Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
growney vs Public
Where growney and Public differ
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Markets | ETFs, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin), Deutsche Bundesbank | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Interest on cash | 2.25% | 3.3%Higher |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| 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 | Tages- und Festgeld kostenlos | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only growney offers Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht (BaFin), Deutsche Bundesbank.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Markets: only growney offers Funds.
- Markets: only Public offers Stocks, Crypto, Options.
- Account types: only growney offers Joint, Corporate.
- Account types: only Public offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Interest on cash is higher at Public: 3.3% vs 2.25%.
- Support channels: only growney offers Phone, Chat.
Our verdict on each
growney
growney suits beginners in Germany who want savings and a managed portfolio under one roof, with joint and corporate accounts offered alongside ETF, ESG and cash portfolios. Entry starts at €25, and cash is offered at 2.25%, so a saver can begin small.
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 | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Management fee of 0.38% to 0.68% a year against a robo-advisor median of 0.35%, with deposits and withdrawals free. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.6Higher | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
growney
- growney.de: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 70 of 471 | 58 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | growney GmbH | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Germany | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2014 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Email, Help centreCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | growney | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $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 | 2.25%below the median | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 136 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
growney
Pros
- Day and fixed-term deposits carry no deposit or withdrawal charge.
- German supervision through BaFin and the Deutsche Bundesbank, with protection at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Help runs on phone, chat and email, so a first-time investor has several routes to an answer.
Cons
- The management fee of 0.38% to 0.68% a year is the main ongoing cost, sitting above providers charging 0%.
- Instruments run to etfs and funds, so there is no direct share dealing here.
- Account types are limited to joint and corporate.
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
growney
Who it suits
- Beginners in Germany who want savings and a managed portfolio without choosing holdings themselves.
- Couples and companies, since joint and corporate accounts are supported.
- Anyone who wants day and fixed-term deposits alongside an invested plan.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not eToro, which charges 0% in management fees and suits people who place trades themselves.
- Not Axos Invest, whose minimum starts at $100 against €25 here.
- Not Vivid Standard, where plans run at 0.5% to 1.5% a year against 0.38% to 0.68% here.
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 | growney | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
growney
What does growney charge to manage my money?+
growney takes a management fee of 0.38% to 0.68% a year on the portfolio it runs. That is the main ongoing cost, and it sits in the middle of the robo-advisor range, where the upper quartile reaches 0.6%. Day and fixed-term deposits add no deposit or withdrawal charge.
How much do I need to start with growney?+
The minimum investment is €25, below the robo-advisor median of €60.06. A low entry suits a beginner trying a managed approach, and it makes it easy to hold a small portfolio while the rest of the money sits in savings.
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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