eToro vs Public.com: Which Broker Suits You?
eToro scores 3.6 and Public.com 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. eToro leads on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support; Public.com leads on Costs & Fees and Asset Range. Both accept clients in the US.
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
| eToro | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Mixed | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs and crypto, plus a large CFD range | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets |
| Regulated by | FCA, CySEC, ASIC; SEC-registered US entity | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | CopyTrader, the most developed social investing product | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades |
| Watch out for | Heavy CFD component outside the US, plus currency conversion fees and small per-trade stock commissions | A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription |
| Accepts clients in | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries | The US |
Is eToro cheaper than Public.com?
On our Costs & Fees score, Public.com rates 4/5 against eToro’s 3/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, eToro or Public.com?
eToro is regulated by FCA, CySEC, ASIC; SEC-registered US entity; Public.com by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. eToro scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (4/5 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, eToro scores 4/5 and Public.com 4/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account.
Who each one tends to suit
eToro
- Tends to suit
- Social & copy trading
- Stands out for
- CopyTrader, the most developed social investing product
- Watch out for
- Heavy CFD component outside the US, plus currency conversion fees and small per-trade stock commissions
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.