Platform Comparison

Public vs Stockpile

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

Higher Rated

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

Stockpile

★3.9

The family investing app that lets you gift stock to kids and teens—teach financial literacy with real investments and supervised trading.

Full Review

Public vs Stockpile: Fees, Minimums & DRIP Compared

Feature	Public	Stockpile
Our Rating	4.4/5	3.9/5
Trading Commissions	$0	N/A
Account Minimum	$0	$5
Fractional Shares	$1 minimum	N/A
DRIP	Free	N/A
Research Tools	Basic	Basic
Best For	Transparency-Focused Investors	Parents Teaching Kids Investing

Public vs Stockpile: Pros and Cons

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)

Stockpile

Pros

+ Stock gift cards make investing a giftable experience
+ Custodial accounts for kids under 18 with parental oversight
+ Teens request trades, parents approve—supervised learning
+ Fractional shares on 3,000+ stocks and ETFs (min $5)
+ No trading commissions on stocks and ETFs

Cons

- Monthly subscription fee ($4.95+) adds up
- $5 quarterly inactivity fee for accounts under $20
- Trades execute at market close, not real-time
- Very limited research tools

Which Is Better for Dividend Investors: Public or Stockpile?

Choose Public if you...

Are in Public's core audience: transparency-focused investors
Prefer a higher-rated overall platform

Choose Stockpile if you...

Are in Stockpile's core audience: parents teaching kids investing

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

Compare Other Platforms

Not sure these are the right fit? Explore more comparisons.

Public vs Fidelity Public vs Charles Schwab Public vs M1 Finance Stockpile vs Fidelity Stockpile vs Charles Schwab Stockpile vs M1 Finance

View All Platforms

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.