Interactive Brokers vs Public.com: Which Broker Suits You?
Interactive Brokers scores 4.8 and Public.com 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust, Asset Range and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the US.
Higher overall score
Interactive Brokers
4.8/5
Best for: Active & globally-minded traders
Read the full Interactive Brokers 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
| Interactive Brokers | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | Unmatched global market access from a single account | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades |
| Watch out for | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve | 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 Interactive Brokers cheaper than Public.com?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 against Public.com’s 4/5, 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, Interactive Brokers or Public.com?
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others; Public.com by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Interactive Brokers 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, Interactive Brokers scores 2/5 and Public.com 4/5. Public.com is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
Interactive Brokers
- Tends to suit
- Active & globally-minded traders
- Stands out for
- Unmatched global market access from a single account
- Watch out for
- Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
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.