Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs tastyfx
Public vs tastyfx: the differences
| Compare |  Public |  tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Forex |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | NFA, CFTC |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Corporate, IRA |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | 8%Higher |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Tastyfx platform, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 50:1 |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- tastyfx scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only tastyfx offers NFA, CFTC.
- Markets: only Public offers Stocks, ETFs, Crypto.
- Markets: only tastyfx offers Forex.
- Account types: only Public offers Roth IRA.
- Account types: only tastyfx offers Corporate.
- Interest on cash is higher at tastyfx: 8% vs 3.3%.
- Support channels: only tastyfx offers Chat, Phone.
- 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.
tastyfx
tastyfx suits beginners who want to trade currency pairs without paying commission, with a minimum deposit of $0 and a single market of forex. The account is held in the US, and your money sits with SIPC cover of SIPC up to USD 500,000.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6Stock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.6 |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.4HigherOffer score rests on commission-free pricing, a minimum deposit of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.5 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Investment platforms and apps | 14 of 85 | 11 of 85 |
| IRA providers | 11 of 43 | 9 of 43 |
Also worth a look
Nexo has interest on cash at 13%, against 3.3% for Public and 8% for tastyfx.
Nexo reviewWhere these facts come from
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
tastyfx
- tastyfx.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexcryptohub.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingfinder.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- cashbackforexusa.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | IG US LLC |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Chat, Email, Help centre, PhoneCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | tastyfx | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | Not confirmed | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | 8%highest quarter | 3% |
Median across 99 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.
tastyfx
Pros
- No minimum to start, a minimum deposit of $0 against a site median of €4.64
- The pricing model is commission-free, so you pay for the spread inside the trade rather than a ticket fee
- No inactivity charge, at $0 and first in the site ranking on inactivity fee, 1 of 56
Cons
- The market list is limited to forex, so a share or bond holding is not available here
- Wire withdrawals cost, at Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee
- Retail currency trading runs to a typical loss rate of 72.13% across the brokers compared, and leverage of 50:1 magnifies it
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
tastyfx
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a first currency account in the US
- Traders who want to practise on a demo before risking money
- Anyone who wants a commission-free structure rather than a per-trade ticket
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants shares, ETFs or bonds, since forex is the only market offered
- Retirement savers who need a wider account range than corporate and ira
- People who withdraw by wire often, because Deposits free, $15 wire withdrawal fee applies
Current offers
Country by country
| Country | Public | tastyfx |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Yes | Yes |
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.
tastyfx
What is the minimum deposit at tastyfx?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so you can fund an account from a small starting amount rather than waiting for a larger balance. That places tastyfx first in the site ranking on minimum deposit, 1 of 213, against a site median of €4.64.
Does tastyfx charge any commission on trades?+
The pricing model is commission-free, so there is no separate ticket fee per trade. The cost of a currency trade is built into the spread you trade through. The only market on offer is forex, so this structure applies to currency pairs.