TL;DR
It's a tie! Both score 4/5 stars.
Choose Public.com if you need Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo,
or Relay if you need Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense .
⬇ Scroll for full 20-point audit
Best For
Public.com
vs
Relay
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo...
vs
Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense ...
Fee Structure
Public.com
vs
Relay
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generat...
vs
Free business checking; Relay Capital term loans available; ...
Rating
Public.com
vs
Relay
4/5 ★
vs
4/5 ★
Public.com
Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace
Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
Core Fee
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generated assets (AI-curated ETFs); crypto fees via third-party; Premium subscription available
Settlement
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account settled same-day; 1% IRA match on contributions and rollovers; real-time portfolio tracking
Relay
Small Business Banking & Money Management
Best For
Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense tracking, and capital access in one platform
Core Fee
Free business checking; Relay Capital term loans available; no public pricing for loan products
Settlement
Real-time cash flow visibility; fast account opening; on track to 3.2x revenue by end of 2026
What This Audit Doesn't Cover:
Real-time currency fluctuations, promotional offers, region-specific pricing, or temporary fee waivers.
Always verify current rates, fees, and features directly with Public.com and Relay
before making any financial decision.
Full 20-Point Audit Matrix
Verified current data across all key decision criteria
| Audit Criterion | Public.com | Relay |
|---|---|---|
WealthBlueprint RatingOverall score vs. all reviewed platforms (out of 5 stars) |
||
| Cost Structure & Fees | ||
Transaction FeesPer-transfer costs, domestic & international |
$0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% annual fee on generated assets (AI-curated ETFs); crypto fees via third-party; Premium subscription available | Free business checking; Relay Capital term loans available; no public pricing for loan products |
FX / Conversion SpreadMarkup above mid-market exchange rate |
Public.com charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Relay charges a conversion fee based on the currency pair and transfer amount. Always verify the all-in rate before sending.
Always check the live rate in the app |
Account MaintenanceMonthly or annual account-keeping charges |
Public.com applies account maintenance charges as described in its fee schedule. Pricing may vary by region.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
No monthly fees — Relay does not charge recurring maintenance fees.
Fees subject to change — verify before signing up |
Card Issuance FeesVirtual and physical card creation costs |
Public.com does not primarily offer physical cards — access is digital-first.
Check Public.com app for current card fees |
Relay offers virtual cards.
Card issuance is typically included at no extra cost.
Check Relay app for current card fees |
| Settlement Speed & Reliability | ||
Domestic SettlementLocal bank transfer completion time |
Public.com
Instant fractional share investing from $1; Bond Account set
VS
Relay
Real-time cash flow visibility; fast account opening; on tra
✓ Public.com is faster (instant vs Real-time cash flow visibility)
|
|
Cross-Border SpeedInternational corridor settlement time |
Public.com supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Relay supports cross-border transfers via its payment rails. Actual delivery depends on the receiving bank and any compliance holds.
Check the app for live estimates |
Uptime / ReliabilityReported annual platform availability rate |
Public.com publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Public.com status page for incident history |
Relay publishes service status updates on its official status page for transparency.
Check Relay status page for incident history |
| Security & Regulatory Standing | ||
Regulatory LicensesGoverning bodies and jurisdictions |
FINRA/SIPC member (up to $500,000); SEC-registered broker-dealer; 256-bit encryption; 2FA; Public Investing Inc. registered with SEC
✓ Licensed |
Surpassed $1.3B in deposits and 150,000 customers; $50M investment from General Catalyst (May 2026); banking via Thread Bank (FDIC);
✓ Licensed |
Deposit InsuranceGovernment-backed protection scheme |
Public.com holds funds with regulated partner banks. Deposit insurance coverage may apply.
Verify current coverage directly with Public.com |
FDIC insured — your funds are protected up to applicable limits.
Verify current coverage directly with Relay |
2FA & AuthenticationMulti-factor security implementation |
Public.com supports 2FA via authenticator app or SMS. Check security settings for available methods.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Relay offers multi-factor authentication. Enable 2FA in account security settings. Biometric and PIN options vary by device.
Enable 2FA immediately after opening your account |
Fraud DetectionAI/ML-powered transaction monitoring |
Public.com employs automated transaction monitoring. Suspicious activity triggers alerts and temporary holds.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
Relay monitors transactions for anomalies in real time. You can freeze your card instantly from the app.
✓ Real-time monitoring |
| Features, Limits & Access | ||
Ideal Use CasePrimary audience and core value proposition |
Public.com
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
Relay
Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense tracking, and capital access in one platform
|
|
Platform ClassificationRegulatory and product category |
Social Investing Platform & Bond Marketplace | Small Business Banking & Money Management |
Withdrawal LimitsDaily / weekly transfer and cash-out caps |
Public.com withdrawal limits vary by account type and KYC level.
Log in to see your current limits |
Relay applies tiered withdrawal limits based on your KYC verification level and business activity.
Log in to see your current limits |
Supported CurrenciesFiat and digital asset coverage |
Public.com supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Public.com official site for full currency list |
Relay supports the currencies and assets listed in its official documentation.
Check Relay official site for full currency list |
| User Experience & Support | ||
App Store RatingAggregate iOS + Android user satisfaction |
Public.com app ratings reflect recent user sentiment — check the App Store/Google Play for current scores.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Relay is available on both iOS and Android. Rating varies by region.
Verify live ratings on the App Store |
Customer SupportAvailable resolution pathways and SLA |
Public.com routes support through its official help channels. Priority queue access varies by plan.
Check Public.com help centre for current support options |
Relay offers in-app support and email. Response times may vary by account tier.
Check Relay help centre for current support options |
KYC Verification SpeedAccount activation timeline post-submission |
Public.com KYC timelines depend on document quality and account type.
Verify current wait times in the Public.com app |
Relay typically verifies personal accounts within minutes to 24 hours with a valid ID.
Verify current wait times in the Relay app |
Overall VerdictWealthBlueprint independent recommendation |
IT'S A TIE — both score 4/5 stars.
Choose Public.com if you need: Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios. Choose Relay if you need: Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense tracking, and capital access in one platform. ➜ Your choice depends on your specific needs |
|
Official WebsiteVisit platform to sign up or verify current fees |
Visit Public.com ↗ | Visit Relay ↗ |
Choose Public.com If:
- You need Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bo
- You prefer $0 commissions on stocks & ETFs; 0.49% a
- You value Instant fractional share investing from
Choose Relay If:
- You need Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense
- You prefer Free business checking; Relay Capital te
- You value Real-time cash flow visibility; fast acc
WealthBlueprint Verdict Summary
Public.com — Best For
Investors wanting access to stocks, ETFs, bonds (7% yield Bond Account), crypto, IPOs, fractional shares, and AI-powered generated asset portfolios
✓ Strong in its core category
Relay — Best For
Small businesses wanting unified banking, bill pay, expense tracking, and capital access in one platform
✓ Strong in its core category
Not sure which is right for you?
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