Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Public vs Zacks Trade
What sets them apart
| Compare |  Public |  Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $250 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $1 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto, Options, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Bonds, Funds |
| Regulators | FINRA, SECCovers more | FINRA |
| Margin rate | 4.2%Lower | 8.83% |
| Options contract fee | $0.060 to $0.18Lower | $1 |
| Account types | IRA, Roth IRACovers more | IRA |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Zacks Trade Pro, Client Portal, Zacks Trade app |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (SIPC up to USD 500,000).
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Key differences
- Public scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only Public offers SEC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Public: $0 vs $250.
- Stock trade fee is lower at Public: $0 vs $1.
- Margin rate is lower at Public: 4.2% vs 8.83%.
- Options contract fee is lower at Public: $0.060 to $0.18 vs $1.
- Markets: only Public offers Crypto.
- Markets: only Zacks Trade offers Funds.
- Account types: only Public offers Roth IRA.
- Support channels: only Public offers Help centre.
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.
Zacks Trade
Zacks Trade is a US broker built for experienced traders and day traders who want options and margin, charging a stock trade fee of $1 and a minimum deposit of $250 on its IRA account. The catch is the $15 inactivity fee for anyone whose account sits idle.
Score breakdown
| Area | Public | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.6HigherStock trades cost $0, options contracts run $0.06 to $0.18 and margin borrowing starts at 4.2%. | 8.5Cheap trades at $1 a stock and $1 an option, offset by a $250 minimum deposit and a $15 inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 9.2A ira and roth ira account covers stocks, etfs and crypto plus a mobile app and fractional shares. | 9.2 |
| Trust | 9.5Higher | 8.7 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | Public | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | Public | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| IRA | Yes | Yes |
| Roth IRA | Yes | No |
What we checked
Public
- public.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Zacks Trade
- zackstrade.com: 15 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokercheck.finra.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Public | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 58 of 471 | 201 of 471 |
| Investment platforms and apps | 15 of 86 | 44 of 86 |
| Options trading platforms | 16 of 103 | 66 of 103 |
| Margin trading brokers | 7 of 22 | 20 of 22 |
| IRA providers | 11 of 43 | 24 of 43 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Public | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Fractional shares, Options, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app, Options |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Experienced, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Open to the Public Investing, Inc. | LBMZ Securities Inc. |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | United States |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Public | Zacks Trade | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $250highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $1highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $15above the median | $0 |
| Margin rate | 4.2%lowest quarter | 8.83%above the median | 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.
Zacks Trade
Pros
- Simple per-trade pricing: $1 a stock, $1 an options contract, margin at 8.83%.
- FINRA registration under licence 7874, and client holdings sit with SIPC protection.
- Support covers email, chat and phone, so phone and chat are both available.
Cons
- The $15 inactivity fee sits above the €10 upper quartile among the brokers compared.
- A $250 minimum deposit is well above the €4.64 median on the site.
- Account types cover ira only, which rules out a taxable brokerage account for wider investing.
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
Zacks Trade
Who it suits
- Experienced traders and day traders who already know the markets they trade.
- US investors who want an IRA and plan to trade options or use margin.
- Investors who will keep trading, since the inactivity fee applies once an account goes quiet.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, which takes a minimum deposit of $0 rather than $250.
- eToro, where a stock trade costs $0 against $1 here.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5, which suits a smaller starting balance.
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 | Zacks Trade |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Zacks Trade
What does it cost to trade stocks and options?+
Stocks cost $1 per trade and options contracts $1, and the account opens at a minimum deposit of $250. Margin runs at 8.83%. Every figure here applies to the IRA account, which is the account type on offer.
Is my money protected and who regulates the broker?+
Zacks Trade is registered with FINRA under licence 7874, and the legal entity behind the brand is LBMZ Securities Inc. Client holdings sit with SIPC protection, which is the scheme covering money in the account rather than the firm's own balance sheet.
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