Public.com vs Webull: Which Broker Suits You?
Public.com scores 3.4 and Webull 3.6 out of 5 on our published methodology. Public.com leads on Asset Range; Webull leads on Costs & Fees and Platform & Tools, and they tie on Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support. 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 →Higher overall score
Webull
3.6/5
Best for: Commission-free US trading & charting
Read the full Webull 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
| Public.com | Webull | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | Real assets |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries and some alternative assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, plus some crypto and bonds |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, SIPC | SEC, FINRA, SIPC |
| Stands out for | Moved away from payment for order flow on stock and ETF trades | Charting and paper trading well beyond what a free app usually offers |
| Watch out for | A shorter track record, with some features behind a subscription | No mutual funds, and its ownership history has drawn US scrutiny |
| Accepts clients in | The US | The US and other countries |
Is Public.com cheaper than Webull?
On our Costs & Fees score, Webull 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, Public.com or Webull?
Public.com is regulated by SEC, FINRA, SIPC; Webull by SEC, FINRA, SIPC. Both score 3/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. 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, Public.com scores 4/5 and Webull 3/5. Public.com is the gentler place to start.
Who each one tends to suit
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
Webull
- Tends to suit
- Commission-free US trading & charting
- Stands out for
- Charting and paper trading well beyond what a free app usually offers
- Watch out for
- No mutual funds, and its ownership history has drawn US scrutiny
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.