Schwab vs. Public.com: Highlights
• Schwab has robo and other advisory accounts, while Public.com now offers self-directed investing products, including IRAs and direct indexing.
• Schwab has the better advanced trading software platforms.
• Public offers crypto trading, while Schwab offers products that Public does not, such as mutual funds, futures, forex, and annuities.
Public.com vs. Schwab Introduction
Before opening your next investment account, you should check out Public and Schwab. Here are the details on these two brokerage firms:
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 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 |
|
Charles Schwab
|
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Public
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Open Account
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + ACAT rebate + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
Public: Earn $0.06–$0.18 options trading rebate per stock or ETF contract at Public.
Available Assets and Accounts
Investors with a Public.com account can buy and sell option contracts, stocks, ETFs, closed-end funds, bonds, Treasuries, and cryptocurrencies. Public also offers products such as high-yield cash, direct indexing, and generated assets. Schwab drops the digital currencies, but adds mutual funds, annuities, forex, and futures contracts.
And this lineup is only for self-directed brokerage accounts. Schwab goes a giant leap further with a large selection of investment-advisory accounts. At the bottom rung is a robo service, and traditional human-managed packages are available as well.
Across self-managed and advisory modes, Schwab offers many tax shelters, including IRAs and trusts. Public also offers IRA products, including Traditional IRA and Crypto IRA options, although Schwab has the broader retirement and advisory lineup.
Winner: Schwab
Margin
A brokerage account at either firm can be set up as either a cash or margin account. It is possible to make the switch from cash to margin on either website. Public margin can be used for borrowing against eligible stocks and bonds in an account, although Public does not offer short selling at this time.
Over at Schwab, it’s also possible to use margin for leverage and borrowing, and this is a major
advantage for more advanced traders. Schwab’s interest rates start at 11.825% and use lower rates for larger debit balances.
Winner: Schwab
Websites
Both broker-dealers in this competition have websites that are mostly easy to use. Schwab’s has a much better equity screener with more search variables. Graphs on the site come with some useful resources, such as drawing tools, comparisons, company events, and lots of plot styles. Stock profiles on the Schwab website have analyst reports in pdf format, which are missing in action on Public.com (Public does have trade recommendations, though).
Another great tool we found at Schwab that we didn’t find at Public is a browser platform. Called thinkorswim, it has some really advanced order types, like OCO (one cancels the other). Simpler trade types such as limit and stop are available at Public.
Another objection we have with Public is in the realm of charting. Schwab’s charting tools are free to use, which isn’t always the case at Public. A Premium subscription is required to access the most advanced graphing tools. Without this subscription, only line format on a small chart is shown.
Winner: Schwab
Mobile Apps
Schwab has two mobile apps, one we will call the main app and the other is a thinkorswim app. The latter platform is for heavy-duty trading. It can submit orders for futures and forex, and it has very advanced charting tools, including hundreds of technical indicators. The main app is designed for account management and security research.
Public investors only get one app, and like its website cousin, it has digital bulletin boards for stocks, and this is certainly one advantage over its competitor here. Profiles also have key stats like dividend yield and Beta. Missing on the app is mobile check deposit and an AI, both of which are on Schwab’s main app.
Winner: Schwab
Desktop Programs
Schwab offers desktop trading through its thinkorswim platform. Public, on the other hand, has no desktop software at all.
Winner: Schwab
Bonus Services
DRIP: Both firms have a Dividend Reinvestment Plan.
Individual Retirement Accounts: Available at both firms, although Schwab has the broader IRA and retirement-account lineup.
Fully-Paid Stock Lending: Both firms offer it.
Fractional Shares: Public.com offers fractional investing in stocks and ETFs, and crypto can be traded in dollar amounts. Schwab provides fractional-share trading for stocks and ETFs trading in the U.S. exchanges.
Extended Hours: Public offers crypto trading 24/7, along with pre-market and after-hours trading for eligible stocks. Schwab has 24/5 trading in more than 1,100 stocks and ETFs, plus regular pre-market and after-hours trading for other eligible securities.
Recurring Mutual Fund Purchases: Schwab customers can sign up for autopilot mutual-fund transactions.
IPO Access: Available at both firms when eligible offerings are available.
Winner: Schwab
Open Account
Charles Schwab: $0 commissions + ACAT rebate + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
Public: Earn $0.06–$0.18 options trading rebate per stock or ETF contract at Public.
Recommendations
Retirement Planning & Long-Term Investing: Schwab has the broader retirement and planning lineup, with tax-advantaged accounts, financial planners, annuities, branch locations, and a whole lot more.
Small Accounts: Schwab’s advisory accounts have minimums starting at $5,000, so they won’t work for all small accounts. Brokerage accounts at both firms have no minimums.
Frequent Stock Trading: Schwab is head and shoulders above Public.
Mutual Funds: Schwab is the only option.
Beginners: We suggest a robo account or a traditional advisory account with Schwab. Public may work for beginners who want a simple self-directed app, but Schwab has more guidance and planning options.
Schwab vs Public Verdict
Public.com has some unique investing services, but Schwab delivers the overall better experience.
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Updated on 9/4/2026.
Chad Morris has been analyzing investment firms for Brokerage-Review.com since 2015. Backed by FINRA Series 65, 66, and SIE credentials, his work reflects a deep knowledge of the retail brokerage industry and digital trading tools.
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