Platform Comparison

Betterment vs Public

Compare Betterment and Public on fees, DRIP, fractional shares and research for dividend investing.

Higher Rated
BT

Betterment

★4.5

The pioneer of robo-advising with automatic portfolio management, tax-loss harvesting, and dividend reinvestment—designed for truly hands-off investing.

Full Review
PB

Public

★4.4

A transparent, community-focused investing platform that rejects payment for order flow in favor of optional tipping—putting your interests first.

Full Review

Betterment vs Public: Fees, Minimums & DRIP Compared

FeatureBettermentPublic
Our Rating4.5/54.4/5
Trading CommissionsN/A$0
Account Minimum$0$0
Fractional SharesN/A$1 minimum
DRIPAutomaticFree
Research ToolsAutomatedBasic
Best ForHands-Off InvestorsTransparency-Focused Investors

Betterment vs Public: Pros and Cons

Betterment

Pros

  • + Automatic portfolio rebalancing and dividend reinvestment
  • + Tax-loss harvesting can offset advisory fees through tax savings
  • + Goal-based investing with clear progress tracking
  • + Low 0.25% annual fee (even lower for high balances)
  • + 80+ expert-built portfolio strategies

Cons

  • - Management fee adds up on larger balances
  • - Limited control over individual investments
  • - No direct stock picking in traditional portfolios
  • - ETF expense ratios are in addition to advisory fee

Public

Pros

  • + No payment for order flow—potentially better trade execution
  • + Commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options trading
  • + Fractional shares starting at just $1
  • + Free dividend reinvestment with fractional share support
  • + High interest rate on uninvested cash

Cons

  • - No mutual funds available
  • - Limited research and screening tools
  • - Extended hours trading costs $2.99 per order (non-Premium)
  • - Penny stocks cost $2.99 per trade (non-Premium)

Which Is Better for Dividend Investors: Betterment or Public?

Choose Betterment if you...

  • Are in Betterment's core audience: hands-off investors
  • Need automatic dividend reinvestment
  • Prefer a higher-rated overall platform

Choose Public if you...

  • Are in Public's core audience: transparency-focused investors

Want the full breakdown of fees, DRIP, and research tools? Read our Betterment review and Public review.

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Investment Disclaimer

Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice.