Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Smartbroker
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Public |  Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds, Metals |
| 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 | 2.25% |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18 | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Web, App |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Not confirmed |
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
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only Smartbroker offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Markets: only Public offers Options.
- Markets: only Smartbroker offers Funds, Metals.
- Interest on cash is higher at Public: 3.3% vs 2.25%.
- Support channels: only Smartbroker offers Phone.
- Features: only Public offers Fractional shares, Options.
- Pricing model: only Public offers Commission free.
- Pricing model: only Smartbroker offers Low fees.
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.
Smartbroker
Smartbroker runs a European brokerage with a €0 account fee and a €0 minimum deposit, which puts it at 1 on the site for deposit levels. It suits investors who want stocks, ETFs, funds and crypto in one account and would rather not pay a monthly charge.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.5 |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.2Low-fees model across stocks, etfs and crypto, supervised by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and reachable on email, phone and help centre. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
How they place
| Ranking | Public | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 58 of 471 | 60 of 471 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Public | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Smartbroker
- smartbrokerplus.de: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | Smartbroker AG |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Smartbroker | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €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 | 2.25%below the median | 3% |
Median across 92 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.
Smartbroker
Pros
- Account fee of €0, matching the $0 account fee at eToro and sitting at 1 among 138 brands on account fee.
- Nothing to pay to open, with a minimum deposit of €0 against a site median of €4.64.
- One account covers stocks, etfs and crypto.
Cons
- Protection is limited to what the scheme pays, listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so larger balances rely on your own holdings.
- Support runs on email, phone and help centre only, with no live chat listed.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and crypto, with no forex, options or futures listed.
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
Smartbroker
Who it suits
- European investors who want a German-regulated account holding stocks, etfs and crypto under one roof.
- Anyone with spare cash to park while they decide, with 2.25% on the daily deposit account.
- People who trade away from a desk, since access runs through Web and App.
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if you would rather start against a published floor of $5 than an open entry of €0.
- eToro, if your trading runs past the stocks, etfs and crypto list here and you want to weigh its range against Smartbroker's.
- Anyone holding a large cash balance, since protection is listed as EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
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 | Smartbroker |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | No | Yes |
| 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.
Smartbroker
What does Smartbroker charge to hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly charge for keeping the account open. Entry is also open, with a minimum deposit of €0. Trading costs still apply on individual orders, and the pricing page is where per-trade charges are set out.
Is my money protected at Smartbroker?+
Smartbroker is regulated by BaFin and Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), and the listed investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000. The German regulator supervises the firm, while the compensation scheme pays out on eligible balances up to the stated limit.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- Public vs Nexo
- Public vs Lightspeed Financial
- Public vs TradeStation
- Public vs Fidelity
- Public vs tastytrade
- Public vs Scalable Capital
- Public vs Interactive Brokers
- Public vs Charles Schwab
- Public vs Firstrade
- Public vs Charles Stanley Direct
- Public vs Webull
- Public vs Wealthsimple
- Public vs Tradier
- Public vs XTB
- Public vs Mintos
- Public vs Bitpanda
- Public vs Robinhood
- Smartbroker vs Kraken
- Public vs EBC Financial Group
- Public vs CapTrader
- Public vs Traders Place