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Charles Schwab vs Public.com 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 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.

Charles Schwab
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Public.com
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

Bottom line: In a Charles Schwab vs Public.com comparison, Schwab offers a wider mix of investments and planning help, earning 4.5/5 stars and a #3 of 14 rank for Range of Investments from StockBrokers.com. Public.com scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #12. Pick Schwab if you want lots of traditional choices and access to advisor services; pick Public.com if crypto matters alongside simple stock and options trading.

Both brokers let you trade stocks, use margin, buy fractional shares, trade options, and access OTC stocks. Schwab also adds mutual funds, futures, and forex—areas Public.com does not support. Public.com, on the other hand, offers crypto trading with 40 coins, while Schwab does not offer crypto.

For accounts and guidance, both support Traditional and Roth IRAs. Schwab also provides advisor services, which Public.com does not. That mix makes Schwab a strong fit for long-term investors who want many markets and planning support, while Public.com suits traders who want stock and options trading plus crypto in one app.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 40
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026

Trading platforms and tools

Bottom line in Charles Schwab vs Public.com for trading platforms and tools: Charles Schwab is the clear winner. Schwab earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com holds 1 star and ranks #14. Choose Schwab if you want advanced charting and deep customization; pick Public.com only if you prefer a very simple, beginner-friendly experience.

Platforms and core tools: Schwab offers downloadable desktop platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a full browser-based platform. Public.com is browser-only with no desktop downloads. Schwab also includes paper trading and a built-in trading journal; Public.com offers neither. Power users will notice big differences in watchlists (Schwab supports up to 580 data columns versus 3 at Public.com) and order handling (Schwab lets you adjust open orders directly on a chart, Public.com does not). Schwab also lets you save multiple chart profiles; Public.com does not.

Charting and customization: Schwab supplies 374 technical indicators, 24 drawing tools, and 35 editable fields when tuning a simple moving average, plus the ability to create your own studies. You can add notes, display past trades, overlay earnings/splits/dividends, set custom date ranges, and show automated chart patterns—all supported at Schwab. Public.com, by contrast, has no indicators, no drawing tools, no chart notes, no historical trade overlays, no corporate events, no custom date ranges, no automated pattern recognition, no custom studies, and no SMA customization fields.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 24 0
Advanced Trading 4.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026

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Beginners and education

Both Charles Schwab and Public.com provide beginner-friendly investor education on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, plus on-demand videos and live webinars. The key differences are in depth and practice tools: Schwab also teaches mutual funds, includes paper trading so you can practice without risking money, and offers quizzes and progress tracking to help you learn step by step. Public.com does not offer mutual fund education, paper trading, quizzes, or learning progress tracking.

For quality, Schwab earns 5 stars for education and is ranked #2 out of 14 brokers by StockBrokers.com, while Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks #8. If you want structured lessons, practice tools, and a clear path to build skills, Schwab is the stronger fit. If you just need accessible guides, videos, and webinars within a simple app, Public.com can cover the basics for new investors.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes Yes
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026

Stock trading apps

For stock trading apps, Charles Schwab is the stronger pick. Schwab earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com holds 3 stars and ranks #13. Both offer iPhone and Android apps, but Schwab adds Apple Watch support and far more trading tools, research, and customization. If you want an advanced, feature-packed mobile experience, choose Schwab; if you only need the basics for trading on the go, Public.com may suffice.

Schwab supports mobile after-hours trading; Public.com’s after-hours availability isn’t confirmed here. Both brokers offer mobile options trading. Schwab delivers streaming quotes, streaming live TV, and videos on demand; Public.com does not. Schwab also provides stock alerts, which Public.com lacks. For watchlists, Schwab lets you create custom lists and customize columns, while Public.com lets you customize columns but does not support creating custom watchlists. Device-wise, both have iPhone and Android apps, and only Schwab adds an Apple Watch app.

Charting is a standout area for Schwab. You get after-hours charting, landscape mode, multiple time frames, stock-to-stock comparisons, and an extensive library of 373 technical studies. Public.com supports multiple time frames and stock comparisons but lacks after-hours charting, landscape charts, and technical studies (0 offered). For active traders and investors who rely on real-time data and deep analysis, Schwab’s mobile app clearly offers more capability.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies info 373 0
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

Fees

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 Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.00 info
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $150.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026

Day Trading

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 Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders

Market Research

If market research is a priority, Charles Schwab clearly outpaces Public.com. Schwab earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #2 of 14 brokers for research on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 2.5 stars and ranks #12. Choose Schwab if you want wide coverage, downloadable stock and ETF reports, and capable screeners; pick Public.com if you only need basic stock and ETF info.

Both brokers offer stock and ETF research and even cover Pink Sheets/OTC. Schwab goes further with mutual fund and bond research, plus the ability to see your portfolio allocation by asset class. Schwab also adds social media sentiment data and ESG research, features Public.com does not include.

When it comes to reports and idea tools, Schwab provides seven downloadable PDF research reports for stocks and offers PDF reports for ETFs; neither broker supplies mutual fund PDFs, and Public.com offers no downloadable reports. For finding ideas, Schwab includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, while Public.com does not provide screeners.

Feature Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Banking

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 Charles Schwab logoCharles Schwab
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Brokerage CDs info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

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 93.3%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.

For most investors, the search for a great broker ends with Charles Schwab. Retaining the #1 Overall ranking in 2026, Schwab continues to set the industry standard. The broker uniquely balances scale with sophistication, offering both simplified mobile tools and the professional-grade thinkorswim platform. From buying a first fractional share to managing a multimillion-dollar estate, Schwab provides a platform tailored to every need, serving as the definitive operating system for modern wealth.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Charles Schwab or Public.com?

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 2026

Does Charles Schwab or Public.com offer IRAs?

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 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating Charles Schwab Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Charles Schwab Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Charles Schwab Public.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $6.95 $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info Varies n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info $2.25 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $25 n/a
Margin Rates Charles Schwab Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 12.58% 5.65%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.08% 5.65%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 11.13% 5.50%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 11.08% 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 10.83% 5.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info Varies info 5.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info Varies info 5.05%
Account Fees Charles Schwab Public.com
IRA Annual Fee info $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee info $0.00 $150.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $0.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $50.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Charles Schwab Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 4
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 40
Fixed Income (Treasurys) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) info Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) info Yes No
Traditional IRAs info Yes Yes
Roth IRAs info Yes Yes
Advisor Services info Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) info 12 0
Order Types Charles Schwab Public.com
Order Type - Market info Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit info Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours info Yes Yes info
Order Type - Stop info Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop info Yes No
Order Type - OCO info Yes No
Order Type - OTO info Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted info Yes No
Beginners Charles Schwab Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) info Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) info Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator info Yes No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info Yes No
Stock Trading Apps Charles Schwab Public.com
iPhone App info Yes Yes
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple Watch App info Yes No
Trading - Stocks info Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours info Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options info Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options info Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes info Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes info Yes No
Stock App Features Charles Schwab Public.com
Mobile Research - Market Movers info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info Yes No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) info Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting Charles Schwab Public.com
Charting - After-Hours info Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally info Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies info 373 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Charles Schwab Public.com
Active Trading Platform info thinkorswim info n/a
Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) info Yes No
Web Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Trade Journal info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 580 3
Stock Chart Features Charles Schwab Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 374 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 24 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars info Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 35 0
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading Charles Schwab Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hot Keys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview Charles Schwab Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income info Yes No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds info Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income info Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation info Yes No info
Stock Research Charles Schwab Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 7 0 info
Stock Research - Earnings info Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders info Yes No
Stock Research - Social info Yes No
Stock Research - News info Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG info Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research Charles Schwab Public.com
ETFs - Investment Objective info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info Yes No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports info Yes No
Mutual Fund Research Charles Schwab Public.com
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info Yes No
Options Trading Charles Schwab Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Banking Charles Schwab Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) info Yes No
Checking Accounts info Yes No
Savings Accounts info Yes No
Credit Cards info Yes No
Debit Cards info Yes No
Mortgage Loans info Yes No
Customer Service Charles Schwab Public.com
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info Yes Yes
24/7 Support info Yes No
Overall Charles Schwab Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4.5/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Charles Schwab Review Public.com Review
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