Charles Schwab vs Public.com 2025
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Charles Schwab vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing Charles Schwab vs Public.com for investment options, the big picture is clear: Schwab delivers a wider lineup for most investors, while Public.com stands out for crypto. Schwab earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #2 of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com; Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks #13. Choose Schwab if you want the broadest selection and advisory support. Choose Public.com if crypto access is important alongside everyday stock and options trading.
Both brokers offer stock trading, options, OTC stocks, margin, and fractional shares, plus Traditional and Roth IRAs. Key differences appear beyond the basics: Charles Schwab adds mutual funds, forex, and futures, which Public.com does not provide. For crypto, Public.com offers trading in about 40 coins, while Charles Schwab does not support crypto trading.
Charles Schwab is a fit for investors who want one account for mutual funds, forex, futures, stocks, options, fractional shares, and access to advisor services. Public.com suits investors who want an easy way to trade stocks, options, and fractional shares while adding cryptocurrencies, and who don’t need mutual funds, forex, futures, or advisor services.
Feature |
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|
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | Yes | No |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When comparing trading platforms and tools, Charles Schwab emerges as the clear leader, offering a comprehensive suite of features and receiving a five-star rating for its trading platforms from StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Public.com lags significantly behind with a two-star rating, ranking 14th out of 14 brokers for its offerings. Schwab provides a wide array of advanced tools, including desktop platforms for Windows and Mac, along with an impressive 374 technical indicators for charting. In contrast, Public.com offers a more basic experience, lacking desktop platforms and advanced charting tools and customization options.
Charles Schwab's trading platform is available as a downloadable application for both Windows and Mac users, as well as through a browser-based interface. In terms of charting, traders with Schwab benefit from the ability to use numerous drawing tools, display historical trades, corporate events, and create custom studies. Additionally, Schwab provides paper trading and a trading journal, which are absent in Public.com's offerings. The standout features like the capacity to adjust open orders directly on stock charts and an extensive watch list with 580 columns speak volumes about Schwab's capabilities.
In contrast, Public.com offers a more simplified, browser-based platform that serves basic needs but falls short on more sophisticated trading tools. It lacks many advanced features such as paper trading, a trading journal, and the ability to add notes to charts. The pared-down offering of three watch list columns and no technical indicators or drawing tools limits the customization available for traders. While Public.com caters to those seeking a minimalistic approach, Charles Schwab's extensive features cater to traders looking for comprehensive analytical tools for enhanced trading strategies.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
Paper Trading | Yes | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 580 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
Comparing online brokers Charles Schwab and Public.com for beginner investor education, both teach stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, and both offer educational videos and webinars. Schwab goes further with mutual fund education (Public.com does not), plus paper trading to practice without risking real money, quizzes to test your understanding, and tools to track your learning progress—features Public.com doesn’t include.
For quality and depth, Schwab earns 5 stars for education and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com holds 3.5 stars and ranks #11. If you want a structured learning path with practice and progress tracking, Schwab is the stronger choice; if you just need basic lessons through videos and webinars on core topics, Public.com can get you started.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
Paper Trading | Yes | No |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When it comes to stock trading apps, Charles Schwab and Public.com provide distinct offerings appealing to different types of investors. Charles Schwab excels with comprehensive features and high user ratings, topping rankings as the number one stock trading app by StockBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Public.com carves out a niche with simpler, more straightforward tools, achieving a middle ground with a 3.5-star rating. While Schwab is well-suited for seasoned investors seeking advanced functionalities, Public.com attracts users with a preference for uncomplicated and user-friendly platforms.
Charles Schwab offers extensive app compatibility, available on both iPhone and Android, plus a unique Apple Watch app. It supports features such as mobile after-hours trading, options trading, and streaming quotes. Investors can access streaming live TV, videos on demand, and set up stock alerts, making it easy to stay informed on the go. The app also allows for great customization, offering custom watch lists and the option to view charts in multiple time frames with 373 technical studies available.
In contrast, Public.com's app, while accessible on iPhone and Android, does not extend to the Apple Watch, reducing wearable accessibility. While providing necessary tools like mobile-options trading and customizable watch list columns, it lacks advanced offerings such as streaming quotes, live TV, or stock alerts. The simplicity in charting is notable, with the app lacking technical studies but allowing stock comparisons on charts. Public.com suits those who prefer a simplified, user-friendly interface without the complexity of additional features.
Feature |
|
|
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iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 0 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
Bottom line: In the Charles Schwab vs Public.com fees comparison, Public.com stands out for $0 options contract pricing and much lower margin interest, while Charles Schwab shines with a $0 minimum deposit, no IRA closure fee, and cheaper ACAT transfers. Both charge $0 for stock trades and $0 for options exercise and assignment, so your choice likely comes down to how you trade options, use margin, and whether you plan to transfer or close accounts.
Trading costs: Schwab requires a $0 minimum deposit, while Public.com requires $20. Stock trades are $0 at both brokers. For options, Schwab charges $0.65 per contract, whereas Public.com charges $0 per contract. Both list $0 for options exercise and assignment fees.
Margin and account fees: For margin interest, Schwab is 12.58% below $25,000, 12.08% at $25,000–$49,999, and 11.13% at $50,000–$99,999; Public.com is 5.65% below $25,000, 5.65% at $25,000–$49,999, and 5.50% at $50,000–$99,999. IRA annual fees are $0 at both, but IRA closure is $0 at Schwab vs $150 at Public.com. For transfers, Schwab charges $0 for partial ACATs and $50 for full ACATs, while Public.com charges $100 for both partial and full ACAT transfers.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing Charles Schwab and Public.com for day trading, Charles Schwab stands out with a comprehensive suite of features that cater to active traders. Schwab offers streaming time and sales for stocks, streaming live TV, direct market routing, and ladder trading, all crucial tools for serious day traders. Additionally, users can benefit from trading hotkeys for quick keyboard entry and access to level 2 quotes, which provide deeper insights into stock prices. Charles Schwab also supports both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, allowing traders to simulate strategies against historical data for more informed decision-making. The inclusion of a short locator tool offers real-time availability of shares for short-selling, enhancing the platform's appeal for those involved in more complex trading tactics. However, it's noteworthy that neither platform offers order liquidity rebates.
In contrast, Public.com provides a more simplified offering that might appeal to casual investors rather than those needing sophisticated trading tools. The absence of features like streaming time and sales, live TV, direct market routing, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys means that Public.com might not serve the needs of traders seeking immediate and precise trading execution. For those who prioritize access to level 2 quotes or want to test their trading strategies through backtesting, Public.com may not be ideal. Furthermore, without a short locator tool, traders who utilize short-selling strategies may find themselves at a disadvantage. Thus, for day traders requiring a variety of advanced features to maximize their trading efficiency and insights, Charles Schwab emerges as a more equipped choice compared to Public.com.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
Streaming TV | Yes | No |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
When it comes to market research capabilities, Charles Schwab clearly offers a more comprehensive suite of resources compared to Public.com. Ranked #1 by StockBrokers.com out of 14 brokers and rated 5 stars, Charles Schwab offers an extensive range of research options, including stock, ETF, mutual fund, and bond research. In contrast, Public.com, rated 2 stars and ranked #12, provides a more limited set of tools, focusing primarily on stocks and ETFs, with notable exclusions like mutual fund and bond research.
Charles Schwab excels in providing a diverse array of research materials, which includes the ability to download numerous PDF reports for stocks and ETFs, ESG insights, and stock research enhanced by social media sentiment data. Its users can also benefit from portfolio allocation tools by asset class and a variety of screeners for trade ideas. Public.com, however, lacks many of these features, forfeiting downloadable reports, ESG research, social media insights for stocks, and trade idea screeners, which can limit an investor's market research depth and breadth.
While both platforms offer fundamental research capabilities for stocks and ETFs, Charles Schwab goes the extra mile by offering mutual fund research, reports for Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bond research — areas where Public.com falls short. For those looking to delve deeper into the market with varied research methods and comprehensive data analysis tools, Charles Schwab stands out as the superior choice. Public.com may suit those looking for basic stock and ETF research but lacks the extensive tools and resources provided by Charles Schwab.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
Research |
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When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Charles Schwab and Public.com, Schwab provides a much broader range of services. Charles Schwab offers checking and savings accounts, catering to those looking for traditional banking options alongside investing. Additionally, Schwab supplies customers with debit and credit cards, adding more convenience for everyday transactions. Moreover, Schwab includes mortgage loans and certificate of deposits (CDs) in their offerings, giving users an opportunity to diversify their financial strategy. In contrast, Public.com focuses solely on investment services and doesn't offer banking features like checking or savings accounts, debit or credit cards, mortgage loans, or CDs. Therefore, for users seeking comprehensive banking and investment services from one platform, Charles Schwab presents a more complete solution, while Public.com remains a choice for investment-only purposes.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
Savings Accounts | Yes | No |
Debit Cards | Yes | No |
Credit Cards | Yes | No |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Charles Schwab is better than Public.com. Charles Schwab finished with an overall score of 99.2%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.
With the addition of TD Ameritrade's thinkorswim platforms and the enhancement of several features, Schwab is now a vigorous competitor with thought-provoking research and commentary and a client experience to fit any preference.
Comparing online brokers for crypto, Charles Schwab offers no cryptocurrency trading (0 coins), while Public.com supports crypto trading with 40 coins available.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Charles Schwab and Public.com offer Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with a $0 annual fee. Charles Schwab charges $0 to close an IRA, while Public.com charges a $150 IRA closure fee, making Schwab the more cost-effective option.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Customer Service |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | Public.com Review |
Broker Screenshots | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $6.95 | $2.99 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | n/a | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | $2.25 | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | n/a |
Margin Rates | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.58% | 5.65% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.08% | 5.65% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.13% | 5.50% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.08% | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.83% | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | Varies | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | 5.05% |
Account Fees | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $50.00 | $100.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 | |
Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 12 | 0 |
Order Types | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
Beginners | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | No |
Stock App Features | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
Videos on Demand | Yes | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 373 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Active Trading Platform | thinkorswim | n/a | |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 580 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 374 | 0 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 24 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 35 | 0 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
Day Trading | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
Short Locator | Yes | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
ETF Research | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
Banking | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | Yes | No | |
Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
Savings Accounts | Yes | No | |
Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
Customer Service | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | No |
Overall | Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
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Overall |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading Apps |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Charles Schwab Review | Public.com Review |