Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ATC Brokers vs Public
Where ATC Brokers and Public differ
| Compare |  ATC Brokers |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $2,000 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | FCA, CIMA | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Intl wire USD 40 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MT4, MT Pro | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Maximum retail leverage | 200:1 | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.8.
- Regulators: only ATC Brokers offers FCA, CIMA.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- ATC Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Public: $0 vs $2,000.
- Markets: only ATC Brokers offers Forex, CFDs, Metals.
- Markets: only Public offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Features: only ATC Brokers offers Demo account.
- Features: only Public offers Crypto, Fractional shares, Options.
Our verdict on each
ATC Brokers
ATC Brokers suits experienced UK and European traders who want a properly regulated account rather than a cheap one to start. The minimum deposit of $2,000 is well above the site median of €4.64, and the firm answers to the FCA in GB and CIMA in Cayman Islands.
Public
Public suits people building a retirement account who care most about what a trade costs and where the money sits. Stock trades are $0, the account opens from $0, and protection runs to SIPC up to USD 500,000 in the US.
Score breakdown
| Area | ATC Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Minimum deposit sits at $2,000 against a site median of €4.64, and a demo account is available. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 8.9 | 9.2HigherA ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.5Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | ATC Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Metals | Yes | No |
Availability and regulation
| Country | ATC Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | CIMA 1448274 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | FCA 591361 | Not confirmed |
| United States | Not confirmed |
What we checked
ATC Brokers
- compareforexbrokers.com: 6 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- atcbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersome.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxleaders.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ATC Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Founded | 2005 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ATC Brokers | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $2,000highest quarter | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ATC Brokers
Pros
- Regulated in GB by the FCA under licence 591361 and in KY by CIMA under licence 1448274
- Investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 on UK-regulated business
- Markets span forex, cfds and crypto
Cons
- A minimum deposit of $2,000 is high next to the site median of €4.64
- A wire transfer costs Intl wire USD 40
- Leverage of 200:1 on retail accounts magnifies losses
Public
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0, so a regular monthly purchase is not eaten by commission.
- The account opens from $0, which is below the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data.
- Cash parked in the high-yield account earns 3.3% while it waits to be invested.
Cons
- Options contracts add a fee of $0.06 to $0.18 each, on top of the premium you pay for the option itself.
- Margin borrowing runs at 4.2%, so borrowed positions carry an interest charge that keeps accruing.
- Support runs on email and help centre only, so there is no phone line for questions about a transfer or a tax form.
Who each suits
ATC Brokers
Who it suits
- Experienced traders who already know how much they want to deposit
- UK residents who want the money covered by a UK protection scheme
- Traders who want forex, CFDs, crypto and metals on the same account
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners testing small amounts, who face a high minimum deposit
- Anyone wanting many share and ETF listings, since the market list centres on forex, cfds and crypto
Public
Who it suits
- You are saving for retirement in the US and want commission-free stock trades in one account
- You want to hold spare cash at a stated rate while you decide what to buy
- You are starting with small amounts and want fractional shares rather than whole shares
Who should look elsewhere
- You need forex, CFDs or futures, which CFI and eToro both list in stocks, etfs and forex and stocks, etfs and forex
- You want a UK ISA or SIPP wrapper, neither of which appears in ira and roth ira
- You want to talk to a broker on the phone, since support covers email and help centre
Current offers
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | ATC Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
ATC Brokers
How much do I need to deposit to start?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000. That is a high starting point, and it sits well above the site median of €4.64. If you want to test the service first, a demo account is available, so you can learn the platform without funding anything.
Who regulates ATC Brokers?+
Regulators are listed as FCA and CIMA. In GB the firm holds FCA licence 591361, and in KY it holds CIMA licence 1448274. Two licences in two jurisdictions means you should confirm which entity your account sits under before you transfer money.
Public
Is Public really commission free for stock trades?+
Yes. A stock trade costs $0, so buying shares itself carries no charge. The costs sit elsewhere: options contracts cost $0.06 to $0.18 each, and margin borrowing runs at 4.2%. A simple monthly share purchase only pays the trade charge of $0.
What is the minimum deposit at Public?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded from a very small amount. That is well under the €4.64 typical minimum across the brokers on our data, where the upper quartile sits at €87.70. No threshold has to be cleared before the first trade.
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