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Interactive Brokers vs Public.com 2025

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

July 03, 2025

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

Interactive Brokers
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.65 info
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

Interactive Brokers vs Public.com: Bottom line, Interactive Brokers offers the wider range of investments. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #1 of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks #13. Both let you trade stocks, options, and crypto with margin and fractional shares, and both support Traditional and Roth IRAs. Interactive Brokers adds forex, futures, and mutual funds; Public.com stands out with more crypto coins (about 40 vs 11). Neither provides advisor services.

Interactive Brokers supports stock trading, options, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, mutual funds, forex, futures, and crypto (11 coins). You can also open Traditional and Roth IRAs. This mix fits investors who want many asset classes in one place, from mutual funds to currency and futures markets.

Public.com offers stock and options trading, margin, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and crypto with a larger lineup of around 40 coins, plus Traditional and Roth IRAs. It does not offer mutual funds, forex, or futures, and like Interactive Brokers it does not offer advisor services. If your focus is stocks and a wide choice of cryptocurrencies, Public.com covers the essentials.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info Yes No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info Yes info Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 11 info 40
Range of Investments 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 comparing Interactive Brokers and Public.com, Interactive Brokers stands out as the superior choice for traders seeking advanced tools and features. It offers a more versatile trading platform with both desktop and browser-based options, while Public.com only provides access through a browser. Interactive Brokers is particularly praised for its comprehensive charting capabilities, extensive technical indicators, and customization options, making it suitable for seasoned traders and those who value detailed analysis. In contrast, Public.com keeps things straightforward but lacks many of the advanced features found with Interactive Brokers.

Interactive Brokers is renowned for its extensive array of features, including paper trading, a trading journal, and the ability to customize watch lists with 659 fields. It also allows traders to manage open orders and view historical trades directly on its charts. With 155 technical indicators and 85 drawing tools available, users can conduct thorough market analysis. Additionally, features like showing corporate events, setting custom date ranges, and utilizing automated technical analysis further enhance its appeal to serious investors.

Public.com, on the other hand, is tailored for users who prefer a simpler trading experience. However, this simplicity comes at the cost of fewer features. Options such as paper trading, trading journals, and advanced charting tools are absent, limiting its appeal to more casual investors. As a result, Interactive Brokers rates 5 stars for its platforms and tools, while Public.com earns only 2 stars. According to StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is ranked #2, in stark contrast to Public.com's #14 ranking, further reinforcing the clear advantage Interactive Brokers holds for those in search of a feature-rich trading experience.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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 659 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 155 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 85 0
Platforms & Tools 5/5 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

Interactive Brokers and Public.com both offer beginner and investor education with content on stock education, ETF education, options education, and bonds. Interactive Brokers goes further with mutual fund education, paper trading to practice without risking real money, educational videos, webinars, quizzes, and the ability to track your learning progress. Public.com provides educational videos and webinars and covers stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds, but it does not include mutual fund education, paper trading, quizzes, or progress tracking.

According to StockBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars for education and ranks 3rd out of 14 brokers, while Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks 11th. For a fuller learning path with practice tools and progress tracking, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice; for straightforward videos and webinars on core topics, Public.com covers the basics.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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

Bottom line: For mobile stock trading, Interactive Brokers is the more feature-packed choice, earning 5 stars and a #2 out of 14 ranking from StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks #14. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps and support mobile options trading, but Interactive Brokers adds far more tools and flexibility that active traders and market watchers will appreciate.

App availability is strong on both platforms, yet Interactive Brokers goes further with an Apple Watch app, which Public.com lacks. Interactive Brokers supports mobile after-hours trading; Public.com’s mobile after-hours support isn’t specified in the data provided. Real-time market access and content differ sharply: Interactive Brokers offers streaming quotes, streaming live TV, and videos on demand, plus stock alerts; Public.com does not offer these features.

Interactive Brokers also shines in customization and charting. It lets you create custom watchlists and customize watchlist columns (Public.com only supports column customization, not custom lists). For charts, Interactive Brokers supports after-hours charting, landscape mode, multiple time frames, stock comparisons on charts, and 97 technical studies. Public.com supports multiple time frames and stock comparisons on charts but lacks after-hours charting, landscape mode, and technical studies (0). For traders who value detailed analysis on mobile, Interactive Brokers clearly leads.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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 97 0
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025

Fees

Bottom line: Public.com is cheaper for options traders and borrowers, while Interactive Brokers is friendlier for account flexibility. Public.com charges $0 per options contract and offers lower margin rates, but it has a $20 minimum deposit and steep exit costs. Interactive Brokers has a $0 minimum deposit and $0 fees for transfers and IRA closures, though it charges $0.65 per options contract and higher margin rates.

Core trading costs are similar for stock investing: both Interactive Brokers and Public.com have $0 commissions for regular stock trades, and both charge $0 for options exercise and assignment. The biggest trading difference is options pricing—Interactive Brokers is $0.65 per contract, while Public.com is $0. Minimum deposit also differs: Interactive Brokers requires $0; Public.com requires $20.

Margin and account-level fees favor Public.com on borrowing but favor Interactive Brokers on account changes. Margin interest rates: below $25,000, Interactive Brokers 6.83% vs Public.com 5.65%; $25,000–$49,999, 6.83% vs 5.65%; $50,000–$99,999, 6.83% vs 5.50%. IRA annual fees are $0 at both brokers, but IRA closure is $0 at Interactive Brokers vs $150 at Public.com. For account transfers (ACAT), Interactive Brokers charges $0 for partial and full transfers, while Public.com charges $100 for partial and $100 for full transfers.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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 info $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

When it comes to day trading, Interactive Brokers stands out with a comprehensive set of tools and features that cater to active traders. It offers streaming time and sales for stocks, allowing users to monitor transactions in real time. It also provides streaming live TV to keep traders informed with up-to-date financial news. Interactive Brokers supports direct market routing, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys for quick trade entries, enhancing the overall trading experience. Additionally, the platform provides level 2 quotes, which give traders a deeper insight into market movements. For those interested in testing and refining their strategies, Interactive Brokers offers both basic and advanced strategy backtesting. A short locator tool is available to help users identify the availability of shares for shorting. Lastly, the platform provides order liquidity rebates that incentivize effective trading practices.

In contrast, Public.com might appeal to newer investors or those seeking a simpler experience, as it does not offer the advanced day trading features that Interactive Brokers does. The absence of streaming time and sales, live TV, or direct market routing can limit a trader's ability to engage deeply with market dynamics. Public.com also lacks ladder trading and trading hotkeys, which are beneficial for executing trades quickly and efficiently. Without level 2 quotes, detailed strategy backtesting, a short locator tool, or order liquidity rebates, active day traders might find Public.com less suited to their needs when compared to the more feature-rich Interactive Brokers.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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 No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms for 2025

Market Research

Bottom line: Interactive Brokers is the stronger pick for market research. Both brokers offer stock and ETF research, but Interactive Brokers adds mutual fund and bond research, 17 downloadable PDF stock reports plus PDF reports for ETFs and mutual funds, and screeners across stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds. It also shows portfolio allocation by asset class and includes ESG and social media sentiment data. StockBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars (ranked #4 of 14) versus Public.com’s 2 stars (ranked #12).

Coverage and content differ notably. Interactive Brokers supports research on stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, OTC/Pink, and bonds. Public.com supports stocks, ETFs, and OTC/Pink, but not mutual funds or bonds. For downloadable research, Interactive Brokers provides 17 stock research PDFs and offers PDFs for ETFs and mutual funds; Public.com offers none. If you want alternative data, Interactive Brokers includes ESG and social sentiment signals, which Public.com does not.

For idea generation and portfolio insights, Interactive Brokers supplies screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, and it lets you see your portfolio allocation by asset class. Public.com does not offer these screeners and does not show allocation by asset class. If you need a complete research toolkit, Interactive Brokers delivers more; if you only need basic stock and ETF research with OTC research, Public.com covers the essentials.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
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 the banking capabilities of the online brokers Interactive Brokers and Public.com, neither offers traditional checking or savings accounts, nor do they provide debit or credit cards, which means users might need to consider other alternatives for these services. Both platforms also do not offer mortgage loans, keeping their focus away from typical banking products. However, Interactive Brokers differentiates itself slightly by providing Certificates of Deposit (CDs), giving users a modest option to earn interest on their holdings, whereas Public.com does not offer CDs at all. This aspect might appeal to investors seeking a low-risk investment option within their brokerage account. Ultimately, for those primarily looking for integrated banking features alongside their investment activities, other financial institutions might be better suited to meet their needs.

Feature Interactive Brokers logoInteractive Brokers
Public.com logoPublic.com
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No 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 Interactive Brokers is better than Public.com. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall score of 96.9%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.

Interactive Brokers is a go-to choice for professionals because of its institutional-grade desktop trading platform, high-quality trade executions and rock-bottom margin rates.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Interactive Brokers or Public.com?

Comparing online brokers, both Interactive Brokers and Public.com offer crypto trading, but Public.com provides a wider selection.

Interactive Brokers supports 11 cryptocurrencies, while Public.com supports 40.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025

Does Interactive Brokers or Public.com offer IRAs?

Interactive Brokers vs. Public.com: both brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with $0 annual IRA fees.

The key difference is closure costs—Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 4/5 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 Interactive Brokers Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Interactive Brokers Public.com
Broker Gallery (click to expand)
Trading Fees Interactive Brokers Public.com
Minimum Deposit info $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades info $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info $0.01 $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee info $14.95 info n/a
Options (Per Contract) info $0.65 info $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) info $0.85 info (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee info Varies info n/a
Margin Rates Interactive Brokers Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 info 6.83% info 5.65%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 info 6.83% info 5.65%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 info 6.83% info 5.50%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 info 6.83% info 5.25%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 info 6.83% info 5.25%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 info 6.83% info 5.25%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 info 6.83% info 5.05%
Account Fees Interactive Brokers 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 $0.00 $100.00
Options Exercise Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee info $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Interactive Brokers Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Account Feature - Margin Trading info Yes Yes
Fractional Shares (Stocks) info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 6 4
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info Yes info Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 11 info 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 No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 36 0
Order Types Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers 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 Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info Yes No
Stock Trading Apps Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info Yes No
Videos on Demand info Yes 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 Interactive Brokers 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 97 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Interactive Brokers Public.com
Active Trading Platform info Trader Workstation (TWS) 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 Yes No
Watch Lists - Total Fields info 659 3
Stock Chart Features Interactive Brokers Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 155 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 85 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 Yes No
Charting - Automated Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Save Profiles info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis info Yes No
Charting - Study Customizations info 6 0
Charting - Custom Studies info No No
Day Trading Interactive Brokers Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info Yes No
Direct Market Routing - Equities info Yes No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hot Keys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting info Yes No
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv info Yes No
Short Locator info Yes No
Order Liquidity Rebates info Yes No
Research Overview Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 17 info 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 Yes No
Stock Research - SEC Filings info Yes No
ETF Research Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers Public.com
Option Chains - Total Greeks info 5 5
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Banking Interactive Brokers Public.com
Bank (Member FDIC) info No No
Checking Accounts info No No
Savings Accounts info No No
Credit Cards info No No
Debit Cards info No No
Mortgage Loans info No No
Customer Service Interactive Brokers 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 Interactive Brokers Public.com
Overall 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 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 Interactive Brokers Review Public.com Review
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