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Head to head
Public.com or Robinhood? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The only US broker that pays you to trade options — wrapped around the best retail bond desk in the app-broker category.
The cheapest way to trade options and the best trading app ever built — attached to the thinnest research desk and the longest enforcement record in the sector.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall both land on 3.9 out of 5. On commissions there is little between them — €0.00 against €0.00 for a reference EUR 5,000 order. Robinhood scores 78 against 76 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Robinhood covers more ground with 7 of 14 asset classes against 6. On platform and app Robinhood is ahead, 4.4 against 4.1 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
Public.comRobinhoodPublic.comRobinhoodPublic.comRobinhoodPublic.comRobinhoodPublic.comRobinhoodUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 21 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Group index | 76 of 100 | 78 of 100 |
| Best for | US options income tradersBond and Treasury investorsMargin borrowersMulti-asset simplicityDesign-led beginners | Active options tradersMobile-first investorsMargin usersCrypto and equities in one appSmall starting balances |
| Regulation | FINRASECFINRANYDFS | SECFINRACFTCFCABank of Lithuania |
| Top-tier licences | 3 | 4 — Better |
| Investor protection | US$500,000 | US$500,000 |
| Listed group | No | Yes |
| Banking licence | No | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | No | No |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | None | 4 |
| Founded | 2019 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | New York, US | Menlo Park, US |
| Fees | 4.2 | 4.8 — Better |
| Safety & regulation | 3.7 — Better | 3.6 |
| Trading platform | 3.8 | 3.9 — Better |
| Product range | 3.5 — Better | 3.4 |
| Mobile app | 4.4 | 4.8 — Better |
| Research | 3.8 — Better | 2.8 |
| Customer support | 3.3 — Better | 3.0 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 3.6 | 4.0 — Better |
| Account opening | 4.4 | 4.7 — Better |
| Education | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €0.00 | €0.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Stocks (per order) | Free | Free |
| US stocks | Free | Free |
| ETFs | Free | Free |
| Options | Free | Free |
| Futures | Not offered | US$0.75 |
| Crypto | 1.25 % | in the spread |
| Bonds (order) | 0.5 % | Not offered |
| Funds (order) | n/a | Not offered |
| EUR/USD spread | n/a | n/a |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.3 % | n/a |
| Inactivity fee | US$3.99 · after 6 months | None — Better |
| Custody fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | free — Better | US$25 |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 6 | 7 — Better |
| Exchanges | n/a | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Forex | No | No |
| CFDs | No | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Funds | No | No |
| Commodities | No | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | No |
| Spread betting | No | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | Public mobile appPublic WebPublic API / Agentic API | Robinhood MobileRobinhood WebRobinhood Legend |
| Demo account | No | No |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum leverage | 1:4 | 1:2 |
| Account opening | Minutes; US residents with a Social Security number, no minimum deposit | Minutes in-app; approval usually the same day |
| Account types | Individual brokerage accountMargin accountTraditional and Roth IRACrypto IRA (custodied by Alto Trust Co.)Bond AccountTreasury Account (Public Advisors)High-Yield Cash Account | Robinhood brokerage accountRobinhood GoldRobinhood Retirement (Traditional / Roth IRA)Stocks and shares ISA (UK only) |
| Payment methods | Bank transfer | Bank transferCrypto |
| Account currencies | USD | USDGBPEUR |
| Deposit time | ACH typically 1–3 business days; incoming wires same or next business day and free | Instant up to your instant-deposit limit; 3–5 business days to fully clear |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days by ACH; instant withdrawal available for up to 3.5% of the amount | 1–3 business days by ACH; same day by wire |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | English | EnglishSpanish |
| Channels | EmailLive chat | Live chatEmailPhone |
| Availability | US business hours, Monday to Friday | 24/7 in-app chat and callback |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
Public.com
The only US broker that pays you to trade options — wrapped around the best retail bond desk in the app-broker category.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Robinhood
The cheapest way to trade options and the best trading app ever built — attached to the thinnest research desk and the longest enforcement record in the sector.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
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