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E*TRADE vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025

In this head to head comparison of E*TRADE vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

E*TRADE
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5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

E*TRADE vs. Public.com: If you want the widest mix of investments, E*TRADE has the edge. It earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks #13. Both offer stocks, options, margin, OTC stocks, and traditional and Roth IRAs. E*TRADE adds mutual funds, futures, and advisor services, while Public.com stands out with fractional shares and crypto access (40 coins). Neither supports forex.

Here’s how the lineups compare: stocks and options are available on both platforms. Mutual funds and futures are available only on E*TRADE. Crypto is available only on Public.com, with 40 coins to choose from. Fractional shares are available on Public.com but not on E*TRADE. OTC stocks are tradable on both. Margin trading is supported by both, and forex isn’t offered by either.

Choose E*TRADE if you want mutual funds, futures, or the option to work with an advisor. Pick Public.com if you want to buy fractional shares or trade crypto alongside stocks and options. Both are suitable for retirement savers thanks to traditional and Roth IRA accounts.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No 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 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market

Trading platforms and tools

When it comes to trading platforms and tools, E*TRADE stands out with a higher rating of 4 stars compared to Public.com's 2-star rating. This difference is reflected in their respective rankings by StockBrokers.com, where E*TRADE is ranked 5th out of 14 brokers, while Public.com is placed at the bottom of the list, at the 14th spot. E*TRADE offers a comprehensive suite of trading tools and platforms that cater to both beginner and advanced traders, while Public.com provides a more simplified experience that may not satisfy experienced traders seeking advanced charting and order management features.

E*TRADE offers a versatile trading experience with both Windows and Mac downloadable platforms, which are not available on Public.com. Both brokers provide a browser-based trading platform, but E*TRADE offers additional features like paper trading, enabling users to practice their strategies without financial risk. Watchlist capabilities also differ significantly: E*TRADE offers 43 customizable columns, allowing users greater flexibility, whereas Public.com offers just 3 columns. E*TRADE provides the ability to adjust open orders directly on stock charts and offers extensive charting tools, including 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, while Public.com provides none, limiting traders who rely on detailed technical analyses.

For traders interested in chart features beyond indicators, E*TRADE excels by allowing the addition of notes, display of historical trades, and the ability to show corporate events on charts. It further supports customizable date ranges and automated technical analysis for chart patterns, which Public.com does not offer. Moreover, E*TRADE allows traders to save multiple chart profiles and offers 8 customization fields when editing an SMA study, adding a layer of personalization that Public.com lacks. While neither platform offers the capacity to create custom studies, E*TRADE's superior charting tools and customizable options make it a favorable choice for traders seeking an enriched trading experience.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 43 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 0
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025

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Beginners and education

Comparing E*TRADE vs Public.com for investor education, both platforms teach stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, and both offer educational videos and live webinars. E*TRADE goes further with mutual fund education and paper trading so beginners can practice without risking cash. Public.com does not include mutual fund lessons or paper trading. Neither platform offers learning quizzes or tools to track your progress.

On quality and breadth, E*TRADE earns 5 stars for education and ranks #4 out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com. Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks #11 out of 14. If you want hands-on practice and a wider curriculum, E*TRADE is the stronger choice. If you’re mainly after straightforward videos and webinars on stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, Public.com can still meet basic learning needs.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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
Paper Trading info Yes No
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 2025

Stock trading apps

When choosing between E*TRADE and Public.com for stock trading via a mobile app, E*TRADE clearly comes out ahead with a higher rating of 5 stars compared to Public.com's 3.5 stars. Ranked #4 by StockBrokers.com among 14 brokers, E*TRADE provides a more comprehensive trading experience, while Public.com lags behind at #14. For users prioritizing advanced features and a seamless interface, E*TRADE's offerings make it the preferred choice.

Both E*TRADE and Public.com offer apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring accessibility across popular devices. While E*TRADE also provides an app for the Apple Watch, Public.com does not. E*TRADE supports mobile after-hours stock and options trading, along with streaming quotes and live TV, features that Public.com lacks. However, both platforms allow mobile options trading and the ability to display stock comparisons on mobile charts.

Delving deeper into charting capabilities, E*TRADE significantly outshines Public.com by offering 107 technical studies and the ability to view charts in landscape mode and multiple time frames. These advanced charting features are absent in Public.com’s offering, which does not provide technical studies. While E*TRADE allows users to create custom watch lists with customizable columns and receive stock alerts, Public.com falls short in these areas, lacking watch list creation and alert capabilities.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 107 0
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

Bottom line: E*TRADE and Public.com both offer $0 stock trades and $0 IRA annual fees, but they differ in key cost areas. Public.com stands out for $0 per‑contract options fees and significantly lower margin rates under $100,000. E*TRADE is stronger on account movement costs, with a free partial ACAT and no IRA closure fee. Pick Public.com if you prioritize low options and margin costs; choose E*TRADE if you expect to transfer out assets or close an IRA and want to avoid hefty charges.

Trading costs are simple: both brokers charge $0 for stock trades. Options costs are where they split—E*TRADE is $0.65 per contract, while Public.com is $0. Public.com also has lower stated margin rates: 5.65% below $25,000, 5.65% from $25,000–$49,999, and 5.50% from $50,000–$99,999, versus E*TRADE at 12.95%, 12.70%, and 12.20% for the same tiers. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both.

Account fees vary. Minimum deposit is $0 at E*TRADE and $20 at Public.com. IRA annual fees are $0 at both, but IRA closure is $0 at E*TRADE and $150 at Public.com. For transfers, E*TRADE charges $0 for partial ACATs and $75 for full ACATs, while Public.com is $100 for both partial and full. These differences can matter if you plan to move accounts or close an IRA.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 2025

Day Trading

For those who engage in day trading, choosing the right online broker can make a significant difference. E*TRADE stands out with its array of features tailored for active traders. It provides streaming time and sales for stocks, which is essential for traders who rely on up-to-the-minute data. Additionally, E*TRADE offers streaming live TV, giving traders access to real-time financial news. Direct market routing is another critical tool provided by E*TRADE, enabling traders to send orders directly to various exchanges, potentially speeding up trade execution. Moreover, the availability of trading hotkeys allows for swift keyboard trade entries, and level 2 quotes give a deeper view of the order book, both of which are vital for efficient day trading.

In contrast, Public.com may be better suited for those interested in a simplified, community-driven investing experience rather than active day trading. Public.com does not offer features like streaming time and sales, live TV, or direct market routing, which might be seen as a drawback for active traders. Additionally, it lacks the functionality of trading hotkeys and level 2 quotes, which are important for quickly seizing market opportunities. While neither platform offers ladder trading or strategy backtesting options, E*TRADE’s range of tools and services seem more aligned with the needs of day traders who demand comprehensive information and fast execution capabilities.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 info No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders

Market Research

When evaluating E*TRADE and Public.com for their market research capabilities, E*TRADE comes out as the clear leader. It offers a more comprehensive array of research tools and resources, earning a five-star market research rating compared to Public.com's two stars. According to StockBrokers.com, E*TRADE ranks as the second best out of 14 brokers for market research, while Public.com lands at twelfth place. This makes E*TRADE a better choice for investors who are looking for in-depth market insights and a variety of research options to support their trading decisions.

E*TRADE stands out with its broad research offerings, covering stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, pink sheets, OTCBB, and bonds. E*TRADE users benefit from features such as portfolio allocation by asset class, stock research using social media sentiment data, and access to downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. Additionally, E*TRADE provides screeners for trade ideas across a range of asset classes. In contrast, Public.com offers far fewer options, supporting research only for stocks, ETFs, and pink sheets/OTCBB, and lacks many of the functionalities that E*TRADE provides, such as downloadable reports and screeners for trade ideas.

Although both platforms steer clear of offering ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) research, E*TRADE compensates in many other areas, including offering eight downloadable PDF stock research reports. Public.com, however, does not provide any downloadable PDFs, ESG research, bond research, or the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class. This makes E*TRADE the more versatile platform for those interested in extensive research resources beyond just stock and ETF analysis.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing E*TRADE and Public.com on their banking features, E*TRADE clearly stands out as the more comprehensive option. E*TRADE checks all the boxes with a full range of banking services, including checking and savings accounts, debit and credit cards, mortgage loans, and certificates of deposit (CDs). In contrast, Public.com does not offer these banking amenities. For those who prioritize having a variety of banking solutions alongside their investment platform, E*TRADE might be the preferable choice.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
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 2025

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than Public.com. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 95.4%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.

E*TRADE is a top-performing broker whose highlights include $0 trades, two excellent mobile apps and the Power E*TRADE platform. Crypto, however, is not available.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with E*TRADE or Public.com?

Compare E*TRADE vs Public.com for crypto trading: E*TRADE offers no crypto trading (0 coins), while Public.com supports crypto trading with 40 cryptocurrencies.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does E*TRADE or Public.com offer IRAs?

E*TRADE vs Public.com: both brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with $0 annual fees. The key difference is closure costs—E*TRADE charges $0 to close an IRA, while Public.com charges $150.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025

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Compare

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Overall Rating E*TRADE Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots E*TRADE Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees E*TRADE Public.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $6.95 info $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $0.00 n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info $1.50 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info $25 n/a
Margin Rates E*TRADE Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 12.95% info 5.65%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 12.7% 5.65%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 12.2% 5.50%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 11.7% 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 11.2% 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 E*TRADE 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 $75.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options E*TRADE Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info No 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 No 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 0 0
Order Types E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE 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 No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info No No
Stock Trading Apps E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info No No
Stock Alerts info Yes No info
Option Chains Viewable info Yes Yes
Watch List (Real-time) info Yes Yes
Watch List (Streaming) info Yes No
Watch Lists - Create & Manage info Yes No
Watch Lists - Column Customization info Yes Yes
Stock App Charting E*TRADE 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 107 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms E*TRADE Public.com
Active Trading Platform info Power E*TRADE 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 No No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 43 3
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 121 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 37 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 No No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 8 0
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading E*TRADE Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Ladder Trading info No No
Trade Hot Keys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes info No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info No No
Short Locator info No No
Order Liquidity Rebates info No No
Research Overview E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 8 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 No No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Banking E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE 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 E*TRADE Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Public.com Review
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