Investing comparison
Public vs Stash
Updated
Before you compare: This compares features and fees from each company's own pages. It isn't investment advice, and investing involves risk, including loss of money.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Short answer
Public and Stash are both investing apps. Public's Generated Assets portfolios list a management fee of 0.49% a year (its Dividends portfolio page, for example), while The Stash Plan costs $12 a month, or $108 billed annually. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026, and the official sources differ on 7 of the 10 rows in the table below.
Public vs Stash at a glance
Public and Stash are both investing apps. This page puts what each company's official pages and app store listings say side by side, with the date we checked every fact. The sources differ on 7 of the 10 rows in the table below.
Management or subscription fee
Public's Generated Assets portfolios list a management fee of 0.49% a year (its Dividends portfolio page, for example). The Stash Plan costs $12 a month, or $108 billed annually. Stash also charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee on Smart Portfolios with balances of $1,000 or more and on Managed Retirement Accounts. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Account minimum
Public says the minimum investment for Generated Assets like its Dividends portfolio is $1,000. Stash's pricing page says: No minimums. No hidden fees. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Stock and ETF commissions
Public says it offers $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts for US-listed securities placed online. Regulatory, subscription, wire transfer and paper statement fees may still apply. We haven't verified this for Stash yet, so check the official site for Stash before you decide. We checked Public on Oct 24, 2026.
Account types
Public lists these account types: Traditional & Roth IRAs and Crypto IRAs. Stash lists these account types: Brokerage, Retirement and Custodial accounts for kids. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Fractional shares
Public says it supports fractional shares, so you can invest in any stock with any dollar amount. Stash says you can invest in fractional shares with $5 or less, from thousands of stocks and ETFs. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Automatic investing
Public says you can schedule recurring buys in any stock, ETF or crypto, for any amount, weekly, biweekly, monthly or on a custom cadence. We haven't verified this for Stash yet, so check the official site for Stash before you decide. We checked Public on Oct 24, 2026.
Managed portfolios (robo)
Public offers Generated Assets portfolios, rebalanced quarterly (its Dividends portfolio, for example). Stash says you can let its investing team manage a diversified portfolio for you (a Smart Portfolio). We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Protection
Public Investing is a member of SIPC. Securities in your account are protected up to $500,000. Stash's security page says Apex Clearing Corporation is a member of SIPC, so the investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total (including $250,000 for claims for cash). We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
App store rating
Public has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 85,572 ratings. Stash has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 311,480 ratings. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026. Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score.
What it costs
PublicPublic's Generated Assets portfolios list a management fee of 0.49% a year (its Dividends portfolio page, for example).
Stash$12a month
The Stash Plan costs $12 a month, or $108 billed annually.
As of · stash.com/pricing
Bars show only when every app here lists a yearly price, so these prices sit side by side without them. Prices are list prices from each app's own page, before tax and any offer. Investing fees appear as each company states them. A yearly advisory fee is a percent of your balance, not a monthly price, so it never gets a bar or a price tag.
At a glance
App Store rating
- Public
- 4.785,572 ratings
- Stash
- 4.7311,480 ratings
Source
- Public has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 85,572 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Stash has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 311,480 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
- Public
- Not verified yet
- Stash
- Not verified yet
Source
- Public: Not verified yet.
- Stash: Not verified yet.
Account minimum
- Public
- Public says the minimum investment for Generated Assets like its Dividends portfolio is $1,000.
- Stash
- Stash's pricing page says: No minimums. No hidden fees.
Source
- Public says the minimum investment for Generated Assets like its Dividends portfolio is $1,000. public.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Stash's pricing page says: No minimums. No hidden fees. stash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Stock and ETF commissions
- Public
- Public says it offers $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts for US-listed securities placed online. Regulatory, subscription, wire transfer and paper statement fees may still apply.
- Stash
- Not verified yet
Source
- Public says it offers $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts for US-listed securities placed online. Regulatory, subscription, wire transfer and paper statement fees may still apply. public.com/invest/stocks, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Stash: Not verified yet.
Protection
- Public
- Public Investing is a member of SIPC. Securities in your account are protected up to $500,000.
- Stash
- Stash's security page says Apex Clearing Corporation is a member of SIPC, so the investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total (including $250,000 for claims for cash).
Source
- Public Investing is a member of SIPC. Securities in your account are protected up to $500,000. public.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Stash's security page says Apex Clearing Corporation is a member of SIPC, so the investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total (including $250,000 for claims for cash). stash.com/security, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Features
We haven't verified a feature list for either app yet, so this grid is empty for now.
✓ means the official site lists it. ? means we haven't verified it yet, not that the app lacks it.
Screen by screen
Pick a task to see what each app shows for it. App Store and Google Play images are the apps' own marketing, so they can show sample data and staged layouts. Help center images come from the app's support articles. See every app's screens.
Other screens
Public
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 1 of 4 from the Public listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 2 of 4 from the Public listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 3 of 4 from the Public listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 4 of 4 from the Public listing.App Store listing, as of
Stash
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 1 of 4 from the Stash listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 2 of 4 from the Stash listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 3 of 4 from the Stash listing.App Store listing, as of 
App Store marketing imageApp Store image 4 of 4 from the Stash listing.App Store listing, as of
Public and Stash, side by side
Rows marked “Differs” are where the official sources say different things, and 7 rows do here.
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps.
| Field | PublicInvesting appPublic is an investing app for stocks, ETFs, options, bonds and crypto, with IRAs and managed Generated Assets portfolios.Visit Public's site | StashInvesting appStash is a subscription investing app with brokerage, retirement and custodial accounts, fractional shares and managed Smart Portfolios.Visit Stash's site |
|---|---|---|
| Management or subscription feeDiffers | Public's Generated Assets portfolios list a management fee of 0.49% a year (its Dividends portfolio page, for example).As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8 | The Stash Plan costs $12 a month, or $108 billed annually. Stash also charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee on Smart Portfolios with balances of $1,000 or more and on Managed Retirement Accounts.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/pricing |
| Account minimumDiffers | Public says the minimum investment for Generated Assets like its Dividends portfolio is $1,000.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8 | Stash's pricing page says: No minimums. No hidden fees.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/pricing |
| Stock and ETF commissions | Public says it offers $0 commission trading on self-directed individual cash brokerage accounts for US-listed securities placed online. Regulatory, subscription, wire transfer and paper statement fees may still apply.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/invest/stocks | Not verified yet. |
| Account typesDiffers | Public lists these account types: Traditional & Roth IRAs and Crypto IRAs.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com | Stash lists these account types: Brokerage, Retirement and Custodial accounts for kids.Also named on another official page: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/retireAs of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/pricing |
| Fractional sharesDiffers | Public says it supports fractional shares, so you can invest in any stock with any dollar amount.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/invest/stocks | Stash says you can invest in fractional shares with $5 or less, from thousands of stocks and ETFs.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/pricing |
| Automatic investing | Public says you can schedule recurring buys in any stock, ETF or crypto, for any amount, weekly, biweekly, monthly or on a custom cadence.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/invest/stocks | Not verified yet. |
| Managed portfolios (robo)Differs | Public offers Generated Assets portfolios, rebalanced quarterly (its Dividends portfolio, for example).As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8 | Stash says you can let its investing team manage a diversified portfolio for you (a Smart Portfolio).As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/pricing |
| ProtectionDiffers | Public Investing is a member of SIPC. Securities in your account are protected up to $500,000.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: public.com | Stash's security page says Apex Clearing Corporation is a member of SIPC, so the investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total (including $250,000 for claims for cash).As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: stash.com/security |
| Platforms | Not verified yet. | Not verified yet. |
| App store ratingDiffers | Public has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 85,572 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing | Stash has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 311,480 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing |
App store ratings are a dated snapshot from each store listing, not our score. “Not verified yet” means we don't have a current official source for that line. How we source and date this data. Spotted a change? Tell us if something changed.
Weighing a third option? Add up to two more apps to this table and compare up to four side by side.
Who it's for
Pick the tab that sounds like you. The questions come from app help centers, FAQ pages and user forums, and every answer comes from the app's own pages, with the date we checked it.
Just me
Budgeting on your own? These are the basics people ask about first.
Is it free?
Public
Not verified yet
“Not verified yet” means we haven't found a current official source that answers it, not that the app can't. We only say no when the app's own page does.
Which fits your Money Type?
There are four Money Types: Strategist, Spender, Saver and Scrambler. Each card matches one type to what the sources say about these two apps.
StrategistNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Save the Raise.
SpenderNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Sleep on It.
SaverNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Put It to Work.
ScramblerNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Bills First.
Not sure which one you are? Take the free Money Types quiz. It takes about two minutes.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Another option: Fifecta
If neither Public nor Stash feels right, here is one more option to look at. Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, and it starts from your Money Type, so the plan matches how you already handle money.
FAQ
How much does Public charge?
Public's Generated Assets portfolios list a management fee of 0.49% a year (its Dividends portfolio page, for example). We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
How much does Stash charge?
The Stash Plan costs $12 a month, or $108 billed annually. Stash also charges a 0.25% annual advisory fee on Smart Portfolios with balances of $1,000 or more and on Managed Retirement Accounts. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
What is Public's app store rating?
Public has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 85,572 ratings. That's a snapshot from the store listing on Oct 24, 2026, not our score.
What is Stash's app store rating?
Stash has 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store from 311,480 ratings. That's a snapshot from the store listing on Oct 24, 2026, not our score.
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Keep comparing
- See Public alternatives, closest category first.
- See Stash alternatives, closest category first.
- Browse our guide to the low-cost brokerage accounts.
- Want the bigger picture? Compare more money apps.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Want a plan built on your Money Type?
Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, so you know where each dollar goes.
Sources and confidence
- Last checked
- Not verified yet
- 4 of 20 facts
Public9 of 10 verified, 1 not verified yet, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Management or subscription feepublic.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account minimumpublic.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Stock and ETF commissionspublic.com/invest/stocks, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account typespublic.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Fractional sharespublic.com/invest/stocks, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Automatic investingpublic.com/invest/stocks, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Managed portfolios (robo)public.com/generated-assets/dividends-2f14c2d8, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Protectionpublic.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- PlatformsNot verified yet
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
Stash7 of 10 verified, 3 not verified yet, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Management or subscription feestash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Account minimumstash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Stock and ETF commissionsNot verified yet
- Account typesstash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Fractional sharesstash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Automatic investingNot verified yet
- Managed portfolios (robo)stash.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Protectionstash.com/security, as of Oct 24, 2026
- PlatformsNot verified yet
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Reference: sipc.org/for-investors/what-sipc-protects, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Each fact links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Once a fact is older than its app's window (8 days for apps whose rates change often, 35 days for the rest), it reads “Not verified yet” until we check it again. How we source, date and index this data.
This is education, not financial advice.
