Head-to-head comparison across ratings, fees, asset coverage, and platform breadth.
4.0 / 5
For active day traders and short sellers with $27K+ in capital who need multi-source HTB locates, true DMA without PFOF, and a human picking up the phone. Not a fit for buy-and-hold, beginners, or anyone who wants a polished mobile app.
4.3 / 5
Strongest modern multi-asset broker for self-directed investors who want stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, Treasuries, crypto, IRAs, and 3.30% APY cash in one AI-native app. Unique options rebate, 6.07% Bond Account, and Agents — the first agentic-AI brokerage.
Each broker scored 0–5 across the same 8 dimensions.
Green cells mark the winner on each metric. Tie rows are uncoloured.
| Metric | Cobra | Public.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| OverallEditorial score | 4.00 / 5 | 4.30 / 5 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsCommissions & fees | 4.50 | 4.70 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsPlatforms & tools | 4.50 | 4.00 | Cobra |
| Sub-ratingsMobile app | 2.00 | 4.70 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsResearch | 2.50 | 3.50 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsEducation | 2.00 | 4.00 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsCustomer service | 4.50 | 3.00 | Cobra |
| Sub-ratingsRange of investments | 3.00 | 4.00 | Public.com |
| Sub-ratingsActive trading | 5.00 | 3.50 | Cobra |
| PricingLowest margin rate | 5.25% | 3.95% | Public.com |
| PricingDefault cash sweep yield | — | 3.30% | Public.com |
| PricingPFOF on equities | Does not accept | Accepts | Cobra |
| Asset class | Cobra | Public.com |
|---|---|---|
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq/AMEX) | Yes | |
| OTC / Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | |
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
| Options (multi-leg + spreads) | Yes | |
| US Treasuries / bonds | No | |
| Crypto (direct) | No | Yes |
| International stocks / ADRs | No | |
| Hard-to-borrow short locates | Yes | |
| US stocks (NYSE/Nasdaq) | Yes | |
| OTC stocks | Limited | |
| Equity / ETF options (single + multi-leg) | Yes | |
| Index options (SPX, NDX, VIX, XSP, CBTX) | Yes | |
| US Treasuries | Yes | |
| Corporate bonds (Bond Account) | Yes | |
| Crypto IRA | Yes | |
| International stocks | Limited | |
| IPOs | Yes | |
| Alternative assets (Otis) | Yes | |
| Direct Indexing Account | Yes |