Public.com vs SoFi Invest (2026) — Which Is Better?
Compare Public.com and SoFi Invest — features, pricing, pros and cons.
Quick Verdict
Higher Rated
Public.com (4.0)
More Affordable
Public.com (Free)
Public.com
Commission-free social investing platform offering stocks, ETFs, options, crypto, and bonds with a built-in investor community and AI-powered insights.
SoFi Invest
SoFi Invest offers commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading with no account minimums, fractional shares, and rare retail IPO access inside a full financial ecosystem.
Our Analysis
Public.com and SoFi Invest both offer commission-free trading with zero account minimums, but target distinct trader profiles. Public.com prioritizes accessibility through its social learning community and AI-powered insights (Alpha AI), appealing to retail investors seeking peer feedback and simplified analysis. SoFi Invest integrates deeper into a financial ecosystem, offering retail IPO access at offering prices—a rare privilege—and fractional shares starting at $1. Public.com targets newer investors; SoFi casts wider with banking ecosystem integration and automated investing at 0% management fees.
The defining differentiator: Public.com excels at democratizing research through community feedback and plain-language AI analysis, while SoFi distinguishes itself with rare retail IPO access at offering prices. Both charge zero options contract fees, but SoFi's integrated banking and lending products deliver value beyond trading alone.
Beginners seeking community-driven learning should choose Public.com; its mobile-first design and social features accelerate skill-building. Investors building comprehensive financial profiles should pick SoFi Invest—especially if IPO access appeals or consolidating banking, lending, and investing matters. Neither suits advanced technical traders; both lack advanced charting, Level 2 data, and futures trading required for active traders.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Public.com | SoFi Invest |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.0 | ★ 3.9 |
| Starting Price | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Markets | stocks, etfs, options, crypto, bonds, alternatives | stocks, etfs, options, ipos |
| AI Analysis | ✓ | ✗ |
| Backtesting | ✗ | ✗ |
| Paper Trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Price Alerts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile App | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✗ | ✗ |
| Social Features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Broker Integration | ✗ | ✗ |
| Custom Indicators | ✗ | ✗ |
| Automated Trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Trade Journaling | ✗ | ✗ |
| Performance Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Risk Management | ✗ | ✗ |
| News Feed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Education Content | ✓ | ✓ |
Public.com: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Strong social community ideal for learning from other investors
- + Commission-free stocks, ETFs, and $0 per-contract options
- + Alpha AI tool provides accessible plain-language stock analysis
- + Competitive High-Yield Cash Account integrated with brokerage
- + Clean, intuitive mobile-first interface
Cons
- - No desktop/web charting tools for technical analysis
- - No paper trading or backtesting capabilities
- - Not suited for active traders needing advanced order types or futures
- - Premium pricing adds up compared to free alternatives
SoFi Invest: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Zero commissions with no options contract fees
- + Retail IPO access at offering price — rare for this broker tier
- + Automated investing with 0% management fee
- + Fully integrated with SoFi banking and lending products
- + Fractional shares starting at $1 with no account minimum
Cons
- - No advanced charting, screeners, or technical analysis tools
- - No futures, forex, or crypto trading
- - Not suitable for active traders needing depth-of-market or Level 2 data
- - Customer support quality inconsistent for complex account issues