Updated October 13, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Totality
Public vs Totality: the differences
| Compare |  Public |  Totality |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, BondsCovers more |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18Lower | $0.75 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Joint, Corporate |
| Minimum deposit | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | 4.2% | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Totality Core, Totality Edge, Totality Apex |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | 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
- Stock trade fee is lower at Public: $0 vs $1.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $0.75.
- Markets: only Totality offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Account types: only Public offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Account types: only Totality offers Joint, Corporate.
- Features: only Public offers Crypto, Fractional shares, Options.
- Features: only Totality offers Demo account.
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.
Totality
For active investors seeking international diversification, Totality operates as Australia's global investing infrastructure company with multi asset market access. It provides stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, FX and CFDs through professional platforms for self directed investors, asset managers and institutions.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Totality |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 8.5 |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.5Higher |
| Trust | 9.5 | Not confirmed |
Which one suits you
Pick Public if cost, stock trade fee, and options contract fee matter most.
Pick Totality if offer and markets matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | Public | Totality |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 58 of 471 | 452 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 15 of 86 | 83 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 16 of 103 | 101 of 103 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Totality |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile app | Demo account |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Totality | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18lowest quarter | $0.75highest 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.
Totality
Pros
- More than 23000 global stocks accessible across 50 plus exchanges
- More than 7400 ETFs spanning broad index, sector and thematic ideas
- More than 2900 listed options with chain trading and risk analytics
Cons
- Crypto linked offering covers nine pairs alongside crypto ETP exposure
- Platform focus remains on institutional grade charting and automated signals
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
Totality
Who it suits
- Self directed investors seeking performance and control
- Active traders thinking across global markets
- Asset managers and institutions needing scalable infrastructure
Who should look elsewhere
- Beginners wanting only simple domestic investing
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 | Totality |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Totality
What markets can you trade with Totality?+
Totality covers global stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, FX and CFDs from a single platform. It also provides exposure to crypto linked pairs and crypto ETPs without wallets or cold storage. Discovery, analysis and execution stay connected across asset classes.
Who is Totality designed for?+
Totality serves self directed investors who want performance, control and professional grade tools. It also serves asset managers, institutions and SMSF investors focused on flexibility and long term wealth. Technology supports wealth and advisory firms alongside aligned partners.
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
- Totality vs moomoo
- Public vs EBC Financial Group
- Public vs CapTrader
- Public vs Traders Place