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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 considering a platform for your investment needs, Webull emerges as a slightly more versatile option than Public.com. With a 4-star rating for investment options compared to Public.com's 3-star rating, Webull's comprehensive array of offerings includes brokerage services ranked #12 out of 18 by StockBrokers.com, outperforming Public.com’s #15 rank. Webull distinguishes itself by providing futures trading and IRA accounts, including both Traditional and Roth, which are not available on Public.com, making it a robust choice for investors seeking diverse opportunities and retirement account options.

Both Webull and Public.com provide essential features for stock market participation such as stock, margin, options, and fractional shares trading, including Over-the-Counter (OTC) stocks. Investors interested in cryptocurrency will find both platforms accommodating, with Webull offering a wider selection of 44 coins compared to Public.com's 22. Neither platform supports mutual funds or forex trading, and both are devoid of advisor services, suggesting that they cater to more self-directed investors.

While both brokers offer a good range of investment options, Webull stands out by including futures trading and IRA accounts, particularly useful for long-term and strategic investors. Public.com, while trailing in terms of rankings and investment breadth, provides a solid platform for those focused on stock and cryptocurrency markets without the need for retirement accounts. Ultimately, your choice will depend on whether the additional features and investment vehicles offered by Webull align with your financial goals.

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 Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 44 22
Investment Options 4/5 Stars 3/5 Stars

Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms & Brokers, 5 Best Futures Trading Platforms of 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 for 2024, Best Paper Trading Platforms of 2024

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Beginners and education

Webull and Public.com each provide a range of educational resources for beginner investors, making them suitable platforms for those looking to enhance their investing knowledge. Both platforms offer education on stocks, ETFs, and options, but do not extend their educational resources to mutual funds or bonds. One of the distinguishing features of Webull is its paper trading functionality, which allows new investors to practice trades without real financial risk, accompanied by educational quizzes and tools to track learning progress. This hands-on approach helps users understand market dynamics effectively, although the platform lacks educational videos and webinars.

Public.com compensates for missing paper trading with an engaging array of educational videos and webinars, offering a dynamic learning experience for beginners. While Webull and Public.com both earn a 3-star rating for education, according to StockBrokers.com, Webull slightly edges out Public.com, ranking #14 compared to Public.com's #15 out of 18 brokers. This comprehensive feature set ensures both platforms can serve as valuable starting points for budding investors, balancing different learning preferences and modalities to suit a variety of user needs.

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 No Yes
Webinars info No 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 of 2024

Fees

When considering online brokerage options, both Webull and Public.com offer competitive pricing structures that benefit a variety of investors. While Webull presents a no-minimum deposit requirement, Public.com sets a threshold of $20, positioning Webull as a more accessible choice for new investors. Both platforms offer commission-free trading for stocks and options, ensuring a low-cost experience for everyday transactions. Nonetheless, Public.com slightly edges out Webull in margin rates, particularly with balances below $25,000, making it a potentially more cost-effective option for those engaging in margin trading.

In terms of more specialized fees, Webull features $0 charges for IRA annual and closure fees, details that are notably absent from Public.com's fee disclosures, which could impact investors prioritizing retirement account services. Both platforms align on account transfer fees, standardizing at $75 for both full and partial ACAT transfers, and maintain parity with free options exercise and assignment fees. This consistency allows investors to switch between the two services without unexpected additional costs in these areas.

Ultimately, the choice between Webull and Public.com depends on the user's specific financial activities and investment goals. If margin trading is a significant factor, Public.com's lower rates on certain margin tiers make it a compelling option. However, for those just starting or focused on retirement savings with an interest in minimizing account maintenance expenses, Webull’s lack of an IRA fee and absence of a minimum deposit requirement offer attractive benefits. Nevertheless, both platforms commendably support commission-free trading, appealing broadly to cost-conscious investors.

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 Brokers for Free Stock Trading of 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 of 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 Brokerages of 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?

Webull and Public.com both offer crypto trading, with Webull providing access to 44 different coins, while Public.com supports trading for 22 coins.

Dive deeper: Best Crypto Trading Platforms of 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 of 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 9.74% 8.75%
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 9.24% 8.75%
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 9.24% 6.75%
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 8.74% 6.75%
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 8.24% 5.75%
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 7.24% 5.75%
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 6.74% 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 Yes Yes
Crypto Trading - Total Coins info 44 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 No Yes
Webinars info No Yes
Webinars (Archived) info No 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 No 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 No 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 Yes 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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