★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Public.com vs The Motley Fool
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 care about brokerage, options, and downloadable tax reports, things The Motley Fool doesn't offer
Pick The Motley Fool if
The Motley Fool
Free • From $16.58/mo · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- You care about stock ideas, news, and education, things Public.com doesn't offer
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
See alternativesOutbound links may include affiliate or sponsor codes.
Our take
The bottom line
Public.com and The Motley Fool cover a lot of the same ground (2 shared categories, portfolio and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. The Motley Fool simply does more: 8 categories to Public.com's 5, including stock ideas, news, and education. Public.com counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Public.com
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
The Motley Fool
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- The Motley Fool
- Broader coverage
- The Motley Fool8 vs 5 categories
- API access
- Public.com
- Asset coverage
- Public.comAdds options and bonds
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 | Free • From $16.58/mo |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | — | No |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | — |
Categories covered | 5 | 8 |
Regions | North America | — |
| Try it | Visit Public.com | Visit The Motley Fool |
Where each one shines
What Public.com and The Motley Fool each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Public.com and The Motley Fool 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 The Motley Fool does best
- Reading access to free investing articles, market news, educational content, podcasts, and market snapshots on Fool.com.
- Stock Advisor for two new stock recommendations per month at $199/year for the annual plan.
- Upgrade to Epic for broader access including Rule Breakers, Dividend Investor, Hidden Gems, FoolIQ/GamePlan, AI-powered tools, and five monthly recommendations.
- Epic Plus for more recommendation volume, including 8+ monthly stock recommendations and daily Moneyball recommendations.
- Fool Portfolios and Fool One for real-money portfolio access, specialized research and events.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and The Motley Fool, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and The Motley Fool, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBonds | StocksETFs |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Regions | North America | Not specified |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | Manual |
Export formats | CSVPDF | Not specified |
| Plans & trust | ||
Vendor & support | Open to the Public Investing, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Chat and Email | The Motley Fool, LLCCountry: USFounded 1993Support: Phone |
Curation ratings | Not specified | Methodology 3/5Reliability 4/5UX 4/5 |
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” | Free |
| Entry paid plan | $10/mo“Public Premium” | $16.58/mo“Stock Advisor annual” |
| Tier 2 | — | $41.58/mo“Epic annual” |
| Tier 3 | — | $166.58/mo“Epic Plus annual” |
| Tier 4 | — | $333.25/mo“Fool Portfolios annual” |
| Top plan | — | $1166.58/mo“Fool One” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Public.com and The Motley Fool?
Public.com leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while The Motley Fool puts more weight on stock ideas, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 2 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Public.com or The Motley Fool free to use?
The Motley Fool has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Public.com is paid-only. If budget matters, start with The Motley Fool and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Does Public.com or The Motley Fool have an API?
Public.com has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. The Motley Fool doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Public.com or The Motley Fool?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Public.com if brokerage and options matter to you; go with The Motley Fool if you'd rather have stock ideas and news. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Public.com and The Motley Fool cover?
Both cover stocks and ETFs. Public.com also handles options and bonds.
Can I export data from Public.com and The Motley Fool?
Public.com exports to CSV. The Motley Fool is stingier about getting data out.
Can I track my portfolio with Public.com or The Motley Fool?
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.