Robinhood vs Public
Robinhood
Commission-free mobile trading app with 23.5M users focused on beginner and retail day traders.
Active traders and day traders seeking speed, beginners with limited capital, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and mobile-first investors.
Public
Social-first investing platform combining commission-free trading with community features and educational content.
Beginner and intermediate investors seeking education, community-driven decision makers, options traders wanting tighter spreads, and investors building long-term positions.
Short Answer
Robinhood offers commission-free trading with lower account minimums and faster execution, while Public emphasizes social investing features, lower spreads on options, and educational content. Robinhood is better for active traders seeking speed, whereas Public appeals to beginners wanting community-driven investing.
Our Verdict
AI-assistedChoose Robinhood if you're an active trader prioritizing execution speed, lower minimums, and cryptocurrency access for frequent position changes. Choose Public if you're a beginner or intermediate investor who values educational resources, tighter options spreads, and want a community-driven experience that encourages informed decision-making.
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Choose Robinhood if
Active traders and day traders seeking speed, beginners with limited capital, cryptocurrency enthusiasts, and mobile-first investors.
Choose Public if
Beginner and intermediate investors seeking education, community-driven decision makers, options traders wanting tighter spreads, and investors building long-term positions.
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Key Differences at a Glance
Key Facts & Figures
| Metric | Robinhood | Public | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — | — |
| Funded Customers(millions) | 27.2 (Jan 2026) | — | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $324.4 (Jan 2026) | — | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Limited (basic IRA options) | — | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 (iOS) | — | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Limited | — | — |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | $4.5B | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Quarterly Trading Volume(USD Billions) | $22.9B (Jan 2026, crypto only) | — | — |
| Net Deposits Growth (Recent)(USD Billions) | $4.5B (January 2026) | — | — |
| Monthly Account Fee(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Commission Per Trade(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Estimated User Base (2026)(millions) | 22+ million | — | — |
| Average Options Spread Tightness(percent difference vs market) | Standard spreads | 35% tighter | -100% |
| Order Execution Speed(milliseconds) | 50-100ms | 200-300ms | -70% |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $1 | -100% |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | Free | — |
| Options Trading Commission(USD per contract) | Free | Free | — |
| Educational Content Available(learning resources) | Basic tutorials only | 250+ courses and articles | -94% |
| Cryptocurrencies Supported(coins) | 7 cryptocurrencies | None | — |
| Total Assets Under Management(billion USD) | $85 billion | — | — |
| Active User Base(Millions) | 23.5 million | — | — |
| Stock Commission per Trade(USD) | $0 | — | — |
| Options Contract Fee(USD per contract) | $0.00 | — | — |
| Account Types Supported(Count) | 2 types | — | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — | — |
All figures sourced from publicly available data. Last updated Jun 2026.
Key Differences
Robinhood
$0🏆
Public
$1
Robinhood
Standard market spreads
Public
Average 35% tighter spreads🏆
Robinhood
Average 50-100ms🏆
Public
Average 200-300ms
Robinhood
$0 stocks, options, crypto
Public
$0 stocks, options, crypto
Robinhood
Minimal social integration
Public
Built-in social feed, portfolio sharing🏆
Robinhood
Limited learning resources
Public
250+ video courses and articles🏆
Robinhood
7 cryptocurrencies available🏆
Public
Not offered
Full Comparison
| Attribute | Robinhood |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on Stock Trades(USD) | Free | — |
| Commission Per Trade(USD) | $0 | — |
| Stock Trading Commission(USD per trade) | Free | Free |
| Options Trading Commission(USD per contract) | Free | Free |
| Stock Commission per Trade(USD) | $0 | — |
Show 1 more attributeOptions Contract Fee(USD per contract) $0.00 — | ||
| Funded Customers(millions) | 27.2 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Total Platform Assets(billions USD) | $324.4 (Jan 2026) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Products(count) | Extensive with global expansion 2026 | — |
| Retirement Account Types(count) | Limited (basic IRA options) | — |
| International Trading(availability) | Limited, expanding in 2026 | — |
| Options Trading(availability) | Available | — |
| Mutual Fund Selection(count) | Limited | — |
| Research Tools Quality(tier) | Basic charting and market data | — |
| Research Tools Depth | Basic | — |
| Mobile App Rating(stars) | 4.8/5 (iOS) | — |
| Professional Advisory Available(boolean) | No | — |
| Account Types Available | Trading & crypto accounts | — |
| Commission on Stock Trading | Free | — |
| Fee Efficiency for Small Trades(Relative Cost) | Lower fees on small crypto buys | — |
| Fee Efficiency for Large Trades(Relative Cost) | Less efficient for large orders | — |
| Average Options Spread Tightness(percent difference vs market) | Standard spreads | 35% tighter |
| 2025 Revenue(billion USD) | $4.5B | — |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Full support (20+ coins) | — |
| AI/Digital Planning Tools | Emerging tools | — |
| Fractional Shares Available | Yes (from $1) | — |
| Social/Community Features(feature count) | Minimal integration | Full social feed and portfolio sharing |
| Mobile App Experience | Best-in-class for beginners | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Trading Availability(Hours/Week) | 24/5 with crypto focus | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Quarterly Trading Volume(USD Billions) | $22.9B (Jan 2026, crypto only) | — |
| Monthly Active Users(millions) | Millions (exact 2026 figure undisclosed) | — |
| Cryptocurrency Assets Available(Count) | Limited selection | — |
| Asset Classes Offered(Types) | Stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, prediction markets | — |
| Net Deposits Growth (Recent)(USD Billions) | $4.5B (January 2026) | — |
| Monthly Account Fee(USD) | $0 | — |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | — |
| Portfolio Management | Self-directed | — |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Full support (50+ cryptocurrencies) | — |
| Options Trading Available | Yes (with approval) | — |
| Estimated User Base (2026)(millions) | 22+ million | — |
| Order Execution Speed(milliseconds) | 50-100ms | 200-300ms |
| Minimum Account Balance(USD) | $0 | $1 |
| Educational Content Available(learning resources) | Basic tutorials only | 250+ courses and articles |
| Cryptocurrencies Supported(coins) | 7 cryptocurrencies | None |
| Total Assets Under Management(billion USD) | $85 billion | — |
| Active User Base(Millions) | 23.5 million | — |
| Account Types Supported(Count) | 2 types | — |
PublicShow 1 more attribute
Visual Comparison
Side-by-side comparison of numeric attributes
Pros & Cons
Robinhood
Pros
- No minimum account balance required ($0 to start)
- Industry-leading execution speed averaging 50-100ms
- Access to 7 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum
- Fractional share investing from $1 increments
- Mobile-first design optimized for on-the-go trading
Cons
- Limited educational resources compared to competitors
- Higher options spreads than Public (standard market rates)
- Controversial order-routing practices and payment for order flow model
Public
Pros
- 35% tighter average spreads on options contracts vs standard market
- 250+ video courses, articles, and learning materials for all levels
- Social feed allowing users to discuss stocks and share portfolios anonymously
- Dividend tracking and automatic reinvestment features
- Fractional shares available from $1 investments
Cons
- $1 minimum account balance (vs $0 for Robinhood)
- Slower execution speed (200-300ms average)
- No cryptocurrency trading capabilities
Frequently Asked Questions
Public is superior for options trading due to 35% tighter average spreads, which directly reduces your costs on every contract. However, Robinhood offers faster execution speeds (50-100ms vs 200-300ms), which matters if you're making time-sensitive trades. For most options traders, Public's spread advantage typically saves more money than Robinhood's speed advantage.
Resources & Learn More
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