An Engaging Face-Off: Public.com versus M1 Finance – A Direct Comparison for Your Investment Decision.

Let’s talk about two popular online trading platforms, Public.com and M1 Finance. If you’re thinking about starting online trading or shifting to a new platform, these might catch your interest. Both have their unique selling points, but deciding the best one for you depends on your needs and your trading style.

Public.com and M1 Finance both offer commission-free stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) trades. You can also buy and sell fractional shares on both platforms.

Public.com is mainly a trading app. It goes beyond providing a platform to buy and sell shares by also offering a social space. You can connect with friends and other traders, share advice and strategies within its community.

On the other hand, M1 Finance provides more than just a trading platform. It also comes with banking and lending features. They offer a basic account for free, but you can upgrade to M1 Plus for $125 per year to access some of their banking and lending features.

Here’s a quick rundown of what each platform offers:

– Public.com: A user-friendly app with a social side to it, where beginners can learn from more experienced traders in the community. You can invest in more than just stocks and ETFs; for instance, they introduced cryptocurrency trading in 2021.

– M1 Finance: A ‘Finance Super App’ that caters to long-term minded investors. The platform is essentially a one-stop shop covering borrowing, spending, and investing needs. Although they offer more features, they require a minimum of $100 for initial investments and $500 for retirement accounts.

Ultimately, your choice between Public.com and M1 Finance could come down to whether you like the idea of a social trading platform or prefer a more automated investing experience. But why not try both platforms, as neither charges trading fees, and see what suits you better?