Tool Comparison
Charles Schwab vs Public.com
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, Desktop
Best if
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want paper trading, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing.
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
- Paid from
- —
- Free plan
- No
- Platforms
- Web, Mobile, API
Best if
- You want downloadable tax reports.
Start here
Charles Schwab
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · Desktop
- Delayed quotes won't cut it; you need real-time data
- You want paper trading, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing.
- You trade often and need tooling built for speed
Pick Public.com instead if
Public.com
Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction · Web · Mobile · API
- You want downloadable tax reports.
Skip both if: Neither one clicks with how you research; there are strong third options.
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Our take
The bottom line
Charles Schwab and Public.com cover a lot of the same ground (4 shared categories, including brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist), so for the basics you won't go far wrong with either. Charles Schwab simply does more: 16 categories to Public.com's 5, including paper trading, advanced order types, and smart/direct routing. Public.com counters by keeping things simpler.
What readers say
Charles Schwab
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Key differences at a glance
- Real-time data
- Charles Schwab
- Broader coverage
- Charles Schwab16 vs 5 categories
- Desktop app
- Charles Schwab
- Asset coverage
- Charles SchwabAdds futures and mutual funds
What Charles Schwab does best
- Online trading for listed U.S. stocks and ETFs with $0 base commissions; options contract fees, futures fees, broker-assisted charges, exchange fees, and regulatory fees apply where applicable.
- Thinkorswim on desktop, web, and mobile for active trading, advanced charting, options analytics, alerts, and futures or forex workflows when approved.
- PaperMoney virtual accounts for practicing trading workflows; Schwab's tutorial shows partially delayed market data.
- Trading and monitoring for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, mutual funds, bonds, forex, crypto ETPs, and phased Schwab Crypto access where eligible.
- 24/5 trading access for more than 1,300 popular stocks and ETFs, including S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 names.
What Public.com does best
- Regular-hours U.S.-listed stock and ETF trades with $0 stated commission.
- Listed stock and ETF options with no base commission or standard contract fee.
- Eligible stock and ETF fractions from $5, with security and transfer limitations.
- Cash or margin brokerage plus Traditional and Roth IRA registrations.
- Recurring Investment Plans spanning up to 20 stock and ETF symbols per purchase.
Side by side
Pricing comparison
See for yourself
Side by side
Price, platforms, data, and market coverage.ShowHide
Side by side
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & plans | ||
Starting price | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction | Transaction-priced · Fees vary by offer and jurisdiction |
Free tier | No | No |
Free trial | — | — |
Plan limits | 6 limits: Online Stock & ETF Trades: commission: $0 online base commission, Options: contract fee: $0.65 per contract +4 more | — |
| Platforms & access | ||
Web app | Yes | Yes |
Desktop app | Yes | No |
Mobile app | Yes | Yes |
API access | Yes | Yes |
Broker sync | Yes | — |
Integrations | TurboTax, H&R Block +1 more | — |
| Audience & fit | ||
Experience level | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced | Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced |
Best for | Retail Traders, Pro Retail +6 more | — |
Categories covered | 16 | 5 |
Regions | North America | North America |
| Data & capabilities | ||
Data quality | 5 signals: Latency: Streaming, Real-time, and End of Day, Granularity: Tick and EOD +3 more | — |
Capabilities | 6 signals: Universe builder, Multi-leg options +4 more | — |
| Try it | Visit Charles Schwab | Visit Public.com |
Standout features
The best features of Charles Schwab and Public.com.ShowHide
Standout features
What Charles Schwab does best
- Online trading for listed U.S. stocks and ETFs with $0 base commissions; options contract fees, futures fees, broker-assisted charges, exchange fees, and regulatory fees apply where applicable.
- Thinkorswim on desktop, web, and mobile for active trading, advanced charting, options analytics, alerts, and futures or forex workflows when approved.
- PaperMoney virtual accounts for practicing trading workflows; Schwab's tutorial shows partially delayed market data.
- Trading and monitoring for stocks, ETFs, options, futures, mutual funds, bonds, forex, crypto ETPs, and phased Schwab Crypto access where eligible.
- 24/5 trading access for more than 1,300 popular stocks and ETFs, including S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 names.
What Public.com does best
- Regular-hours U.S.-listed stock and ETF trades with $0 stated commission.
- Listed stock and ETF options with no base commission or standard contract fee.
- Eligible stock and ETF fractions from $5, with security and transfer limitations.
- Cash or margin brokerage plus Traditional and Roth IRA registrations.
- Recurring Investment Plans spanning up to 20 stock and ETF symbols per purchase.
All details
Every attribute we track for Charles Schwab and Public.com.ShowHide
All details
| Attribute | ||
|---|---|---|
| Coverage & fit | ||
Asset types | StocksETFsOptionsFuturesMutual FundsBondsCurrenciesCryptos | StocksETFsOptionsBonds |
Experience | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced | BeginnerIntermediateAdvanced |
Target audience | Retail TradersPro RetailDay TradersSwing TradersLong-term InvestorsIndex/Passive InvestorsFinancial AdvisorsQuants/Developers | Not specified |
Regions | North America | North America |
Coverage details | Countries: USIdentifiers: Ticker | Identifiers: Ticker and CUSIP |
| Data | ||
Data freshness | StreamingReal-timeEnd of Day | Not specified |
Data granularity | TickEOD | Not specified |
| Access & integrations | ||
API protocols | REST | Not specified |
API auth & delivery | Auth: OAuth2Docs | Not specified |
Integrations | TurboTaxH&R BlockTaxAct | Not specified |
Export formats | CSVExcelPDF | CSVPDF |
| Plans & trust | ||
Capability signals | Universe builderMulti-leg optionsGreeksBroker syncTax lotsWash sale detection | Not specified |
Vendor & support | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.Country: USFounded 1971Support: Phone and Chat | Open to the Public Investing, Inc.Country: United StatesSupport: Chat and Email |
Curation ratings | Methodology 4/5Reliability 5/5UX 4/5 | Not specified |
Green tags are exclusive to that tool in this comparison.
Pricing
Plans, billing, free trials, and monthly prices.ShowHide
Pricing
| Tier | ||
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free“Brokerage Account” | Free“Core” |
| Entry paid plan | — | $20/moBilled monthly“Public Reserve” |
Questions we keep getting
What's the difference between Charles Schwab and Public.com?
Charles Schwab leans toward brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist, while Public.com puts more weight on brokerage, portfolio, and watchlist. They overlap in 4 categories, so for most people it comes down to workflow preference and price.
How much do Charles Schwab and Public.com cost?
Neither has a free plan; you'll need a paid subscription for the full feature set of either. Check each tool's current plan details before buying.
Do Charles Schwab and Public.com have APIs?
Yes, both offer API access, so developers and quants can pull data programmatically or wire up their own integrations.
Should I choose Charles Schwab or Public.com?
It depends on what you're after. Pick Charles Schwab if paper trading and advanced order types matter to you; go with Public.com if you'd rather have downloadable tax reports. And if you only need the basics both share, let price decide.
What asset classes do Charles Schwab and Public.com cover?
Both cover stocks, ETFs, options, and bonds. Charles Schwab also handles futures, mutual funds, and currencies.
Does Charles Schwab or Public.com have real-time data?
Charles Schwab offers real-time data, which matters if you trade actively. Public.com runs on delayed or end-of-day data, which is perfectly fine for longer-term investors who don't live and die by the tick.
Can I export data from Charles Schwab and Public.com?
Yes, both export to spreadsheets (CSV), which is handy if you like running your own numbers.
Is Charles Schwab or Public.com better for day trading?
Charles Schwab is the one positioned more for active traders. Public.com is the better fit if you care less about fast trading workflows and more about a calmer research process.
Which has a better stock screener: Charles Schwab or Public.com?
Charles Schwab has a stock screener for surfacing ideas; Public.com doesn't, and focuses its energy elsewhere.
Can I track my portfolio with Charles Schwab or Public.com?
Yes, both do portfolio tracking: holdings, performance, and allocation in one place.
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This directory blends AI‑assisted discovery with human curation. Entries are reviewed, edited, and organized with the goal of expanding coverage and sharpening quality over time. Your feedback helps steer improvements (because no single human can capture everything all at once).
Details change. Pricing, features, and availability may be incomplete or out of date. Treat listings as a starting point and verify on the provider’s site before making decisions. If you spot an error or a gap, send a quick note and I’ll adjust.