Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Interactive Brokers vs Public
Interactive Brokers vs Public: the differences
| Compare |  Interactive Brokers |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | SEC, FCA, SIPC | FINRA, SEC |
| Margin rate | 4.38% | 4.2%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0.060 to $0.18Lower |
| Account types | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%Higher | 3.3% |
| Platforms | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers FCA, SIPC.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA.
- Interactive Brokers is licensed in 1 more country.
- Margin rate is lower at Public: 4.2% vs 4.38%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Forex, Funds, Futures.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto.
- Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers ISA, SIPP, Joint.
- Account types: only Public offers Roth IRA.
Our verdict on each
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.8Higher | 9.5 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| SIPP | Yes | No |
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | Yes | No |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
How they place
| Ranking | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 35 of 490 | 49 of 490 |
| Options trading platforms | 7 of 103 | 15 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 4 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 53615 | |
| United Kingdom | FCA 208159 | Not confirmed |
If neither fits
Robinhood has options contract fee at $0, against $0.65 for Interactive Brokers and $0.060 to $0.18 for Public.
Robinhood reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low feesCovers more | Commission free |
| Legal entity | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 1978 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Help centre, Community | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | ETF | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Interactive Brokers | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.38%below the median | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | 3.38%above the median | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
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
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
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 | Interactive Brokers | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
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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