Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Firstrade vs Public.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In the Firstrade vs Public.com matchup, Firstrade comes out ahead for overall range of investments. It earns 4 stars and ranks No. 5 of 14 on StockBrokers.com for Range of Investments, while Public.com scores 3.5 stars and ranks No. 12. Pick Firstrade if you want a wider mix of traditional assets, including mutual funds. Pick Public.com if crypto access is important—its lineup includes 40 cryptocurrencies. Both brokers offer Traditional and Roth IRAs, and neither provides advisory services, forex, or futures.
Both platforms let you trade stocks, options, OTC stocks, and fractional shares, and both support margin trading. The big product differences: Firstrade supports mutual funds while Public.com does not, and Public.com supports crypto trading (40 coins) while Firstrade does not. If mutual funds are part of your plan, Firstrade is the fit; if you want to add crypto to your portfolio, Public.com is the way to go.
Account availability is straightforward: each offers Traditional and Roth IRAs for retirement savers. Beyond that, there are no advisor services on either platform. For most investors focused on a broad set of conventional securities, Firstrade’s selection is stronger; for investors who want stock and options trading with the ability to buy crypto, Public.com stands out.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 40 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: For trading platforms and tools, both Firstrade and Public.com are simple, browser-based options with no desktop apps, and both are rated 1 out of 5 stars. Firstrade ranks #12 out of 14 brokers (Public.com is #14), edging ahead thanks to stronger charting and a more flexible watch list. If you want basic web trading with meaningful chart indicators and a fuller watch list, Firstrade is the better fit; if you only need a very simple place to place trades online, Public.com keeps things minimal.
Access and core tools are similar: neither broker offers Windows or Mac downloads, and both run in a web browser. Neither provides paper trading or a trading journal. You can’t adjust open orders directly on charts on either platform, and neither supports custom studies or saving multiple chart profiles. When editing a simple study like an SMA, Firstrade gives you 6 customization fields, while Public.com offers none.
Charting and watch lists show the biggest gap. Firstrade includes 102 technical indicators and 8 drawing tools, plus automated technical analysis (pattern detection). Public.com has 0 indicators, 0 drawing tools, and no automated patterns. Both lack chart notes, historical trade markers, corporate events, and custom date ranges. For watch lists, Firstrade supports up to 50 columns, while Public.com allows 3.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No |
| Paper Trading | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 50 | 3 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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Comparing education at Firstrade vs. Public.com: both offer stock and options education, along with educational videos and webinars. Neither provides paper trading, quizzes, or tools to track your learning, and both lack mutual funds education. The big difference is topic coverage—Public.com also includes ETF and bonds education, while Firstrade does not.
How they stack up: StockBrokers.com rates Public.com 3.5 out of 5 stars for education, ranking 8th out of 14 brokers. Firstrade earns 2.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 13th out of 14. For most beginners who want wider topic coverage, Public.com has the edge. If you only need stock and options basics with video and webinar content, Firstrade can still work.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Looking for the better stock trading app experience between Firstrade and Public.com? Firstrade comes out ahead for traders who want more tools and live market data on mobile. It earns 4 stars and ranks #8 out of 14 brokers with StockBrokers.com, while Public.com earns 3 stars and ranks #13. Both offer iPhone and Android apps and support mobile options trading, but Firstrade adds key features like streaming quotes, stock alerts, and deeper charting, which can make a real difference when timing trades.
Both brokers lack an Apple Watch app, streaming live TV, videos on demand, and after-hours charting. Firstrade supports mobile after-hours stock trading; the source did not list whether Public.com offers after-hours trading on mobile. For day-to-day use, Firstrade offers streaming quotes, stock alerts, and the ability to create custom watch lists, while Public.com does not support those three. Each lets you customize watch list columns.
Charting is another separator. Firstrade lets you rotate to landscape, view multiple time frames, compare stocks on a chart, and tap into 81 technical studies. Public.com supports multiple time frames and stock comparisons but does not offer landscape charts or any technical studies. If you value live quotes, alerts, and technical analysis, Firstrade’s app is the stronger fit; if you prefer a simpler setup for basic investing, Public.com can still do the job.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No |
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Bottom line: both Firstrade and Public.com offer $0 stock trades and $0 per-options-contract pricing, so the real differences are in funding needs, margin rates, and back-end fees. Public.com is the clear winner on margin interest, while Firstrade is friendlier for getting started and for closing or moving an IRA. Choose Public.com if you plan to use margin often; choose Firstrade if you want a $0 minimum and lower exit costs.
Account basics: Firstrade has a $0 minimum deposit, while Public.com requires $20. Stock trades cost $0 at both brokers. Options trades are $0 per contract at both, and there are no fees for options exercise or assignment at either platform.
Margin and other fees: Public.com’s margin rates are notably lower—5.65% below $25,000, 5.65% from $25,000–$49,999, and 5.50% from $50,000–$99,999—versus Firstrade at 12.75%, 12.50%, and 12.00% for those same tiers. For transfers, Firstrade charges $55 for partial and $75 for full ACAT moves, while Public.com is $100 for both partial and full. IRA fees are $0 annually at both; however, IRA closure is $0 at Firstrade and $150 at Public.com.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $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 |
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When evaluating Firstrade and Public.com for day trading, neither firm provides specialized features often sought by active traders. Both platforms lack streaming time and sales for stocks, which can offer insights into market activity. They also don't provide streaming live TV, direct market routing, or ladder trading, which can be crucial for traders looking for market depth and various order execution options. Additionally, neither broker supports trading hotkeys, level 2 quotes, or basic and advanced strategy backtesting, all tools that can enhance a day trader's analysis and execution capabilities.
Furthermore, Firstrade and Public.com fall short in offering a short locator tool, which is useful for traders interested in short selling. Both platforms also do not offer order liquidity rebates, which could otherwise help in reducing trading costs for high-frequency traders. Given these limitations, traders who prioritize these specific tools and features for day trading might need to explore alternative platforms that cater more closely to their trading style and needs.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No |
| Short Locator | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: for market research, Firstrade offers a more complete toolkit than Public.com. Firstrade earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 of 14 at StockBrokers.com, while Public.com scores 2.5 stars and ranks #12. If you want wider asset coverage, portfolio insights, and more ways to find ideas, Firstrade is likely the better fit.
Both brokers provide research for stocks and ETFs, and both include Pink Sheets/OTC. Firstrade goes further with research on mutual funds and bonds, plus extras like ESG data and stock research using social media sentiment. It also lets you view portfolio allocation by asset class—something Public.com does not offer. Public.com does not include research for mutual funds or bonds, nor ESG or social sentiment tools.
On tools and reports, Firstrade supplies screeners for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds, helping investors filter by strategy and metrics. It also offers one downloadable PDF stock report and downloadable ETF reports; neither broker provides mutual fund PDFs, and Public.com does not offer downloadable research reports. For investors comparing Firstrade vs Public.com on research depth, Firstrade clearly delivers more features and guidance.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
|
When comparing the banking capabilities of Firstrade and Public.com, it's clear that Firstrade provides more options for users seeking basic banking services alongside their investment needs. Firstrade offers checking accounts, which Public.com does not, providing an added layer of convenience for users who want to manage their transactions. Furthermore, Firstrade provides debit cards, allowing for easy access to funds, whereas Public.com does not. Both platforms do not offer savings accounts or credit cards, keeping their focus primarily on investment services. Additionally, neither offers mortgage loans, which can be a consideration for those looking to integrate a wider array of financial services. Notably, Firstrade offers certificates of deposit (CDs), which can be appealing for those looking for a secure savings option, unlike Public.com, which does not offer CDs. Overall, Firstrade outshines Public.com in terms of banking offerings, making it a more versatile choice for those interested in an online broker with added banking features.
| Feature |
Firstrade
|
Public.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No |
| Savings Accounts | No | No |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No |
| Credit Cards | No | No |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Brokerage CDs | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that Firstrade is better than Public.com. Firstrade finished with an overall score of 67.8%, while Public.com finished with a score of 56.0%.
Firstrade is a good choice for options traders and self-reliant investors due to its aggressive pricing model that completely eliminates per-contract fees on options. While it lacks asset classes like crypto and futures, it impresses with institutional-grade infrastructure, supporting complex account types like Trusts and Business IRAs and wide international accessibility.
When comparing online brokers, Firstrade offers no crypto trading (0 coins), while Public.com supports cryptocurrency trading with access to 40 coins.
Investors prioritizing crypto access may prefer Public.com, whereas Firstrade suits those not focused on digital assets.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
Firstrade and Public.com both offer Traditional and Roth IRAs with $0 annual fees. However, Firstrade has a $0 IRA closure fee while Public.com charges $150, giving Firstrade the edge on exit costs.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Firstrade | Public.com | |
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| Review | Firstrade Review | Public.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Firstrade | Public.com | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Trading Fees | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $20.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.00 | $2.99 | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $0 | n/a | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | (Not offered) | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $19.95 | n/a |
| Margin Rates | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.75% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.50% | 5.65% | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 12.00% | 5.50% | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.50% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 11.25% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 9.35% | 5.25% | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 8.75% | 5.05% |
| Account Fees | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $0.00 | $150.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $55.00 | $100.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $75.00 | $100.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 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 | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | 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 | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | 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 | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | No | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Charting | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | No | No | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 81 | 0 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | N/A | n/a | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | No | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 50 | 3 |
| Stock Chart Features | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | No | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 102 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 8 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | No | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | No | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | No | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 6 | 0 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | No | No |
| Day Trading | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | No | No | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | No | No | |
| Ladder Trading | No | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | No | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | No | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | No | No | |
| Short Locator | No | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | No | No |
| Research Overview | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 1 | 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 | Firstrade | 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 | Firstrade | 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 | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 5 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | Yes |
| Banking | Firstrade | Public.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | No | |
| Checking Accounts | Yes | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | No | |
| Debit Cards | Yes | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | No |
| Customer Service | Firstrade | 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 | No | No |
| Overall | Firstrade | Public.com | |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Firstrade Review | Public.com Review |
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