Choosing between modern self-directed brokerage platforms often comes down to your trading frequency, charting requirements, and preference for fee transparency. When evaluating public vs webull, investors face two distinct philosophies within the retail investing space. Public emphasizes long-term wealth building, fractional share investing, fixed-income options like US Treasury bills, and order-execution transparency. In contrast, Webull caters to active traders who require advanced technical indicators, full extended-hours trading access, and multi-asset charting capabilities.
Both brokerages offer zero-commission trading for US stocks and Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), yet their monetization strategies, mobile interfaces, and analytical toolsets diverge significantly. Selecting the right platform depends on whether you prioritize streamlined asset allocation or real-time technical analysis.
Public vs Webull: Core Trading Features and Asset Classes
When comparing the investment universe of each platform, both brokerages cover standard US exchange-listed stocks and ETFs. However, their secondary asset offerings differ based on their target user base.
Public has expanded its offering to encompass a broad array of asset types designed for asset allocation and fixed income:
- Stocks & ETFs: Full and fractional share trading starting at $1.
- US Treasury Bills: Direct access to short-term government debt yield accounts.
- High-Yield Cash: High-interest cash accounts backed by partner banks.
- Corporate Bonds: Direct purchasing of corporate debt instruments.
- Options: Options trading with an execution rebate model.
- Alternative Assets: Fractional access to alternative investments like fine art and collectibles.
Webull focuses primarily on products designed for active traders and derivatives execution:
- Stocks & ETFs: Full share and fractional share trading (minimum $5 for fractional orders).
- Options Trading: Index and equity options with customizable multi-leg order strategies.
- OTC Securities: Trading access to select over-the-counter stocks.
- Futures Trading: Standardized futures contracts for commodities and indices.
- Extended Hours Trading: Full access to pre-market (4:00 AM to 9:30 AM ET) and after-hours (4:00 PM to 8:00 PM ET) sessions.
For investors building a diversified portfolio across fixed income and equities, Public provides a more integrated fixed-income suite. For traders seeking leverage, futures, or pre-market momentum setups, Webull offers broader access to market trading hours.
User Experience, Interface Design, and Technical Charting
The user interface design reflects each platform’s primary audience. Public uses a clean, mobile-first design focused on asset discovery, financial metrics, and contextual information.
Public incorporates artificial intelligence features through its Alpha assistant, which allows users to query financial metrics, earnings transcripts, and company performance directly within the asset page. The interface prioritizes fundamental data, such as revenue trends, analyst consensus ratings, and corporate filings, rather than complex technical charts.
Webull provides a technical-analysis dashboard across mobile, web, and its dedicated desktop application (Webull Desktop). The platform includes:
- 50+ Technical Indicators: Including Moving Averages, RSI, MACD, Bollinger Bands, and KDJ.
- 12 Charting Tools: Trendlines, Fibonacci retracements, and drawing tools across customizable timeframes.
- Level 2 Market Data: Available via Nasdaq TotalView subscription, showing order book depth and bid/ask queues.
- Paper Trading: A simulated trading environment with real-time market data to test strategies without real capital.
Traders who rely on candlestick patterns, volume profile, or technical indicators will find Webull’s desktop platform significantly more capable. For analysis beyond basic charts, readers can consult our guide on for deeper charting strategies.
Fee Structures, Order Execution, and Payment for Order Flow (PFOF)
Understanding how a brokerage processes orders and earns revenue is critical for evaluating trade execution quality.
Payment for Order Flow (PFOF)
Webull relies on Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) for equity and options trades. Under a PFOF model, the brokerage routes retail orders to market makers for execution in exchange for market maker rebates. While this model enables zero-commission trading for retail clients, order execution routing is handled through participating market makers.
Public eliminated PFOF on equity trades in February 2021. Instead, Public routes equity trades directly to exchanges or execution venues without taking market maker PFOF rebates on stocks and ETFs. To offset this, Public gives users the option to add an optional tip to equity transactions and offers an optional subscription tier called Public Premium.
Options Trading Fees
- Webull: $0 contract fee for equity options, though standard regulatory fees from SEC, FINRA, and OCC apply.
- Public: $0 base contract fee for standard options trades, with an execution rebate model where qualifying orders may pass rebates back to the user.
Subscription Tiers
Public offers a Public Premium subscription (approximately $8 to $10 per month billed annually), which provides institutional-grade research from Morningstar, custom audio market breakdowns, extended chart histories, and priority customer support. Webull offers optional add-ons, such as Nasdaq Level 2 TotalView data for $2.99 per month.
Comparison Matrix: Public vs Webull
Below is a breakdown comparing the key specifications of both platforms:
| Feature | Public | Webull |
|---|---|---|
| Equity Commissions | $0 (Optional tipping) | $0 |
| Options Contract Fee | $0 (Rebate eligible) | $0 (Regulatory fees apply) |
| PFOF on Equities | No (Opted out for stocks/ETFs) | Yes |
| Extended Hours Trading | Limited extended hours | Full (4:00 AM – 8:00 PM ET) |
| Fractional Shares | Yes (From $1) | Yes (From $5) |
| Technical Indicators | Basic indicators | 50+ indicators & drawing tools |
| Paper Trading Account | No | Yes (Free simulated trading) |
| Fixed Income (Treasuries/Bonds) | Yes | No |
| Supported Retirement Accounts | Traditional & Roth IRAs | Traditional, Roth, & Rollover IRAs |
Community Features vs Advanced Order Types
Public started as a social-investing network where users could share portfolio allocations, read context notes attached to trades, and follow verified financial creators. While Public has evolved into a comprehensive multi-asset platform, community sentiment metrics and educational commentary remain central to its interface.
Webull prioritizes trade execution tools over social sharing. It supports advanced order types critical for risk management, including:
- Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders: Automated exit targets set at order entry.
- One-Cancels-the-Other (OCO): Bracket orders combining stop-loss and limit criteria.
- Trailing Stop Orders: Dynamic stop orders that track price movement.
For investors interested in evaluating automated execution or algorithmic options, reviewing our breakdown of provides further technical comparisons.
Regulatory Protections and Security
Both brokerages maintain standard regulatory protections for US residents:
- SIPC Protection: Both Public (via Public Investing, Inc.) and Webull (via Webull Financial LLC) are members of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), protecting customer securities up to $500,000 (including $250,000 for cash claims).
- FINRA Regulation: Both entities are registered broker-dealers regulated by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Neither SIPC protection nor FINRA oversight protects against market losses incurred through price fluctuations.
Summary Recommendation: Which Brokerage Should You Choose?
Choosing between these two platforms comes down to how you manage your capital:
- Choose Public if: You are a long-term investor seeking an intuitive platform that combines equities, fractional shares, high-yield cash accounts, and US Treasury bills. Public is ideal for users who prefer fee execution transparency over technical intraday charting.
- Choose Webull if: You are an active trader, swing trader, or technical analyst who requires multi-monitor charting software, paper trading, extended market hours, and complex options order types.
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Pros & Cons
Public
✅ Pros
- No Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) on US stock and ETF orders
- Direct access to US Treasury Bills and High-Yield Cash Accounts
- Fractional share purchases available starting at $1
- Clean mobile interface with AI-assisted research tools (Alpha)
❌ Cons
- Limited technical charting tools and indicators
- Lacks paper trading functionality for backtesting strategies
- Narrower extended-hours trading window compared to Webull
Webull
✅ Pros
- Advanced charting suite with 50+ technical indicators and drawing tools
- Full pre-market and after-hours trading session access (4:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET)
- Free paper trading simulator with real-time data
- Desktop app supporting multi-screen layouts and Level 2 market data
❌ Cons
- Uses Payment for Order Flow (PFOF) for equity order routing
- Higher fractional share purchase minimum ($5 vs $1)
- No direct US Treasury Bill or Corporate Bond purchasing
Pricing Comparison
Standard Account
- $0 equity commissions
- $0 options contract fees
- Basic market data
- Fractional shares
Public Premium
- Morningstar research reports
- Custom audio market breakdowns
- Advanced metric tracking
- VIP customer support
Webull Level 2 Data Add-On
- Nasdaq TotalView Level 2 order book depth
- 30 best bid/ask orders in real-time
- Order execution insight
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Public better than Webull for beginners?
Public is generally more straightforward for beginners due to its clean interface, fractional share investing starting at $1, and fixed-income options like Treasury Bills. Webull's interface features complex charts and technical data that can overwhelm first-time investors.
Does Webull or Public charge fees for options trading?
Neither Webull nor Public charges a base contract fee for standard options trades. However, standard exchange and regulatory fees (such as SEC and OCC fees) apply on both platforms, and Webull routes options via Payment for Order Flow.
Can I transfer my portfolio from Webull to Public?
Yes, you can initiate an Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACATS) transfer to move securities directly between Webull and Public. The originating broker may charge an ACATS outgoing fee, which receiving brokers sometimes reimburse depending on the account balance.
Does Public or Webull offer retirement accounts like Roth IRAs?
Both Public and Webull support self-directed retirement accounts, including Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Webull also supports Rollover IRAs for transferring funds from former employer-sponsored 401(k) plans.