Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Scalable Capital
Public vs Scalable Capital: the differences
| Compare |  Public |  Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, BondsCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%Higher | 2.6% |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only Scalable Capital offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Markets: only Public offers Options, Bonds.
- Interest on cash is higher at Public: 3.3% vs 2.6%.
- Support channels: only Scalable Capital offers Phone, Chat.
- Features: only Public offers Crypto, Fractional shares, Options.
Our verdict on each
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.
Scalable Capital
Scalable Capital suits investors who want to start small and later hand a pot of money to a managed portfolio. The self-directed account takes a minimum deposit of €1, while the managed plan starts from €20 with fees of 0.245% to 0.375% a year.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.3HigherCash interest of 2.6%, a mobile app, and managed portfolios across etf and esg options. |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 391200Y3EUNL4LTXRP94 |
| United States | Not confirmed |
A third option
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 3.3% for Public and 2.6% for Scalable Capital.
Nexo reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 58 of 471 | 147 of 471 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | Scalable Capital Bank GmbH |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2014 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Phone, Chat, Email, Help centreCovers more |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0.245% to 0.375% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | €20 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Scalable Capital | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | 2.6%below the median | 3% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
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.
Scalable Capital
Pros
- A low entry point of €1 on the self-directed account
- Managed portfolios start from €20 with fees of 0.245% to 0.375%
- Regulated by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and deposits sit under EU ICS up to EUR 20,000
Cons
- Managed fees of 0.245% to 0.375% a year sit above the cheapest managed rivals
- Support runs on phone, chat and email only, with no branch or in-person service
- Managed portfolios are limited to etf and esg options, so there is no custom mandate
Who each suits
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
Scalable Capital
Who it suits
- New investors who want to build a portfolio in a mobile app from a small first deposit
- Savers with a lump sum who want a ready made ETF or ESG portfolio
- Investors who care more about a named regulator and deposit protection than the lowest management fee
Who should look elsewhere
- You want a wider choice of instruments, as stocks, etfs and crypto is a single market cluster rather than a full exchange list
- You need advice built around you, because managed portfolios cover only etf and esg options
- You are comparing the very lowest managed fee, since 0.245% to 0.375% is not the cheapest on the market
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 | Public | Scalable Capital |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
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.
Scalable Capital
What is the minimum deposit to start investing?+
The self-directed account takes a minimum deposit of €1, so you can open and fund it from a small amount. That entry point is well below the typical requirement, which is one of the reasons people try the app first. You can add to it as your savings grow.
How much does the managed portfolio cost?+
Management fees run at 0.245% to 0.375% a year on the managed side, charged on the portfolio rather than per trade. That sits above the cheapest managed plans elsewhere, so it pays to compare before committing a large lump sum. Smaller pots feel the percentage more.
Other options to compare
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