Charles Schwab vs Public.com: Which Broker Suits You?
Charles Schwab scores 4.6 and Public.com 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. Charles Schwab leads on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support, and they tie on Costs & Fees and Asset Range. Both accept clients in the US.
Higher overall score
Charles Schwab
4.6/5
Best for: Full-service US investing
Read the full Charles Schwab review →Overall score
Public.com
3.4/5
Best for: Commission-free & social investing
Read the full Public.com review →Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| Charles Schwab | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options and a very large no-transaction-fee fund list | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades |
| Watch out for | Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access | A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US |
Is Charles Schwab cheaper than Public.com?
Both score 4/5 on Costs & Fees, so neither has a clear overall cost advantage on our measures; which is cheaper for you depends on what you trade, how often, and in which currency. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, Charles Schwab or Public.com?
Charles Schwab is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Public.com by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Charles Schwab scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 3/5). Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, Charles Schwab scores 4/5 and Public.com 4/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
Charles Schwab
- Tends to suit
- Full-service US investing
- Stands out for
- thinkorswim's professional tooling alongside full-service support
- Watch out for
- Low interest paid on uninvested cash; limited crypto access
Public.com
- Tends to suit
- Commission-free & social investing
- Stands out for
- Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades
- Watch out for
- A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.