★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked July 17, 2026
Tool Comparison
Public.com vs RBC Direct Investing
Pick Public.com if
Public.com
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Pick RBC Direct Investing if
RBC Direct Investing
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile
Skip both if: These two cover the same ground; it really comes down to price and which interface you enjoy using.
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Our take
The bottom line
Public.com and RBC Direct Investing cover a lot of the same ground (5 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. On paper they're closely matched, so let pricing, platform fit, and the details below break the tie.
What readers say
Public.com
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RBC Direct Investing
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Key differences at a glance
- Asset coverage
- RBC Direct InvestingAdds mutual funds
See for yourself
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.ShowHide
How they stack up
The side-by-side table: pricing, platforms, data, and coverage at a glance.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | No | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 5 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Try it | Visit Public.com | Visit RBC Direct Investing |
Where each one shines
What Public.com and RBC Direct Investing each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Public.com and RBC Direct Investing each do best.What Public.com does best
- Regular-hours U.S.-listed stock and ETF trades with $0 stated commission.
- Listed stock and ETF options with no base commission or standard contract fee.
- Eligible stock and ETF fractions from $5, with security and transfer limitations.
- Cash or margin brokerage plus Traditional and Roth IRA registrations.
- Recurring Investment Plans spanning up to 20 stock and ETF symbols per purchase.
What RBC Direct Investing does best
- Canadian and U.S. stocks and ETFs with standard and active pricing.
- More than 50 selected ETFs eligible for conditional $0 online commissions.
- Options, mutual funds, bonds, GICs and international trading access.
- CAD and USD non-registered and major Canadian registered accounts.
- Instant eligible RBC transfers plus external account transfers.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and RBC Direct Investing, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and RBC Direct Investing, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBonds | StocksETFsOptionsMutual FundsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Countries: CAIdentifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Access & integrations | ||
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Open to the Public Investing, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Chat and Email | RBC Direct Investing Inc.Country: CanadaSupport: Phone and Email |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.ShowHide
What you'll actually pay
Plans, billing, trials, and per-month pricing for both tools.| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Standard” | — |
| Entry paid plan | $10/mo“Public Premium” | — |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Public.com and RBC Direct Investing?
Public.com leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while RBC Direct Investing puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 5 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Public.com and RBC Direct Investing cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
What asset classes do Public.com and RBC Direct Investing cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. RBC Direct Investing adds mutual funds on top.
Can I export data from Public.com and RBC Direct Investing?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Can I track my portfolio with Public.com or RBC Direct Investing?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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Curation & Accuracy
This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.