Public.com vs Robinhood: Which Broker Suits You?
Public.com scores 3.4 and Robinhood 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. Public.com leads on Asset Range; Robinhood leads on Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Costs & Fees and Platform & Tools. Both accept clients in the US.
Level on overall score
Public.com
3.4/5
Best for: Commission-free & social investing
Read the full Public.com review →Level on overall score
Robinhood
3.4/5
Best for: Mobile-first US investing
Read the full Robinhood review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| Public.com | Robinhood | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets | Stocks, ETFs, options and crypto |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades | A genuinely simple mobile app with an IRA contribution match |
| Watch out for | A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription | No mutual funds or individual bonds, and a $100 outgoing transfer fee |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US |
Is Public.com cheaper than Robinhood?
Both score 4/5 on Costs & Fees, so neither has a clear overall cost advantage on our measures; which is cheaper for you depends on what you trade, how often, and in which currency. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, Public.com or Robinhood?
Public.com is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Robinhood by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Robinhood scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (4/5 against 3/5). Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, Public.com scores 4/5 and Robinhood 5/5. Robinhood is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
Public.com
- Tends to suit
- Commission-free & social investing
- Stands out for
- Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades
- Watch out for
- A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription
Robinhood
- Tends to suit
- Mobile-first US investing
- Stands out for
- A genuinely simple mobile app with an IRA contribution match
- Watch out for
- No mutual funds or individual bonds, and a $100 outgoing transfer fee
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.