Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Nexo vs Public
Where Nexo and Public differ
| Compare |  Nexo |  Public |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5,000 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds |
| Regulators | Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, National Securities Commission (CNV) of the Argentine Republic, Companies Registry, Ministry of Finance, Financial Services Authority Seychelles | FINRA, SEC |
| Margin rate | 1.9%Lower | 4.2% |
| Account types | Corporate | IRA, Roth IRA |
| Interest on cash | 13%Higher | 3.3% |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | 100x | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Nexo offers Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, National Securities Commission (CNV) of the Argentine Republic, Companies Registry.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Nexo is licensed in 4 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Public: $0 vs $5,000.
- Margin rate is lower at Nexo: 1.9% vs 4.2%.
- Markets: only Nexo offers Futures.
- Markets: only Public offers Stocks, ETFs, Options.
- Account types: only Nexo offers Corporate.
- Account types: only Public offers IRA, Roth IRA.
Our verdict on each
Nexo
Nexo suits corporate account holders who want crypto plus futures trading on web and mobile platforms with margin borrowing available. You should weigh minimum funding of $5,000 and margin rate of 1.9% against demo access and limited market breadth before you commit capital.
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 | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.0Margin borrowing priced with margin rate of 1.9% supports cost view. | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. |
| Offer | 8.9Offer centres on markets of crypto and futures via platforms of Web platform and Mobile app. | 9.2HigherA ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. |
| Trust | 9.0Trust reflects cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000. | 9.5Higher |
Choosing between them
Pick Nexo if margin rate and interest on cash matter most.
Pick Public if cost, offer, trust, and minimum deposit matter most.
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Department of Financial Protection and Innovation 60DBO-109416 | |
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Hong Kong | Companies Registry TC007556 | Not confirmed |
| Poland | Ministry of Finance RDWW-533 | Not confirmed |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Account types | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Corporate | Yes | No |
Where these facts come from
Nexo
- nexo.com: 9 facts, checked September 29, 2026
- portal.dfpi.ca.gov: 2 facts, checked September 29, 2026
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Margin trading brokers | 1 of 22 | 7 of 22 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Low fees | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Nexo | Public | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5,000highest quarter | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 1.9%lowest quarter | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | 13%highest quarter | 3.3%above the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Nexo
Pros
- Crypto and futures coverage in crypto and futures suits focused digital asset traders rather than general equity investors.
- Corporate access through corporate suits entities that need business onboarding rather than personal accounts.
- Margin access with margin rate of 1.9% gives clear borrowing pricing for planned leveraged use.
Cons
- Entry funding of $5,000 is high beside $50 at eToro and $1 at Kraken, which limits casual access.
- Market breadth is narrow at crypto and futures, with crypto and futures focus and no stocks or funds breadth for diversification.
- Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, which may deter you if you prefer phone help available elsewhere.
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
Nexo
Who it suits
- Corporate desks that accept $5,000 and prefer Nexo focus over eToro retail breadth
- Crypto futures users who value Web platform and Mobile app and prefer Nexo margin clarity over Kraken entry level simplicity
- Entity clients comfortable with chat, email and help centre who prefer Nexo structure over NAGA retail positioning
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders seeking low entry balances who prefer eToro because $50 is below $5,000
- Crypto beginners wanting simple retail onboarding who prefer Kraken because $1 is below $5,000
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
Public
Current offer
Bonus
Transfer your portfolio. Earn an uncapped 1% match.: 1% match
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Nexo | Public |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
Nexo
What can you trade with Nexo?+
Nexo focuses on markets of crypto and futures, which means crypto and futures activity rather than broad equities or funds. Access is through platforms of Web platform and Mobile app, giving web based management plus mobile use for monitoring. You should confirm that this limited scope matches your plan before you apply.
How much do you need to open a Nexo account?+
Nexo lists minimum deposit of $5,000 and account choice of corporate, so access is framed around corporate funding. You should prepare qualifying funds and corporate documentation before you start. This structure suits entities rather than individuals seeking small retail balances.
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.