Comparison

Public vs Robinhood (2026)

Both are mobile-first apps aimed at newer investors. Public leans into transparency and a social, community feed and offers a Treasury account; Robinhood has a broader feature set and more mature trading. Pick Public if you value the social angle and transparency, Robinhood for the wider toolkit.

By Wealthy Pot · Last updated September 2026

FeaturePublicRobinhood
TypeApp-firstApp-first
Stock/ETF commission$0$0
Options per contract$0 (rebate model)$0.50/contract ($0.35 with Gold)
Account minimum$0$0
Fractional sharesYesYes
PlatformsWeb, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Best forMulti-asset beginners who want stocks, bonds, and alternatives in one modern appMobile-first beginners who want the simplest possible way to buy stocks and options

Where Public wins

  • Stocks, Treasuries, bonds, and alternatives together with a clean, social interface

Where Robinhood wins

  • The simplest mobile-first way to start investing
  • Fractional shares and 24-hour trading on many names
  • Stocks, options, and crypto in one app
  • Clean, approachable interface

Which should you choose?

Both are mobile-first apps aimed at newer investors. Public leans into transparency and a social, community feed and offers a Treasury account; Robinhood has a broader feature set and more mature trading. Pick Public if you value the social angle and transparency, Robinhood for the wider toolkit.

Compare these against every option in our online brokers comparison.

We summarize hands-on assessment, not user reviews. Commissions, options fees, and account minimums change often and are re-checked against each broker's official page. Some outbound links may be affiliate links. That never affects our comparisons. Nothing here is investment advice.