Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs tastytrade
Public vs tastytrade: the differences
| Compare |  Public |  tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Futures, Crypto |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | SIPC |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18Lower | $1 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | IRA, Joint |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Mobile, Desktop, Web |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Minimum deposit ($0), Stock trade fee ($0), 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 Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only tastytrade offers SIPC.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $1.
- Markets: only Public offers Bonds.
- Markets: only tastytrade offers Forex, Futures.
- Account types: only Public offers Roth IRA.
- Account types: only tastytrade offers Joint.
- Features: only Public offers 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.
tastytrade
tastytrade suits traders who want options, futures and crypto in the same account as shares and ETFs, and it suits anyone starting small. The minimum deposit is $0, share dealing costs $0 a trade, and options cost $1 a contract, so the bill grows only if you trade derivatives.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.1The commission free model keeps equity dealing cheap, but the options contract fee of $1 is the line heavy option traders watch. |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Public | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Account types | Public | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
| Joint | No | Yes |
Where these facts come from
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
tastytrade
- tastytrade.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Public | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 58 of 471 | 150 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 15 of 86 | 32 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 16 of 103 | 53 of 103 |
| IRA providers | 11 of 43 | 23 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | TASTYTRADE INC |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | tastytrade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $1highest quarter | $0.625 |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | Not confirmed | 3% |
Median across 134 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.
tastytrade
Pros
- Share dealing costs $0 a trade, and the account opens from $0.
- All of stocks, etfs and forex sit under the same account.
- Protection is recorded as SIPC up to USD 500,000, with membership logged as SIPC member 69649.
Cons
- Options cost $1 a contract, so regular contract buyers pay more than occasional ones.
- The recorded account types under ira and joint are an IRA and a joint account.
- In the stock comparison, 72.03% of retail accounts lose money.
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
tastytrade
Who it suits
- Traders who want options and futures in the same account as shares and ETFs.
- Anyone starting small, since the minimum deposit is $0.
- People saving into an IRA who also want crypto and forex nearby.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro if you want CFDs listed alongside the core markets: stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI if you want the shorter list in stocks, etfs and forex, which ends at crypto.
- Vantage if you would rather start above the floor, since its minimum deposit is $5.
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 | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
tastytrade
Is there a minimum deposit to open a tastytrade account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened and funded with whatever you want to start on. Share dealing then costs $0 a trade, which keeps the running cost close to the opening balance.
What does an options contract cost?+
Options are charged per contract at $1. If you buy options often, that fee becomes the main line you track, while share dealing stays at $0. Traders who touch options now and then will feel it far less than regular contract buyers.
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