Written by StockBrokers.com
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 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
|
Public.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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
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
|
Public.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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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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
|
Public.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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
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
|
Public.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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
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
|
Public.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
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
|
Public.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 of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
E*TRADE clearly leads 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 holds 2.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want deep tools, wide asset coverage, and downloadable reports, E*TRADE fits best; Public.com is better for basic stock and ETF lookups.
Both brokers offer research on stocks and ETFs, plus access to Pink Sheets/OTC info. E*TRADE goes further with mutual fund and bond research, portfolio allocation views by asset class, and stock research that taps social media sentiment. Public.com lacks these extras, and neither broker provides ESG research.
For reports and idea generation, E*TRADE provides eight downloadable PDF stock reports, along with PDF reports for ETFs and mutual funds. It also includes screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. Public.com does not offer PDF research reports or screeners for trade ideas. Choose E*TRADE if you rely on reports and filters; choose Public.com if you only need straightforward browsing.
| Feature |
E*TRADE
|
Public.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 |
|
|
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
|
Public.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
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.
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
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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | E*TRADE | Public.com | |
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| Review | E*TRADE Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | E*TRADE | Public.com | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| 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 | No | 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 | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | E*TRADE Review | Public.com Review |
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