Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Robinhood
Where Public and Robinhood differ
| Compare |  Public |  Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | 3.95%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18 | $0Lower |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | $100 outgoing transfer |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Robinhood app, Robinhood Legend |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 10X |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC.
- Robinhood is licensed in 1 more country.
- Margin rate is lower at Robinhood: 3.95% vs 4.2%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Robinhood: $0 vs $0.060 to $0.18.
- Markets: only Public offers Bonds.
- Markets: only Robinhood offers Futures.
- Account types: only Robinhood offers Joint.
- Features: only Robinhood offers Futures.
- Pricing model: only Robinhood offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Public
Public suits people building a retirement account who care most about what a trade costs and where the money sits. Stock trades are $0, the account opens from $0, and protection runs to SIPC up to USD 500,000 in the US.
Robinhood
Robinhood suits first-time investors and small, regular investors who want nothing charged for holding or trading. It is the cheapest way in on our data, with a minimum deposit of $0, no account fee and no inactivity charge, under the Bank of Lithuania and SIPC.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Stock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.6Stock trades cost $0, options contracts $0, the account fee is $0 and inactivity is $0. |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 9.3 |
Where these facts come from
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Robinhood
- finder.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- mymillennialguide.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- financer.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- robinhood.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Public | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 49 of 490 | 13 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 14 of 85 | 1 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 15 of 103 | 1 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 7 of 22 | 2 of 22 |
| IRA providers | 11 of 43 | 1 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Futures, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Lithuania |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | 3.95%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0lowest quarter | $0.59 |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Public
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so a regular monthly purchase is not eaten by commission.
- The account opens from $0, which is below the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data.
- Cash parked in the high-yield account earns 3.3% while it waits to be invested.
Cons
- Options contracts add a fee of $0.06 to $0.18 each, on top of the premium you pay for the option itself.
- Margin borrowing runs at 4.2%, so borrowed positions carry an interest charge that keeps accruing.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for questions about a transfer or a tax form.
Robinhood
Pros
- Nothing to pay to open or hold an account, with an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0
- Trading a share costs $0, so a small first order is not eaten by commission
- You can start with a deposit of $0, lower than most brands on our data
Cons
- Leverage is available at 10X, which magnifies losses as well as gains
- Outgoing transfers carry a charge of $100 outgoing transfer
- Margin borrowing is priced at a margin rate of 3.95%, so interest adds to your cost
Who each suits
Public
Who it suits
- You are saving for retirement in the US and want commission-free stock trades in one account
- You want to hold spare cash at a stated rate while you decide what to buy
- You are starting with small amounts and want fractional shares rather than whole shares
Who should look elsewhere
- You need forex, CFDs or futures, which CFI and eToro both list in stocks, etfs and forex and stocks, etfs and forex
- You want a UK ISA or SIPP wrapper, neither of which appears in ira and roth ira
- You want to talk to a broker on the phone, since support covers email and help centre
Robinhood
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first account with a small deposit
- Day-traders working in options, futures and crypto on mobile
- Retirement investors using an IRA, Roth IRA or joint account
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage if a flat minimum deposit of $5 suits you better
- CFI if you want forex and CFDs alongside shares, since its markets cover stocks, etfs and forex
- eToro if social copy trading matters more than options and futures
Current offers
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Public | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Public
Is Public really commission free for stock trades?+
Yes. A stock trade costs $0, so buying shares itself carries no charge. The costs sit elsewhere: options contracts cost $0.06 to $0.18 each, and margin borrowing runs at 4.2%. A simple monthly share purchase only pays the trade charge of $0.
What is the minimum deposit at Public?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded from a very small amount. That is well under the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data, where the upper quartile sits at €87.70. No threshold has to be cleared before the first trade.
Robinhood
What does it cost to trade shares on Robinhood?+
Trading a share costs $0, and an options contract costs $0. There is also an account fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0, so nothing is taken for simply holding the account open. Borrowing on margin is charged at a margin rate of 3.95%, which is the main running cost if you use leverage.
Is there a minimum deposit to open a Robinhood account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can open an account and place a small first order without funding a large balance. It is worth comparing that with the deposits other brands ask for before you commit, since the figure varies widely across the market. Outgoing transfers are charged at $100 outgoing transfer, so factor that in if you plan to move money out early.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Public vs Nexo
- Public vs Betterment
- Public vs Webull
- Public vs Fidelity
- Public vs Firstrade
- Public vs tastyfx
- Public vs Composer
- Public vs JPMorgan Chase
- Public vs TradeStation
- Public vs Angel One
- Public vs Interactive Brokers
- Public vs BMO InvestorLine
- Public vs Wealthsimple
- Public vs Mirae Asset Securities
- Public vs quantfury
- Public vs SogoTrade
- Robinhood vs ActivTrades
- Robinhood vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- Robinhood vs XTB
- Robinhood vs NAGA
- Robinhood vs UNest
- Robinhood vs Linxea
- Robinhood vs bunq
- Robinhood vs Mintos
- Robinhood vs Bitpanda
- Robinhood vs Afranga
- Robinhood vs Nectaro