★ BEST INVESTING TOOLS COMPARISON ★
VOL. XCIV, NO. 247
Tool details checked August 23, 2026
Tool Comparison
Public.com vs Yahoo Finance
Pick Public.com instead 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 and downloadable tax reports, things Yahoo Finance doesn't offer
Start here
Yahoo Finance
Free • From $95.40/yr · Web · Mobile
- You'd rather start free and only pay if you outgrow it
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You care about news, alerts, and calendar, things Public.com doesn't offer
Already use these? The faster win is ranked stock ideas or the free-tools shortlist.
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 Yahoo Finance cover a lot of the same ground (3 shared categories, portfolio, watchlist, and options), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Yahoo Finance simply does more: 22 categories to Public.com's 5, including news, alerts, and calendar. Public.com counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Public.com
No votes yet. Cast the first one.
Yahoo Finance
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Key differences at a glance
- Free plan
- Yahoo Finance
- Free trial
- Yahoo Finance7 days
- Broader coverage
- Yahoo Finance22 vs 5 categories
- API access
- Public.com
- Real-time data
- Yahoo Finance
- Global coverage
- Yahoo Finance
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 $95.40/yr |
Free tier | No | Yes |
Free trial | — | 7 days |
Plan limits | — | 13 limits: Free: data use: Yahoo states Finance data is informational only and not intended for..., Bronze (Monthly): billing notes: Yahoo currently advertises $6.95/month for the first year, then $9.95... +11 more |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | No |
Broker sync | — | Yes |
Integrations | — | Plaid and Yodlee |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | — | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +4 more |
Categories covered | 5 | 22 |
Regions | North America | North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, Middle East, Africa |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | — | 3 signals: Latency: Real-time and 15-min Delayed, Granularity: EOD +1 more |
Data partners | — | 15 partners: ICE Data Services, CoinMarketCap +13 more |
Capabilities | — | 4 signals: Universe builder, Broker sync +2 more |
| Try it | Visit Public.com | Visit Yahoo Finance |
Where each one shines
What Public.com and Yahoo Finance each do best.ShowHide
Where each one shines
What Public.com and Yahoo Finance 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 Yahoo Finance does best
- Tracking stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, futures, currencies, commodities, crypto, and indices from a widely used web and mobile product.
- Quote pages for charts, financial statements, valuation ratios, analyst estimates, ratings, price targets, news, SEC filings, transcripts, holders, insider transactions, dividends, and ESG data where available.
- Tools for building watchlists and portfolios with manual lots, cash transactions, dividend tracking, fantasy holdings, CSV import/export, and supported brokerage-linked portfolios.
- Monitor market news, trending tickers, earnings, IPOs, splits, other market events, and quote-page analysis from one familiar finance homepage.
- Yahoo Finance stock screeners and charting for basic idea generation, symbol comparison, indicators, and multi-symbol chart workflows.
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and Yahoo Finance, side by side.ShowHide
Every detail we compared
Every tracked attribute for Public.com and Yahoo Finance, side by side.| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsBonds | StocksETFsMutual FundsOptionsFuturesCommoditiesCurrenciesCryptos |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Not specified | Retail TradersPro RetailLong-term InvestorsDividend InvestorsGrowth InvestorsValue Investors |
Regions | North America | North AmericaEuropeAPACLatAmMiddle EastAfrica |
Coverage details | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP | Identifiers: Ticker |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | Not specified | Real-time15-min Delayed |
Data granularity | Not specified | EOD |
Data partners | Not specified | ICE Data ServicesCoinMarketCapMorningstarS&P Global Market IntelligenceLSEG Data & AnalyticsWall Street Horizon (TMX)Commodity Systems, Inc.Vickers+7 more |
| Access & integrations | ||
Import methods | Not specified | CSVManualBrokerOAuth |
Integrations | Not specified | PlaidYodlee |
Export formats | CSVPDF | CSV |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Not specified | Universe builderBroker syncPortfolio attributionTax lots |
Vendor & support | Open to the Public Investing, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Chat and Email | Yahoo |
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” | Freedata use: Yahoo states Finance data is informational only and not intended for... |
| Entry paid plan | $10/mo“Public Premium” | $95.40/yr≈ $7.95/mo“Bronze (Annual)”billing notes: Yahoo currently advertises $66.60 for the first year, then $95.40/yea... · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Tier 2 | — | $9.95/mo“Bronze (Monthly)”billing notes: Yahoo currently advertises $6.95/month for the first year, then $9.95... · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Tier 3 | — | $239.40/yr≈ $19.95/mo“Silver (Annual)”billing notes: Billed $239.40 yearly ($19.95/month equivalent). · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Tier 4 | — | $24.95/mo“Silver (Monthly)”billing notes: Billed monthly at $24.95. · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Tier 5 | — | $479.40/yr≈ $39.95/mo“Gold (Annual)”billing notes: Billed $479.40 yearly ($39.95/month equivalent) after the 7-day free... · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Top plan | — | $49.95/mo“Gold (Monthly)”billing notes: Billed monthly at $49.95 after the 7-day free trial. · availability: Select subscription plans are described as offered in the US and Cana... |
| Free trial | — | 7 days |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Public.com and Yahoo Finance?
Public.com leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Yahoo Finance puts more weight on news, alerts, and calendar. They overlap in 3 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
Is Public.com or Yahoo Finance free to use?
Yahoo Finance has a free tier, so you can get started without paying anything. Public.com is paid-only. If budget matters, start with Yahoo Finance and see how far it takes you before opening your wallet.
Does Public.com or Yahoo Finance have an API?
Public.com has an API for programmatic access and custom integrations. Yahoo Finance doesn't, so you're working through its interface.
Should I choose Public.com or Yahoo Finance?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Public.com if brokerage and downloadable tax reports matter to you; go with Yahoo Finance if you'd rather have news and alerts. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Public.com and Yahoo Finance cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, and options. Public.com also handles bonds. Yahoo Finance adds mutual funds, futures, and commodities on top.
Does Public.com or Yahoo Finance have real-time data?
Yahoo Finance offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Public.com runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Which covers international markets: Public.com or Yahoo Finance?
Yahoo Finance has documented international coverage (North America, Europe, APAC, LatAm, and more), so it's the safer bet if you hold non-US stocks. Public.com is more region-specific, mainly North America.
Can I export data from Public.com and Yahoo Finance?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Which has a better stock screener: Public.com or Yahoo Finance?
Yahoo Finance has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Public.com doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Public.com or Yahoo Finance?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
Feedback
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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.