Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Webull vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: In the Webull vs. Public.com matchup, Webull offers a wider range of investments, adding forex and futures that Public.com doesn’t support, plus a larger crypto lineup (50 coins vs. 40). Both let you trade stocks, options, OTC stocks, and crypto, use margin, and buy fractional shares. Both also support Traditional and Roth IRAs, while neither offers mutual funds or advisor services. Reflecting this breadth, Webull is rated 4 stars and ranked #8 for Range of Investments by StockBrokers.com; Public.com holds 3.5 stars and ranks #12.
Shared strengths include stock trading, margin trading, options trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and crypto access. Each platform supports both Traditional and Roth IRA accounts, making them viable for long-term investors. On the flip side, neither platform offers mutual funds or advisor services, which may matter if you want managed guidance or fund choices.
The key difference is asset variety: only Webull offers forex and futures, and it lists more cryptocurrencies. Choose Webull if you want the most trading choices or a bigger crypto menu. Choose Public.com if you’re content with core assets like stocks, options, OTC stocks, and crypto without forex or futures. In either case, IRA savers and traders who want fractional shares or OTC access will find what they need.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 50 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: Webull offers far more trading platform features and charting tools than Public.com. Webill provides downloadable desktop apps for both Windows and Mac, advanced charts, paper trading, and on-chart order control, while Public.com keeps things basic with a browser-only setup and minimal analysis tools. The difference shows in the ratings: Webull scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 9th of 14 brokers for platforms and tools; Public.com scores 1 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th.
Platform access and core features favor Webull. Webull offers Windows and Mac desktop downloads plus a browser-based platform; Public.com offers only a browser-based platform (no desktop downloads for Windows or Mac). Webull supports paper trading; Public.com does not. Neither broker includes a trading journal. Watchlists are far more flexible on Webull, with up to 35 columns versus 3 on Public.com. Webull also lets you adjust open orders directly on the stock chart; Public.com does not.
Charting and analysis are where Webull pulls ahead most. Webull provides 52 technical indicators and 19 drawing tools, along with chart notes, historical trade markers, and corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends). It can show automated chart patterns and lets you save multiple chart profiles. Both brokers lack custom date ranges. By contrast, Public.com offers 0 indicators and 0 drawing tools, cannot add notes, show past trades, display corporate events, detect patterns, or save multiple chart layouts. Editing an SMA study on Webull includes 2 customization fields (0 on Public.com), and Webull lets you create custom studies, which Public.com does not.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 35 | 3 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 52 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Webull and Public (Public.com) both offer beginner-friendly education across key topics: stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Neither covers mutual funds. You’ll find videos and live webinars on both platforms, making it easy to learn at your own pace. If you’re comparing Webull vs. Public for market education, each provides a good starting point for new investors who want guidance on how the stock market, ETFs, options, and bonds work.
Where they differ is in hands-on learning. Webull includes paper trading, quizzes, and a way to track your learning progress—useful if you like practicing and seeing how you improve. Public does not offer these extras. In independent ratings, Webull earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 of 14 for education at StockBrokers.com, while Public scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 of 14. Choose Webull if you want practice tools and progress tracking; pick Public if you prefer a slightly higher-rated overall learning experience.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: for stock trading apps, Webull beats Public.com for most traders. Webull earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 of 14 in StockBrokers.com’s mobile app review, while Public.com scores 3 out of 5 and ranks #13. Webull offers a deeper feature set geared to active traders, while Public.com leans toward a simpler, lighter experience.
Both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps. Only Webull offers an Apple Watch app. Webull supports mobile after-hours trading; Public.com’s after-hours availability on mobile is not specified. Both support mobile options trading. Webull delivers streaming quotes, while Public.com does not. Neither app offers streaming live TV or video on demand. Webull includes stock price alerts; Public.com does not.
Charting and watchlists show the clearest split. Webull has after-hours charting, landscape charts, multiple time frames, 56 technical studies (indicators), and ticker-to-ticker comparisons. Public.com supports multiple time frames and chart comparisons but has no after-hours charting, no landscape mode, and 0 technical studies. For watchlists, Webull lets you create custom lists, while Public.com does not; however, Public.com lets you customize watchlist columns, which Webull does not.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 56 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Here’s the quick takeaway: both Webull and Public.com offer $0 commissions for stocks and options, but they differ on other costs. Webull stands out for a $0 minimum deposit and no IRA closure fee, which can make starting and exiting cheaper. Public.com generally wins on margin rates, which could save active margin users money, but it has a $20 minimum deposit, higher ACAT transfer fees, and a $150 IRA closure fee. In short, margin users may prefer Public.com for lower rates, while those prioritizing easy account setup, transfers, or IRA flexibility may find Webull more cost-friendly.
Fees at a glance: minimum deposit is $0 at Webull vs $20 at Public.com. Stock trades are $0 at both. Options trades are $0 per contract at both, and both charge $0 for options exercises and assignments. Margin rates: Webull is 8.74% for balances under $100,000; Public.com is 5.65% under $50,000 and 5.50% for $50,000–$99,999. IRA annual fees are $0 at both, but IRA closure is $0 at Webull vs $150 at Public.com. ACAT transfers: Webull charges $75 for partial and full transfers, while Public.com charges $100 for partial and full.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| 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 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When evaluating the day trading capabilities of Webull and Public.com, several distinctions become apparent. Webull supports day traders with features such as streaming time and sales for stocks and ladder trading, tools that are notably absent from Public.com. Webull also offers trading hotkeys for quick keyboard trade entry and provides detailed level 2 quotes, which can be essential for traders seeking deeper insight into market activities. On the other hand, Public.com lacks these specific functionalities, which could affect the ability of traders to make swift, informed decisions in a fast-moving environment.
Both platforms do not offer streaming live TV, direct market routing, or any form of backtesting for trading strategies. Additionally, neither Webull nor Public.com provides a short locator tool or offer liquidity rebates, which may limit certain strategy executions. For traders who prioritize advanced tools and features to enhance their day trading setups, Webull may present a more equipped platform compared to Public.com, emphasizing the importance of considering specific trading needs when selecting a brokerage.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Webull edges out Public.com for market research. Both apps cover stock and ETF research and even include OTC/Pink Sheets data, but Webull adds more ways to find ideas and gauge trends. That extra utility earns Webull 3 stars and a #8 ranking out of 14 brokers from StockBrokers.com, versus Public.com’s 2.5 stars and #12 ranking. If you want more ways to explore the market inside your brokerage app, Webull is the better pick.
Coverage is similar on the basics: each platform offers research for stocks and ETFs and supports OTC/Pink Sheets research. Neither one includes research for mutual funds or bonds. ESG research isn’t available on either, and there are no downloadable PDF research reports for stocks, ETFs, or mutual funds on both Webull and Public.com.
The tool set is where they diverge. Webull offers a stock screener for trade ideas and includes social media sentiment on stocks; Public.com lacks both. Neither broker provides screeners for ETFs, mutual funds, or bonds, and neither shows portfolio allocation by asset class. For users who value idea generation and trend signals, Webull’s stock screener and sentiment data make it the more capable choice, while long-term fund investors won’t find mutual fund or bond research on either platform.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
When it comes to the banking capabilities of online brokers Webull and Public.com, neither platform stands out in offering traditional banking services. Both Webull and Public.com do not provide checking accounts, savings accounts, or debit and credit cards, leaving users to look elsewhere for these basic financial products. Additionally, neither Webull nor Public.com offers mortgage loans or Certificates of Deposit (CDs). These limitations mean that individuals looking for a brokerage account with integrated banking features may need to consider other options. While they excel in digital trading, Webull and Public.com do not cater to users seeking a combined banking and investment experience.
| Feature |
Webull
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | No | No |
| Credit Cards | No | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Brokerage CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 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 69.9%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.
Webull has evolved past its origins as a low-cost disruptor, solidifying its position as a sophisticated hub for active market participants. It offers a great mobile experience and a fantastic paper trading platform that offers a perfect sandbox to test strategies without risking capital. With AI-powered summaries that slice through market noise and industry-leading paper trading tools for testing strategies, Webull presents a compelling choice for traders.
Both Webull and Public.com offer crypto trading, but Webull provides access to 50 cryptocurrencies compared to Public.com's 40. If coin variety matters, Webull offers a broader selection while Public.com still covers many popular assets.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Both online brokers Webull and Public.com offer Traditional and Roth IRA accounts with $0 annual fees; however, Webull has no IRA closure fee while Public.com charges $150, making Webull the more cost-effective option if you might close or transfer an IRA.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Webull | Public.com | |
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| Review | Webull Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Webull | Public.com | |
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| Trading Fees | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | N/A | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | N/A | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.25 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | N/A | n/a |
| Margin Rates | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 8.74% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 8.74% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 8.74% | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 8.74% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 8.74% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.74% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.74% | 5.05% |
| Account Fees | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $75.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
| Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 50 | 40 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Webull | 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 | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | No | No |
| Beginners | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | No |
| Stock App Features | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | No | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | n/a | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 35 | 3 |
| Stock Chart Features | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 52 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 2 | 0 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
| Day Trading | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | No | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | No | No |
| Stock Research | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | No | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
| ETF Research | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | 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 | Yes | 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 | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Webull | 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 | Webull | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | No | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | No | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | Webull | Public.com | |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Webull Review | Public.com Review |
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