Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Public.com vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing Public.com and eToro based on investment options, Public.com ranks slightly higher with a 3.5-star rating for the range of investments offered, while eToro trails with a 2.5-star rating. This relative advantage is reflected in their respective standings, as Public.com ranks 13th and eToro 14th out of 14 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. Consumers seeking a broader array of investment options might find Public.com to be the more appealing choice.
Both Public.com and eToro provide stock trading, fractional shares, options trading, and access to a selection of cryptocurrencies—22 coins on Public.com and 26 on eToro. However, Public.com offers additional investment avenues like margin trading and OTC stocks that eToro does not support. Neither platform provides access to mutual funds, forex trading, or futures trading, nor do they offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts. Additionally, both brokers lack advisory services, catering more specifically to self-directed investors.
Despite their similarities, the specific strengths and weaknesses of Public.com and eToro cater to different investment strategies. Public.com stands out with options for margin and OTC stock trading, attracting users who want diverse trading features within a single platform. Conversely, eToro’s edge lies in offering a slightly wider crypto selection, beneficial for traders who prioritize digital assets. Each platform provides a distinct value proposition, inviting users to weigh their investment priorities before deciding.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | No |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 26 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
When evaluating trading platforms and tools, eToro slightly edges out Public.com according to their respective features. eToro receives a rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars, compared to Public.com's 2-star rating. On a list of 14 brokerage platforms, eToro claims the 12th spot while Public.com sits in the 14th position. These differences, while marginal, may influence users who are vigilant about their choice of trading tools.
Neither Public.com nor eToro offer downloadable trading platforms for Windows or Mac, but both provide browser-based platforms. A significant advantage eToro has is its paper trading feature, which Public.com lacks. eToro further distinguishes itself with a broader array of trading options, offering 46 technical indicators and 48 drawing tools for charting, compared to none from Public.com. Additionally, eToro allows users to add notes to charts and save multiple chart profiles, functionalities absent in Public.com's offerings.
For traders focusing on watch lists, eToro provides more customization with seven columns available, allowing for in-depth monitoring, whereas Public.com offers only three. While neither platform permits direct open order adjustments on stock charts, it's the enriched charting experience that gives eToro an edge. Despite these enhancements, both platforms share limitations, such as the inability to display corporate events, show historical trades on charts, set custom date ranges for charts, or offer custom study creation. These varying features may influence traders depending on individual preferences and specific trading needs.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 7 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 46 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 48 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
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When comparing Public.com and eToro for investor education, both platforms offer useful resources for beginners. Public.com provides a well-rounded selection of educational materials, such as stock, ETF, and options education, as well as webinars and videos. While it lacks resources for mutual funds and bonds, it's still a viable option for new investors looking to broaden their knowledge. Unfortunately, Public.com does not offer paper trading or educational quizzes.
eToro, on the other hand, also excels in delivering some educational content for novice investors with its educational videos and the much-appreciated paper trading feature, which allows users to practice trading without real financial risk. However, eToro's lack of options, ETF education, and webinars limits its educational scope. Overall, Public.com is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for education, ranking 11th out of 14 brokers, while eToro is rated at 2.5 stars, placing 14th in the same list according to StockBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No |
| Education (Options) | Yes | No |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When comparing the stock trading apps of Public.com and eToro, eToro emerges as the stronger choice for most users. Both platforms support iPhone and Android apps, but eToro shines with several additional features like streaming quotes, videos on demand, and stock alerts, which Public.com lacks. While Public.com does offer mobile options trading and customizable watch list columns, eToro surpasses it in the overall user experience with a wider range of technical studies for charting and after-hours charting capabilities.
Both Public.com and eToro provide users the ability to trade stocks through mobile devices and offer access to numerous charting time frames. Yet, eToro's 103 technical studies on its charts significantly outnumber Public.com's offerings, providing greater depth for technical analysis. Public.com holds one advantage here, allowing stock comparisons on charts, which eToro also offers, but eToro extends its lead with customizable watch lists and after-hours trading support.
Public.com and eToro are currently rated at 3.5 and 4.5 stars, respectively, by app users for their trading services. This difference in user ratings is supported by their rankings from StockBrokers.com, where Public.com comes in at 14th place, while eToro ranks 11th out of 14 brokers. These rankings reflect the comprehensive feature set and user satisfaction that give eToro an edge over Public.com as a stock trading application.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 103 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When considering whether to choose Public.com or eToro for online brokerage services, it's essential to understand the differences in their fee structures. Public.com has a lower minimum deposit requirement of $20, compared to eToro's $50, which might make it more appealing for beginners looking to start small. However, both platforms offer commission-free stock trading and charge nothing for options contracts, establishing a leveled field for basic investing activities.
Public.com stands out by offering margin trading with interest rates, unlike eToro, which doesn't provide margin services. Specifically, Public.com charges a competitive 6.75% interest rate for margin balances between $50,000 and $99,999, while the rate is 8.75% for balances below $50,000. When it comes to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), Public.com offers no annual fees but imposes a $150 closure fee. Unfortunately, detailed information about eToro's IRA fees isn't readily available, which could be a drawback for those looking at retirement planning.
In terms of account transfers, eToro is cheaper, charging $75 for both partial and full Account Transfers (ACAT), whereas Public.com charges $100 for the same services. Both brokers are on par for options-related services, as neither charges for options exercise or assignment fees. Ultimately, the choice between Public.com and eToro will heavily rely on your specific needs, such as your interest in margin trading and how frequently you plan to transfer your account assets.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20.00 | $50.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing Public.com and eToro for day trading, it's important to consider the features each platform offers. In terms of real-time data and trading tools, eToro edges out Public.com as it provides streaming time and sales for stocks, a feature Public.com does not offer. However, both platforms lack options like streaming live TV, direct market routing, and ladder trading, which can be critical components for active day traders. Neither service provides advanced functionalities like level 2 quotes, trading hotkeys, or basic and advanced strategy backtesting, potentially limiting the tools available for traders who rely on in-depth market analysis.
Both Public.com and eToro are similar in not offering a short locator tool that shows real-time short availability, and neither provides order liquidity rebates, which could be a consideration for traders focused on cost-efficiency. While eToro's inclusion of streaming time and sales offers a slight advantage for those needing real-time stock data, both platforms appear to be more suited for less complex trading activities rather than high-frequency day trading that demands comprehensive tools and features.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to market research capabilities, Public.com and eToro offer distinct features that cater to different investor needs. Public.com takes the lead over eToro primarily because of a broader range of available research categories. While both platforms provide stock and ETF research, Public.com sets itself apart by offering Pink Sheets or OTCBB research—a feature not found with eToro. However, neither platform provides bond or mutual funds research, and both fall short of offering downloadable PDF research reports or screeners for trade ideas.
Public.com provides stock and ETF research, which is a basic necessity for any investor, but does not venture into ESG research or use social media sentiment data, areas where eToro thrives. On the other hand, eToro supports stock research using social media sentiment and offers ESG research, addressing the growing need for sustainable investing. Additionally, neither platform allows users to view portfolio allocation by asset class, which is a drawback for diversifying investments wisely. Both platforms also lack downloadable research reports for any investment type, potentially limiting their appeal to investors who prefer in-depth, organized data in report form.
In terms of market research ratings, Public.com scores 2 out of 5 stars, while eToro scores slightly lower with 1.5 stars. Ranking by StockBrokers.com places Public.com at 12th out of 14 brokers assessed for market research, highlighting some advantage over eToro, which ranks 14th. Although neither service is a powerhouse for market research, Public.com offers marginally better features than eToro for investors who prioritize diverse research abilities but are not reliant on extensive analytical tools or reports.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
Comparing the banking capabilities of the online brokers Public.com and eToro reveals that neither offers traditional banking products like checking or savings accounts, debit or credit cards, mortgage loans, or certificates of deposit (CDs). This means users looking for comprehensive banking and investment solutions might consider other financial institutions. Both platforms serve primarily as entry points into investing, rather than full-service banks, making them ideal for those focused on trading and investing rather than day-to-day banking needs.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | |
| Debit Cards | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | |
| Brokerage CDs | No | 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 Public.com is better than eToro. Public.com finished with an overall score of 69.6%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.
Public is easy to use and offers a fascinating array of investment options. Along with stocks, ETFs, and crypto, there are managed Treasury bill accounts and alternative investments, such as shares in comic books and Banksy art. On the downside, Public uses its refusal to accept payment for order flow as justification for some startlingly high fees and spreads.
Both Public.com and eToro offer crypto trading; however, Public.com provides access to 22 coins, while eToro allows trading in 26 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Neither Public.com nor eToro offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts, but while Public.com imposes a $150.00 closure fee for IRA accounts, no annual fees are charged; eToro's fees in these areas are unspecified.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Customer Service | N/A | N/A | |
| Education |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Trading Fees | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20.00 | $50.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $2.99 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | n/a | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | n/a | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 8.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 8.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 6.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 6.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 5.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 5.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 5.75% | Not offered |
| Account Fees | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | ||
| IRA Closure Fee | $150.00 | ||
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $100.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $100.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 0 | 0 | |
| Futures Trading | No | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 26 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | No | No | |
| Roth IRAs | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | No | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | No | No |
| Beginners | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | No | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Streaming) | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Create & Manage | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
| Stock App Charting | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 103 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | n/a | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 7 |
| Stock Chart Features | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 46 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 48 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | No | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 0 | 5 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No |
| Research Overview | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | No | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | No | No |
| Stock Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | Yes |
| ETF Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 4 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No |
| Banking | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | ||
| Checking Accounts | No | ||
| Savings Accounts | No | ||
| Credit Cards | No | ||
| Debit Cards | No | ||
| Mortgage Loans | No |
| Customer Service | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | No | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | No | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
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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 | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
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