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Webull vs Public (2025)
Public or Webull - which is better in 2025? Compare apps investing accounts, online trading
fees, stock broker extended hours, and differences.
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Public.com vs. Webull Introduction
For a very modern investing experience, Webull and Public.com are worth considering. Both are new
brokerage firms with fresh takes on trading and building wealth.
Cost
| Broker Fees |
Stock/ETF
Commission |
Mutual Fund
Commission |
Options
Commission |
Maintenance
Fee |
Annual IRA
Fee |
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WeBull
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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
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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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Services
| Broker Review |
Cost |
Investment Products |
Trading Tools |
Customer Service |
Research |
Overall Rating |
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WeBull
|
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Public
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Promotions
Webull:
Up to 40 FREE fractional shares when you make a deposit at Webull.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Tradable Assets
Webull customers can trade stocks, options, closed-end funds, bonds, futures, and ETFs. Public.com
adds alternative assets. Treasury debt on Public comes with a 0.05% monthly fee,
while alternative assets have lots of fees (secondary trades cost 2.5% per side, for example).
Despite their cost, alternative assets are really unique. These are physical and digital assets like artwork and sports cards that have been securitized (broken into shares) for Public.com customers to trade. All assets are held in secure facilities, with Public acting as the asset manager. Alternative assets are not SIPC insured, although they are insured through other channels.
Examples of alternative assets we found on Public’s website include:
- Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!! Video Game
- Chromie Squiggle #2241
- Hermes Birkin leather purse
- Cristiano Ronaldo Rookie Card
Winner: Even
Margin
Webull customers can open either cash or margin accounts. It’s possible to later switch between the
two. Trading inside a margin account comes with some pretty low rates, despite a high interest-rate
environment right now. The company’s margin schedule varies from
8.99% to 4.99%.
Trading on margin inside a Webull account is a simple task thanks to the broker’s software. It shows
margin details on both individual securities and the account itself, including the number of day
trades the account has left before it hits PDT (pattern day trader) status.
Public now offers margin accounts as well. The broker's margin rate is
9.5%.
Winner: Webull
Websites
The Public.com website emphasizes simplicity. Each asset profile has a watchlist button and a buy button (shorting is not possible). Clicking on the blue buy button creates the broker’s trade ticket. It is very simple with only three order types (market, limit, and stop).
Charts on the Public website are unfortunately very simple. There is only one graph style (line), and there are no tools at all. A chart cannot be displayed the full width of the computer screen, and only 5 years of price data can be shown.
Despite these notable flaws, the website does have a community forum and some good self-help features. For example, we found links to transfer stocks to Public, deposit cash, and add a trusted contact to an account.
Webull’s website has far fewer self-help features. It is possible to download account documents and transfer funds.
Trading, however, is on a much higher level thanks to a discrete browser platform. This robust software offers advanced charting and the following features:
- Full-screen charts and a right-click menu
- Advanced order ticket with bracket orders
- Simulated-trading mode
Winner: Webull
Mobile Apps
Moving onto mobile software, we find much the same situation. Public emphasizes minimalism, while Webull delivers hard-core trading. The social-networking section from Public’s website is reproduced, and Webull also has digital bulletin boards this time. Both apps’ community forums offer the opportunity to discuss trading activity on specific assets.
When it comes time for actual trading, Webull has similar, although not exact, tools for charting and order entry compared to its website. Its app has two trade tickets, one of which has rapid-fire buttons that can be customized.
A chart on Webull’s app can be displayed horizontally simply by rotating the mobile device. There are lots of graphing tools in this mode, including technical studies, drawing tools, and a replay mode.
Public unfortunately still has the same basic order ticket and atrocious charting we found on its website. A chart cannot be rotated horizontally.
Winner: Webull
Desktop Programs
The highest possible level of trading will be found on Webull’s very good desktop platform. We had the opportunity to try this program out, and we have to say that we do quite like it.
Charts can be blown up the full width of the computer monitor, and there are many technical studies and drawing tools to create a sophisticated experience. There are multiple order tickets, one of which delivers conditional orders.
Although the software isn’t the easiest in the world to learn, there is an educational center on it that delivers articles and videos that show exactly how to perform some task, like how to use a price ladder and how to edit a watchlist.
Public has no desktop program, so the basic level of trading on its website and mobile app is the upper limit there.
Winner: Webull
Extra Services
Cash Management: Neither brokerage firm in this survey offers banking tools like debit cards
and checks. Webull now pays a very high
4% APY interest on cash balances.
IPO Access: Imminent stock releases are available at Webull.
Extended Hours: Webull clients can trade between the hours of 4:00 am, EST, and 8:00 pm. There is no additional charge for extended-hours trading. Public offers extended-hours trading through its Premium service. This costs $10 per month and delivers 8:00 am to 8:00 pm trading.
IRA Lineups: Only Webull has Individual Retirement Accounts.
Dividend Reinvestment Plan: Both brokers offer a DRIP.
Fractional-share Trading: It’s possible to place trades of equities and cryptocurrencies in whole dollars at both Webull and Public. Alternative assets at Public trade only in whole shares.
Winner: Webull
Recommendations
Active Stock & ETF Trading: With much better software and research tools, Webull is an easy pick.
Beginning Investors: The investing experience at Public.com is a little more user-friendly with
simple software.
Small Accounts: Many of Public’s best services are only available through the Premium subscription, which costs either $10 per month or $96 per year. Webull offers a lot of the same services, such as extended-hours trading and real-time alerts, at no charge. Therefore, we defend Webull for small investors.
Long-Term Investors & Retirement Savers: Because Webull is the only brokerage firm here with retirement accounts, it obviously is a better choice than Public.
Promotions
Webull:
Up to 40 FREE fractional shares when you make a deposit at Webull.
Public:
Get $20 of an asset of your choice when you deposit $1,000 at Public.
Webull vs Public Judgement
Although Public’s alternative-asset program is intriguing, Webull is clearly the overall winner of
this contest.
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Updated on 10/7/2024.
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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