Vanguard vs Public.com 2024
In this head to head comparison of Vanguard vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Vanguard vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When choosing between Vanguard and Public.com for online brokerage services, it's essential to consider their available investment options and how they align with your personal investment strategy. Vanguard, rated 4.5 stars and ranked #9 by StockBrokers.com for investment options, offers a robust suite of investment products, including stock trading, margin trading, mutual funds, options trading, and OTC stocks. In contrast, Public.com, with a 3-star rating and a #15 ranking, provides a different appeal with its unique options like fractional shares trading, stock trading, and the ability to trade in cryptocurrencies, offering seven coins.
Vanguard stands out in catering to traditional investors with offerings such as mutual funds and IRA accounts, comprising both traditional and Roth account types. Vanguard does not support fractional share trading or cryptocurrency investments; however, it compensates by providing margin trading and advisor services, enhancing its attractiveness to more seasoned investors looking for comprehensive financial advice and strategic asset management. Additionally, Vanguard offers OTC stocks and options trading, providing a range of choices for portfolio diversification.
On the other hand, Public.com appeals to the modern investor interested in flexible, fractional share trading and the expanding crypto market. Despite the absence of options like mutual funds, forex trading, and IRA options, Public.com enriches the trading experience by providing access to options trading and seven different cryptocurrencies, along with standard stock trading and OTC stocks. While Public.com offers a fresh approach with a focus on accessibility and simplicity without margin or advisor services, its offerings may particularly attract younger investors or those seeking entry into crypto trading.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Margin Trading | Yes | No |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 7 |
Investment Options |
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers, 5 Best Futures Trading Platforms of 2024
When comparing Vanguard and Public.com in terms of trading platforms and tools, both online brokers receive identical ratings of 2.5 stars out of five. Despite these similar ratings, Public.com is ranked slightly higher than Vanguard, placing 17th out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com, with Vanguard coming in last at 18th. Although neither broker offers downloadable trading platforms for Windows or Mac, both provide browser-based platforms. However, when it comes to advanced features such as paper trading, trading journals, and various chart customization options, both brokers lag behind their competitors.
Vanguard stands out with its ability to display corporate events on charts and allows users to add index overlays, a feature that Public.com shares. However, Vanguard excels in offering nine technical indicators for charting, compared to Public.com's lack of any technical indicators. On the downside, neither broker provides the ability to adjust open orders directly from a stock chart or offer a trading journal. Watch list customization is more robust with Vanguard, offering nine fields compared to Public.com's three.
In terms of charting tools, both Vanguard and Public.com are limited in customization abilities. Neither provides drawing tools or the ability to set custom date ranges for charts, and they are unable to show historical trades or automated technical analysis. Moreover, neither offers the ability to save multiple chart profiles or create custom studies. Vanguard provides minimal customization with one field for editing an SMA study, whereas Public.com offers none. Given this, both platforms may serve casual investors well, but those looking for sophisticated trading tools might need to consider other brokers.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 9 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 9 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms of 2024
When comparing the educational resources for beginner investors at Vanguard and Public.com, both platforms offer distinct advantages. Vanguard provides stock education and educational videos, making it a solid choice for individuals looking to understand the basics of stock investing. However, it lacks educational offerings in ETFs, options, bonds, and mutual funds, and does not provide resources like paper trading, webinars, quizzes, or learning progress tracking. Despite these limitations, Vanguard still earns a respectable 3.5-star rating for investor education, ranking 13th out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com.
In contrast, Public.com offers a broader range of educational content, including stock, ETF, and options education along with educational videos and webinars. Like Vanguard, Public.com does not provide mutual funds or bonds education, and it similarly lacks paper trading, quizzes, and learning progress tracking. Public.com's investor education offering is rated at 3 stars and ranks 15th out of 18 brokers according to StockBrokers.com. For beginner investors, Public.com may be more enticing due to its more comprehensive educational scope, while Vanguard could appeal to those focusing on stock investment fundamentals.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
Education (Options) | No | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
Education (Bonds) | No | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | No | Yes |
Education |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024
When evaluating stock trading apps, Public.com emerges as a more versatile choice for mobile traders compared to Vanguard. Despite being ranked 14th among 18 brokers, Public.com offers essential features such as mobile options trading and the ability to customize watch list columns, setting it apart from Vanguard, which lacks these capabilities and is ranked 18th. Public.com notably scores higher with 4 stars compared to Vanguard's 3 stars, highlighting its user satisfaction for those seeking a more feature-rich mobile trading experience.
Both Vanguard and Public.com offer iPhone and Android apps, ensuring accessibility for a broad range of mobile users. However, neither platform supports Apple Watch apps, streaming live TV, or video-on-demand services. While Vanguard and Public.com both allow users to view multiple time frames for charting, Public.com enhances its charting capabilities by permitting stock comparisons, which Vanguard does not offer. Unfortunately, both brokers fall short in providing technical studies for chart analysis within their apps.
For investors interested in mobile after-hours trading, Public.com leads with available features, although specific details on its comprehensive offering are limited. Vanguard, on the other hand, does not support mobile after-hours trading, stock alerts, or the creation of custom watch lists, signaling a more limited approach to mobile trading functionalities. While neither offers the ability to view charts in landscape mode or after-hours charting, Public.com distinguishes itself in providing greater customization and user-centric features.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | No | No |
Stock Alerts | No | No |
Charting - After-Hours | No | No |
Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 0 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps of 2024
When comparing Vanguard and Public.com for investors focused on account fees and charges, it's important to consider each platform's unique offerings. Vanguard stands out with no minimum deposit requirement, but imposes a $1.00 fee per options contract and various margin rates based on balance tiers. Public.com requires a minimum deposit of $20.00 and does not charge for options contracts; however, it does not offer margin trading. While stock trade fees are $0.00 on both platforms, Public.com incurs higher costs for account transfers compared to Vanguard, limiting potential hidden fees for investors seeking transparency.
For investors interested in retirement accounts, Vanguard charges a $25.00 annual IRA fee, but no costs for IRA closure, while Public.com doesn't specify charges on these fronts, offering a potentially more streamlined option for long-term retirement savers. Both platforms waive options exercise and assignment fees, ensuring a cost-effective experience in specific scenarios. Vanguard's range of fees might seem more complex for investors consistently involved in high-margin or options trading, while Public.com offers a more straightforward fee structure for users who do not require margin services.
Both Vanguard and Public.com provide commission-free stock trading, suiting those looking to minimize their transaction costs. Vanguard may appeal more to seasoned investors seeking comprehensive account services despite varied fees, while Public.com could attract newer investors looking for a simplified and transparent fee structure without margin trading options. Ultimately, the choice between Vanguard and Public.com depends on individual investment needs, such as options trading or margin services, and the relative importance of minimized upfront fees versus ongoing cost structures.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $1.00 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $25.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | |
Commissions & Fees |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Free Stock Trading of 2024
When examining day trading capabilities, neither Vanguard nor Public.com provides streaming time and sales data for stocks or streaming live TV, indicating a similar absence of real-time stock movement insights critical for day traders. Both platforms lack direct market routing for stocks, ladder trading, and keyboard trade entry hotkeys, features often appreciated by active traders seeking to execute trades swiftly and efficiently. Furthermore, neither Vanguard nor Public.com offers level 2 quotes or tools like a short locator for real-time shorting opportunities, which could be a drawback for traders who rely on these advanced data points and functionalities.
In terms of backtesting strategies, both Vanguard and Public.com fall short by not providing either basic or advanced backtesting capabilities. This omission may limit traders' ability to simulate and refine their trading strategies based on historical data. Additionally, there are no order liquidity rebates available on either platform, which may be a consideration for traders interested in cost efficiencies through rebate benefits. Overall, both Vanguard and Public.com may not cater to the intensive needs of day traders looking for comprehensive functionalities and tools tailored to high-frequency trading.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
Streaming TV | No | No |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | 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 2024
When comparing the market research capabilities of Vanguard and Public.com, Vanguard emerges as the stronger choice. It offers extensive research support covering stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, Pink Sheets/OTCBB, and bonds. Vanguard also provides valuable tools such as downloadable PDF reports for stocks and a variety of investment screeners. Public.com, while offering stock and ETF research, lacks mutual fund and bond research and does not match Vanguard's breadth of analytical features. Overall, Vanguard's market research is rated 3.5 stars, ranking 9th out of 18 brokers, whereas Public.com is rated 2 stars and ranks 17th, highlighting Vanguard's superior research infrastructure.
For those interested in a comprehensive research experience, Vanguard provides a holistic suite for market analysis. It excels with detailed resources and screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, along with research capabilities for Pink Sheets/OTCBB. Vanguard stands out with its ability to offer clients portfolio allocation insights by asset class, an essential feature for investors seeking an in-depth understanding of their portfolio's structure. With two downloadable PDF stock research reports, Vanguard ensures informed decision-making for its users, setting itself apart in the competitive landscape of online brokers.
Public.com offers a more limited range of market research features. While it supports basic research for stocks and ETFs, it notably lacks tools for mutual funds and bonds research, as well as stock screeners and portfolio allocation insights. Although Public.com does provide some degree of Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, its absence of downloadable research reports and detailed market analysis tools makes it less appealing to investors seeking a robust research platform. Consequently, Public.com ranks lower, indicating a narrower scope in market research compared to its competitors like Vanguard.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
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 - Bonds | Yes | No |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No |
Research |
In a comparison of the banking capabilities between online brokers Vanguard and Public.com, both platforms lack traditional banking features such as checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, and credit cards. Additionally, neither Vanguard nor Public.com extends their services to mortgage loans. A distinguishing factor, however, is Vanguard's offering of Certificates of Deposit (CDs), a feature that Public.com does not provide, making Vanguard the better choice for investors seeking CD options alongside their brokerage services.
Feature |
Vanguard
|
Public.com
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | No | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | No | No |
Credit Cards | No | No |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Brokerages of 2024
After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Vanguard is better than Public.com. Vanguard finished with an overall score of 80.3%, while Public.com finished with a score of 72.9%.
Vanguard is aimed squarely at buy-and-hold investors, and its platform reflects that focus. Vanguard is known for its low-cost funds, and the investment platform is really built for those looking to invest solely in mutual funds and ETFs.
When comparing online brokers Vanguard and Public.com, it's notable that Vanguard does not offer crypto trading, whereas Public.com provides the opportunity to trade 7 different cryptocurrencies, catering to investors interested in digital assets.
Dive deeper: Best Crypto Trading Platforms of 2024
Vanguard stands out by offering both traditional and Roth IRA accounts with a $25 annual fee and no closure fees, while Public.com does not provide IRA options, positioning Vanguard as a more robust choice for those seeking retirement account services.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts of 2024
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5Overall Rating | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Customer Service | N/A | ||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Vanguard Review | Public.com Review |
Broker Screenshots | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Trading Platform & Tools Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) | |||
Education Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | $2.99 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | n/a | |
Options (Per Contract) | $1.00 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | n/a |
Margin Rates | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 13.75% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 13.25% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.75% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 12.25% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.75% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 10.5% | Not offered | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | Varies | Not offered |
Account Fees | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
IRA Annual Fee | $25.00 | ||
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | ||
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $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 | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
Fractional Shares | No | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
Futures Trading | No | No | |
Forex Trading | No | No | |
Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 7 | |
Mutual Funds (No Load) | N/A | 0 | |
Mutual Funds (Total) | N/A | 0 | |
Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | Yes | |
Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | No | |
Bonds (Municipal) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
Order Types | Vanguard | 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 | No | No | |
Order Type - OCO | No | No | |
Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
Beginners | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
Education (Options) | No | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | No | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | No | Yes | |
Webinars (Archived) | No | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | No | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | No | No | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
Trading - Simple Options | No | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | No | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | No |
Stock App Features | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | No | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | No | No | |
Videos on Demand | No | No | |
Stock Alerts | No | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | No | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | No | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | No | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | No | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | No | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
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 | No | |
Trade Journal | No | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 9 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 9 | 0 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | No | No | |
Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | No | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | No | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 1 | 0 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
Day Trading | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
Streaming TV | No | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Stocks | No | No | |
Ladder Trading | No | No | |
Trade Hotkeys | 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 | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Bonds | Yes | No | |
Misc - Portfolio Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 2 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | No | No | |
Stock Research - Social | No | No | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | No |
ETF Research | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Strategy Overview | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | No | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | No | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Option Chains - Basic View | Yes | No | |
Option Chains - Strategy View | No | No | |
Option Chains - Streaming | No | No | |
Option Chains - Total Columns | 9 | 4 | |
Option Chains - Greeks | 0 | 5 | |
Option Chains - Quick Analysis | No | Yes | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | No | Yes | |
Option Probability Analysis | No | No | |
Option Probability Analysis Adv | No | No | |
Option Positions - Greeks | No | Yes | |
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
Option Positions - Rolling | No | No | |
Option Positions - Grouping | No | No |
Banking | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
Checking Accounts | No | No | |
Savings Accounts | No | No | |
Credit Cards | No | No | |
Debit Cards | No | No | |
Mortgage Loans | No | No |
Customer Service | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | No | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | No | Yes | |
24/7 Support | No | No |
Overall | Vanguard | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Overall | |||
Commissions & Fees | |||
Investment Options | |||
Platforms & Tools | |||
Mobile Trading Apps | |||
Research | |||
Education | |||
Ease Of Use | |||
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Vanguard Review | Public.com Review |