Deciphering the Investment World: A Layman’s Guide to Choosing Between Public.com and Acorns.

Investing can be a tricky business, especially for beginners. So, if you’re a budding investor eyeing online platforms, here’s a simplified comparison of two popular choices: Public.com and Acorns.

Public.com and Acorns cater to fresh-faced investors, but they suit different types of individuals. One may appeal to you more based on your needs and style.

Public.com is for those who seek an active role in their investments. It allows you to choose which specific stocks, funds, and cryptocurrencies to buy. Additionally, there’s no minimum investment to start. You get to interact with other investors, swapping strategies and tips. Also, the platform offers up to $300 free stock when you make your first deposit. Overall, this platform is beginner-friendly, promotes collaboration, and is fee-free for basic accounts.

On the flip side, Acorns is more of a robo-advisor service, where investing requires little effort. It automatically rounds up your purchases, and these round-ups are put into an investment portfolio of your choice. For Acorns, there aren’t individual stocks you can choose from; the investment goes into one of their five pre-built portfolios. This platform is ideal if you prefer to steer clear from day-to-day trading and like the idea of automatic investment.

Both platforms have their unique features. For instance, Public.com offers fractional shares, letting you purchase parts of high-priced stocks. This platform also includes a social aspect, which allows you to see others’ investment activity and get feedback on your strategies.

Acorns, in contrast, is built for constant investment, with the round-up feature being its standout aspect. It also offers different subscription tiers for varying financial needs and even allows you to earn cashback through partner brands.

However, they both also have limitations. Public.com restricts the account types and research tools on offer. Whereas Acorns limits the portfolio choices and doesn’t offer manual selection of investments. Also, its fee structure can eat away at smaller initial investments.

In summary, your choice between Public.com and Acorns would depend on whether you want to be actively involved in your investments or wish to adopt a more passive, automatic approach.