BrokerCue

Broker Comparison

M1 vs Public

Compare M1 and Public side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

M1

M1

Long-term investors using automated portfolios

M1 combines automated Pies for stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto with scheduled trade windows, cash accounts and…

VS
Public

Public

Active investors who want options rebates and API access

Public is a US multi-asset investing platform offering stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, crypto, margin, AI tools…

Head-to-head comparison

M1 vs Public
Feature M1 Public
Minimum deposit — —
Stock trading fee Regulatory expenses occur when users sell a stock or ETF $0 for regular market-hours US-listed stocks and ETFs; $2.99 per extended-hours trade; OTC stocks $2.99 per trade
Regulators SEC, FINRA SEC, FINRA, SIPC, FDIC, NYSDFS
Best for Long-term investors using automated portfolios Active investors who want options rebates and API access
Markets & account
Stocks
ETFs
Crypto
Bonds
—
Options
—
Funds
—
Investment Plans
Margin
Fractional Shares
—

Pros & cons

M1

M1

Pros

  • No commission, trading or management fees on self-directed brokerage accounts
  • Pies invest new deposits toward target allocations automatically
  • Dynamic rebalancing buys underweight Slices first
  • One-click rebalancing returns a Pie to preset targets
  • Cash accounts show 3.10% APY and FDIC insurance up to $4.75 million
  • Margin loans shown at 5.65% with no minimum payment or late fees
  • Crypto Pies use Bakkt custody and can trade 7 days a week

Cons

  • $3 platform fee applies below $10,000 in M1 assets unless waived
  • Trades execute during scheduled trade windows, not in real time
  • Crypto holdings are not FDIC or SIPC insured
  • Crypto on-demand trading is limited to 10 trades per calendar month
  • Margin loans require at least $2,000 invested in eligible accounts
  • Crypto can't be included in an IRA
  • Outgoing account transfers cost $100
Public

Public

Pros

  • $0 regular-hours US stock and ETF trades
  • Options rebates of $0.06-$0.18 per stock or ETF contract
  • Margin rates range from 4.90% to 4.25%
  • Public API supports programmatic trading
  • High-Yield Cash Account pays 3.30% APY with no fees
  • Direct indexing starts with as little as $1,000
  • SIPC protection up to $500,000 for cash and securities
  • FDIC protection up to $5 million for High-Yield Cash Account

Cons

  • $2.99 extended-hours stock and ETF trades without Premium
  • OTC stock trades cost $2.99 without Premium
  • Inactivity fee is $3.99 every month
  • Outgoing ACAT transfers cost $100
  • Instant Withdrawals cost up to 3.5%, minimum $1
  • Crypto assets are not FDIC or SIPC insured
  • Fractional shares are not transferable outside Public
  • Premium costs $10 monthly or $96 annually unless waived
M1

M1

M1 combines automated Pies for stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto with scheduled trade windows, cash accounts and margin loans.

Visit M1 Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Public

Public

Public is a US multi-asset investing platform offering stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, crypto, margin, AI tools, a trading API and cash products.

Visit Public Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Not the right match?

Line up any two brokers side by side, or browse the full list to find your next platform.

Compare another broker Browse all brokers