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.
Bottom line: Public.com is the better all-around pick for most investors who want more ways to build an account. Both Public.com and eToro support stock, options, and crypto trading with fractional shares, but Public.com also offers margin trading, OTC stocks, and Traditional and Roth IRAs. eToro stands out for crypto depth (104 coins vs 40). Neither broker offers mutual funds, forex, futures, or advisor services. That mix aligns with third-party scores: StockBrokers.com rates Public.com 3.5/5 (13 of 14) and eToro 2.5/5 (14 of 14) for range of investments.
Both platforms let you buy and sell stocks, options, and fractional shares. Public.com supports margin trading and access to OTC stocks, while eToro does not. For crypto, both brokers offer trading; Public.com lists 40 coins and eToro lists 104. Neither broker offers mutual funds, forex, or futures.
Account types and extras: Public.com offers Traditional and Roth IRA accounts; eToro does not. Neither firm provides advisor services. If you want retirement accounts, margin, or OTC exposure in addition to stocks, options, and crypto, Public.com is the stronger fit. If your priority is the largest selection of cryptocurrencies alongside stocks and options, eToro may appeal more.
| 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 | 40 | 104 |
| 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 |
| Watchlists - 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
Schwab Trading Powered by Ameritrade™.
A full-featured account for investing
Get up to $1K on new brokerage account*
Public.com and eToro both cover the basics beginners look for, including education on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, and each offers educational videos. Neither platform has lessons on mutual funds, quizzes, or tools to track your learning progress. One notable difference: Public.com hosts webinars, while eToro does not, which may matter if you prefer live sessions and Q&A.
For hands-on practice, eToro stands out with paper trading, something Public.com lacks. However, for overall education quality, Public.com earns a higher rating (3.5 stars vs. eToro’s 2.5) and ranks #11 of 14 brokers for education on StockBrokers.com, compared with eToro’s #14. Choose Public.com if you value webinars and higher-rated learning content; pick eToro if practicing with a virtual account is your top priority.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| 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
Overall, Public.com and eToro both offer $0 stock trades and $0 per options contract, but Public.com stands out for its lower minimum deposit ($20 vs. $50) and access to margin borrowing, while eToro does not offer margin. Public.com is also transparent on IRA charges, with a $0 annual fee but a $150 IRA closure fee; eToro’s IRA fees aren’t specified. If you want a lower entry point and the option to use margin, Public.com is the better fit; if you don’t need margin and care about cheaper outgoing transfers, eToro’s ACAT fees are lower.
Core trading costs are similar: both brokers charge $0 for standard stock trades and $0 per options contract, with $0 fees for options exercise and assignment. Minimum deposits differ—Public.com requires $20, while eToro requires $50. For margin, Public.com lists rates of 5.65% for balances under $50,000 and 5.50% for $50,000–$99,999; eToro does not offer margin borrowing.
Account and transfer fees show more contrast. Public.com has a $0 IRA annual fee but charges $150 to close an IRA; eToro’s IRA fees are not listed. For account transfers, eToro’s ACAT fees are lower at $75 for partial or full transfers, compared with Public.com’s $100 for partial or full transfers. Both platforms keep options exercise and assignment at $0.
| 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 - 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 of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
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. eToro currently supports 104 cryptocurrencies, while Public.com offers 40, giving eToro a broader coin selection.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Public.com offers Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with a $0 annual fee but charges a $150 closure fee. eToro does not offer Traditional or Roth IRA accounts.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Customer Service | N/A | N/A | |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | 5.65% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 5.65% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 5.50% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 5.25% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 5.25% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 5.25% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 5.05% | 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 | 4 | 0 | |
| Futures Trading | No | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 40 | 104 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | 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 | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - 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 | |
| Watchlists - 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 | 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 | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | 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 (Prospective Customers) | No | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | No | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
Charles Schwab
Interactive Brokers
Fidelity
E*TRADE
Merrill Edge
Webull
TradeStation
tastytrade
Finviz
Stock Rover
TrendSpider
Trade Ideas
TraderSync
TradingView
Tradervue