Fidelity vs Public.com 2025
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Fidelity vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: Fidelity offers a wider range of investments and services than Public.com, making it a stronger all-around choice for most investors. Fidelity holds a 5-star Range of Investments rating and ranks #3 out of 14 brokers on StockBrokers.com, while Public.com earns 3.5 stars and ranks #13. That said, Public.com shines for crypto variety, supporting far more coins than Fidelity.
Both brokers let you trade stocks, options, and crypto, and both support margin trading, fractional shares, OTC stocks, and Traditional and Roth IRAs. Key differences: Fidelity offers mutual funds and forex trading, which Public.com does not. Neither broker supports futures. For crypto, Fidelity offers 3 coins, while Public.com offers 40.
If you want one platform for stocks, options, mutual funds, forex, and retirement investing—with access to advisor services—Fidelity is the clear pick. If your focus is stocks and a wider list of crypto assets and you don’t need mutual funds, forex, or advisor services, Public.com can fit the bill.
Feature |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
Futures Trading | No | No |
Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 40 |
Range of Investments |
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Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2025: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to an Advanced Market
Choosing between Fidelity and Public.com for online trading largely depends on your needs and preferences. Fidelity emerges as a more comprehensive option with its downloadable trading platforms for both Windows and Mac, and a range of advanced features that cater to experienced traders. In contrast, Public.com offers a basic browser-based platform that might suit beginners who prefer simplicity over advanced functionalities. Ultimately, if robust charting tools and customization options are your priorities, Fidelity stands out as the superior choice, while Public.com may appeal more to those new to investing looking for streamlined access.
Fidelity offers a diverse set of trading tools and features. With a Windows and Mac downloadable platform, Fidelity provides flexibility for users on different operating systems. The platform excels in customization and charting capabilities, with 129 technical indicators and 38 drawing tools available. Traders can also make adjustments directly on stock charts and display historical trades, corporate events, and automated technical analysis. Additionally, Fidelity supports extensive watch list customization with 92 columns, making it ideal for data-driven traders. While it lacks paper trading, its trading journal and other features contribute to its impressive rating of 4.5 stars.
Public.com, on the other hand, centers its offering on a simple browser-based platform, which lacks a downloadable version for either Windows or Mac. Its charting capabilities and customization options are limited, with no technical indicators, drawing tools, or the ability to adjust orders directly on the charts. Watch lists are also less detailed, limited to just 3 columns. The absence of features like a trading journal, the ability to display corporate events on charts, and the customization of moving averages may discourage more seasoned traders. As a result, Public.com receives a modest rating of 2 stars for its trading platforms and tools.
Feature |
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Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 92 | 3 |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 0 |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 0 |
Platforms & Tools |
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Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers & Trading Platforms for 2025, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2025
Fidelity and Public.com both offer beginner-friendly investor education on stocks, ETFs, and options. Each platform includes bonds education, plus on-demand videos and live webinars. Fidelity goes further with mutual fund education, interactive quizzes, and a way to track your learning progress—features Public.com does not provide. Neither broker offers paper trading for practice.
If you want deeper, more structured learning, Fidelity stands out: it earns 5 stars for education and ranks #2 out of 14 brokers at StockBrokers.com. Public.com is better suited for basic lessons and market explainers, with a 3.5-star education rating and a #11 ranking out of 14.
Feature |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes |
Paper Trading | No | No |
Videos | Yes | Yes |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Education |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2025
For those deciding between Fidelity and Public.com for mobile stock trading, Fidelity clearly comes out ahead. It offers a wider array of features and tools for both experienced traders and beginners. Fidelity not only provides apps for both iPhone and Android users, but also includes an Apple Watch app, unlike Public.com. Additionally, Fidelity's mobile app supports after-hours trading and options trading, which is crucial for traders looking to capitalize on daily market shifts. With higher ratings across trusted platforms, Fidelity stands as a top choice for those serious about their trading activities.
Fidelity significantly outshines Public.com with its comprehensive suite of features, including streaming quotes, live TV, on-demand videos, and stock alerts, all of which are absent in Public.com's offering. Users on Fidelity's app can create custom watch lists and customize watch list columns, offering greater flexibility in tracking investments. While both platforms allow users to view multiple time frames for charts, Fidelity enhances this with features like after-hours charting and landscape mode viewing.
For chart enthusiasts, Fidelity's mobile app provides 128 technical studies compared to none offered by Public.com, allowing for more detailed and informed analysis. Both apps support stock comparisons on charts, but Fidelity's additional capabilities elevate the experience. Overall, Fidelity's app ranks third out of fourteen brokers and carries a five-star rating, while Public.com lags behind with a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 14th, underscoring Fidelity's superiority in the stock trading app landscape.
Feature |
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iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No |
Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 |
Mobile Trading Apps |
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Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2025
Here’s the quick takeaway on Fidelity vs Public.com fees: Public.com is cheaper for options contracts ($0 per contract vs Fidelity’s $0.65) and has much lower margin interest rates, while Fidelity is friendlier on account-related charges with no minimum deposit and no fees for ACAT transfers or IRA closures. Both brokers offer $0 stock trades, $0 IRA annual fees, and $0 for options exercise and assignment. Public.com does add a $20 minimum to start and charges $100 for ACAT transfers (partial or full) and $150 to close an IRA, which can matter if you think you might move or close your account later.
Core trading and margin costs: Minimum deposit is $0 at Fidelity and $20 at Public.com. Stock trades are $0 at both. Options pricing differs—Fidelity charges $0.65 per contract, while Public.com charges $0. For margin interest, Public.com is lower across common tiers: under $25,000 balance is 5.65% at Public.com vs 12.575% at Fidelity; $25,000–$49,999 is 5.65% vs 12.075%; $50,000–$99,999 is 5.50% vs 11.125%.
Account and IRA fees: IRA annual fees are $0 at both. IRA closure is $0 at Fidelity vs $150 at Public.com. ACAT transfer fees at Fidelity are $0 for partial and full transfers, while Public.com is $100 for partial and $100 for full. Options exercise and assignment fees are $0 at both brokers.
Feature |
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Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2025
When comparing Fidelity to Public.com for day trading, Fidelity emerges as the more feature-rich choice, offering several tools and options that cater to active traders. Fidelity provides streaming time and sales for stocks, allowing traders to view real-time transactions and make informed decisions. It also boasts streaming live TV, direct market routing, and trading hotkeys for swift trade execution from your keyboard. The availability of level 2 quotes further enhances a trader's market view, while basic strategy backtesting allows for evaluating trading strategies. Additionally, Fidelity offers a short locator tool, which is essential for those looking to short stocks by providing real-time availability of shares. Despite missing features like ladder trading and advanced strategy backtesting, Fidelity's offerings create a well-rounded platform for day traders.
In contrast, Public.com focuses on providing a straightforward investment experience and doesn't cater much to day traders seeking advanced tools. The platform lacks features that Fidelity offers, such as streaming time and sales, streaming live TV, direct market routing, trading hotkeys, and level 2 quotes. Traders won't find any backtesting options or a short locator tool either. Consequently, while Public.com may be suitable for beginners or those interested in uncomplicated investing, it might not meet the needs of dedicated day traders requiring comprehensive tools to execute and test trading strategies.
Feature |
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|
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Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No |
Streaming TV | Yes | No |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2025 for Beginners and Active Traders
In the realm of market research capabilities, Fidelity stands out as a clear leader compared to Public.com. Fidelity not only covers a wide range of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, and even bonds, but also provides detailed portfolio analysis and trend insights using social media sentiment data. This comprehensive approach is bolstered by solid environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research, offering investors in-depth information to make well-informed decisions. With a stellar rating of 5 out of 5 stars, Fidelity is ranked #3 by StockBrokers.com for its market research prowess, while Public.com receives 2 stars and is ranked significantly lower at #12.
Fidelity offers extensive research across various asset classes, such as stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, along with tools like stock and ETF screeners for generating trade ideas. Investors can access a wealth of downloadable PDF reports to dive deeper into their investment choices. In contrast, Public.com covers fewer asset classes and lacks the comprehensive research resources that Fidelity provides. Notably, Public.com does not offer downloadable reports or in-depth ESG insights, limiting its appeal for investors seeking extensive research tools.
Another strong point for Fidelity is its ability to deliver insights into portfolio allocation by asset class, providing investors with a clear view of their investment strategy and performance. Additionally, Fidelity's access to social media sentiment data enriches stock research with unique insights from public opinion trends. Public.com, conversely, does not provide such advanced capabilities, making Fidelity the preferred choice for investors who prioritize robust market research and strategic insights.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No |
Research |
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When comparing the banking features of online brokers Fidelity and Public.com, there are some notable differences. Fidelity does not provide traditional checking or savings accounts, similar to Public.com, as neither offers these basic banking services. However, Fidelity stands out by offering both debit and credit cards, while Public.com does not offer either. Fidelity also provides mortgage loans, giving it an edge for those looking for broader banking options, whereas Public.com does not include mortgage services. For those interested in certificates of deposit (CDs), Fidelity has you covered, while Public.com does not offer CDs. Overall, Fidelity's range of banking services, including cards, loans, and CDs, gives it a more comprehensive offering than Public.com.
Feature |
|
|
---|---|---|
Checking Accounts | No | No |
Savings Accounts | No | No |
Debit Cards | Yes | No |
Credit Cards | Yes | No |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2025
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Fidelity is better than Public.com. Fidelity finished with an overall score of 96.2%, while Public.com finished with a score of 69.6%.
Fidelity is a value-driven online broker offering $0 trades, industry-leading research, excellent trading tools and an easy-to-use mobile app.
Comparing Fidelity vs Public.com for crypto trading: both brokers support cryptocurrency trading. Fidelity offers 3 coins, while Public.com offers 40, giving Public.com a much wider selection.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2025
Fidelity and Public.com both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs with no annual fees. However, Fidelity charges a $0 IRA closure fee while Public.com charges $150, making Fidelity the more cost-effective option if you plan to close or transfer an IRA.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2025
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0 of 5Overall Rating | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Fidelity Review | Public.com Review |
Broker Screenshots | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Trading Fees | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | $2.99 | |
Mutual Fund Trade Fee | Varies | n/a | |
Options (Per Contract) | $0.65 | $0.00 | |
Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $32.95 | n/a |
Margin Rates | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.575% | 5.65% | |
Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.075% | 5.65% | |
Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.125% | 5.50% | |
Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.075% | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 10.825% | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 8.500% | 5.25% | |
Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.250% | 5.05% |
Account Fees | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
Account Transfer Out (Full) | $0.00 | $100.00 | |
Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
Investment Options | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Fractional Shares (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
OTC Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 4 | |
Futures Trading | No | No | |
Forex Trading | Yes | No | |
Crypto Trading | Yes | Yes | |
Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 3 | 40 | |
Fixed Income (Treasurys) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | Yes | Yes | |
Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | Yes | No | |
Traditional IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Roth IRAs | Yes | Yes | |
Advisor Services | Yes | No | |
International Countries (Stocks) | 25 | 0 |
Order Types | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Limit | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - After Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
Beginners | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (ETFs) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Mutual Funds) | Yes | No | |
Education (Fixed Income) | Yes | Yes | |
Education (Retirement) | Yes | Yes | |
Retirement Calculator | Yes | No | |
Investor Dictionary | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Videos | Yes | Yes | |
Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
Progress Tracking | Yes | No | |
Interactive Learning - Quizzes | Yes | No |
Stock Trading Apps | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
Android App | Yes | Yes | |
Apple Watch App | Yes | No | |
Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | No |
Stock App Features | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Market Movers (Top Gainers) | Yes | Yes | |
Stream Live TV | Yes | No | |
Videos on Demand | Yes | No | |
Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
Watch List (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
Stock App Charting | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Charting - Technical Studies | 128 | 0 | |
Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
Trading Platforms | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Active Trading Platform | Active Trader Pro | n/a | |
Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Paper Trading | No | No | |
Trade Journal | Yes | No | |
Watch Lists - Total Fields | 92 | 3 |
Stock Chart Features | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies | 129 | 0 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools | 38 | 0 | |
Charting - Notes | Yes | No | |
Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
Charting - Study Customizations | 5 | 0 | |
Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
Day Trading | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | No | |
Streaming TV | Yes | No | |
Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
Ladder Trading | No | No | |
Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
Short Locator | Yes | No | |
Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
Research Overview | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | Yes | |
Research - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
Screener - Mutual Funds | Yes | No | |
Screener - Fixed Income | Yes | No | |
Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
Stock Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Stock Research - PDF Reports | 7 | 0 | |
Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - Insiders | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - Social | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
Stock Research - ESG | Yes | No | |
Stock Research - SEC Filings | Yes | No |
ETF Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
ETFs - Investment Objective | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | Yes | Yes | |
ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | Yes | |
ETFs - Sector Exposure | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Risk Analysis | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Ratings | Yes | No | |
ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | Yes | No | |
ETFs - PDF Reports | Yes | No |
Mutual Fund Research | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Prospectus | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | Yes | No | |
Mutual Funds - StyleMap | Yes | No |
Options Trading | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
Banking | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
Checking Accounts | No | No | |
Savings Accounts | No | No | |
Credit Cards | Yes | No | |
Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
Mortgage Loans | Yes | No |
Customer Service | Fidelity | Public.com | |
---|---|---|---|
Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
24/7 Support | Yes | No |
Overall | Fidelity | Public.com | |
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Research |
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Education |
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Ease of Use |
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Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Fidelity Review | Public.com Review |