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 |
| Margin Trading | Yes | No |
| Fractional Shares | 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
In comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Public.com and eToro, it is clear that both have their strengths and limitations. Neither company provides a downloadable trading platform for Windows or Mac, relying instead on browser-based platforms. eToro edges ahead slightly with features like paper trading, a more extensive watchlist, and advanced charting capabilities, including numerous technical indicators and drawing tools. In contrast, Public.com lacks these advanced features, offering more basic functionality which may not cater to traders seeking in-depth analysis tools.
Public.com offers a straightforward experience, suitable perhaps for beginners or those not requiring elaborate analytical tools. It provides some standard chart features like index overlays but misses out on advanced functionalities such as technical indicators, drawing tools, and the ability to take notes or display historical trades on charts. This simplicity might appeal to less experienced traders or those seeking a minimalistic approach.
eToro, ranked higher among its peers, offers a richer trading environment with features like paper trading to practice strategies, a comprehensive set of charting tools, and the ability to save multiple chart profiles. These features make it more appealing to traders wanting a robust analytical toolkit. Nevertheless, there are areas where both platforms converge, such as lacking the ability to create custom studies and adjust open orders directly on charts. Despite these similarities, eToro’s additional functionalities slightly elevate its offering, garnering a 2.5-star rating compared to Public.com’s 2-star rating.
| 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 (Bonds) | 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 evaluating the day trading capabilities of Public.com and eToro, both platforms offer simplicity, but they differ in a few key features. eToro has a slight edge with its streaming time and sales feature for stocks, which Public.com lacks. This feature can be valuable for traders looking for real-time data on stock transactions, helping them make informed decisions quickly. Despite this, neither platform provides tools such as live TV streaming, direct market routing, or ladder trading, which might be important for those seeking comprehensive day trading functionalities.
Other significant trading features such as trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry, level 2 quotes, and strategy backtesting are absent in both Public.com and eToro. Additionally, neither platform offers a short locator tool for checking the availability of shares to short, nor do they provide order liquidity rebates. While both platforms can serve casual traders well, those looking for advanced day trading features may need to consider other options.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Stocks | 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 - Bonds | No | No |
| Screener - Bonds | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Public.com and eToro, both platforms offer limited financial services outside of their trading platforms. Neither Public.com nor eToro provides traditional banking features such as checking accounts, savings accounts, or debit and credit cards. Moreover, both platforms do not offer mortgage loans or Certificates of Deposit (CDs). These brokers primarily focus on investment services, so potential users should seek traditional banking facilities elsewhere.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | No | No |
| Credit Cards | No | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| 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 | |
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| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Public.com | eToro | |
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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 | |
| Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
| Fractional Shares | 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 | |
| Mutual Funds (No Load) | 0 | 0 | |
| Mutual Funds (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | No | |
| Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | No | |
| Bonds (Municipal) | 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 (Bonds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Webinars (Archived) | 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 - Index Overlays | Yes | 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 - Stocks | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hotkeys | 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 | 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 - Bonds | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | No | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Bonds | No | No | |
| Misc - Portfolio 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 - Strategy Overview | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Net 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 - Strategy Overview | 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 - Basic View | No | Yes | |
| Option Chains - Strategy View | No | No | |
| Option Chains - Streaming | No | No | |
| Option Chains - Total Columns | 4 | 0 | |
| Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 4 | |
| Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No | |
| Option Probability Analysis | No | No | |
| Option Probability Analysis Adv | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | No | |
| Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Rolling | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Grouping | No | No |
| Banking | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | No | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | No | |
| Debit Cards | No | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
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