Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Public.com vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
When comparing Public.com and eToro, both platforms have unique offerings, but Public.com edges ahead with a slightly broader range of investment options. Public.com allows users to trade stocks, engage in margin trading, buy fractional shares, and invest in OTC stocks, setting it apart. Both platforms support options and crypto trading, but Public.com provides access to 22 cryptocurrencies, whereas eToro offers slightly more at 26. Neither platform covers mutual funds, forex, futures, or IRA accounts, nor do they offer advisor services. Overall, Public.com scores a slightly higher rating for its range of investments.
Public.com shines in several areas, offering more versatile trading options compared to eToro. Stock trading is available on both platforms, and users can also trade fractional shares easily. However, Public.com's inclusion of margin trading and OTC stocks provides investors with more flexibility and opportunities that are not available on eToro. While both offer options trading and have a comprehensive selection of cryptocurrencies, Public.com still holds an edge in their overall accessibility to diverse investment choices.
Despite both brokers lacking features like IRA accounts, mutual funds, and advisor services, the decision between Public.com and eToro may come down to individual investment needs. With Public.com rated at 3.5 stars and ranked #14 by StockBrokers.com for its range of investments, it surpasses eToro's 2.5-star rating and #15 ranking. For investors seeking a wider array of options and margin trading, Public.com stands out as a more inclusive platform. However, those focused solely on crypto might find eToro's slightly larger selection more appealing.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Margin Trading | Yes | No |
| Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 26 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both Public.com and eToro provide interesting yet limited options. Neither offers a downloadable trading platform for Windows or Mac, relying instead on browser-based platforms to conduct trades. Both platforms rank towards the lower end in expert reviews, with Public.com receiving a 2-star rating and eToro inching slightly ahead with 2.5 stars. Based on these features and expert rankings, both platforms might serve basic trading needs, but traders seeking more advanced tools might look elsewhere.
Public.com provides a straightforward browser experience but lacks several features that more advanced traders might expect. It does not offer paper trading, technical indicators, drawing tools, or the ability to add notes or show historical trades on charts. Watch lists on Public.com are limited to just three columns, and you can't adjust open orders directly on stock charts. Meanwhile, it does allow users to add index overlays to charts but falls short of providing extensive customization options for stock chart studies.
eToro, on the other hand, offers a richer set of features within its browser platform. It includes paper trading, 46 technical indicators, 48 drawing tools, and the capability to add notes to charts. eToro's watch lists support up to seven columns, and you can save multiple chart profiles—a helpful feature for frequent users. While eToro doesn't allow adjusting open orders directly on stock charts, it offers five customization fields for editing an SMA study. These added capabilities make eToro a slightly more versatile option for traders in search of more comprehensive tools.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 7 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 46 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 48 |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokerage Accounts for 2025, Best Paper Trading Platforms for 2025
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When it comes to educational resources for beginners in the world of investing, Public.com offers a wider range of learning options compared to eToro. Public.com provides educational content on stocks, ETFs, and options, and also supports learning through videos and webinars. This makes it a solid option for new investors eager to understand more about different investment types. In contrast, eToro’s educational offerings fall short in some areas, as it lacks content on ETFs and options. However, eToro does compensate for this by offering paper trading, which allows users to practice trading without financial risks.
Both platforms provide educational videos, but Public.com goes a step further by offering webinars, which can be particularly beneficial for interactive learning. Unfortunately, neither platform offers educational quizzes or any method to track learning progress, which could enhance the learning experience for beginners. Overall, while both Public.com and eToro have room for improvement, Public.com scores higher in terms of investor education, with a 3.5-star rating compared to eToro’s 2.5 stars, and a ranking of 12th out of 15 brokers by StockBrokers.com, ahead of eToro's 15th place.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No |
| Education (Options) | Yes | No |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Bonds) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
When comparing the stock trading apps of Public.com and eToro, eToro generally offers a more feature-rich experience with a higher user rating of 4.5 stars compared to Public.com's 3.5 stars. Where eToro supports various capabilities such as streaming quotes, videos on demand, stock alerts, and after-hours charting, Public.com focuses its offerings with mobile options trading and customizable watch list columns. In rankings, StockBrokers.com places eToro at 11th, while Public.com is ranked 14th out of 15 brokers.
Both Public.com and eToro provide user-friendly apps for iPhone and Android, but neither supports Apple Watch. While both apps enable after-hours and options trading on mobile, eToro stands out with its streaming quotes and the ability to create custom watch lists, and Public.com allows for custom column setups in their watch lists. However, when charting capabilities are considered, eToro offers a more advanced experience with 103 technical studies, while Public.com currently provides none.
Despite eToro's advanced charting features, both platforms enable users to view multiple time frames and display stock comparisons on charts. However, neither supports landscape view for charts. Users of Public.com may appreciate its streamlined focus, while those opting for eToro can benefit from a more comprehensive trading environment, along with a suite of features and customization options supported by its app.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 103 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
When weighing Public.com against eToro for account fees and other charges, users will find both brokers offer commission-free stock and options trading, making them attractive choices for cost-conscious investors. Public.com stands out for its lower minimum deposit of $20 compared to eToro's $50. However, eToro does not offer margin accounts, whereas Public.com has a tiered interest rate model, starting from 8.75% for balances below $25,000 and dropping to 6.75% for higher balances, which might attract users interested in leveraging their investments.
Both platforms charge identical fees for full and partial account transfers at $75, ensuring transparency in potential movement costs for investors looking to shift their assets. Moreover, neither platform charges fees for options exercise or assignment, maintaining accessibility for users engaging in options trading activities. These similarities streamline choices for users focused on these specific features.
Investors considering Public.com will benefit from its low barrier entry point and comprehensive margin offerings for different account sizes, while those gravitating toward eToro might prioritize other account attributes beyond margin trading. This comparison highlights the utility of reviewing specific financial strategies and features that align with an individual's investment approach, enabling better-informed decisions tailored to personal investing goals.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20.00 | $50.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | ||
| IRA Closure Fee |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When evaluating the day trading capabilities of Public.com and eToro, both platforms offer simplicity, but they differ in a few key features. eToro has a slight edge with its streaming time and sales feature for stocks, which Public.com lacks. This feature can be valuable for traders looking for real-time data on stock transactions, helping them make informed decisions quickly. Despite this, neither platform provides tools such as live TV streaming, direct market routing, or ladder trading, which might be important for those seeking comprehensive day trading functionalities.
Other significant trading features such as trading hotkeys for keyboard trade entry, level 2 quotes, and strategy backtesting are absent in both Public.com and eToro. Additionally, neither platform offers a short locator tool for checking the availability of shares to short, nor do they provide order liquidity rebates. While both platforms can serve casual traders well, those looking for advanced day trading features may need to consider other options.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes |
| 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 for 2025
When considering the market research capabilities of online brokers, Public.com and eToro stand out with unique offerings. However, Public.com edges out its competitor with a slightly higher rating of 2 stars versus eToro's 1.5 stars, according to StockBrokers.com. Ranked 12th versus eToro's 14th position out of 15 brokers, Public.com offers broader access to research tools, such as Pink Sheets/OTCBB research, an area where eToro falls short.
Both platforms provide basic research tools for stocks and ETFs, but they do not extend to mutual funds or bonds. Interestingly, neither Public.com nor eToro offers the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class. While Public.com lacks additional research capabilities like social media sentiment data and ESG research, eToro fills these gaps, though it still doesn't support downloadable PDF research reports.
In terms of enhanced research tools like screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, both Public.com and eToro fall short, leaving traders to seek inspiration elsewhere. Although each platform has its advantages, investors prioritizing eco-friendly stock choices or social sentiment insights might lean towards eToro. Meanwhile, those interested in trading Pink Sheets or OTCBB securities may find Public.com a more suitable choice.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | No | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Screener - Bonds | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of online brokers Public.com and eToro, both platforms offer limited financial services outside of their trading platforms. Neither Public.com nor eToro provides traditional banking features such as checking accounts, savings accounts, or debit and credit cards. Moreover, both platforms do not offer mortgage loans or Certificates of Deposit (CDs). These brokers primarily focus on investment services, so potential users should seek traditional banking facilities elsewhere.
| Feature |
Public.com
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | No | No |
| Credit Cards | No | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Bank Accounts for Trading Stocks for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 15 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Public.com is better than eToro. Public.com finished with an overall score of 69.6%, while eToro finished with a score of 66.1%.
Public is easy to use and offers a fascinating array of investment options. Along with stocks, ETFs, and crypto, there are managed Treasury bill accounts and alternative investments, such as shares in comic books and Banksy art. On the downside, Public uses its refusal to accept payment for order flow as justification for some startlingly high fees and spreads.
Both Public.com and eToro offer crypto trading; however, Public.com provides access to 22 coins, while eToro allows trading in 26 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Both Public.com and eToro do not offer traditional or Roth IRA accounts, nor do they charge annual or closure fees for IRA accounts, providing cost-effective options for investors focused on standard brokerage services without retirement account features.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Public.com | eToro | |
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| Customer Service | N/A | N/A | |
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| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Public.com | eToro | |
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| Trading Fees | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $20.00 | $50.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $2.99 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | n/a | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | n/a | $0 |
| Margin Rates | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 8.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 8.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 6.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 6.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 5.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 5.75% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 5.75% | Not offered |
| Account Fees | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | |||
| IRA Closure Fee | |||
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
| Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 0 | 0 | |
| Futures Trading | No | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 22 | 26 | |
| Mutual Funds (No Load) | 0 | 0 | |
| Mutual Funds (Total) | 0 | 0 | |
| Bonds (US Treasury) | Yes | No | |
| Bonds (Corporate) | Yes | No | |
| Bonds (Municipal) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | No | No | |
| Roth IRAs | No | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | No | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | No | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | No | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | No | No |
| Beginners | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Bonds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | No | |
| Paper Trading | No | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | No | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | No | Yes |
| Stock App Features | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | No | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watch List (Streaming) | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Create & Manage | No | Yes | |
| Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
| Stock App Charting | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 0 | 103 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watch Lists - Total Fields | 3 | 7 |
| Stock Chart Features | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 0 | 46 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 0 | 48 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | No | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 0 | 5 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | No | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Bonds | No | No | |
| Misc - Portfolio Allocation | No | No |
| Stock Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | Yes |
| ETF Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Strategy Overview | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Net Assets | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Strategy Overview | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Basic View | No | Yes | |
| Option Chains - Strategy View | No | No | |
| Option Chains - Streaming | No | No | |
| Option Chains - Total Columns | 4 | 0 | |
| Option Chains - Greeks | 5 | 4 | |
| Option Chains - Quick Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No | |
| Option Probability Analysis | No | No | |
| Option Probability Analysis Adv | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Greeks | Yes | No | |
| Option Positions - Greeks Streaming | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Adv Analysis | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Rolling | No | No | |
| Option Positions - Grouping | No | No |
| Banking | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospect Customers) | No | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | No | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospect Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Public.com | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Ease Of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Public.com Review | eToro Review |
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