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E*TRADE vs Public.com 2026

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

September 17, 2025
  Fact Checked

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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4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65
Public.com
3/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Range of investments

E*TRADE vs. Public.com: If you want the widest mix of investments and planning help, E*TRADE is the stronger all-around pick; if you want easy access to crypto and fractional shares, Public.com stands out. Both brokers cover core needs like stocks, options, and margin, but their specialties differ in ways that matter depending on your goals.

Both E*TRADE and Public.com let you trade stocks, options, OTC stocks, and use margin. Neither supports forex. Where they split is in what you can add on: Public.com offers fractional shares and crypto (about 40 coins), while E*TRADE does not offer crypto or fractional shares. E*TRADE counters with futures and mutual funds—two areas Public.com doesn’t support.

For accounts, each supports Traditional and Roth IRAs. E*TRADE also offers advisor services, while Public.com does not. Reflecting the broader menu, E*TRADE earns 4.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, whereas Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks #12.

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

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

Trading platforms and tools

E*TRADE vs Public.com: For trading platforms and tools, E*TRADE is the clear winner. E*TRADE earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 of 14 brokers with StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 1 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. Choose E*TRADE if you want desktop software, advanced charting, and paper trading. Public.com fits users who prefer a very simple, browser-based experience and don’t need many extras.

Platforms and core tools: E*TRADE offers downloadable platforms for both Windows and Mac, plus a browser-based platform; Public.com offers a browser-based platform only. E*TRADE includes paper trading; neither broker includes a trading journal. Watchlists are far more detailed on E*TRADE (up to 43 columns) compared with Public.com (3 columns). On charts, E*TRADE lets you adjust open orders directly; Public.com does not.

Charting features: E*TRADE provides 121 technical indicators and 37 drawing tools, supports chart notes, shows historical trades and corporate events, allows custom date ranges, offers automated chart pattern detection, and lets you save multiple chart profiles. Its SMA study includes 8 editable fields. Public.com has 0 indicators and 0 drawing tools, does not support notes, historical trades, or corporate events on charts, does not allow custom date ranges or automated pattern detection, and cannot save multiple chart profiles; its SMA study has 0 customization fields. Neither broker supports creating custom studies.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Public.com logoPublic.com
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Paper Trading Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields 43 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 0
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars

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

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Beginners and education

E*TRADE vs Public.com for beginner education: both platforms teach stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, and both offer educational videos and webinars. The standout differences are that E*TRADE also covers mutual funds and provides paper trading for hands-on practice, while Public.com lacks mutual fund lessons and a paper trading simulator. Neither platform includes quizzes or tools to track your learning progress.

For overall education quality, E*TRADE is rated 4 stars and ranks #5 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #8. If you want mutual fund education and a way to practice risk-free, E*TRADE is the stronger choice. If you mainly want clear lessons on stocks and ETFs with videos and webinars in an easy app, Public.com fits the bill.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes Yes
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms & Apps for Beginners in 2026

Stock trading apps

Bottom line: E*TRADE outpaces Public.com for mobile stock trading features. E*TRADE earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #5 of 14 for stock trading apps on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com earns 3/5 stars and ranks #13. Both offer iPhone and Android apps and support mobile options trading, but E*TRADE adds more real-time tools and research-friendly features, making it the better fit for active traders. Public.com is more bare-bones and better suited to simple, on-the-go checks.

App availability and trading tools: Both brokers have iPhone and Android apps; only E*TRADE offers an Apple Watch app. E*TRADE supports mobile after-hours stock trading; the information provided does not confirm this for Public.com. E*TRADE also offers streaming quotes and streaming live TV, while Public.com offers neither. Neither app provides videos on demand. E*TRADE includes stock alerts; Public.com does not.

Charts and watchlists: E*TRADE lets you create custom watch lists and customize watch list columns; Public.com does not support custom watch lists but does allow column customization. For charting, E*TRADE includes after-hours charts, landscape mode, multiple time frames, 107 technical studies, and stock-to-stock comparisons. Public.com supports multiple time frames and chart comparisons but lacks after-hours charting, landscape mode, and any technical studies. If you rely on deeper analysis and real-time market data, E*TRADE is the stronger choice; if you want basic charting and a simpler setup, Public.com can suffice.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Public.com logoPublic.com
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Technical Studies 107 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026

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 $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $150.00

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026

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 Yes No
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms and Apps for 2026

Market Research

Bottom line: E*TRADE outperforms Public.com for market research. E*TRADE earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #3 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 2.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want fuller research across more investment types, downloadable reports, and idea tools, E*TRADE is the stronger choice; Public.com is better suited to quick checks on stocks and ETFs.

Both brokers offer research for stocks and ETFs, and both cover Pink Sheets/OTC stocks. E*TRADE goes further with research on mutual funds and bonds, which Public.com does not provide. E*TRADE also shows your portfolio allocation by asset class and includes stock research using social media sentiment and ESG data—features Public.com doesn’t offer.

For reports and screeners, E*TRADE provides eight downloadable PDF stock reports, plus PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds; Public.com offers none. E*TRADE also includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds to help surface trade ideas, while Public.com does not provide these screening tools.

Feature E*TRADE logoE*TRADE
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Fixed Income Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 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 Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Debit Cards Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Brokerage CDs Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that E*TRADE is better than Public.com. E*TRADE finished with an overall score of 86.0%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.

With two distinct platforms (E*TRADE Web and Power E*TRADE) the broker effectively serves both the "set-it-and-forget-it" investor and the high-volume derivatives trader. Whether you aim to construct a long-term retirement portfolio or deploy complex options strategies, E*TRADE provides a sophisticated, dependable environment that grows with your ambition.

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 2026

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 2026

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Compare

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Overall Rating E*TRADE Public.com
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.5/5 Stars N/A
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 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 $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) $6.95 $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee $0.00 n/a
Options (Per Contract) $0.65 $0.00
Futures (Per Contract) $1.50 (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee $25 n/a
Margin Rates E*TRADE Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 12.95% 5.65%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 12.7% 5.65%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 12.2% 5.50%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 11.7% 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 11.2% 5.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 Varies 5.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 Varies 5.05%
Account Fees E*TRADE Public.com
IRA Annual Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00 $150.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) $0.00 $100.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) $75.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options E*TRADE Public.com
Stock Trading Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) No Yes
OTC Stocks Yes Yes
Options Trading Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs 4 4
Futures Trading Yes No
Forex Trading No No
Crypto Trading No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins 0 40
Fixed Income (Treasurys) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) Yes Yes
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) Yes No
Traditional IRAs Yes Yes
Roth IRAs Yes Yes
Advisor Services Yes No
International Countries (Stocks) 0 0
Order Types E*TRADE Public.com
Order Type - Market Yes Yes
Order Type - Limit Yes Yes
Order Type - After Hours Yes Yes
Order Type - Stop Yes Yes
Order Type - Trailing Stop Yes No
Order Type - OCO Yes No
Order Type - OTO Yes No
Order Type - Broker Assisted Yes No
Beginners E*TRADE Public.com
Education (Stocks) Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) Yes Yes
Education (Options) Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) Yes No
Education (Fixed Income) Yes Yes
Education (Retirement) Yes Yes
Retirement Calculator Yes No
Investor Dictionary Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Videos Yes Yes
Webinars Yes Yes
Progress Tracking No No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes No No
Stock Trading Apps E*TRADE Public.com
iPhone App Yes Yes
Android App Yes Yes
Apple Watch App Yes No
Trading - Stocks Yes Yes
Trading - After-Hours Yes Yes
Trading - Simple Options Yes Yes
Trading - Complex Options Yes No
Order Ticket RT Quotes Yes Yes
Order Ticket SRT Quotes Yes No
Stock App Features E*TRADE Public.com
Mobile Research - Market Movers Yes Yes
Stream Live TV Yes No
Videos on Demand No No
Stock Alerts Yes No
Option Chains Viewable Yes Yes
Watchlist (Real-time) Yes Yes
Watchlist (Streaming) Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage Yes No
Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization Yes Yes
Stock App Charting E*TRADE Public.com
Charting - After-Hours Yes No
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally Yes No
Charting - Multiple Time Frames Yes Yes
Charting - Technical Studies 107 0
Charting - Study Customizations Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons Yes Yes
Trading Platforms E*TRADE Public.com
Active Trading Platform Power E*TRADE n/a
Desktop Trading Platform Yes No
Desktop Platform (Mac) Yes No
Web Trading Platform Yes Yes
Paper Trading Yes No
Trade Journal No No
Watchlists - Total Fields 43 3
Stock Chart Features E*TRADE Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies 121 0
Charting - Drawing Tools 37 0
Charting - Notes Yes No
Charting - Historical Trades Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range Yes No
Charting - Custom Time Bars No No
Charting - Automated Analysis Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations 8 0
Charting - Custom Studies No No
Day Trading E*TRADE Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales Yes No
Streaming TV Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities Yes No
Ladder Trading No No
Trade Hot Keys Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting No No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv No No
Short Locator No No
Order Liquidity Rebates No No
Research Overview E*TRADE Public.com
Research - Stocks Yes Yes
Research - ETFs Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds Yes No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB Yes Yes
Research - Fixed Income Yes No
Screener - Stocks Yes No
Screener - ETFs Yes No
Screener - Mutual Funds Yes No
Screener - Fixed Income Yes No
Portfolio Asset Allocation Yes No
Stock Research E*TRADE Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports 8 0
Stock Research - Earnings Yes Yes
Stock Research - Insiders Yes No
Stock Research - Social Yes No
Stock Research - News Yes Yes
Stock Research - ESG Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings Yes No
ETF Research E*TRADE Public.com
ETFs - Investment Objective Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings Yes Yes
ETFs - Sector Exposure Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis Yes No
ETFs - Ratings Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap Yes No
ETFs - PDF Reports Yes No
Mutual Fund Research E*TRADE Public.com
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart Yes No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis Yes No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus Yes No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown Yes No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation Yes No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap Yes No
Options Trading E*TRADE Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts Yes Yes
Banking E*TRADE Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) Yes No
Checking Accounts Yes No
Savings Accounts Yes No
Credit Cards Yes No
Debit Cards Yes No
Mortgage Loans Yes No
Customer Service E*TRADE Public.com
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) Yes No
Email Support Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) Yes Yes
24/7 Support Yes No
Overall E*TRADE Public.com
Overall 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Advanced Trading 4/5 Stars 1/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Ease of Use 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review E*TRADE Review Public.com Review
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