, which lacks offerings in these areas. Despite both platforms having room for improvement, Public.com clearly has the upper hand with its range of market research tools, as reflected in its higher rating of 2 out of 5 stars compared to SoFi Invest®'s 0.5 stars.

On delving deeper into the specifics of their research features, Public.com covers research for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB, helping users gain a better understanding of these assets. However, neither platform excels in providing resources for mutual funds, bonds, or detailed ESG insights. Investors seeking comprehensive insights that encompass all asset classes might find both platforms lacking in certain areas, as Public.com does not offer information on portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature available with SoFi Invest®.

In terms of extra tools, neither Public.com nor SoFi Invest® offers downloadable PDF research reports, screeners for trade ideas, or social media sentiment data, which some investors may find limiting. These factors contribute to their lower rankings compared to other brokers, with Public.com being rated #12 out of 15 brokers by StockBrokers.com and SoFi Invest® sitting at the #15 spot. For investors who prioritize extensive market research, alternative platforms may prove to be more beneficial.

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 15 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

Popular trading guides

More trading guides

Popular broker reviews


Select Brokers

×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAlly Invest
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxE*TRADE
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFidelity
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFirstrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxJ.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxMerrill Edge
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPublic.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxRobinhood
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSoFi Invest®
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxtastytrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTradeStation
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxWebull

Compare

2 of 5
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 $0.00
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
arrow_upward

close