Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
JPMorgan Chase vs Public
What sets them apart
| Compare | ||
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds, CryptoCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | FINRA, SIPC | FINRA, SEC |
| Margin rate | 12.25% | 4.2%Lower |
| Options contract fee | $0.65 | $0.060 to $0.18Lower |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA, JointCovers more | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $25 wire fee | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Chase Mobile app, Chase.com | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only JPMorgan Chase offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only Public offers SEC.
- Margin rate is lower at Public: 4.2% vs 12.25%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.65.
- Markets: only JPMorgan Chase offers Funds.
- Account types: only JPMorgan Chase offers Joint.
- Support channels: only JPMorgan Chase offers Phone.
- Support channels: only Public offers Email.
Our verdict on each
JPMorgan Chase
JPMorgan Chase takes a stock trade fee of $0 and an account fee of $0, and the account is a retirement wrapper rather than a trading-only platform. It suits beginners and existing Chase customers who want low costs, though the portfolio service needs $25,000 and support runs on phone and help centre only.
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 | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0 | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.3Higher | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 64 of 490 | 49 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 15 of 85 | 14 of 85 |
| Options trading platforms | 19 of 103 | 15 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 9 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
| IRA providers | 12 of 43 | 11 of 43 |
Which one suits you
Pick JPMorgan Chase if markets and account types matter most.
Pick Public if cost, margin rate, and options contract fee matter most.
Availability and regulation
| Country | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Not confirmed |
If neither fits
Robinhood has options contract fee at $0, against $0.65 for JPMorgan Chase and $0.060 to $0.18 for Public.
Robinhood reviewWhat we checked
JPMorgan Chase
- chase.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- stockbrokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- nerdwallet.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- finder.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 | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app, Crypto | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Support channels | Phone, Help centre | Email, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | $25,000 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | JPMorgan Chase | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 12.25%highest quarter | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.65above the median | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
JPMorgan Chase
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0.
- Investor protection stands at SIPC up to USD 500,000.
- The account list covers ira, roth ira and joint, so retirement and joint investors are served directly.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no chat or email channel listed.
- Money moving out by wire costs $25 wire fee.
- An options contract costs $0.65 and margin borrowing is charged at 12.25%, so the commission free model covers share trades rather than every action.
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
JPMorgan Chase
Who it suits
- People new to investing: the stated audience is beginners.
- Retirement and joint investors, since the account types cover ira, roth ira and joint.
- Investors who want options and crypto in one account, since the feature set includes fractional shares, options and mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Forex and CFD traders: CFI (stocks, etfs and forex) and eToro (stocks, etfs and forex) list markets that the JPMorgan Chase list of stocks, etfs and options does not.
- Futures traders: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so a broader instrument set sits in a single account.
- Anyone starting a managed portfolio with a small sum: Vantage takes $5, while the JPMorgan Chase portfolio account asks $25,000.
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
JPMorgan Chase
Current offer
Bonus
Earn up to $1,000 cash bonus: up to $1,000
Open and fund a J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing account with qualifying new money by 10/21/2026; fund within 45 days, maintain to 90 days
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | JPMorgan Chase | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
JPMorgan Chase
How much does it cost to trade stocks?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account fee is $0, with a minimum deposit of $0, so a simple buy and hold account starts with no charge on either side. The pricing model is listed as commission free, and nothing per trade is added on top.
What do options and margin cost?+
An options contract costs $0.65, and borrowing on margin is charged at 12.25%. Those are the places a fee appears, which makes share and fund orders the cheapest actions in the account. Anyone trading options or using margin should read both figures before committing 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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