Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Mintos vs Public
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Mintos |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Markets | Bonds, ETFs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, BondsCovers more |
| Regulators | Latvijas Banka, LV LV | FINRA, SEC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Interest on cash | 2.5% | 3.3%Higher |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | €4.90 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | IRA, Roth IRA |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Mintos offers Latvijas Banka, LV LV.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Markets: only Public offers Stocks, Options.
- Interest on cash is higher at Public: 3.3% vs 2.5%.
- Support channels: only Mintos offers Community.
- Features: only Public offers Fractional shares, Options.
Our verdict on each
Mintos
Mintos is a cheap, commission-free platform for lending money to businesses through their loan marketplace, with an account fee of €0 and a secondary market for exiting early. It suits investors who want lending exposure in euro-denominated loans rather than a share dealing account, and accept that the money carries borrower default risk.
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 | Mintos | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9Account fee of €0, an inactivity fee of €4.90 and a minimum deposit of €50. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 9.2Minimum investment of €50, target return of 9.2% and a secondary market. | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.0 | 9.5Higher |
If neither fits
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 2.5% for Mintos and 3.3% for Public.
Nexo reviewWhere these facts come from
Mintos
- mintos.com: 13 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euclid.eba.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- help.mintos.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
How they place
| Ranking | Mintos | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 9 of 471 | 58 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Mintos | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | SIA Mintos Payments | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Latvia | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2015 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
P2P lending
| Fact | Mintos | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Target return | 9.2% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | €50 | Not confirmed |
| Secondary market | Yes | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Mintos | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | €0at the median | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | €4.90above the median | Not confirmed | €2.45 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.625 |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Mintos
Pros
- The account fee is €0, and Mintos ranks at 1 of 138 brands on that measure
- Investing is commission-free, and the minimum investment is €50
- A secondary market is available, so loans can be sold before they mature
Cons
- Card deposits cost Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, so topping up is dearer than a bank transfer
- An inactivity fee of €4.90 applies, against an inactivity fee position of 33 of 56
- The minimum deposit of €50 sits far above a site minimum deposit median of €4.64
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
Mintos
Who it suits
- Investors who want to lend to businesses and earn a target return of 9.2%
- Lenders who want a secondary market to sell a loan before it matures
- Euro-based investors who accept that defaults can reduce returns
Who should look elsewhere
- Share traders, who should look at eToro with a commission-free model and a wider market list
- Anyone wanting to start with a very small sum, since CFI takes a minimum deposit of $0
- Lenders who need a guaranteed buyback, as the return of 9.2% is a target rather than a promise
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 | Mintos | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Mintos
What fees does Mintos charge on an account?+
The account fee is €0, and the platform is commission-free, so there is no dealing charge on an investment. The charges that apply are a currency conversion fee of 0.5%, card deposit costs set out as Free bank transfer withdrawal; 2% card deposits, and an inactivity fee of €4.90.
How much do I need to put in to start lending?+
The minimum deposit is €50, and the smallest single investment is €50. The two figures are close, so funding to the deposit minimum is enough to purchase a loan. For scale, the site median for a minimum investment is €25.
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.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Public vs Nexo
- Mintos vs Afranga
- Mintos vs Nectaro
- Mintos vs Scalable Capital
- Mintos vs TradeStation
- Mintos vs tastytrade
- Mintos vs Trading 212
- Mintos vs Charles Schwab
- Mintos vs Merrill Edge
- Mintos vs Plum
- Mintos vs Webull
- Mintos vs GO Markets
- Mintos vs Finhabits
- Mintos vs flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- Mintos vs IC Markets
- Mintos vs quirion
- Mintos vs Trade Nation
- Mintos vs CFI
- Mintos vs SoFi
- Mintos vs City Index
- Mintos vs ActivTrades
- Mintos vs XTB
- Mintos vs NAGA
- Mintos vs UNest
- Mintos vs Linxea
- Mintos vs bunq
- Mintos vs Bitpanda
- Mintos vs Robinhood
- Mintos vs Kraken
- Public vs EBC Financial Group
- Mintos vs CapTrader