Tool Comparison
Public.com vs Robinhood
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want watchlist and downloadable tax reports.
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Mobile, Web
Best if
- You want wealth management.
Pick Public.com if
Public.com
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · API
- You want an API so you can script or automate things
- You want watchlist and downloadable tax reports.
Pick Robinhood if
Robinhood
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Mobile · Web
- You want wealth management.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Public.com and Robinhood cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, brokerage, portfolio, and options), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Public.com includes watchlist and downloadable tax reports, and Robinhood includes wealth management.
What readers say
Public.com
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Key differences at a glance
- API access
- Public.com
- Free trial
- Robinhood30 days
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 Robinhood does best
- Trading access for U.S. listed and OTC securities, including ETFs and closed-end funds, with $0 self-directed commissions where regulatory and other pass-through fees may still apply.
- Trading access for listed options after approval, with index options contract fees discounted for Robinhood Gold users.
- Robinhood Gold includes higher Instant Deposit limits, a preferred IRA match, the first $1,000 of margin borrowing, and discounted derivatives fees.
- Gold members can enroll eligible taxable accounts in the High-Yield Cash Program.
- Trading access for crypto through Robinhood Crypto, with costs depending on routing model, Smart Exchange Routing fees, network fees, and staking commissions where applicable.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| 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 | — | 30 days |
Plan limits | — | 5 limits: Standard (Self-directed brokerage): index options contract fee: $0.50 per contract (non-Gold), Robinhood Gold (Monthly): interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 +3 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Integrations | — | EDX Markets and Bitstamp USA |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders and Pro Retail |
Categories covered | 5 | 4 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data partners | — | EDX Markets, Inc. and Bitstamp USA, Inc. |
Capabilities | — | AI summaries: News |
Security | — | Status page |
| Try it | Visit Public.com | Visit Robinhood |
Standout features
The best features of Public.com and Robinhood.ShowHide
Standout features
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 Robinhood does best
- Trading access for U.S. listed and OTC securities, including ETFs and closed-end funds, with $0 self-directed commissions where regulatory and other pass-through fees may still apply.
- Trading access for listed options after approval, with index options contract fees discounted for Robinhood Gold users.
- Robinhood Gold includes higher Instant Deposit limits, a preferred IRA match, the first $1,000 of margin borrowing, and discounted derivatives fees.
- Gold members can enroll eligible taxable accounts in the High-Yield Cash Program.
- Trading access for crypto through Robinhood Crypto, with costs depending on routing model, Smart Exchange Routing fees, network fees, and staking commissions where applicable.
All details
Every attribute we track for Public.com and Robinhood.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBonds | StocksETFsClosed-End FundsOptionsFuturesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro Retail |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data partners | Not specified | EDX Markets, Inc.Bitstamp USA, Inc. |
| Access & integrations | ||
Integrations | Not specified | EDX MarketsBitstamp USA |
Export formats | CSVPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Security & compliance | Not specified | Status page |
Capability signals | Not specified | AI summaries: News |
Vendor & support | Open to the Public Investing, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Chat and Email | Robinhood Markets, Inc.Country: United States |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Core” | Free“Standard (Self-directed brokerage)”index options contract fee: $0.50 per contract (non-Gold) |
| Entry paid plan | $20/mo“Public Reserve” | $50/yr≈ $4.17/mo“Robinhood Gold (Annual)”interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 · index options contract fee: $0.35 per contract (Gold) |
| Top plan | — | $5/mo“Robinhood Gold (Monthly)”interest free margin borrowing: $1,000 · index options contract fee: $0.35 per contract (Gold) |
| Free trial | — | 30 days |
Alternatives
Free alternatives
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Public.com and Robinhood?
Public.com leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Robinhood puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and options. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Public.com and Robinhood cost?
Neither has a free plan, but Robinhood offers a free trial. Compare the paid tiers against your required data coverage before committing.
Does Public.com or Robinhood have an API?
Public.com has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Robinhood doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Public.com or Robinhood?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Public.com if watchlist and downloadable tax reports matter to you; go with Robinhood if you'd rather have wealth management. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Public.com and Robinhood cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and options. Public.com also handles bonds. Robinhood adds closed-end funds, futures, and cryptos on top.
Can I export data from Public.com and Robinhood?
Public.com exports to CSV. Robinhood is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with Public.com or Robinhood?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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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.