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Charles Schwab vs Public (2025)
Charles Schwab or Public.com—which app is better? Compare investing accounts, online trading
fees, stock broker extended hours, and differences.
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Schwab vs. Public.com: Highlights
• Schwab, but not Public.com, has robo and other advisory accounts.
• Schwab has stronger software platforms.
• Only Public offers crypto trading and other unique assets.
Public.com vs. Schwab Introduction
Before you open your next brokerage account, take a look at Public and Schwab. Here’s what you need to know about these two companies:
Public and Charles Schwab Cost
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
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Charles Schwab
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$0
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$49.95 ($0 to sell)
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$0.65 per contract
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$0
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$0
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Public
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$0
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na
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$0.50 per contract
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$0
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$0
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Public and Charles Schwab Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
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Charles Schwab
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Public
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Open Account
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Available Assets and Accounts
With a Public.com account, you can trade options, stocks, ETFs, closed-end funds, and alternative assets (like sports cards and artwork). Bonds are coming soon but not available yet. There’s a separate account for crypto trading. Schwab doesn’t offer these alternative items or digital currencies, but it does add mutual funds, annuities, forex, and futures.
Schwab’s lineup includes both self-directed and advisory accounts. Unlike Public, Schwab offers a robo program and traditional accounts with human advisors.
Schwab covers many tax-advantaged accounts, such as IRAs and trusts, while Public only has a taxable individual account.
Winner: Schwab
Margin
Either firm can set up a brokerage account as cash or margin. You can switch from cash to margin on their websites. However, Public does not currently offer margin for borrowing; it only allows margin to use unsettled funds.
At Schwab, you can borrow on margin, which is a big advantage. Schwab’s interest rates start at 12.575% and go down to 10.575%.
Winner: Schwab
Websites
Both companies have fairly user-friendly websites, but Schwab’s has a better stock screener and more chart features, like drawing tools, events, comparisons, and multiple chart styles. Schwab’s site also has PDF analyst reports, which Public lacks (though Public offers trade suggestions).
Another useful feature at Schwab is a browser platform called thinkorswim, which supports more complex orders, such as OCO. Public’s orders are mostly basic, like limit and stop.
We also noticed that at Public, advanced chart tools cost extra with a Premium subscription. Without this, you only get a small line chart. Schwab’s charting is free.
Winner: Schwab
Mobile Apps
Schwab has two mobile apps. One is its main app for account management and research, while the other is thinkorswim, aimed at advanced trading. Thinkorswim supports futures and forex, and has many chart studies.
Public has one app that includes social feeds for stocks, which Schwab does not have. It also shows stats like dividend yield and Beta. On the downside, Public’s app lacks mobile check deposit and an AI feature, both of which Schwab’s main app has.
Winner: Schwab
Desktop Programs
Schwab gives advanced clients access to its thinkorswim desktop software. Public does not have a desktop program.
Winner: Schwab
Bonus Services
DRIP: Both brokers offer a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Individual Retirement Accounts: Only Schwab provides them.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Available at both firms.
Fractional Shares: Public.com lets you invest in most stocks and all cryptos with whole dollars. Schwab only does fractional trading for S&P 500 stocks.
Extended Hours: Public supports crypto trading 24/7, while Schwab provides 24/5 trading in a handful of ETFs. Both have pre-market and after-hours sessions for other products.
Recurring Mutual Fund Purchases: Schwab investors can set up automatic mutual-fund transactions.
IPO Access: Only Schwab offers it.
Winner: Schwab
Open Account
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Recommendations
Retirement Planning & Long-Term Investing: Schwab is the only one here with IRAs, human advisors, annuities, branch offices, and much more.
Small Accounts: Schwab’s advisory plans start at $5,000, so they might not fit smaller balances. Both firms’ standard brokerage accounts have no minimums.
Frequent Stock Trading: Schwab stands far above Public.
Mutual Funds: Only Schwab has them.
Beginners: We suggest a robo or human-advised plan at Schwab for anyone just starting out.
Schwab vs Public Verdict
Public.com has some distinct investment choices, but Schwab delivers a stronger overall experience.
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Open Account
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Open Account
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Updated on 6/3/2025.
Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience
as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing
expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found
managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.
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