Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
LYNX vs Public
Where LYNX and Public differ
| Compare |  LYNX |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $5 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Bonds, Funds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Margin rate | 7.1% | 4.2%Lower |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €5 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | One withdrawal per month free | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | LYNX+, Trader Workstation, Trading App | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.3% |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0).
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Public: $0 vs $5.
- Margin rate is lower at Public: 4.2% vs 7.1%.
- Markets: only LYNX offers Forex, Futures, Funds.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto.
- Features: only LYNX offers Demo account.
- Features: only Public offers Crypto, Options.
- Pricing model: only LYNX offers Low fees.
- Pricing model: only Public offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
LYNX
LYNX suits experienced traders who want a long list of markets behind the same account. The account fee is €0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so holding costs nothing, while a stock trade fee of $5 makes dealing the cost centre.
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 | LYNX | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Costly to trade: stock trade fees rank 139 of 161 and the inactivity fee 34 of 56, against an account fee of €0. | 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 | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
How they place
| Ranking | LYNX | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 74 of 471 | 58 of 471 |
| Options trading platforms | 21 of 103 | 16 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 10 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | LYNX | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Fractional shares, Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Audience | Experienced | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | LYNX | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $5highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €5above the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Margin rate | 7.1%below the median | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
LYNX
Pros
- Nothing to pay for the account itself: fees run €0 and the minimum deposit is $0.
- The same account covers stocks, etfs and forex, putting shares, funds, bonds and derivatives under one roof.
- Platform choice runs from the LYNX+ terminal to the Trader Workstation and a mobile app, and a demo account with fractional shares comes with it.
Cons
- A stock trade fee of $5 applies to every deal, so frequent dealing raises the bill quickly.
- An inactivity fee of €5 applies, so money left untouched still carries a charge.
- A margin rate of 7.1% means a small deposit can control a much larger position.
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
LYNX
Who it suits
- Experienced traders: the audience listed is experienced, and the account is priced as a low fee model.
- Anyone who wants stocks, etfs and forex sitting in the same login.
- Traders who want to practise first, with a demo account and fractional shares alongside a mobile app.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro for occasional share buying: its stock trade fee is $0 against $5 at LYNX, so small repeated deals cost more here.
- Vantage for anyone who must start with a deposit: the minimum deposit there is $5 while LYNX opens at $0.
- CFI for CFD and crypto trading, since its markets run to stocks, etfs and forex while LYNX runs to stocks, etfs and forex.
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 | LYNX | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
LYNX
What does LYNX charge to open and hold an account?+
Opening and holding are free: the account fee is €0 and the minimum deposit is $0. Costs appear only when you trade, through a stock trade fee of $5. The account is priced overall as a low fee model rather than a subscription service.
What does a stock trade cost on LYNX?+
A stock trade costs $5 with no account fee on top, and the same account also carries forex, options, futures, bonds and funds. On share dealing alone LYNX sits near the back of the brands compared, at 139 of 161.
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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