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Webull vs Public.com 2024

StockBrokers.com

Written by StockBrokers.com

October 30, 2024

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

Webull
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00
Public.com
3.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $20.00
  • Stock Trades: $0.00 info
  • Options (Per Contract): $0.00 info

Investment options

When it comes to choosing between Webull and Public.com for investment options, Webull emerges as a slightly more versatile platform, boasting a 4-star rating and a #12 ranking out of 18 brokers from StockBrokers.com. Public.com, while still a robust choice, holds a 3-star rating and ranks at #15. Investors seeking a more comprehensive set of options may find Webull's offer of futures trading and IRA accounts enticing, whereas Public.com stands out with its crypto trading of 22 coins, which is an area Webull does not cover.

Both Webull and Public.com provide accessible stock and options trading, appealing to traders looking to engage in these markets. They also share features like margin trading, fractional shares trading, and access to OTC stocks, providing users with varied opportunities to manage their portfolios. However, neither platform supports mutual funds or forex trading, limiting users in those specific areas. While Webull supports futures trading, Public.com compensates somewhat for this gap by offering cryptocurrency trading, a sector where it significantly outshines Webull.

A closer examination of retirement account options reveals that Webull offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts—an area where Public.com lacks offerings. Conversely, Public.com provides crypto trading, with availability for 22 different coins, giving it an edge for those looking to dip into digital currencies. Importantly, neither platform provides advisor services, meaning both cater predominantly to self-directed investors. Ultimately, choosing between the two may come down to whether the priority lies with traditional retirement savings options or tapping into cryptocurrency markets.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Public.com logoPublic.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Mutual Funds info No No
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Futures Trading info Yes No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2024

Trading platforms and tools

When choosing between Webull and Public.com for an online trading platform, Webull stands out for its comprehensive suite of tools and features. With a robust rating of 4.5 stars, Webull significantly surpasses Public.com, which has a rating of 2.5 stars. Webull ranks 8th out of 18 brokers in an assessment by StockBrokers.com, while Public.com is placed much lower, at 17th. For traders looking for a platform with a wide range of capabilities, Webull seems to be the superior choice in almost every aspect.

Webull offers both Windows and Mac desktop downloadable trading platforms, providing greater flexibility and access for users working across devices. Public.com, on the other hand, limits its users with no downloadable desktop options. Both platforms offer a browser-based trading interface, but Webull further distinguishes itself by providing paper trading, which Public.com lacks. The disparity continues with watch list functionality, where Webull offers 35 customizable fields, dwarfing Public.com's modest offering of only 3 fields.

Charting capabilities are another area where Webull excels. It allows traders to utilize 52 technical indicators and 19 drawing tools, compared to Public.com's offering of none in both categories. Webull also delivers value-added features such as the ability to add notes, index overlays, show historical trades, and corporate events on charts, whereas Public.com falls short in these features. Additionally, Webull users benefit from the ability to perform automated technical analysis, save multiple chart profiles, and customize their studies, all of which are possibilities absent from Public.com's platform.

Feature Webull logoWebull
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 35 3
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 52 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2024

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Beginners and education

When it comes to beginner and investor education capabilities, both Webull and Public.com provide valuable resources to support users in their investment journeys. Both platforms offer comprehensive education on stocks, ETFs, and options, ensuring beginners have access to essential investment knowledge. Additionally, Webull and Public.com provide educational videos and webinars, which facilitate learning through visual and interactive formats. However, neither platform currently offers educational content on mutual funds or bonds, potentially limiting their appeal to investors seeking a broader range of educational topics.

Webull distinguishes itself with paper trading functionality, educational quizzes, and a feature that allows users to track their learning progress, providing a more immersive educational experience. In contrast, Public.com lacks these specific educational tools, which may be a consideration for those who prioritize interactive learning elements. Both platforms received a 3-star rating for education, according to industry reviews, with Webull ranked 14th and Public.com ranked 15th among 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com. This close ranking illustrates the similarities in their educational offerings, but also highlights the areas where Webull may have a slight edge in supporting investor education.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Public.com logoPublic.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Education 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2024

Stock trading apps

When deciding between Webull and Public.com for your stock trading needs, the choice largely depends on your preferences and trading requirements. Webull holds a slight advantage with a 4.5-star rating for its stock trading app, compared to Public.com's 4-star rating. Similarly, Webull is ranked #7 by StockBrokers.com among 18 brokers, whereas Public.com stands at #14. Webull offers comprehensive features such as mobile after-hours stock trading, mobile options trading, and a wide array of charting capabilities. On the other hand, Public.com attracts users who value simplicity and ease of use, even though it lags in some advanced functionalities.

Both Webull and Public.com shine in their accessibility, offering iPhone and Android apps; however, Webull takes it a step further by also providing an Apple Watch app. For traders who require dynamic and real-time updates, Webull's advantage is evident with its streaming quotes feature—a feature Public.com lacks. Additionally, users of Webull benefit from stock alerts and the ability to create custom watch lists, whereas Public.com does not offer these features. Nevertheless, Public.com provides more flexibility in customizing watch list columns.

In terms of charting prowess, Webull again comes out ahead. It offers after-hours charting and allows viewing in landscape mode, both features absent in Public.com's offerings. Webull also supports multiple time frames for charting and includes an impressive 56 technical studies in its mobile app, whereas Public.com offers none. Despite these differences, both platforms allow users to display stock comparisons on charts. Overall, while both platforms cater to different user needs, those seeking more advanced trading tools might lean towards Webull, whereas Public.com could appeal to users who prefer a straightforward, user-friendly experience.

Feature Webull logoWebull
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 56 0
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2024

Fees

When choosing between Webull and Public.com, it's crucial to consider the differences in account fees and charges to determine the best fit for your investing needs. Both platforms offer commission-free trading on regular stock trades and options contracts, making them attractive for cost-conscious investors. However, Webull stands out with its $0.00 minimum deposit requirement, compared to the $20.00 minimum at Public.com, providing increased accessibility for new investors. On the other hand, Public.com offers slightly lower interest rates on margin balances below $25,000 and more significant advantages on higher margin tiers.

Webull and Public.com both maintain competitive pricing structures for active investors, providing a $0.00 fee for IRA annual and closure charges, options exercises, and assignment fees, as well as account transfer (ACAT) fees at $75.00 for both partial and full transfers. However, the difference in margin balance rates could be a decisive factor for those regularly trading on margin. Webull charges 9.24% for balances under $25,000, while Public.com offers a marginally lower rate of 8.75%. For balances between $50,000 and $99,999, Public.com provides a significantly lower rate of 6.75% compared to Webull's 8.24%.

Ultimately, both Webull and Public.com offer zero-fee trading on stocks and options, making them excellent choices for commission-free trading. Your decision may hinge on specific needs such as the initial deposit amount and margin rates. For investors seeking no initial deposit to begin trading, Webull is advantageous, while Public.com's more favorable margin rates on higher tier accounts may benefit those who engage more heavily in margin trading.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Public.com logoPublic.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00 info
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00 info
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
IRA Annual Fee $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2024

Day Trading

When comparing the day trading capabilities of Webull and Public.com, several distinctions become evident, making Webull a more robust choice for active traders. Webull supports streaming time and sales for stocks, a crucial feature for traders needing to analyze real-time trade data, whereas Public.com does not. Additionally, Webull offers ladder trading and trading hotkeys for efficient keyboard trade entry, catering to the needs of fast-paced day traders. In contrast, Public.com lacks these functionalities, potentially limiting the speed and efficiency of executing trades. Moreover, Webull provides access to level 2 quotes, offering deeper insights into market depth, which Public.com does not support.

Both Webull and Public.com share some limitations. Neither platform supports streaming live TV, advanced strategy backtesting, basic strategy backtesting, direct market routing, or a short locator tool to check the real-time availability of shares to short. Additionally, both platforms do not offer order liquidity (maker/taker) rebates. Despite these limitations, Webull's suite of features tailored toward day trading, including ladder trading and trading hotkeys, may offer significant advantages over Public.com for traders seeking a more dynamic and data-rich trading environment.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Public.com logoPublic.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes 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 for 2024

Market Research

When it comes to market research capabilities, Webull stands out among online brokers by providing a more comprehensive suite of tools compared to Public.com. While both platforms offer essential research for stocks, ETFs, and Pink Sheets/OTCBB securities, Webull further distinguishes itself with unique features like stock research using social media sentiment data and a stock screener for generating trade ideas. Despite these advantages, neither Webull nor Public.com provides research for mutual funds or bonds, and both lack downloadable PDF reports for stocks or ETFs.

Webull's investment tools include a stock screener that aids users in forming trade ideas, although it does not extend its screening capabilities to ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, which mirrors the limitations seen with Public.com. However, an area where Webull takes the lead is in leveraging social media sentiment data for stock research, an option unavailable with Public.com. Despite not providing ESG research or insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, Webull still provides a more enriched market research experience.

Overall, Webull receives a rating of 3 out of 5 stars for market research, placed at #11 out of 18 brokers by StockBrokers.com. Public.com, on the other hand, garners a rating of 2 stars and ranks #17. While both platforms offer foundational research tools necessary for informed trading, Webull surpasses Public.com by offering innovative data analysis methodologies and more extensive screening options, making it a more robust choice for investors focused on comprehensive market research.

Feature Webull logoWebull
Public.com logoPublic.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Screener - ETFs info No No
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Research 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars

Banking

When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Webull and Public.com, both platforms display notable similarities in their offerings. Webull does not provide traditional banking services such as checking accounts, savings accounts, debit cards, credit cards, or mortgage loans. Similarly, Public.com also lacks these banking services, ensuring a streamlined focus on brokerage and investment services without the complexities of traditional banking. Neither platform offers Certificates of Deposit (CDs), highlighting their consistent approach in concentrating exclusively on brokerage functionalities rather than diversifying into conventional banking products. This alignment makes them suitable choices for users specifically seeking investment opportunities without the additional banking features.

Feature Webull logoWebull
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
CDs info No No

Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2024

Winner

After opening live accounts and testing 18 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Webull is better than Public.com. Webull finished with an overall score of 84.9%, while Public.com finished with a score of 72.9%.

Webull is an excellent choice for beginning and intermediate traders. The user experience is outstanding, and Webull has better charts than its natural competitor, Robinhood. Options contracts are commission-free, but crypto markups and markdowns are on the high side. Experienced investors may eventually miss the features, research, and investment choices available at leading brokers.

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Webull or Public.com?

While Webull does not offer crypto trading, Public.com provides a robust selection of 22 cryptocurrencies to trade, appealing to investors interested in digital assets.

Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2024

Does Webull or Public.com offer IRAs?

Webull offers both traditional and Roth IRA accounts without any annual or closure fees, while Public.com does not provide IRA account options.

Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2024

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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Webull Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Customer Service 3.0/5 Stars N/A
Education 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Webull Review Public.com Review
Broker Screenshots Webull 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 Webull Public.com
Minimum Deposit $0.00 $20.00
Stock Trades $0.00 $0.00 info
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) info N/A $2.99
Mutual Fund Trade Fee N/A n/a
Options (Per Contract) $0.00 $0.00 info
Futures (Per Contract) $1.25 info (Not offered)
Broker Assisted Trade Fee N/A n/a
Margin Rates Webull Public.com
Margin Rate Under $25,000 9.24% 8.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 8.74% 8.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 8.24% 6.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 7.74% 6.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 7.74% 5.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 6.74% 5.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 6.24% info 5.75%
Account Fees Webull Public.com
IRA Annual Fee $0.00
IRA Closure Fee $0.00
Account Transfer Out (Partial) info $75.00 $75.00
Account Transfer Out (Full) info $75.00 $75.00
Options Exercise Fee $0.00 $0.00
Options Assignment Fee $0.00 $0.00
Investment Options Webull Public.com
Stock Trading info Yes Yes
Margin Trading Yes Yes
Fractional Shares info Yes Yes
OTC Stocks info Yes Yes
Options Trading info Yes Yes
Complex Options Max Legs info 4 0
Futures Trading info Yes No
Forex Trading info No No
Crypto Trading info No Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 0 22
Mutual Funds (No Load) info 0 0
Mutual Funds (Total) info 0 0
Bonds (US Treasury) info No Yes
Bonds (Corporate) info No Yes
Bonds (Municipal) info No No
Traditional IRAs info Yes No
Roth IRAs info Yes No
Advisor Services info No No
International Countries (Stocks) info 0 0
Order Types Webull 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 No No
Beginners Webull Public.com
Education (Stocks) info Yes Yes
Education (ETFs) info Yes Yes
Education (Options) info Yes Yes
Education (Mutual Funds) info No No
Education (Bonds) info No No
Education (Retirement) info No Yes
Retirement Calculator info No No
Investor Dictionary info Yes Yes
Paper Trading info Yes No
Videos info Yes Yes
Webinars info Yes Yes
Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes
Progress Tracking info Yes No
Interactive Learning - Quizzes info Yes No
Stock Trading Apps Webull 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 Webull Public.com
Market Movers (Top Gainers) info Yes Yes
Stream Live TV info No 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 No Yes
Stock App Charting Webull 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 56 0
Charting - Study Customizations info Yes No
Charting - Stock Comparisons info Yes Yes
Trading Platforms Webull Public.com
Active Trading Platform info N/A 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 35 3
Stock Chart Features Webull Public.com
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart info Yes No
Charting - Indicators / Studies info 52 0
Charting - Drawing Tools info 19 0
Charting - Notes info Yes No
Charting - Index Overlays info Yes Yes
Charting - Historical Trades info Yes No
Charting - Corporate Events info Yes No
Charting - Custom Date Range info No 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 No No
Charting - Study Customizations info 2 0
Charting - Custom Studies info Yes No
Day Trading Webull Public.com
Streaming Time & Sales info Yes No
Streaming TV info No No
Direct Market Routing - Stocks info No No
Ladder Trading info Yes No
Trade Hotkeys info Yes No
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks info Yes 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 Webull Public.com
Research - Stocks info Yes Yes
Research - ETFs info Yes Yes
Research - Mutual Funds info No No
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB info Yes Yes
Research - Bonds info No No
Screener - Stocks info Yes No
Screener - ETFs info No No
Screener - Mutual Funds info No No
Screener - Bonds info No No
Misc - Portfolio Allocation info No No info
Stock Research Webull Public.com
Stock Research - PDF Reports info 0 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 Webull Public.com
ETFs - Strategy Overview info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets info Yes Yes
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
ETFs - Sector Exposure info Yes No
ETFs - Risk Analysis info No No
ETFs - Ratings info Yes No
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap info No No
ETFs - PDF Reports info No No
Mutual Fund Research Webull Public.com
Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart info No No
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis info No No
Mutual Funds - Prospectus info No No
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings info No No
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown info No No
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings info Yes No
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation info No No
Mutual Funds - StyleMap info No No
Options Trading Webull Public.com
Option Chains - Basic View info Yes No
Option Chains - Strategy View info Yes No
Option Chains - Streaming info No No
Option Chains - Total Columns info 23 4
Option Chains - Greeks info 5 5
Option Chains - Quick Analysis info Yes Yes
Option Analysis - P&L Charts info Yes Yes
Option Probability Analysis info Yes No
Option Probability Analysis Adv info Yes No
Option Positions - Greeks info Yes Yes
Option Positions - Greeks Streaming info No No
Option Positions - Adv Analysis info No No
Option Positions - Rolling info Yes No
Option Positions - Grouping info No No
Banking Webull 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 Webull Public.com
Phone Support (Prospect Customers) info Yes No
Phone Support (Current Customers) info Yes No
Email Support info Yes Yes
Live Chat (Prospect Customers) info No Yes
Live Chat (Current Customers) info No Yes
24/7 Support info No No
Overall Webull Public.com
Overall 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4.5/5 Stars 2.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading Apps 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 3/5 Stars 2/5 Stars
Education 3/5 Stars 3/5 Stars
Ease Of Use 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Winner check_circle
Review Webull Review Public.com Review
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