Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Traders Place
Public vs Traders Place: the differences
| Compare |  Public |  Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FINRA, SEC | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Investor protection | SIPC up to USD 500,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRA | Joint |
| Minimum deposit | $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 | Traders Place App |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.9.
- Regulators: only Public offers FINRA, SEC.
- Regulators: only Traders Place offers Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
- Markets: only Public offers Options.
- Markets: only Traders Place offers Funds.
- Account types: only Public offers IRA, Roth IRA.
- Account types: only Traders Place offers Joint.
- Support channels: only Traders Place offers Phone.
- Features: only Public offers 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.
Traders Place
Traders Place is a German broker built around a commission-free model, with stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a joint account and an overall score of 6.6. It suits investors who want a low running cost and a regulated German setup, with crypto included rather than bolted on.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 9.3Stock trade fee €0 and account fee €0 sit at ranking position 1 and 1. |
| Offer | 9.2HigherA ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 8.9 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.6 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | Public | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Not confirmed | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) MiCA CASP 5299005Y5T6LXFAXDQ78 |
| United States | Not confirmed |
Additional countries for Public: 1. Additional countries for Traders Place: 1.
How they place
| Ranking | Public | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 49 of 490 | 18 of 490 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 14 of 85 | 2 of 85 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | Traders Place GmbH & Co. KGaA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Germany |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Phone, Help centreCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Traders Place | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | Not confirmed | $10 |
| Account 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 | Not confirmed | 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.
Traders Place
Pros
- Regulated by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- A broad market list, stocks, etfs and crypto, covering equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto.
- Fractional shares, crypto and a mobile app sit in crypto, fractional shares and mobile app, with Traders Place App as the platform.
Cons
- Contact options are limited to email, phone and help centre, with no live chat channel listed.
- The market list covers stocks, etfs and crypto, so forex and CFD traders are not served.
- Retail accounts that lose money run at 70.15% across the brands compared here, so a commission-free model does not remove the risk.
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
Traders Place
Who it suits
- Couples who want a joint account, since joint lists joint.
- Investors who want equities, ETFs, bonds, funds and crypto in a single account: stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Savers who want a German regulated broker with phone and email support: email, phone and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who want forex or CFDs, since CFI lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Investors who prefer to check the cost model against a rival priced in another currency, such as eToro at $0.
Current offers
Country by country
| Country | Public | Traders Place |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Traders Place
What does it cost to buy shares at Traders Place?+
Stock trades are charged at €0 and the pricing model is listed as commission-free, so no commission is added to a share purchase. The account fee is €0 as well, which keeps the cost of holding a plain brokerage account low for a buy and hold investor.
Does Traders Place charge to keep an account open?+
The account fee is €0, and the only account type listed is joint, as joint shows. That suits a couple holding securities together under a single pricing structure. Stock trades themselves are charged at €0, so the account charge is not offset by a per-trade commission.